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(1) General Maung Aye pays homage at pagodas in Shan State (East)
YANGON, 5 Nov - Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye and Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, accompanied by Deputy Prime ministers and senior Tatmadaw officers, left Tachilek, Shan State (East), by helicopter for Langtaung Village in Monglin (East) Village Tract in Tachilek Township on 31 October afternoon.
General Maung Aye and party paid homage at Langtaung Pagoda.
General Maung Aye, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo and party also paid homage to Chairman of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Myingyan Sayadaw, Tachilek Nagahnakaung Kyaungtaik Sayadaw and members of the Sangha who were at Langtaung Village.
General Maung Aye and party received the five precepts from Konlon Sayadaw Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Bhaddanta Tejaniya of Pindaya Township and presented offertories to the Sayadaw.
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(2) Secretary-l welcomes military attaches back from Northern Command area
YANGON, 5 Nov - The military attaches and their families arrived back here by air this evening at the conclusion of their excursion tour to Northern Command area, Myitkyina and Putao.
Led by Head of Department of the Office of Strategic Studies Col Thein Swe and Dean of the Military Attaches in Myanmar Military Attache of the Russian Federation Col Vladimir Kontchakov, they visited the areas from 3 to 5 November.
Chief of the Office of Strategic Studies Director of Defence Services Intelligence Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Deputy Chief of OSS Deputy Director of DSI Brig-Gen Kyaw Win and officials welcomed them back at Yangon International Airport.
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(3) Supervisory Committee for Myanma Railways and Inland Water Transport Services to Operate Full Capacity meets
YANGON, 5 Nov - Supervisory Committee for Myanma Railways and Inland Water Transport Services to Operate Full Capacity held meeting (3/98) this afternoon at Ministry of Transport, addressed by Chairman of Central Supervisory Committee to Ensure Secure and Smooth Transport Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo.
He said the staff of Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Rail Transportation are achieving success in implementing tasks in accord with the guidance of the respective ministers.
Personnel of MR and IWT are in touch with the public every day, making greater efforts and overcoming difficulties in their functions to assure satisfaction to customers in transporting passengers and freight as their services are relied on by the masses, he said.
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(4) Prizes given to winners in Ngwetayi Short Story Competition and Annual Myawady Colour Photo Contest
YANGON, 5 Nov - Prizes were given to winners in the Third Ngwetayi Short Story Competition and Annual Myawady Colour Photo Contest this afternoon at the Central Hotel, attended by Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Win Myint.
Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Chief of Staff (Navy) Capt Kyi Min, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Director of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare Col Khin Aung Myint, Commandant of Defence Services Record Office Commander of No 4 Military Region Col Myo Myint, senior Tatmadaw officers (Army, Navy, Air), Chief Editor of Myawady Literature House Lt-Col Sein Win and officials, heads of department, chairman and members of Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association, prize winners and guests were also present.
Director of PRPW Col Khin Aung Myint and Chief Editor Lt-Col Sein Win made speeches.
Col Khin Aung Myint presented first prize in short story competition to U Thet Oo (Min Beda Pwintphyu), second prize to U Khin Win (Myekhetaung Maung Maung Win), third prize to Daw Tin Mya Hnit (Khin Thitsa) and special prizes to Sgt Yin Htwe Min (Yin Htwe Min), U Kyi Shwin (Maung Hline Thit) and Daw Khin Lay Thit (Pauk Pauk).
Staff Officer (Grade-1) of Directorate of PRPW Lt-Col Maung Maung Oo presented special prizes to U Tun Hla Aung (Aung Cho Hinaing), Capt Khin Thida (Khin Thida), Daw Yin Yin Nu (Yin Yin Nu - Mandalay), U Sein Lwin (Sein Lwin-Moegaung), Maj Kyaw Nyunt (Yin Nyein Pan) and U Kyi Sein (Hmawwun Kyi Myat).
Deputy Director of PRPW Col Kyaw Myint presented first prize in photo contest to U Zaw Min (Ko Pa-Marga/Katha), second prize U Wai Kyi Moe (Maung Wai Kyi Moe-Yangon University), U Sein Htay (Ko Sein Htay) and special prize U Khin Maung Win (Shwebontha Khin Maung Win).
Lt-Col Sein Win presented special prizes to U Khin Maung Myint (Ko Ko Sonny Theingi Shweyi), U Pe Myint Oo (Pe Myint Oo) and U Han Min Oo (Tekkatho Han Min Oo Golden Eye).
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(5) Second dredger handed over to MPA
YANGON, 5 Nov - The second dredger, Yadana Theinkha, purchased under the contract between the Myanma Port Authority of the Ministry of Transport and Pagoda Maritime SA was handed over at a ceremony at Pansodan Nanthida jetty at 7 am today.
