THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
(Thursday, 1 October 1998)
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  1. Chairman of State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to People's Republic of China
  2. Chairman of State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to Nigeria
  3. Chairman of State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to Cyprus
  4. Appropriate measures need be taken if NLD's activities excessively endangering people
  5. Secretary-1 greets contestants of States, Divisions for Sixth Myanma Traditional Performing Arts Competitions
  6. Secretary-l attends consecration of Sulamani Pagoda in Bagan-NyaungU
  7. The Seventh Technical Seminar of Signals Unit concluded at Signals Base Workshop
  8. Myanmar delegation leaves for Washington
  9. Attitude of the nationalities peace groups
  10. Live telecast of opening of Six Myanma Traditional Performing Arts Competitions
  11. Dispensaries for contestants
  12. Books for libraries of IPRD
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(1) Chairman of State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to People's Republic of China

YANGON, 1 Oct - On the occasion of the forty-ninth anniversary of the Founding Day of the People's Republic of China, which falls on 1 October 1998, Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar, has sent messages of felicitations to His Excellency Mr Jiang Zemin, President of the People's Republic of China, and to His Excellency Mr Zhe Rongji, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China.

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(2) Chairman of State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to Nigeria

YANGON, 1 Oct - On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which falls on 1 October 1998, 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 General Abdulsalam A Abubakar, Head of State and Commander-in"Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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(3) Chairman of State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to Cyprus

YANGON, 1 Oct - On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Cyprus which falls on 1 October 1998, 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 Glafcos Clerides, President of the Republic of Cyprus.

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(4) Appropriate measures need be taken if NLD's activities excessively endangering people

YANGON, 30 Sept - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt yesterday morning flew to Bagan-NyaungU and discussed full cultivation of crops in Magway Division and inspected promotion and preservation of Myanma cultural heritage.

The Secretary-1 was accompanied by Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Win Tin, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister for Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint, Deputy Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs U Kyaw Tin, Deputy Minister for Electric Power Brig-Gen Maung Maung, Chief of Staff (Air) Col Myint Swe, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, the heads of department and officials.

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(5) Secretary-1 greets contestants of States, Divisions for Sixth Myanma Traditional Performing Arts Competitions

YANGON, 30 Sept - A ceremony to greet contestants of States and Divisions who will take part in the Sixth Myanma Traditional Performing Arts Competition was held at the National Theatre on Myomakyaung Road here this evening.

Patron of the Sixth Myanma Traditional Performing Arts Competitions Organizing Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended it and cordially met the contestants.

The Secretary-1 arrived at the National Theatre at 4 p.m.

He was welcomed there by Members of Panel of Patrons of Sixth Myanma Traditional Performing Arts Competitions Organizing Committee Minister for Industry-2 Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Culture U Win Sein, Minister for Education U Than Aung, Minister for Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa and Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay and Chairman of the Sixth Myanma Traditional Performing Arts Competitions Organizing Leading Committee Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Vice-Chairman Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt and Secretary Commander of Military Region No 3 Lt-Col Win Maung and members and officials.

The Secretary-1 cordially greeted contestants from Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Rakhine and Shan States and Sagaing, Bago, Taninthayi, Magway, Mandalay, Ayeyawady and Yangon Divisions, veteran artistes and members of the board of judges.

He left there at 4.35 p.m.
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(6) Secretary-l attends consecration of Sulamani Pagoda in Bagan-NyaungU

YANGON, 30 Sept - Consecration of Sulamani Pagoda and hoisting of Seinbudaw, Hngetmyatnadaw and Shwehtidaw were held yesterday in the precincts of the pagoda in Bagan-NyaungU.

The pagoda built by King Narapati Sithu was renovated by well-wisher U Htain Win-Daw Myint Myint of Myitmakha Co Ltd according to its original style.

Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and wife Dr Khin Win Shwe presented offertories to members of the Sangha and hoisted Shwehtidaw, Hngetmyatnadaw and Seinbudaw.

Present were member of Central Working Committee of the Sangha Gukyaung Sayadaw of NyaungU Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Zagara, members of the Sangha led by Presiding Sayadaw of Maha Aungmye Bawdi Dhamma Yeiktha in Bagan-NyaungU Maha Gandavasaka Pandita Maha Saddhammajotikadaja Bagan region and border areas missionary Sayadaw Alodawpyi Sayadaw Bhaddanta Ariyavamsa, member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Ye Myint and wife Dr Tin Lin Myint, the ministers, the deputy ministers, Chief of Staff (Air), the commanders, Chairman of Magway Division Peace and Development Council Col Thein Zaw, officials of the State Peace and Development Council, heads of departments, members of Division, District, Township and Ward Peace and Development Council, service personnel, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, members of Red Cross and Auxiliary Fire Brigade, members of the Board of Trustees, well-wishers and locals.

