(1) Senior General Than Shwe accepts credentials of Ambassador of Arab Republic of Egypt
YANGON, 25 June - Dr Farouk Riad Hassan Mabrouk, newly accredited Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Union of Myanmar, presented his credentials to Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at 10 am today.
Also present on the occasion were Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw and Director-General Thura U Aung Htet of the Protocol Department.
____________________________________
(2) Message from the Chairman of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control, Minister for Home Affairs Colonel Tin Hlaing on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
Today is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The theme adopted by the United Nations this year is "Youth Uniting to Prevent Drug Abuse". It has been 11 years since Myanmar began its active participation in observing the Day every year at the Central, State and Division and Township levels.
In the light of this event, Myanmar has laid down a two-point national strategy for narcotic drugs control: (I) To designate narcotic drug eradication and prevention as a national responsibility and to carry out this responsibility with added momentum. (2) To gradually eliminate poppy cultivation by raising the standard of living of the national races in the border areas.
The three Tactics of Supply Elimination, Demand Elimination and Law Enforcement are employed to implement the above Strategies including the following three Methods (I) To enlighten the producer and abuser of narcotic drugs on their belief, their conviction and psychological make-up for the better. (2) To facilitate accessibility and communication between those national races on the highlands and those in other regions. (3) To develop the socio-economic condition of the national races at the border areas.
The three Methods constitute the basis for the betterment of socio economic life of the national races in the border areas and for them to abandon the habit by which they are dependent on opium poppy cultivation for their means of livelihood. The cooperation of the ethnic leaders and the national races is one of the most important factors which is evident in the Monglar Region in Eastern Shan State becoming an Opium Free Zone. Plans are afoot to make other regions opium free.
The State has also laid down a 15-year plan to totally eliminate opium cultivation. Mr Pino Arlacchi, the UNDCP Executive Director, while on his visit to Myanmar remarked that it was a dependable plan for narcotics elimination. The baseline data collection projects on poppy cultivation and drug addicts that are necessary for the 15-year plan are being implemented in the whole country, starting from 1 January 1998. The State has in carrying out the elevation of the socio-economic development of the national races has spent 9321.76 million kyats up to the end of May 1998.
In context of supply eradication it should be put on record that the credit goes to UNDCP and the Government of Japan for their generous support.
In the demand eradication aspect, in addition to treatment and rehabilitation to drug addicts preventive education and information are continuously disseminated to the students and youths and the public. The national races leaders have also on their own set up treatment and rehabilitation programmes, that, in themselves are a source of gratification.
As the UN theme "Youth Uniting to Prevent Drug Abuse" has exhorted, youth play a very significant role. The threat now is not only confined to opium, heroin and marijuana but manifests itself also in stimulants. The proliferation of the narcotic habit among youths spell a disaster to all countries. For this reason alone, youth are essential to join up in the battle against narcotic drugs.
In the law enforcement aspect not only narcotics like opium, heroin, marijuana and stimulants are being seized but also clandestine laboratories producing heroin and stimulants are being increasingly ferreted out and destroyed.
As the CCDAC motto "Narcotic drugs a menace to all mankind" attests, we are facing a worldwide problem today. A Special Session of the UN on Narcotic Drugs, from 8 to 10 June 1998 collectively tried to search for relevant answers to solve the problem.
For this very reasons it is imperative for the people of the Union of Myanmar to join up in the fight to totally eliminate narcotic drugs.
________________________________________
(3) Mansi, Shwegu in Kachin State to extend paddy output
YANGON, 25 June - Chairman of - Kachin State Peace and Development Council Commander of Northern Command Maj-Gen Kyaw Win addressed ceremony to honour farmers of 12 village-tracts who sold paddy to the Government on their own goodwill at Sitha village in Bhamo on 18 June.
He also presented gifts to them.
Accompanied by Brig-Gen Win Sein of Bhamo Station and officials, he gave suggestions on extension of crop cultivation. At Shwedaunggwin, the commander attended to the needs of officials in reclaiming 350 acres to put under monsoon paddy this season.
Shwedaunggwin is 17 miles from Shwegu.
The next morning, the commander and party met local authorities and departmental personnel at Shwegu Township Peace and Development Council Office and urged them to form zone level agricultural supervisory committees to extend cultivation of the four main crops. In Mansi Township, they attended a meeting to assign duties to members of Township Agricultural Supervisory Committee at Township Peace and Development Council Office on 20 June.
They supervised reclamation of 180 acres to put under various crops in Konglun village in the township.
