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(1) Goodwill Myanmar delegation led by Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing leaves for Manila
YANGON, 17 Feb - Goodwill Myanmar delegation led by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing left here at 8 am today by special flight to pay a State Visit to the Republic of the Philippines at the invitation of President of the Republic of the Philippines Fidel V Ramos and Madame Amelita M Ramos.
The delegation led by Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing was seen off at the Yangon International Airport by Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye and wife, Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo and wife, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint and wife, members of the State Peace and Development Council and their wives, Deputy Prime Ministers Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin and Lt-Gen Tin Tun and their wives, ministers and their wives, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Ambassador of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Mr Ly Bounkham and wife, the heads of diplomatic missions and UN agencies in Yangon and their wives and the Charge d'Affaires ai of the Philippine Embassy Ms Belinda M Ante.
Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing were accompanied by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and wife Dr Khin Win Shwe, member of the State Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West Command Brig-Gen Thura Shwe Man, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, Minister for Industry-2 Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe, Minister at the Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Brig-Gen Abel, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw and wife Daw Khin Kyi.
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(2) Tangible results achieved after mobilizing combined strength of three forces
YANGON, 17 Feb - The 53rd Anniversary Armed Forces Day Observance Leading Committee held its fourth coordination meeting at the Defence Services Museum and Historical Research Institute meeting room at 1.30 pm today. Chairman of the Leading Committee Chief of Special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo delivered an address.
Also present were Chairman of the 53rd Anniversary Armed Forces Day Observance Management Committee Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Chairman of the Work Committee for Staging the Booth on Nation-building Endeavours and Community Welfare Services Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe, members of the Leading Committee and personnel of the various Work Committees.
In his address Lt-Gen Tin Oo said the Work Committees were to report on the projects implemented in accordance with the resolutions of the third meeting and discuss measures for observance of the 53rd Anniversary Armed Forces Day on a grand scale.
Next, Secretary of the Leading Committee Deputy Adjutant-General Col Ye Tun explained work done in accordance with the resolutions passed by the third coordination meeting.
Chairman of the Management Committee Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than also reported on the work done by the Management Committee.
Chairman of the Work Committee for Staging Booth on Nation-building Endeavours, and Community Welfare Services Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe discussed arrangements made for staging the booth.
Chairman of the Literary and Photo Competitions Organizing Work Committee Deputy Minister for Information U Thein Sein and Chairman of the Poetry and Art Competition Organizing Work Committee Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt also reported work done by the respective work committees. Similarly, Director of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare Col Khin Aung Myint and officials explained work done for entertainment programmes, compiling a book on the Armed Forces Day and information.
Vice-Adjutant-General Brig-Gen Maung Nyo Chairman of Rice Merchants Association U Nyein-Daw Ohn Kyi (OK Rice Trading) 35 bags of rice worth K 70,000, film director Academy U Zin -Yaw Maung Maung-Academy Daw May Than Nu and family K 200,000, Arthitman traditional, medical industry in Aungmyethazan Township, Mandalay 1,000 packets of medicine worth K 35,000, Lucky Myanmar Construction Group K, 300,000, Myanmar Friendship International Ltd K 30,000 and U Kyi Lain-Daw Aye Thant and family K 100,000.
Lt-Gen Tin Oo, the commander and the ministers accepted the donations and gifts.
Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than thanked the donors.
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(3) Plans laid down for equal and rapid progress of towns, villages
YANGON, 17 Feb - The Development Affairs Department opened a course for executive officers at a training school in Dagon Myothit North Township this morning with an address by Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt.
The six-week course will offer administration, management, accounts, book- keeping, law, tax collection and auditing for DAD executive officers, who will become heads of township offices, to be able to conduct their functions effectively and efficiently, he said.
The State Peace and Development Council is endeavouring for emergence of a modern and developed nation, he said, adding DAD offices at different levels are laying down plans for equal and rapid progress of rural and urban areas.
The main tasks of DAD are town planning, water and electricity supply, urban sanitation and beautification, he noted, saying executive officers should place in the fore the social objectives, which are uplift of morale and morality of the entire nation, uplift of national prestige and integrity and preservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage and national character, uplift of dynamism of patriotic spirit and uplift of health fitness and education standards of the entire nation, in implementing these tasks.
DAD personnel should cooperate with local authorities and departments in expediting welfare tasks and should strive to become models in organizing NGOs, welfare association and donors to take part in DAD tasks with their own good will, he noted.
The minister urged them to strive to become good leaders, to work in accord with the existing rules and principles, to work for the progress of towns and villages, to strive to implement national tasks and the 12 objectives, to work harmoniously with the Tatmadaw, local authorities, departments and the public, to strive to win public trust, to stay aloof from bribery, to collect taxes systematically, to be thrifty, to actively take part in setting up of a discipline-flourishing democracy and to work with fresh ideas and new outlook.
He then cordially greeted the trainees.
Deputy , Minister U Kyaw Tin, directors-general of departments under the ministry, deputy directors-general, and other officials were also present.
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(4) Vice-President of Messrs Poly Technologies Inc calls on Minister for Transport
YANGON, 17 Feb - A Chinese delegation led by Vice-President Mr Guan Xiaolin of Messrs Poly Technologies Inc called on Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe at his office at 4 pm today.
Present also were Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Myint and Director-General U Khin Maung Myint of Transport Department.
