*********************************************************************
_____________________________
(1) Rakhine State development gains momentum with infrastructure improvements
YANGON, 19 Jan - 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 inspected regional development undertakings in MraukU, Minbya, Ann, Taunggup and Thandwe townships in Rakhine State from 17 to 19 January.
Accompanied by senior military officers and ministers, they left Kyauktaw for MraukU on 17 January and were welcomed by Col Aung Thein of Western Command and officials.
The General and party paid obeisance to Laymyethna Pagoda, Htokkantthein Pagoda and Shitthaung (a) Yanaungzeya Pagoda and observed ancient artistic designs.
In Minbya Township, they inspected Ramong River Bridge Project.
Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun and engineer briefed them on progress in implementing the project.
The General attended to their needs and inspected the scale model of the bridge and the project.
_______________________________
YANGON, 19 Jan - Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt discussed administration of justice with judges of the Supreme Court, State/Division and District Courts and Law Officers of the Attorney- General's Office, States/Divisions and Districts at the Institute of Nursing on Bogyoke Street at 8.30 am today.
The meeting was attended by Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Win Myint, Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister for Labour Vice-Admiral Tin Aye, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Ministers at the Office of the Prime Minister Brig-Gen Lun Maung and Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe, Chief Justice U Aung Toe, Attorney-General U Tha Tun, Acting Auditor-General Brig-Gen Tin Aye, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo, Deputy Minister for Immigration and Population U Maung Aung, Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa, senior military officers, Director-General of State Peace and Development Council Office Lt-Col Pe Nyein, heads of departments, Supreme Court, State/Division and District judges, Attorney-General's Office, State/Division and District Law Officers and Township judges and Law Officers of townships in 5 Yangon Division.
_____________________________
(3) National Seminar on World Trade Organization and Multilateral Trading System commences
YANGON, 19 Jan - The National Seminar on the World Trade Organization and Multilateral Trading System, jointly organized by the Ministry of Commerce and the Technical Cooperation and Training Division of the WTO at the ministry this morning with an address by Minister for Commerce Maj-Gen Kyaw Than.
Present were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw, Minister at the Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Brig-Gen Maung Maung, Minister for Energy Brig-Gen. Lun Thi, Deputy Ministers for Commerce Commodore Myo Tint and Col Kyaw Shwe, advisers to the ministry, directors-general, managing directors, department heads, residential representatives of the UN, Counsellor Mr Raymond D J Krommenacker of Technical Cooperation and Training Division of WTO, Geneva, and trainees of ministries concerned.
_____________________________
(4) Telecasting, broadcasting of educational programmes discussed
YANGON, 19 Jan - A coordination meeting on Telecasting and broadcasting of educational programmes cosponsored by the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Education was held at the Office of Ministry of Information on Bo Aung Kyaw Street today, with an address by Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung.
Also present at the meeting were Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung, Director-General of Myanma Television and Radio Department U Kyi Lwin, Rector of Institute of Education U Han Tin, Chairman of Myanmar Educational Research Bureau U Tin Nyo, Director (News) of News and Periodicals Enterprise U Hla Tun, Directors of MTRD U Ko Ko Htwe and U Phone Myint, Director of Basic Education Department U Hkun Ba Yin and officials.
Maj-Gen Kyi Aung said it was the second meeting to coordinate Telecasting and broadcasting of lessons for basic education pupils in keeping with Head of State Senior General Than Shwe's guidance.
He said there will be two types of the programmes-one for the academic term and the other for all year round-and they are aimed at enabling the pupils all over the country to be proficient in their lessons.
He noted that these programmes will be helpful to pupils and enable them to be well-qualified.
He said that plans are also under way to print and publish the televised lessons so that the pupils of remote areas can get them and that the educational programmes to be on the air are not meant just for a limited period, but will be repeated until the pupils understand them.
He also spoke of the need for officials to revise and update the lessons for repeated telecasts and broadcasts and make arrangements to publish them in the Sunday supplements of the dailies.
Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung said tasks will be carried out in accord with the minister's suggestions and the lectures will be given subject-wise.
A general round of discussions followed.
_______________________________
(5) 20,000 amphetamine tables seized in Tachilek
YANGON, 19 Jan - Members of Defence Services Intelligence, regional battalion, Myanmar Police Force and special anti-drug squad seized drug traffickers together with 20,000 amphetamine tables, a factory producing the tablets, cash, gold ornaments and a motorcycle in Tachilek Township from 14 to 16 January.
Acting on information, the authorities stopped and searched a motorcycle which came from Tachilek at Mongphong village-tract in the township on 14 January at 8 pm.
They found 8,000 amphetamine tables from the rider Aik Aun, 57, son of U Aik Hson and another 4,000 from pillion rider U Nan Shen, 65, son of U Aik Kyaing.
They seized the two drug traffickers, the drugs and the motorcycle.
Further investigation had led to the seizure of the machine to produce the drugs at the house of Sai Yi Kyauk (a) Aik Kyauk, at 75, Lower Sansai Ward, in the township, at 12 pm the next day.
Drug traffickers, Sai Yi Kyauk (a) Aik Kyauk, 27, son of U San Kyauk, U San Kyauk, 61, son of U Koik, Daw Nang Phu, 56, daughter of U Sai Hkam, Nang Nwum On, 21, daughter of U Lon Aun, Nang Woe Tin, 25, daughter of U San Kyauk and Nang Kyan Pong, 22, daughter of U San Kyauk were also arrested together with ninety plastic bags to pack the amphetamine tables, 27,630 baht, 600 yuan, K 12,000, one US dollar, a gold chain weighing about 1.19 ticals, one gold hand chain weighing 14.25 ticals, one gold ring weighing nearly 3.19 ticals, which are proceeds of drug trafficking business, one hand phone used in Thailand, and eight walkie talkie antennas.
The authorities searched U Nan Shen's house in Lunkyaing village, Mongphong (Ka) village-tract, Tachilek Township, on 16 January and seized 8,000 amphetamine tables.
Action has been taken against the drug traffickers.
______________________________
(6) "Let's go" and "How to take exam" on TV, radio
YANGON, 19 Jan - "Let's Go" Computer English Lessons-and "How to take exam" programme for basic education high school pupils will be on Myanma TV and Radio.
"Let's Go" Computer English Lesson programme will be on TV beginning 6.30 pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and "How to take exam" programme on TV beginning 6.30 pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and on radio on Wednesday, Fridays and Monday.
__________________________
(7) Minister receives Ambassador of Australia
YANGON, 19 Jan - Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone received Ambassador of Australia Ms Lyndall Alexandra McLean at his office this afternoon.
Present also were Acting Director-General of Fire Services Department U Aung Soe, Acting Director-General of Social Welfare Department U Khin Aung, Director-General of Relief and Resettlement Department U Saw Thein and Head of Office U Maung Pi.
____________________________
(8) Minister for Mines receives Ambassador of Russian Federation
YANGON, 19 Jan - Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint received Ambassador of Russian Federation Mr Gleb A Ivashentsov at his office on 16 January.
Present also were officials of the ministry.
----------------------------------------------