At Sikhangyi village in the township, he honoured farmers of Sikhangyi, Konglun and Peiktha village-tracts who sold paddy to the Government on their own goodwill. The commander cordially conversed with farmers and gave counsel.
With the sponsorship of Kachin State Peace and Development Council, Masi Township will put 16,508 acres under monsoon and summer paddy and Shwegu Township 29,160 acres under monsoon and summer paddy to exceed their respective targets for 1998-99 by 20 percent.
Plans are under way to boost sown acreage of other crops to exceed targets.
________________________________________
(4) Myanma Art and sculpture Exhibition continues
YANGON, 25 June - Teachers and their pupils of Sangyoung Township Basic Education Middle School No 4 and the public visited Myanma Art and Sculpture Exhibition today.
Fifty-three sculptures and 936 paintings are being displayed at the exhibition which opens daily from 9 am to 4 pm till 28 June. Six sculptures and 56 paintings have been sold at the exhibition to date, fetching over K 3.6 million.
_________________________________________
(5) Organizing Committee for boxing contest donates K 600.000 to sports committee, federation
YANGON, 25 June - The organizing committee for Myanma traditional and Pashu boxing contest held a ceremony to donate cash for Sports and Physical Education Committee of the Ministry of Sports and Myanmar Traditional Sports Federation at the meeting hall of Aung San Stadium at 11 am today.
The ceremony was attended by General Secretary of Myanmar Olympic Committee Director-General Col Hla Myint Kyaw of the Sports and Physical Education Department. Deputy Director-General Lt-Col Thein Aung, directors of SPED, officials of Myanmar Traditional Sports Federation, in-charge of the boxing contest U Tin Aung and committee members.
First, U Tin Aung briefed those present on purpose of the donation and donated K 500,000 to Sports and Physical Education Committee of the Ministry of Sports and K 100,000 to Myanmar Traditional Sports Federation.
Col Hla Myint Kyaw accepted the donations and thanked the donors.
____________________________________________
(6) First bored pile of Aungzeya Bridge being built
YANGON, 25 June - Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint, accompanied by officials of Public Works, inspected Aungzeya Bridge Project in Insein and Hlinethaya Township today. He inspected construction of piers at both Insein and Hlinethaya sides.
He next inspected construction of the first of the 35 bored piles by Reverse Circulation Drill (RCD) Later, he gave suggestions on worksite safety and catering to health of workers.
The modern RCD method will be applied to build all 35 bored piles of the bridge one after another.
___________________________________________
(7) Deputy Minister inspects police battalions
YANGON, 25 June - Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung inspected No 5 Police Battalion and No.3 Police Battalion here this morning. The deputy minister was accompanied by Deputy Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Police Brig-Gen Hla Tun, Police Battalions Control Commander Police Brig-Gen Aung Nwe and staff officers.
He heard reports on staff, adjutant and quarter affairs of the battalions presented by Commander of No.5 Police Battalion Police Lt-Col Ya Lyan Mone and Commander of No.3 Police Battalion Police Lt-Col Tun Tun.
Meeting policemen of the battalions, he said what the main duty of MPF is to ensure safety of the people, and what the policemen are available at places where crimes occur could reduce and prevent crimes.
In accordance with the guidance given by the Head of State, MPF members have to avoid abuse of authority and misconducts so as to win the confidence of the people, he said.
The deputy minister also urged families of policemen to cultivate paddy and seasonal and perennial crops on the campus of the battalions.
________________________________________
(8) Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd of Office of Ministers holds annual meeting
YANGON, 25 June - Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd of Office of Ministers held the annual general meeting for 1997-98 fiscal at YMCA building at the corner of Theinbyu Road and Maha Bandoola Street this afternoon.
Chairman of the Cooperative Society Head of Branch of Office of the Minister for Information U Kyi Than spoke on the occasion.
Head of Botahtaung Township Cooperatives Department U Than Swe also spoke.
Staff Officer U Tin Myint presented the EC report, financial statement and future tasks.
The meeting approved the reports and appointed Sub-Inspector U Than Myint of Special Investigation Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs as new EC member.
The meeting ended with the concluding remarks by U Kyi Than.
______________________________________
(9) Judo Contest to-mark World Olympic Day
YANGON, 25 June - The Judo Contest to mark World Olympic Day, organized by Myanmar Judo Federation, was held at the Judo training camp in the compound of National Swimming Pool at 10 am today.
It was attended by President of Myanmar Judo Federation U Aung Kyi, executives, officials of the Sports and Physical Education Department, guests and spectators.
A total of 27 athletes of six senior and junior Judo teams took part in the contest.
After the contest, President of MJF U Aung Kyi and executives presented
prizes to the winners.