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(7) The Seventh Technical Seminar of Signals Unit concluded at Signals Base Workshop

YANGON, 30 Sept - The Seventh Technical Seminar of Signals Unit concluded at Signals Base Workshop this morning addressed by Chief of Bureau of Special Operation Chief of Staff (Army) Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo.

Sponsored by Directorate of Signals, the seminar displayed electronic items produced by SBW.

Papers presented at the seminar will help disseminate electronic technology, Lt-Gen Tin Oo said, lauding the unit's efforts in organizing the advanced seminar. Equipment displayed at the seminar, which were devised and produced by the unit, will also benefit the Tatmadaw and the nation, he added.

Setting up of industrial zones in townships such as Hlinethaya, Dagon Myothit South and Shwepyitha and rendering of permission to local entrepreneurs to do business at the zones is one of the government's efforts to uplift the skilled industrialists in building a peaceful, modern and developed nation, he noted.

The government is fulfilling the requirement of private industrialists to the best of its ability and honouring and rendering promotions to technicians of ministries and departments on significant days for innovating new devices, he said.

Technical units are required to organize seminars subject wise and make research and new introductions in endeavoring for the nation to be advanced and developed and in modernizing the Tatmadaw, he underscored.

Difficulties could be solved through coordinations among the units and also with ministries, he suggested, urging ministries to participate in this plan with all-out efforts for national benefit.

High quality and standard is needed in working through different phases to reach mass production stage from prototype and in competing with similar foreign made items in penetrating local and foreign markets, he pointed out.

The Ministry of Science and Technology is conducting standardization which is the main requirement in quality control, he said.

International Archery Federation is interested in buying timer and score boards produced by the unit and used at World Ranking Asian Archery First Circuit Competitions which was held in Yangon and some foreign nations are interested in buying traffic lights manufactured by the unit, he said.

The Secretary-2 urged the unit to strive to promote the quality of the products, saying export of its products will earn n foreign exchange for the nation and win dignitary for the Tatmadaw.

In line with the guidance of Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, the unit should always study the changing and developing communication systems and should devise new electronic apparatus based on newly gained knowledge and technique to uplift the Tatmadaw's communication technology to meet international standard, he underlined.

The unit should strive all-out to organize technical seminars annually for dissemination of techniques and to present more papers at the coming seminars, he stressed.

At the seminar, Capt Myo Thein Kyaw of SBW presented a paper on microprocessor based industrial process control, Capt Myo Thant of Directorate of Signals on intranet communication system, Maj Ye Han of DS on using the Internet, Lt Zaw Zaw of DS on data communication, Lt Swe Lwin Aung of Signals Depot 7 on the study on computer memory system, Maj Aung Htein of Signals Depot 111 on packet switching system, Capt Aung Naing of DS on computer network system, Maj Myint Oo of Defence Services Signals and Electronic School on ethernet network, Maj Tin Soe of Signals Workshop 1 on satellite communication and Maj Thein Win of DS on spy satellite.

Chief Technical Staff Officer (Navy) Commodore Paw Tun, Head of Electronic Engineering and Research Technological Department of Yangon Institute of Technology Dr San Tint, Deputy Minister for Forestry Col Thaik Tun and other participants also took part in the discussions.

Minister for Industry-2 Maj Gen Hla Myint Swe, Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung, Minister at Office of Prime Minister Brig-Gen Lun Maung, Chief of Staff (Navy) Capt Kyi Min, Vice-Adjutant-General Brig-Gen Maung Nyo, Vice-Quartermaster-General Brig-Gen Kyaw Win, Director of Artillery and Armor Brig-Gen Kyi Win, Director of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare Col Khin Aung Myint, Director of Signals Col Aung Myint, Director of Ordnance Col Chit Than, Colonel General Staff (Air) (Technical) Col Hline Bwa, departmental heads, officials of DS and participants were also present.

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(8) Myanmar delegation leaves for Washington

YANGON, 30 Sept - A Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Finance and Revenue U Khin Maung Thein left for Washington by air this morning to attend the 53rd Annual General Meeting of World Bank and International Monetary Fund to be held in the United States of America.

