( 1 ) Secretary-2 inspects rehearsal for Military Band Contest opening ceremony

Yangon, 7 Jan-The rehearsal for opening ceremony of the 56th Anniversary Armed Forces Day Commemorative Tenth Military Band Contest was held at the People's Square this morning. Chairman of Leading Committee for Observance of the 56th Anniversary Armed Forces Day Patron of Tenth Military Band Contest Chief of Bureau of Special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo inspected the rehearsal.

Also present on the occasion were Chairman of Management Committee for the Contest Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Chief of Armed Forces Training Maj-Gen Win Myint, Chairman of Organizing Committee for the Contest Vice-Adjutant General Brig-Gen Maung Nyo, Vice-Quartermaster-General Brig-Gen Kyaw Win, Provost Marshal Brig-Gen Saw Hla, Director of Military Training Brig-Gen Aung Kyi, Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Soe Win, Director-General of Fire Services Department U Myint Tun and officials. Band troupes of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) rehearsed for the Contest.

Afterwards, Guard of Honour Band, Military Band, MPF Band and Myanmar Fire Brigade Band presented skill demonstrations.

Secretary-2 attends prize presentation ceremony of Ministry of Defence

Yangon, 7 Jan-A ceremony to present prizes to outstanding students who are offspring of Tatmadaw members (Army, Navy and Air) and passed their examinations in 1999-2000 academic year, was held at the hall of the Ministry of Defence this afternoon, attended by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Chief of Bureau of Special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo. Also present on the occasion were directors of departments and offices under of the Ministry, senior military officers, parents officers and other ranks and outstanding students. The Secretary-2 spoke on the occasion. Then, the Secretary-2, the directors and senior military officers presented prizes to 131 outstanding students 61 in Basic Education Primary level , 13 in Middle School level, three ninth standard students, 46 tenth standard students and eight university/college students. The ceremony came to a close at 2.30 pm.

Last date for marching and military song competition extended

Yangon, 7 Jan-Sub-committee for organizing military and marching song competition has invited entries to the 56th Anniversary Armed Forces Day commemorative military and marching songs composing competition. The Sub-committee is a body of the Work Committee for holding poetry and art competition, headed by Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt. Marching song composing competition includes open division and military song competition has level 1 and level 2. In addition to the first, second and third prizes, special prizes will be awarded in both competitions.

Rules and regulations for composing of the marching songs are as follows: Composing of songs should be based on the Twelve National Objectives the objectives of the 56th Anniversary Armed Forces Day and the twelve traditions of the Tatmadaw. Anyone can compete in military song competition. There are level-1 and level-2 in the competition. Composers and vocalists of level-1 are not allowed to take part in the level-2. Those who had won first, second or third prizes in the level-2 will be allowed to participate only in the level-1. Entrants in individual or group categories are allowed to compose only one song each. Marching songs must be composed in accord with the composing system. Military songs must be Myanmar tune and Myanmar style. All songs must be four to six minutes long.

Entries must be sound singing with complete music.  Each reel or tape is permitted to record only one song.  Suitable title of the song can be given. Ten copies of typed song and the original copy of the music notes should be presented together with the recorded cassette tape or reel.  Brief biography of the composer and vocalist is to be sent together with three passport-size (2"x2 1/2') colour photos.   Tentatively selected persons will be announced to take part in the final competition. Entries are to be sent to U Ko Ko Htwe, Secretary of the Sub-committee for organizing military and marching song competition, Myanma Radio and Television, Pyay Road, Yangon, not later than 16 January 2001.

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( 2 ) Appointment of Ambassador agreed on

Yangon, 8 Jan-The Government of the Union of Myanmar has agreed to the appointment of Mr Oum Maolanon as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Union of Myanmar.

Mr Oum Maolanon was born on 25 March 1949 and graduated from Thammasat University of Bangkok, Thailand, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand in 1971 and has served in various capacities in the Ministry as well as in Thai Embassies in Jakarta and Washington and at the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations Office in Geneva. In 1998, he served as Deputy Director-General of the Department of Economic Affairs and from 1999 he has been serving as Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. Mr Oum Maolanon is married.

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( 3 ) Magway Division War Veteran Organization holds pre-conference

Yangon, 7 Dec-The pre-conference of Myanmar War Veteran Organization (Magway Division) was held at Magway City Hall at 9 am today, attended by Patron of Myanmar War Veteran Organization (Magway Division) Chairman of Magway Division Peace and Development Council Brig-Gen Thein Zaw. Also present on the occasion were members of Central Organizing Committee of Myanmar War Veteran Organization Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung, Vice-Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa and Director-General of Social Welfare Department U Sit Myaing, senior military officers in the division, members of supervisory committee for the organization, division level officials, chairmen of township Peace and Development Councils, executives of USDA, Maternal and Child Welfare Association and Women's Affairs Work Committee in Magway Division, members of Myanmar Red Cross Society, Auxiliary Fire Brigade, Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association, merchants association and economic enterprises, officials and invited guests. Lt-Col Myint Tun (Retd) chaired the conference with Lt-Col Tin Ngwe (Retd), and Maj Tin Hlaing (Retd). Daw Tin Moe Kyi and Daw Thein Kyu Myint acted as masters of ceremonies.

The master of ceremonies read out the agenda and opened the conference. Then, Lt-Col Myint Tun delivered an opening speech. Capt Aung Kyi (Retd), Maj Tun Sein (Retd) and Maj Kyi Than (Retd) of Supervisory Committee for War Veteran Organization (Magway Division) read out three sections of the report respectively.

