THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

(Saturday, 21 February 1998)

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  1. Washington University confers honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration on Zaykabar U Khin Shwe
  2. Minister for RT inspects tunneling through Ponnya Hill, Chindwin River Bridge Project (Yesagyo)
  3. Minister for Culture inspects excavation at ancient city sites
  4. Defence Services Museum will always be interesting with excellent displays
  5. 339 drug-related cases exposed in January
  6. Minister for Industry-1 receives Ambassador of Indonesia
  7. Minister for Construction receives President of Kinsho-Mataichi Corporation
  8. Minister inspects bridge projects, road repair work in Thaninthayi Division
  9. Opium refinery, related persons nabbed in Kutkai

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(1) Washington University confers honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration on Zaykabar U Khin Shwe

YANGON, 20 Feb - A ceremony to confer honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration of Washington University of the United States of America was held in Diamond Jubilee Hall of Yangon University this evening, attended by Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

Present also were members of Myanmar Education Committee, ministers, the Chief justice, the Attorney-General, deputy ministers, department heads, directors-general of departments under the Ministry of Education, rectors of universities, pro-rectors, professors, associate professors, Chairman of the Honorary Research Committee of Washington University Dr John Lim, Professor of Washington University Dr Carey Rosenthal, Managing Director of Mitsui Industrial Park Mr Rocky Irie, Managing Director of Zaykabar Company Ltd and Mya Yeik Nyo Hotels Group Siri Sudhamma Manijotadhara U Khin Shwe, local and foreign journalists, entrepreneurs and guests.

Dr John Lim explained the purpose of conferring the honorary doctorate on U Khin Shwe.

Professor Dr Carey Rosenthal spoke of the doctorate, and conferred the honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration on U Khin Shwe.

U Khin Shwe thanked the officials.

Mr Rocky Irie spoke words of honour.

U Khin Shwe and family donated K 5 million for sports and social fund of the Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education and US $ 40,000 for installation of an elevator at Diamond Jubilee Hall of Yangon University.

Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt accepted the donations, and presented a certificate of honour to the donor.

Deputy Minister for Education Dr Than Nyunt also spoke.

The American Education Foundation decided to confer the honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration on U Khin Shwe out of entrepreneurs in Asia for this year, and Washington University conferred the degree through the American Education Foundation.

Later, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, ministers, U Khin Shwe and professors of Washington University posed for souvenir photos.

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(2) Minister for RT inspects tunneling through Ponnya Hill, Chindwin River Bridge Project (Yesagyo)

YANGON, 20 Feb - Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung, accompanied by Managing Director U Kyaw San of Myanma Railways and officials, inspected construction of the tunnel through the Ponnya Hill on Pakokku-Gangaw-Kalay Railroad Section in Sagaing Division on 16 February morning.

Col Nay Win, No 2 Tactical Operations Commander of North-West Command, and Executive Engineer U Maung Maung Thwin briefed the minister on the project.

The minister fulfilled the requirements and stressed the importance of administration for successful implementation of the project.

He also met officials of the project.

He then inspected situation of streams flowing over the tunnel and diversion of water from those streams.

On 17 February, the minister arrived at the site of railroad being built between Myethmyaung and Umin and heard a report presented by Col Nay Win. The railroad is being built by Tatmadawmen.

In the evening, he met engineers who were building a tunneling through Ponnya Hill and railroads between Yemyetni and Umin and personnel.

On 18 February afternoon, the minister went to Chindwin River Bridge Project (Yesagyo) and heard reports on the project presented by Project Director U Win Tin and Executive Engineer U Maung Maung Thwin.

After hearing their reports, the minister gave instructions to meet the standards set for the bridge and urged them to strive to complete the project as targeted.

The minister also inspected Mu Bridge Project on 19 February.

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(3) Minister for Culture inspects excavation at ancient city sites

YANGON, 20 Feb - Minister for Culture U Win Sein inspected excavation of ancient city sites in Pyay and Taungdwingyi Townships on 18 February.

He inspected Srikshetra Museum and excavation work at ancient Srikshetra city site and Lulinkyaw Gate in Pyay Township and excavation work at Beikshnu ancient city site in Taungdwingyi Township.

He left instructions on conducting research on the finds and ancient civilizations.

