THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

(Tuesday, 3 March 1998)

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  1. Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to Kingdom of Morocco
  2. Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to Republic of Bulgaria
  3. Tatmadawmen who sacrificed limbs for national cause leave for Ngapali on ten-day vacation
  4. Families of Tatmadaw donate rice, edible oil and gram to Myanmar Christian Fellowship of the Blind
  5. Secretary-2 attends opening ceremony of 9th Myanmar Disabled Sports Meet
  6. 10 more sugar mills under construction
  7. Minister for F & R arrives back from ASEAN meeting
  8. Diplomats preview 35th Myanma Gems Emporium
  9. Golfers arrive to participate in London Myanmar Open Golf Tournament
  10. Minister for Rail Transportation tours Hinthada, Pyay
  11. Minister for Transport inspects airport runway in Mandalay
  12. Ministry of A&I holds sixth collective ordination and novitiation
  13. Factories of MHI inspected
  14. Minister for Energy receives President of UNOCAL Oil Co

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(1) Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to Kingdom of Morocco

YANGON, 3 March - Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of felicitations to His Majesty King Hassan II, Kingdom of Morocco, on the occasion of the National Day of the Kingdom of Morocco which falls on 3 March 1998.

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(2) Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to Republic of Bulgaria

YANGON, 3 March - Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of felicitations to His Excellency Mr Peter Stoyanov, President of the Republic of Bulgaria, on the occasion of the Anniversary of the National Day of the Republic of Bulgaria which falls on 3 March 1998.

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(3) Tatmadawmen who sacrificed limbs for national cause leave for Ngapali on ten-day vacation

YANGON, 2 March - One hundred and thirteen disabled Tatmadawmen who sacrificed their limbs while serving national defence duties left here this morning for Ngapali, Thandwe, Rakhine State, on a ten-day vacation there.

Their vacation is arranged in accord with the Government's programmes to honour the Tatmadawmen who sacrificed their limbs while discharging national defence duties risking their life.

The Tatmadaw always loyal to the national cause is joining hands with the people in discharging national defence, duties for non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty and to safeguard the life and property of the entire national races and to ensure regional peace.

The disabled Tatmadawmen were seen off at Mingaladon Air Base by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Bureau of Special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Vice-Adjutant-General Brig-Gen Maung Nyo, Vice-Quartermaster-General Brig-Gen Kyaw Win, Deputy Ministers Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Brig-Gen Maung Maung and Col Thaik Tun, Director of Medical Services Brig-Gen Mya Thein Han, Director of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare Col Khin Aung Myint, Commander of Mingaladon Air Base Col Tin Oo, Captain Naval Staff Capt Kyi Min, Officiating Colonel Air Staff Col Nyan Tun Aung, senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence, Yangon Command and Defence services General Hospital, Tatmadawmen, nursing cadets and dance troupes. Eugenia sprigs were also presented to them at the air base.

On arrival at Thandwe Airport, they were welcomed by Tactical Operations Commander of Western Command Col Aung Naing Tun, Chairman of Thandwe District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Khin Maung Than and members, departmental personnel, members of Union Solidarity and Development Association, Red Cross and Auxiliary Fire Brigade, students and dance troupes.

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(4) Families of Tatmadaw donate rice, edible oil and gram to Myanmar Christian Fellowship of the Blind

YANGON, 2 March - Families of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy, Air) and well-wishers donated rice, edible oil and gram to Myanmar Christian fellowship of the Blind in Ward 12, Mayangon Township, this morning.

Present were Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council, Chief of Bureau of Special Operations and Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Deputy Ministers and officials, well-wishers, patrons of Myanmar Christian Fellowship of the Blind and blind students.

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(5) Secretary-2 attends opening ceremony of 9th Myanmar Disabled Sports Meet

YANGON, 2 March - Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Myanmar Disabled Sports Meet at Aung San Stadium this morning.

Present also were Deputy Minster for Forestry Col Thaik Tun, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Vice-Adjutant-General Brig-Gen Maung Nyo, Vice-Quartermaster-General Brig-Gen Kyaw Win, officials of the Ministry of Sports and Myanmar Disabled Sports Federation and invited guests.

Director-General of Sports and Physical Education Department Col Hla Myint Kyaw delivered an address and formally opened the competition.

After the opening ceremony, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo and party viewed the contest and presented prizes to winners.

The Secretary-2 also visited the summer sports training courses in Aung San Stadium.

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(6) 10 more sugar mills under construction

YANGON, 2 March - Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin supervised work at Inngakhwa Sugar Mill Project near Inngakhwa village, Paukkaung Township, Bago Division on 28 February.

Accompanied by local authorities and officials, the minister heard a report on arrival of construction materials for the 2,000-ton capacity sugar mill and project plans presented by officials.

The minister attended to the needs in supplying power to the mill which is being built by Myanma Sugarcane Enterprise, urging them to strive to start operation in the coming sugarcane harvesting time.

At No 58 Tractor Station, the minister looked into the requirements in maintenance and durability of the machines.

He also made arrangements to ensure adequate water supply to summer paddy fields in Pyay District.

The minister supervised work at Yoneseik Sugar Mill Project at Yoneseik village, Aunglan Township, Thayet District, Magway Division.

The mill will crush 2,000 tons of sugarcane per day.

At Pyinbinhla village in the township, he inspected implementation of the 2,000-ton Duringabo Sugar Mill Project.

In the afternoon, he visited Nawade, Sugar Mill near Mya village in Pyay Township.

Officials briefed him on progress in construction of the mill and warehouses.

