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YANGON, l 7 Mar - Chairman of Work Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races Secretary- 1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt inspected restoration of cultural heritage and regional development under taking in Rakhine State yesterday.
Accompanied by Minister at the Office of the Chairman, of the State Peace and Development Council Brig-Gen Abel, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister for Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Deputy Minister for Immigration and Population U Maung Aung, Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung, Deputy Minister for Commerce Col Kyaw Shwe, Deputy Minister for Electric Power Brig-Gen Maung Maung, officials of State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of departments and officials, the Secretary 1 arrived at Sittway Airport in Rakhine State yesterday morning.
They were welcomed by member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Rakhine State Peace and Development Council Commander of Western Command Maj-Gen Aung Htwe, Acting Auditor General Brig-Gen Tin Aye, Commander of Danyawady Naval Region Command Capt Myat Swe, military and civilian officers and member, of Union Solidarity and Development Association.
Superintending Engineer of Public Works of Rakhine State U Soe Myint briefed them on progress in extended construction of Sittway Airport Terminal.
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt gave suggestions.
Accompanied by Commander Maj-Gen Aung Htwe, they observed restoration of cultural heritage in MraukU Township.
The Secretary-1 and party supervised renovation of Nyidaw Pagoda built by King Minkhayi in 795 ME (1433 AD). King Minkhayi was the younger brother of King Min Saw Mon, the founder of MraukU.
They paid obeisance to Buddha images and studied stucco works featuring 40 different kinds of turbans, nine different styles of sashes and 64 different hair-coiling methods of Rakhines in Htoukkantthein Temple built by King Minkhamoung in 933 ME (1571 AD).
At Koethaung Pagoda, they looked into the requirements in renovating it.
King Mindiga (Minteikkha) build this pagoda in 915 ME (1553 AD) and enshrined 90,000 Buddha images in it. The stone pagoda is the largest in MraukU Township.
At Minkhaung Shwegu Pagoda, they attended to the needs in restoration of the religious monument, built by Natshinmai, the chief queen of King Sirisudhamma Raja, in 991 ME (1629 AD).
They then inspected excavation of the palace site of ancient Rakhine kings of MraukU era.
Assistant Director U Kyaw Dun Aung of MraukU Cultural Heritage Branch of Archaeology Department explained to them on progress of excavation work.
The Secretary- I and party inspected Buddha images found in renovating ancient pagodas in MraukU and items found at the excavation site.
Director-General of Archaeology Department U Nyunt Han and Assistant Director U Kyaw Dun Auns, briefed them on progress in restoring and renovating ancient pagodas in MraukU and palace site excavation and finds.
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt said the Government is spending large sums of money in finding and restoring ancient cultural heritage of MraukU which are of high class, inviting public donations and participation in implementing the project.
In Kyauktaw Township, they paid obeisance to Maha Muni Buddha Image at Maha Muni Pagoda and also donated cash.
Col Myint Swe of Western Command briefed them on developments in building of Buddhology Museum and all-round renovation of ancient monuments.
They inspected construction of the museum and Historical Museum of Maha Muni Pagoda.
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(2) Chief of Staff (Army) inspects preparations for Armed Forces Day Exhibition
YANGON, 17 Mar - Chairman of Leading Committee for Observance of the - 53rd Armed Forces Day Chief of Bureau of Special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo inspected preparations for the 53rd Armed Forces Day Exhibition at the Defence Services Museum today.
This afternoon, Lt-Gen Tin Oo arrived at the museum on Shwedagon Pagoda Road. He was welcomed there by Chairman of Management Committee for Observance of the 53rd Armed Forces Day Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein, Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi, Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Sein Win, deputy ministers, Inspector-General of Defence Services Brig-Gen Win Myint, senior military officers and departmental heads.
Lt-Gen Tin Oo and officials then oversaw booths of ministries, City Development Committees of Yangon and Mandalay being prepared for the Armed Forces Day Exhibition.
Ministers, deputy ministers and heads of departments concerned briefed Lt-Gen Tin Oo on preparatory work on respective booths concerned.
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(3) Minister examines site for construction of Swa Creek Dam
YANGON, 17 Mar - Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, together with acting Director-General of the Irrigation Department U Myo Myint, visited the work site of Swa Creek Dam Project in Yedashe Township yesterday.
The minister heard reports by the acting director general, director of Construction-5, director (geology) and director (design) on embankment, water flow of the creek and geological survey.
To build the dam, two sites were temporarily selected - one site near Uyinhmu Village and the other near Taungtoak Village. At one of these two sites, a dike will be constructed.
The minister said Swa Creek will be dammed for the project to ensure availability of water, and urged officials to make necessary preparations for building the dam and select a site after carrying out geological survey.
Later, the minister inspected the two temporarily-selected sites.
According to the feasibility study of Sittaung Valley Development Project, the Sittaung Valley gets a lot of rain, and floods occur because of slow flow of water in creeks which run into Sittaung River. By damming creeks like Swa Creek which has a good water flow, water will be available for cultivation of double and mixed cropping, and outbreak of floods can be prevented.
Swa Creek Dam, 4,000 feet long, with a catchment area of 560 square miles can irrigate 47,000 acres. Cultivation of summer paddy, pulses and beans and sugarcane can be extended.