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(4) Defence Services Museum will always be interesting with excellent displays

YANGON, 20 Feb - A meeting was held today at Directorate of Defence Services Museurn and Historical Research Institute to discuss holding of the 53rd Anniversary Armed Forces Day and Exhibition on Nation-Building Endeavours.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of Leading Committee for Observance of the 53rd Anniversary Armed Forces Day Chief of Bureau of Special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo said Armed Forces Day Exhibitions play a major role in making the Armed Forces Day celebrations more and more magnificent year after year.

Since the 49th Anniversary Armed Forces Day in 1994, Armed Forces Day Exhibition has been opened year round at the international level Defence Services Museum on a grand scale, he said, adding plans are under way to add more significant exhibits and booths this year.

Ministries should make arrangements to display their latest accomplishments at the Defence Services Museum, which must always be interesting with new and excellent displays in accord with the aim, he noted, saying the Government is building a tranquil, modern and developed nation.

Based on previous year's experiences, efforts should be made to enhance displaying of economic reforms being made in the nation and developing endeavours and to add excellent booths at Exhibition on Nation-Building Endeavours, which is a special sector at the DSM.

Ministries which will open booths beginning this year should strive to show their accomplishments in the most impressive way, he stressed, speaking of the need to keep constant vigil against those who do not wish to see the national peace and developments.

He stressed the need to take systematic and effective security measures in every corner, to make cooperative efforts and to present good suggestions at the meeting.

Chairman of Management Committee for Observance of the Armed Forces Day Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than explain security matters.

Chairman of Committee for Organizing Exhibition on Nation-Building Endeavours Minister at Office of the Prime Minister Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe briefed the meeting on progress of the committees tasks and Chairman of the Leading Committee for Holding the Military Band Competition Vice-Adjutant-General Brig-Gen Maung Nyo and Director of Defence Services Museum and Historical Research Institute Col Ye Htut on progress in making preparations for the Armed Forces Day and Exhibition.

A general round of discussions followed.

Lt-Gen Tin Oo looked into their requirements.

Members of the leading committee, deputy ministers, heads of departments, officials of the military commands and guests were also present.

The Chief of Staff (Army) and party inspected progress in making arrangements for holding the 53rd Anniversary Armed Forces Day and Exhibition on Nation-Building Endeavours.

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(5) 339 drug-related cases exposed in January

YANGON, 20 Feb - The Tatmadaw, the Myanmar Police Force and the Customs Department could expose 339 drug-related cases including 81 for failure to register for drug dependency treatment and six other cases in January.

They could seize 297.2633 kilos of opium in 48 cases, 53.2053 kilos of heroin in 146 cases, 36.9106 kilos of marijuana in 25 cases, 21.7988 kilos of low-grade opium in 15 cases, 98.925 litres of Phensedyl in three cases, 1.1271 kilos of opium oil in five cases, 71 kilos of brown opium, .125 litres of cough syrup in one case, 115,859 tablets of amphetamine in seven cases, 12 gallons of acetic anhydride, two gallons of sulphuric acid, 31.14 gallons of hydrochloric acid in one case, 54 gallons of ethyl ether in one case, 15 gallons of ether, 611 gallons of spirit, one gallon of Lysol, six gallons of mixtured liquid, 120 gallons of chloroform, 200 gallons of opium liquid, 1,350 kilos of sodium carbonate.

During the period, combined teams including Tatmadaw, concerned departments and locals destroyed 17,324.523 acres of poppy in Shan State (North), 2,745.01 acres in Shan State (South), 16 acres in Shan State (East), 129.8 acres in Magway Division, 1.05 acres in Kachin State and two acres in Chain State, totaling 20,202.383 acres.

Members of the regional battalions in Kutkai Township destroyed two opium refinery camps on 26 January and seized 21.86 kilos of heroin, 71 kilos of brown opium, 20.95 kilos of low-grade opium, 200 gallons of opium liquid, seven assorted guns, 28 rounds of ammunition, chemical liquid and others.

Members of Tachilek police station seized 100,000 tablets of orange colour amphetamine from paper box of a suspicious man, who escaped jumping into the Meisai Creek, near Cherry Street of Tarlauk Ward, on 6 January.