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(5) ASEAN-Japan Multinational Cultural Mission and Myanmar cultural scholars discuss Myanma culture
YANGON, 17 Feb - The ASEAN-Japan Multinational Cultural Mission (MCM) and Myanmar cultural scholars discussed Myanma culture at the National Museum on Pyay Road at 3.30 pm today and Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt delivered an address.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister for Labour U Kyaw Aye, Chairman of ASEAN Cultural and Information Committee (Myanmar) Director-General of the Department of Cultural Institute U Myint Thein Swe and departmental personnel, Myanmar cultural scholars who would be presenting papers to the cultural meeting, personnel of non-governmental organizations, the MCM members from Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore and Vietnam led by professor Khunying Macnmas Chavalit of Thailand and guests.
In his address U Soe Nyunt said members of the MCM had visited Bagan although it was originally planned for them to meet Myanmar cultural scholars in Yangon first. The visit to Bagan, the ancient city, was arranged according to the wishes of the Chairman of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Central Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
He said the guests had already witnessed Myanmar cultural heritage in Bagan which would be like pages of a book on Myanma culture. He noted civilization has flourished in Myanmar since 1st century AD. In 11th century AD, he said, it was at its height in Bagan. Many a number of pagodas, stupas, temples, monasteries and other religious edifices emerged. Bagan Kingdom came to an end in 1287 AD and all the structures began to deteriorate due to weather and natural disasters.
He said Head of State Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe then gave. an important guidance in connection with Bagan, the land of cultural heritage, in 1994. The Head of State said that immediate action for restoration of deteriorating ancient pagodas had to be taken. The Ministry of Culture was then assigned duties to implement that project. Accordingly, he said, the ancient pagodas and religious edifices in near collapse condition were restored and renovated. He said that within a short period of three years, the scene of Bagan has changed as seen by the MCM members. This had been due to contributions of non-governmental organizations and well-wishers in addition to State funds, he said.
He then urged the scholars to frankly discuss preservation and restoration of cultural heritage. Next, discussions commenced. Historian Dr Khin Maung Nyunt delivered an introductory address.
Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Institute Daw Nanda Hmun introduced the scholars, who would be presenting papers, to the audience.
The Director-General of the Department of Cultural Institute, U Win Pe (Mya Zin), U Myo Thant (Maung Hsu Shin) and Myanmar cultural scholars presented papers and replied to the questions asked by MCM members.
In the evening, MCM members visited the Shwedagon Pagoda.
In the morning, they flew to Bagan where they visited Shwezigon Pagoda, Ananda Temple, Myinkaba Gubyaukgyi Pagoda and Nan Phapa. They studied ancient architecture, murals and arts and crafts as well as restoration of ancient pagodas. They also visited the old and new Archaeological Museums and lacquer works there.
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(6) Deputy Premier receives Chairman of Osaka Bridge Construction Union
YANGON, 17 Feb - Deputy Prime Minister Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Chairman of Board of Directors of Osaka Bridge Construction Union of Japan Mr Yuji Onishi and party at his office at 3 pm today.
Present also were Minister at the Office of State Peace and Development Council Chairman Brig-Gen Maung Maung and officials.
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(7) Minister for F & R receives GM of Tokyo Marine and Fire Insurance
YANGON, 17 Feb - Minister for Finance and Revenue U Khin Maung Thein receives General Manager Mr Kenji Kawanishi of Tokyo Marine and Fire Insurance Co of Japan at his office at 2 pm today.
Present was Vice-Governor of Central Bank of Myanmar U Than Lwin.
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(8) Ambassador of Japan calls on Chief Justice
YANGON, 17 Feb - Ambassador of Japan Mr Yoichi Yamaguchi called on Chief Justice U Aung Toe at his office at 10 am today.
Present also were Director-General U Ba Than Aung of Supreme Court and Head of Office U Aung Win.
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(9) FAO Resident Representative calls an Minister for L & F
YANGON, 17 Feb - Resident Representative of United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Mr Prem Nath called on Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein at his office at 1 pm today.
Similarly, President of Kinsho Mataichi Corporation of Japan Mr Toshio Kawachi and party called on the minister at the same venue at 2 pm today.
Present also were Director-General U Kyaw Lwin of Directorate of Livestock and Fisheries, Director-General U Maung Maung Nyunt of Livestock, Feedstuff and Dairy Products Enterprise and Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department and officials.
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(10) Minister for Commerce inspects PHTAC in Hlegu
YANGON, 17 Feb - Minister for Commerce Maj-Gen Kyaw Than inspected Post Harvest Technology Application Centre in Hlegu yesterday.
Accompanied by Deputy Minister Col Kyaw Shwe and officials, the minister arrived at the centre yesterday evening.
General Manager U Moe Paw of Myanma Agricultural Produce Trading briefed him production of polythene bags at the centre.
The minister gave instructions.
Afterwards, the minister inspected Bran Oil Mill No 01 in Hline Township.
In giving instructions, he called for boosting of bran oil production for substitution of edible oil import and raw soap production.
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(11) Over 4 kilos of heroin seized in Phakant Township
YANGON, 17 Feb - A combined team including Tatmadawmen of regional battalion, members of Tarmakhan Village-tract Peace and Development Council and members of Fire Brigade, acting on a tip-off, searched Yan Fu Shin's hut, son of U Shin Pha in Tarmakhan Village, Phakant Township, at 1 pm on 11 January.
The authorities seized heroin weighing about 4.2477 kilos hidden in 21 boxes of soap in the hut.
Further investigation, the group nabbed owner of heroin Ma Yan Hwei Shin, daughter of U In Jan Hkaung (a) U Chan Pauk, at No B-9, Thayagon Ward, Seikpu Village, Phakant Township, and related persons in heroin trading Lauk Hsan (a) Ar Hsan, son of U Yan Hai Swan and U Law Si Phu, son of U Law Ke Han of Lon Htan Village.
Phakant Township police station is taking action against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law.
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