Also present on the occasion were Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Lt-Gen Min Thein, Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe, Minister at the Prime Minister' Office Brig-Gen Lun Maung, Deputy Minister for Transport Brig-Gen Kyaw Myint, heads of departments under the Ministry of Transport, personnel of Pagoda Maritime and guests.
Managing Director of Myanma Port Authority Col Thein Htay, Director Mr Toshifumi Inami and Vice-Chairman Mr Kazumori Ota of Pagoda Maritime spoke on the occasion.
The Managing Director of MPA and the Director of Pagoda Maritime signed and exchanged documents.
The ministers and guests boarded the dredger and inspected it.
The first dredger was handed over on 5-8-98. The second dredger is 66.33 metres long and 14 metres wide. It has a draught of four metres. The two dredgers will be in operation in Yangon River. Each dredger costs about US $ 15 million.
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(6) Attitude of political parties
Twenty national race groups which made peace with the government have already issued declarations on their attitude in connection with the call of the National League for Democracy to convene the Hluttaw.
Similarly, political parties legally in existence are issuing declarations on their respective attitudes in connection with the call of the National League for Democracy to convene the Hluttaw and they will be made public.
Today, a translation of the declaration on the attitude of Shan State Kokang Democratic Party released on 29-10-98 is stated as follows:
1. Our Shan State Kokang Democratic Party was formed with the permission of the government and is a political party recognized by the government. Our party has been formed to enable the Kokang nationals residing in the Union of Myanmar to assist the government's development projects and measures for ensuring peace and tranquillity in unity and as much as possible.
2. It is observed that present attempts of the National League for Democracy to convene the Hluttaw after forming the Pyithu Hluttaw representative committee" are heading for the emergence of two governments in the country. Such acts could lead to confrontation harming national development and peace and tranquillity which we desire.
3. Hence, our Shan State Kokang Democratic Party does not support the
National League for Democracy's formation of the Pyithu Hluttaw representative
committee and its attempts to convene the Hluttaw; it will work together with
the government for modernizing and developing the country and ensuring peace and
tranquillity.
Sd
U Li Kwe Chin
Vice-Chairman
Central Executive Committee
Shan State Kokang Democratic Party
Lashio
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(7) Exhibition '98-To Revitalize and Foster Patriotic Spirit continues
YANGON, 5 Nov - Exhibition '98-To Revitalize and Foster Patriotic Spirit continued for the fifth day at the Tatmadaw Convention Hall on U Wisara Road.
Booths of the Pre-Independence Period, the Post Independence Period, the Contemporary Period, the ministries, computer room and centre showroom are being shown at the exhibition.
Displayed are the locations of pagodas and stupas in Bagan Township, list of Bagan emperors, military paintings related in Bagan period, Razakuma stone inscriptions, lists of kings who reigned in Innwa, Pinya and Sagaing periods in the Pre-Independence Period.
A play featuring King Thibaw being taken away by the British colonialists performed by members of Shwepyitha Township Thabin Asiayon and highlights of films and video plays depicting patriotism and nationalist fervour are shown on a 52 inch TV screen.
Thirteen of the visitors won prizes in memory contests in the computer rooms today.
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(8) Consecration ceremony of Tachilek Shwedagon Pagoda
YANGON, 5 Nov - The consecration ceremony of Tachilek Shwedagon Pagoda was held at the pagoda on 2 November.
Members of the Sangha consecrated the pagoda.
Chairman of Tachilek District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Sein Win and family donated Bath 103,560 and K 46,600 to members of the Board of Trustees for the construction of Gandakudi Kyaungdawgyi of Mongphon Maha Myatmuni Pagoda.
Present were Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotica Pindaya Konlon Sayadaw Bhaddanta Tejaniya and Tachilekmyo Nagahnakaung Sayadaw State Ovadacariya Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Dhammasiri and members of the Sangha, chairmen of District and Township Peace and Development Councils, Lt-Col Hla Aung and members, members of the Board of Trustees, heads of department and guests.
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(9) Practical course level-2 opened for effective use of energy
YANGON, 4 Nov - Practical course level on effective use of energy jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Energy and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) opened at the ministry yesterday morning.
Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi spoke of reviews on energy resources on earth, decay of environment after utilizing energy and seeking the ways of substitution and effective use.
Present were Deputy Minister for Energy U Tin Tun, Deputy Minister for Industry-1 Col Than Zin and heads of departments under the ministry.
Nineteen engineer technicians from four ministries are attending the course
and a technician from ESCAP will give lectures.