A combine group of members of Taunggyi Anti-drug Squad and Defence Services Intelligence searched a bus 7Ka/ 9514 on Hopone-Taunggyi road at the junction of 4-1/2 Miles and nabbed Kyaw Naing, 31, son of U Bo Pu, and 27 kilos of opium from his knapsack on 21 January. Action has been taken against him.

A column of regional battalion seized 64.5035 kilos of opium and 100 tablets of amphetamine from three suspicious men near Manwoe Village at Monhtaw-Monhta region in eastern Shan State on 24 January.

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(6) Minister for Industry-1 receives Ambassador of Indonesia

YANGON, 20 Feb - Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung received Ambassador of Republic of Indonesia Maj-Gen (Police) A Poerwanto Lenggono at his office at 1.30 pm today.

Present also were directors-general and managing directors of departments and enterprises of the ministry.

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(7) Minister for Construction receives President of Kinsho-Mataichi Corporation

YANGON, 20 Feb - A Japanese mission led by President Mr Toshio Kawachi of Kinsho-Mataichi Corporation called on Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun at his office this afternoon.

They discussed matters related to the machinery purchased from Kinsho-Mataichi Corporation to be used in construction work of Public Works.

Mr Toshio Kawachi donated a Mitsubishi Canter Truck for Public Works.

The minister accepted related documents and thanked the donors.

Present also were Chief Engineer U Shwe Win of Public Works and departmental officials.

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(8) Minister inspects bridge projects, road repair work in Thaninthayi Division

YANGON, 20 Feb - Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun inspected bridge construction and road repair work in Taninthayi Division from 15 to 19 February.

Accompanied by officials, the Minister first inspected bridge construction and road repair work on the section between Mawlamyine and Ye on Mawlamyine-Ye-Dawei-Myeik Road on 15 February morning. He spent the night in Dawei.

On 16 February, accompanied by Col Kyaw San of Dawei Station and Divisional Engineer U Ohn Kyaw, the minister left Dawei and arrived at Winwa Bridge Construction Project where they were welcomed by Commander of Coastal Region Command Maj-Gen Thura Thiha Thura Sit Maung and Project Director U Sein Maung and officials.

After hearing reports on the project, the minister gave instructions on completion of the project as targeted, work-site safety and minimizing loss and wastage in use of construction equipment and materials.

Afterwards, he inspected Palauk Bridge Project.

U Ohn Kyaw briefed him on the project.

The minister gave instructions on completion of construction of piers of the project before the monsoon and to provide close supervision to minimize loss and wastage of construction materials.

He also fulfilled the requirements of the project.

On 17 February, the minister met personnel of Public Works at Divisional Engineer's Office in Dawei and called on them to be dutiful and to unitedly and harmoniously work for development of the region.

Then, he inspected road repair work between Mile Posts 53/0 and 54/0 on Yangon-Mawlamyine-Ye-Dawei Road and gave instructions to meet the set standards.

On 18 February, he arrived at Thanlwin River Bridge Project between Mawlamyine and Mottama.

Superintending Engineer (Project) U Hla Myint briefed him on preliminary engineering work for the project.

The minister instructed officials to make a general survey on the axis of the approach road as soon as possible in cooperation with departments concerned.

He also inspected construction of Kawkyaik-Kawpayan-Zathabyin Road on 19 February.

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(9) Opium refinery, related persons nabbed in Kutkai

YANGON, 20 Feb - A combined team of members of Defence Services Intelligence, regional battalion and anti-drug squad, acting on a tip-off, found a heroin refinery in the forest in Kutkai Township on 11 February.

They seized seven huts, 6.3 kilos of blown opium, 1,080 kilos of raw opium, 600 kilos of sodium chloride, 320 kilos of ammonium chloride, 72 gallons of raw opium liquid 16 gallons of ether, 80 gallons of Lysol, 140 gallons of hydrochloric acid, 480 gallons of alcohol and related instruments.

The also seized chemical liquid and related apparatus, used in refining opium. They nabbed the traffickers Hwan Mo Shin, son of U Swan Yin Hwae, Kyein Kya Hwan, Kyein Kway Lon, Kyan Ahrein, and Law Lauk Hkaw, son of U Kyauk Khan of Shauk Pan Gon Village of Kutkai Township with one 9mm pistol, 29 rounds of its ammunition, one Kimwoo walkie-talkie and one C-151 walkie-talkie and assorted ammunition.

Action is being taken against them according to Law.

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