The ministry is building ten more sugar mills at places where there is enough supply of raw materials in addition to seven existing mills.

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(7) Minister for F & R arrives back from ASEAN meeting

YANGON, 2 March - Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Finance and Revenue U Khin Maung Thein yesterday arrived back here after attending the Second ASEAN Finance Ministers Meeting held in Jakarta from 26 to 28 February.

The delegation was welcomed back at the airport by Minister at the Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Brig-Gen Abel, Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Sein Win, Ambassador of Indonesia Maj-Gen (Police) Poerwanto Lenggono, First Secretary Mr William Chik of Singapore Embassy, heads of departments and families.

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(8) Diplomats preview 35th Myanma Gems Emporium

YANGON, 2 March - The ambassadors, diplomats, military attaches and officials of the UN agencies previewed the 35th Myanma Gems Emporium at Myanma Gems Emporium Hall on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road today.

The gems emporium is sponsored by Myanma Gems Emporium Central Committee.

The specially invited guests also inspected the gems and jewellery this afternoon.

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(9) Golfers arrive to participate in London Myanmar Open Golf Tournament

YANGON, 2 March - Twenty-seven professional golfers from India, Argentina, the United States, Mexico, Australia, Sweden, Korea, Japan, Cuba and Singapore who will be participating in London-Myanmar Open Golf Tournament arrived here today.

They were welcomed at Yangon International Airport by Secretary of Reception Committee U Ko Ko Aye and committee members, officials of Myanmar Golf Federation.

They proceeded to Bagan-NyaungU in the afternoon and arrived there in the evening.

They were welcomed there by Secretary of Myanmar Golf Federation U Aung Kyi and EC members, Lt-Col Win Kyi of Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Deputy General Manager U Aung Kyi Thein, Deputy Director U Thaung Nunt, Assistant Director U Kyaw Tint of Ministry of Immigration and Population and officials. The tournament to he held in Bagan Golf Resort from 5 to 8 March is jointly sponsored by Myanmar Golf Federation and APGA.

Altogether 108 professional golfers arrived in Bagan today.

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(10) Minister for Rail Transportation tours Hinthada, Pyay

YANGON, 2 March - Member of the Central Executive Committee of the Union Solidarity and Development Association Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung, accompanied by Managing Director of Myanma Railways U Kyaw San and officials, inspected Hinthada Diesel Locomotive Shed on 28 February.

He met officials and personnel of Myanma Railways, Road Transport Administration Department, Road Transport and Transport planning Department.

He urged them to try to provide reliable service to the public and observe discipline.

He also spoke at length on the Senior General's guidance.

Meeting District, Township, Ward and Village-tract USDA members at Hinthada District USDA Office, he spoke of the political, economic and organizational matters and tasks for progress of the association.

Afterwards, the minister inspected the 1,015-foot-long Bridge No 48 across Ngawun River which was built in 1905, Bridge No 95 between Htoogyi and Nyaungbinngu and condition of the railway.

He left instructions on maintenance of the railway and coaches.

On 1 March, he inspected the sites near Shwebontha Muni Pagoda in Padaung Township, Pyay District, where chippings can be produced for railways.

Later, he inspected Beilet Chipping Extraction Station in Shwedaung.

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(11) Minister for Transport inspects airport runway in Mandalay

YANGON, 2 March - Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe and Director-General of Waterways Department U Pe Than, Managing Director of Inland Water Transport U Tun Aung Myint and officials inspected runway and extension of Mandalay Airport and terminal on 27 February.

The minister and party arrived at Bhamo where they were welcomed by Tactical Operations Commander Col Aung San Win and Chairman of District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Myo Swe. The minister inspected airport and repair of runway of Bhamo Airport and terminal.

The minister inspected Tapain River, Sinkhan port and waterway along Ayeyawady River. Officials of Shwegu Township reported on transport of freight and requirement of boats.

He fulfilled the requirements on reports of regional authorities in Katha.

On 28 February, the minister and party inspected change of waterway and passenger and commodities transport between Katha and Kyaukmyaung. He also discussed water transport and flow of commodities with regional authorities.

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(12) Ministry of A&I holds sixth collective ordination and novitiation

YANGON, 2 March - Altogether 61 persons were ordained to religious order and 31 were novitiated at the sixth collective ordination and novitiation at the office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation this morning.

Present were Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, Deputy Minister U Ohn Myint, heads of departments and families.

Presiding Nayaka of Naga Hlainggu Kalaywa Tawya Sarthintaik member of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Dwipitakadhara Kawvidha Bhaddanta Zagarabhivamsa administered the Eight Precepts.

The minister and wife presented offertories and soon to the members of the Sangha and merits gained were shared.

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(13) Factories of MHI inspected

YANGON, 2 March - Minister for Industry-2 Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe and Deputy Minister U Thein Tun yesterday inspected motor vehicle produced by No 4 Factory (Htonbo) of Myanma Heavy Industries.

Managing Director of MHI U Khin Maung and manager U Lone Khaing reported on production.

The minister and party inspected lathes, spare parts and other machines at No 5 factory in Padaung Township.

He inspected axle and various kinds of shafts, parts of car steering, equipment for Kyangin Cement Factory, production of transformers at the workshops.

The minister spoke of more production, appointment of service personnel and utilization of power, water and fuel.

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(14) Minister for Energy receives President of UNOCAL Oil Co

YANGON, 2 March - Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi received President of UNOCAL Oil Co Mr John Imle and party at his office this afternoon.

Present also were Deputy Minister U Tin Tun and Director-General of Energy Planning Department U Soe Myint.

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