Minister U Khin Maung Thein and delegation were seen off at Yangon International Airport by Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Deputy Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen Than Tun, Ambassador of Thailand Mr Pensak Chalarak, First Secretary of the Singapore Embassy Mr William Chik Kam Weng, heads of departments of the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, officials and relatives.

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(9) Attitude of the nationalities peace groups

There have been reports that the majority of the public is worried about the danger of deteriorating peace and of regional stability and peace being undermined after spreading of news that the four groups which had made peace with the government supported the National League for Democracy's call for convening of the Hluttaw. Hence, declarations of the peace groups will be made public to be able to vividly Learn the situation between the peace groups and National League for Democracy and the true attitude of the peace groups.

Today, a translation of the declaration of the Democratic Kayin Buddhist Association (DKBA), a splinter group of KNU, issued on 19-9-98 is stated as follows:

Declaration on the attitude of the Democratic Kayin Buddhist Association in connection with the acts of the National League for Democracy
Date: 19-9-98

1. Democratic Kayin Buddhist Association (DKBA) is a nationalities organization striving for ensuring peace in Kayin State and development of Kayin nationals.

2. The National League for Democracy in its declaration No 58 (9/98) issued on 16-9-98 stated that a ten-member committee representing the representatives-elect was formed comprising U Aung Shwe, chairman of the NLD. Foreign news agencies announced that nationalities organizations supported that declaration.

3. Democratic Kayin Buddhist Association (DKBA) does not support party politics. It is an organization which is promoting national politics as historic duty. Hence, it does not support whatsoever the NLD's formation of a "committee representing the representatives-elect". Attempts to call the Hluttaw runs against the law and DKBA believes the NLD's declaration that the committee "has the right on behalf of the representatives-elect as invested by the representatives-elect" is meaningless act.

4. NLD's attempt to call the Hluttaw is an unlawful act and it is aimed at causing disintegration of national unity and disturbing stability and peace. Hence DKBA has no trust in the declaration of the NLD.

5. DKBA believes that the Tatmadaw at present is striving for stability and peace and development in the country. DKBA hereby declares its total support of the Tatmadaw government's endeavours.
 
 

Central Executive Committee
Democratic Kayin Buddhist Association

The declarations of other peace groups will also be made public.

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(10) Live telecast of opening of Six Myanma Traditional Performing Arts Competitions

YANGON, 30 Sept - The Sixth Myanma Traditional Performing Arts Competitions will commence at the National Theatre on Myoma Kyaung Road on 1 October.

The opening ceremony of the competitions will be telecast live at 6.30 am on TV Myanmar programme the same day.

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(11) Dispensaries for contestants

YANGON, 30 Sept - Contestants from states and divisions together with leaders of the teams, managers and coaches arrived here to participate in the Sixth Myanma Traditional Performing Arts Competitions and they are now staying at No 1 Transit Centre on Bayintnaung Road.

Dispensaries are opened for contestants by Health Sub-Committee. Eye specialist team attends to eye ailments.

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(12) Books for libraries of IPRD

YANGON, 30 Sept - A ceremony to donate various kinds of books for libraries of the Information and Public Relations Department was held at the Head Office of IPRD on Pansodan Street this afternoon.

Present were Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Director-General U Chit Naing of IPRD, Managing Director U Than Maung of Printing and Publishing Enterprise, Managing Director Col Bo Kyi of Myanma Motion Picture Enterprise, Deputy Director-General U Aung San of IPRD, officials and well-wishers.

Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Aung Thein accepted 320 copies of 'Kinwunchayya Laikywetha' valued at K 96,000 donated by Deputy General Manager Daw Moe Marlar of Tun Foundation Bank, 320 copies of TV and radio lessons for 1998/99 worth K 66,720 by Rector U Mehn Than Thaung of University of Distance Education, 320 copies of Myanma Gon Yi magazines and postcards valued at K 64,000 by U San Tin Aung (Shwebo), 1,160 books including 'Botkyan, Mahuya Hnitlon-tha' worth K 63,140 by U Ye Mya Lwin of Dagon Myothit (North), 190 copies of 'Yokhtuhmapyawthaw Myanma Thamaingwin Pokegohtumya' valued at K 38,000 by U Kyaw Moe of Myanmarpyitha Sarpay and 132 copies of 'Maha Achitkhayi, Arkako Hlwa-ponpyupalo' worth K 23,100 by U Thant Khaing of Monyway Press.

Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Aung Thein presented certificates of honour to the well-wishers and thanked them.

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