THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

(Saturday, 14 March 1998)

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  1. Chief of Staff (Army) inspects rehearsal of parade columns
  2. Yangon Division flag presented to Student Sports Festival contingent
  3. Prizes given away for "Doh Lethama" Painting Contest
  4. MPT to use ThaiCom3 satellite transponders in domestic services
  5. Meeting 2/98 on Organizing 24th Asia and Pacific Regional Conference
  6. Minister receives officials of foreign firms
  7. Minister visits Kawthoung, Dawei, Mawlamyine
  8. Commander inspects development work of Hkamti District
  9. Students of Mongla region sightseeing in Yangon
  10. Retransmission station in Paletwa begins work
  11. Myanma Livestock and Fisheries Development Bank meets
  12. Officials, farmers hold meeting on boosting of paddy production and cultivation of cold season crops
  13. Over 77 kilos of opium seized in Phakant

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(1) Chief of Staff (Army) inspects rehearsal of parade columns

YANGON, 13 Mar - Chairman of Leading Committee for Observance of 53rd Anniversary Armed Forces Day, Chief of Bureau of Special Operations and Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo inspected rehearsal of parade columns this morning.

On arrival at Myoma Ground at 5.45 am, Lt-Gen Tin Oo together with Chairman of Management Committee for Observance of Armed Forces Day Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Chairman of Parade Work Committee Chief of Armed Forces Training Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Vice Adjutant-General Brig-Gen Maung Nyo, Vice Quartermaster-General Brig-Gen Kyaw Win and senior Tatmadaw officers inspected rehearsal of parade columns led by Parade Commander Brig-Gen Lun Maung in Myoma Ground and marching of parade columns from Myoma Ground to Resistance Park and gave necessary instructions to officials.

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(2) Yangon Division flag presented to Student Sports Festival contingent

YANGON, 13 Mar - Member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than presented Yangon Division flag to the division's sports contingent to the Eighth Student Sports Festival.

The ceremony at Latha Basic Education High School 2 was also attended by Secretary of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Lt-Col San Matu, member U Kan Myint, district authorities, Divisional Education Officer (Admin) U Htwe Aung and officials and guests.

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(3) Prizes given away for "Doh Lethama" Painting Contest

YANGON, 13 Mar - A ceremony to give away prizes to winners of ''Doh Lethama" Painting Contest of children aged ten and under organized by the Ministry of Culture was held at the National Museum on Pyay Road this afternoon.

Present were Minister for Culture U Win Sein, Deputy Minister U Soe Nyunt, directors-general, deputy directors-general and directors of departments under the Ministry of Culture, members of panel of judges, teachers, parents of winners, guests and officials.

U Soe Nyunt spoke on the occasion.

Member of the Committee for Organizing the Contest U Than Aung of Santhawda Company and member of the panel of judges Patron of Myanmar Artiste and Artisan Asiayon (Central) U Nyan Shein explained matters related to organizing the contest and selection of prize-winning entries.

U Win Sein presented K 75,000 to the first prize winner fourth standard student Ma Hnin Le Phyu of Basic Education High School No 2 of Sangyoung Township, K 50,000 to the second prize winner fourth standard student Ma Su Win Htaik of BEHS No 1 of Dagon Township and K 25,000 to the third prize winner third standard- student Ma Sandi Myint of BEHS No 4 of Shwepyitha Township.

U Soe Nyunt and officials presented K 10,000 each to 15 special prize winners.

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(4) MPT to use ThaiCom3 satellite transponders in domestic services

YANGON, 13 Mar - Myanma Posts and Telecommunications has reached agreement with Shinawatra Satellite Public Co Ltd to use ThaiCom3 satellite transponders in its internal satellite communication services.

Managing Director of MPT Col Maung Maung Tin and Chairman and Acting President of the company Mr Dumrong Kasemset signed the contract today in the presence of Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Win Tin.

Col Maung Maung Tin and Mr Dumrong also spoke.

The ceremony at Posts and Telegraphs Training School was also attended by Commercial Attache of Embassy of Thailand Mr Sriwat Suwaran, Managing Director of Myanma Foreign Trade Bank U Hla Thein, officials of Attorney-General's Office, Foreign Economic Relations Department and MPT and guests.

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(5) Meeting 2/98 on Organizing 24th Asia and Pacific Regional Conference

YANGON, 13 Mar - The Working Committee for Organizing 24th Asia and Pacific Regional Conference of the FAO held the meeting No 2/98 at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation this morning.

Present were Chairman of Working Committee Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung, committee members, deputy ministers from various ministries, subcommittee chairmen, directors-general and managing directors, Resident Representative of FAO Dr Prem Nath and officials of departments and enterprises.

Brig-Gen Khin Maung elaborated on organizing the conference.

Officials of various subcommittees reported on progress of work done for the conference.

The chairman and members of the Working Committee gave suggestions.

Dr Prem Nath spoke of organizing the conference.

The meeting ended with concluding remarks by the deputy minister.

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(6) Minister receives officials of foreign firms

YANGON, 13 Mar - Minister for Communications; Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Win Tin received President & CEO of Amtelstar International Ltd Mr William Chan and members Dr Hen Suh Park, Mr Tae-Yong Hahm, Mr D Yun, Mr K C Kim and Mr Erik Chan at his office this evening.

Present also were officials of Myanma Posts and Telecommunications.

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(7) Minister visits Kawthoung, Dawei, Mawlamyine

YANGON, 13 Mar - Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt inspected Vocational Training School, market and streets in Kawthoung Township on 12 March.