Afterwards, Maj Sein Hlaing (Retd) read out the report on National Politics, Maj Maung Maung Nyein (Retd) on National Defence and Security, Capt Thet Aung (Retd) on Economic Sector, Capt Tin Myint Aung on Social Welfare and Capt Saw Sein Tun (Retd) on Community Works Sector. Chairman Lt-Col Myint Tun (Retd) made a concluding speech and the ceremony came to an end with the chanting of slogans.

Central Organizing Committee of MWVO presented K 1 million, Magway Division Peace and Development Council K 100,000, District Peace and Development Councils K 100,000, Myan-mar Police Force (Magway Division) K 60,000, Magway Division Development Committee K 50,000, Magway Division Maternal and Child Welfare Association K 50,000, Asia World Co Ltd K 50,000, Contact Co K 50,000, Magway Division USDA K 30,000, Magway Division Red Cross Society K 30,000, Bureau of Special Investigation K 30,000, Magway Division Transport Association K 1 million, Magway Division Agricultural Produce Trading K 50,000, Pyay Maha Agricultural Co (Natmauk) K 20,000 for Magway Division WVO.

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( 4 ) Trade Training Courses to open soon

Yangon, 7 Jan- The Trade Training Courses will be opened for those wishing to discharge duty at factories and mills by Nawarat Education Family. Interested persons may attend Fitter, Welder, Plumber, Surveying, Site Carpentry, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning, Electrical Installation and Computer Aided Draughting courses. Classes of HND engineering course will be opened for those who passed the matriculation examination and the basic education high school examination. Applications will be submitted to Student Affairs Department, Nawarat Education Family, 82, Anawrahta Street, phone 250225.

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( 5 ) Sunflower and sesame cultivation demonstrated in Hmawby Township

Yangon, 7 Jan-A ceremony to demonstrate sunflower and sesame cultivation through irrigation was held at Shwemyaya Village-tract in Hmawby Township, Yangon North District this morning, attended by member of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Police Col Tin Win, Chairman of District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col San Ma Tu and division/township level departmental officials, members of Union Solidarity and Development Association and peasants. Chairman Lt-Col San Ma Tu, Yangon Division Myanma Agriculture Service U San Maung, Head of Land Records of Yangon Division U Naing Win, officials from Yangon Division Water Resources and Irrigation Departments explained the system. The officials attended to the matters related to construction of bridge and water supply put forward by the peasants.

Then, the irrigated  by Chairman of Township Peace and Development Council U Ye Hla and Township Agricultural Services Manager U Thein Lwin at the plantation of Peasant Daw Hla Myint. Afterwards, Lt-Col Tin Win and party attended the ceremony to collectively cultivate summer paddy at Kyunchaung Village in Phalon Kankon Village-tract, Taikkyi Township. Police Col Tin Win, Lt-Col San Ma Tu and members of Supervisory Committee for Cultivation made speeches. The cultivation of summer paddy and winter crop in Taikkyi Township was reported by Taikkyi Township Peace and Development Council U Myint Than and general round of discussions followed. After sowing paddy and ploughing the fields with 120 cows and 20 tractors, the ceremony came to an end.

Yangon bustling with activities

Yangon, 7 Jan-Today is Sunday, an office holiday, and pilgrimage centres were crowded with Buddhist devotees and members of the Sangha, and recreation and amusement centres with holiday-makers. Laypersons and members of the Sangha, including tourists, thronged the pagodas such as Shwedagon, Maha Wizaya, Sule, Botahtaung Kyaik-day-up, Koehtatgyi, Chaukhtatgyi, Ngahtatgyi, Thanlyin Kyaikkhauk Sandawshin, Kyaikmhawwun Yaylezedi, and were seen paying reverence to the pagodas, keeping precepts, counting beads, practising meditation, offering flowers, water, lights and incense sticks and making donations. Likewise, People's Park and People's Square, Yangon Zoological Gardens, Thakayta Amusement Park, Myakyuntha Amusement Park and Kandawmingala Park were teeming with holiday-makers.

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( 6 )  Cash and kind donated to DSRO

Yangon, 7 Jan- Happy (Juice) of Happy International Co Ltd presented soft drinks to No 4 Military Region and Maternal and Child Welfare Association of Defence Services Records Office at the meeting hall of DSRO this morning. Commandant of DSRO and Commander of No 4 Military Region Brig-Gen Myo Myint and wellwisher Managing Director U Kyaw Thaung gave speeches. Then, the wellwisher presented K 200,000 for No 4 Military Region to Commandant Brig-Gen Myo Myint and K 200,000 and 10 dozens of orange soft drinks to MCWA of DSRO to Chairperson Dr Thi Thi Aye.

Independence Day Exhibition continues

Yangon, 7 Jan- The 53rd Anniversary Independence Day Exhibition, organized by the Sub-committee for Organizing the 53rd Anniversary Independence Day Exhibition, continued at Tatmadaw Convention Centre on U Wisara Road in Dagon Township this morning. Teachers, students, members of Union Solidarity and Development Association and the public visited the exhibition. Struggles for building of the first, second and third Myanmar empires and activities for independence struggle, documents related to the Independence Day on 4 January 1948, culture and development of the State, ministries and narcotic drugs eradication booths were displayed at the exhibition. There are quizzes on computers and quizzes on the paintings in the exhibition. Various kinds of books were sold at the bookshops of News and Periodicals Enterprise, Information and Public Relations Department and Sarpay Beikman. The exhibition will be kept open free of charge to the public from 9 am to 5 pm until 11 January.

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( 7 ) USDA CEC member meets executives and organizers

Yangon, 7 Jan- Member of Central Executive Committee of the Union Solidarity and Development Association U Aung San met with organizers and executives at the office of Thingangyun Township USDA this morning. First, organizers reported to the EC member on organizational work. Then, the EC member made a speech. First, he urged the organizers to carry out the tasks systematically. He also stressed the need to zealously take part in activities that strengthen the association.

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