The minister also inspected Township Development Committee offices and streets in Dawei and Mawlamyine Townships and met services personnel in the afternoon.

The minister looked into the requirements.

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(8) Commander inspects development work of Hkamti District

YANGON, 13 Mar - Chairman of Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Commander of North-West Command Brig-Gen Soe Win inspected development work of Hkamti District on 10 and 11 March.

Accompanied by officials, he first inspected the warehouse in Sinthay Village, Lahe Township, in which foods for service personnel are being stored and gave instructions.

He then oversaw-extension of the road between Sinthay and Lahe.

On 11 March morning, the commander attended the second USDA membership application presentation ceremony held at the office of Township Peace and Development Council.

In the afternoon, the commander inspected construction of Hkamti Phalamone Road and gave necessary instructions for timely completion of the project.

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(9) Students of Mongla region sightseeing in Yangon

YANGON, 13 Mar - A 41-member students delegation led by U Sai Noon of Mongla region in Triangle Region Command, arrived at Yangon Railways Station at 1 pm today to study in Yangon City, at the invitation of Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs.

They were welcomed by officials of Department for Development of Border Areas and National Races.

On arrival at Shwedagon Pagoda, the delegation was-welcomed by Head of Branch of the Board of Trustees of the pagoda U Thein Zaw and officials. The students paid obeisance to the pagoda.

They proceeded to Yangon Zoological Gardens. Education and Information Group of the zoo Daw Naw Htoo Phaw and officials briefed them and conducted them around.

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(10) Re-transmission station in Paletwa begins work

YANGON, 13 Mar - Under the programme to implement development work for the border areas and national races, a TV retransmission station was constructed in Paletwa, Chin State.

The Myanma Radio and Television supervised construction work, which was completed on 6 March, utilizing the funds allocated by the Department for the Progress of Border Areas and National Races.

TV programmes reached the region beginning 10 March morning.

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(11) Myanma Livestock and Fisheries Development Bank meets

YANGON, 13 Mar - Board of Directors of Myanma Livestock and Fisheries Development Bank met today at the bank with an address by Chairman of MLFDB Deputy Minister for Commerce Commodore Myo Tint.

Banking services should be done in accord with the procedures, he noted, saying long-term existence of a bank depends on the ability and efforts of its staff.

It is vital for the officials to give effective supervision to timely get back the loans disbursed by the bank and the interests, he stressed.

Minutes of 2/98 meeting were then approved.

The meeting presented the amount of capital up to 12 March 1998, recovery of loans and interests and general suggestions and also approved the amended interest rates, percentage of profits for shareholders and bonus for staff.

Advisers at the Ministry of Commerce, officials, auditor and financial consultant U Hla Tun, Managing Director of the bank Lt-Col Kyi Maung and members of the Board of Directors were also present.

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(12) Officials, farmers hold meeting on boosting of paddy production and cultivation of cold season crops

YANGON, 13 Mar - A meeting on boosting of paddy production and cultivation of cold season crops was held in Tawku Village, Mudon Township, Mon State, on 11 March morning.

It was attended by Chairman of Mon State Peace and Development Council Commander of South-East Command Brig-Gen Myint Aung, Deputy Commander Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Commander of Mawrawady Naval Region Command Headquarters Capt Thein Ngwe, officials of Myanma Agriculture Service, district and township authorities, USDA members and farmers.

The commander spoke on the occasion, saying emergence of a tranquil, peaceful, modern' and developed nation depends on strong economy of the country, and agriculture sector plays a vital role in the economic sector of the country.

He also spoke of the need to strive to boost triple crop ping of Mudon Township.

Manager of Mon State Myanma Agriculture Service U Aung San presented cultivation methods.

Departmental officials and the farmers then took part in discussions on agricultural techniques.

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(13) Over 77 kilos of opium seized in Phakant

YANGON, 13 Mar - A combined team comprising members of defence services intelligence unit and Phakant police station together with the witnesses, acting a tip-off, searched the house of U Khaung Daung of No 112, Ward-3, Seikmu Village, Phakant Township on 17 February.

The authorities nabbed Sai Tun Kyaw (a) Sai Sam, 28, son of U Lon Phu, of No 156, Thida Street, Nyaungshwe Hawgon Ward, Taunggyi Township together with W brand 580 tablets of orange colour Amphetamine hidden in his leather jerkin in the house. Afterwards, the combined team seized Sai Aung, 29, son of U Wi Tun of Ward-4, Bogyoke Road, Loilem Township, Sai San Tun, 40, son of U San Kwan Pa of Nyaung Shwe Hawgon Ward, Taunggyi Township, Aung Mya, 26, son of U Sai Nya of Ngu Wa Street, Nyaung Phyu camp, Taunggyi Township, Aik Aye, 25, son of U Sai Hsai of Tanmamway Village, Namhsam Township and Khaung Daung, 41, son of owner of the house U Swam Taung.

According to the information of the accused,.the authorities searched a Pajero Batachaik/8819 of Sai Tun Kyaw (a) Sai Sam and a Van Batachaik/1764 of Aung Mya on 23 February morning. They seized 27 packets of opium weighing 51.187 kilos hidden in fuel tank and body's floor of Batachaik/ 8819 and 23 packets of opium weighing 26. 602 kilos hidden between in mudguards and body and cushion of the driver of Batachaik/764, totally 77.789 kilos.

The team then searched Ma San San Myint (a) Khun Kyin May, 40, of No 217, Ward-2, Seikmu Village, in accord with the chains of the information. They nabbed 443 tablets of stimulant Amphetamine which were packed by plastic bag and hidden on her body.

Action is taken against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law by Phakant Police Station.

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