On the way from Yedashe to Yangon, the minister inspected summer paddy cultivation at the both sides of the road.
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(4) Minister for SWRR oversees functions of MWDA (Wingaba)
YANGON, 17 Mar - Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone inspected Myanmar Women Development Association (Wingaba) in Bahan Township this morning.
The minister was welcomed by Chairperson of MWDA Daw Aye Aye Soe and EC members, Chairman of Bahan Township Peace and Development Council U Soe Win and officials.
Daw Aye Aye Soe and Joint Secretary Daw Yin Kyi reported on history and functions of the association.
Chairman U Soe Win and Township Engineer U Tin Myint reported on construction of the association buildings.
Minister Brig-Gen Pyi Sone said the government is providing assistance to non-governmental organizations rendering social services.
He called for taking care of Myanmar women suffering social hardship, training them for rehabilitation, boosting production services for food, clothing and shelter needs, making publicity of function of the association, academic matters and teaching of vocational education for them and providing assistance to the development of the association.
The minister then inspected pre-primary school and its renovation.
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(5) Matupi retransmission station opens
YANGON, 17 Mar - Under the programme to implement development work of border areas and national races a TV retransmission station was built in Matupi, Chin State, utilizing the fund allocated of Border Areas and National Races Development Department.
Myanma Radio and Television supervised the construction of the station and the station was completed on 6 March. It started TV programmes on 9 March.
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(6) Mayor presents hygienic food-stall prizes to schools
YANGON, 17 Mar - The Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee and the Mayor of Yangon presented prizes to basic education high schools which are the best to keep food-stalls hygienic at the City Hall this morning.
Member of Myanmar Health Committee Chairman of YCDC Mayor U Ko Lay spoke on the occasion and presented cash and certificates of honour to the schools.
Head of Department (Health) of YCDC Dr Nai Tint San explained about the rules relating to presenting prizes to the schools.
The Mayor, Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa and Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo presented K 1,035,000 to 22 schools.
Of the schools, Latha Township BEHS 2 won the K 200,000 first prize, Dagon Township BEHS 1 the K 150,000 second prize-and Kamayut BEHS 1 the K 100,000 third prize.
Headmistress Daw Khin Ohn Myint of Latha Township BEHS 2 thanked officials on behalf of principals of the schools.
Also present were Secretary of YCDC Col Myint Aung, joint Secretary U Kyi Win, officials of YCDC and the Ministry of Education and guests.
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(7) Summer intensive classes for B.Ed. Correspondence Course
YANGON, 17 Mar - Summer intensive classes for and examinations for B.Ed. Correspondence Course for 1997-98 academic year will be held at Yangon Institute of Education.
No 16 first year course and No 15 second year course will be opened from 24 April to 14 May. The examinations will be held from 18 to 22 May.
Trainee teachers are to report to Institute of Education 23 April at the latest.
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(8) Special Market Festival continues
YANGON, 17 Mar - As a gesture hailing the 53rd Anniversary Armed Forces Day the Special Market Festival continued on the second floor of Nyaungbinlay Plaza for the second day.
The market festival is packed with visitors. Government Employees Cooperative Syndicate, Shwe Yi Lin Garment and General Trading Cooperative Society, Shwe Lunbyan, Hninzi, Lion City and Shwechinthe cooperative societies and Rococo, Khinemarlar, Tharaphu and Gentleman shops are selling ceramic ware, glassware, flasks, cosmetics, leather bags and shoes, garments, toys, silverware, joss sticks and aluminium-ware, blankets, mattresses, table-cloths and napkin at reasonable prices.
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(9) Over 7.5 kilos of opium seized in Namhkam
YANGON, 17 Mar - A combined team including members of mobile Namhkam Anti-Drug Squad, regional defence intelligence unit, regional battalion and Namhkam police station, acting on a tip-off, searched the house of Sai Aye Sai (a) Aik Sai in Saryaydan Ward, Namhkam Township.
The authorities nabbed 0.003 kilos of Khatkhu, 0.466 kilos of liquid opium and 37 packets of opium weighing 7.5 kilos in his house.
Action is taken against the owner of house Sai Aye Sai (a) Aik Sai, 37, son of U Swei Sai Law Yaing in Namhkam Township and Kyan Sai, 27, son of U Kyan Sai Li Shaw of Namfatkar Village, Kutkai Township, staying in the same house, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law by Namhkam Police Station.
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(10) Information Subcommittee for FAO's 24th Asia and Pacific Regional Conference meets
YANGON, 17 Mar - The Information Subcommittee for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's 24th Asia and Pacific Regional Conference held its meeting No l/98 at the News and Periodicals Enterprise Head Office on Theinbyu Street here this afternoon.
Chairman of the Subcommittee Managing Director of NPE U Tin Kha said the subcommittee will gain the first experience of a conference which will be attended by delegates of 33 countries. It will also be the first conference of its kind to be hosted by Myanmar, he said.
He spoke of the need for departments concerned to work in cooperation for the success of the subcommittee's functions. Members of the subcommittee are to discharge duties in cooperation with the officials concerned. He then called for open discussions to be free from flaws.
0 Secretary of the subcommittee Director (News) of NPE U Hla Tun presented the subcommittee's work programme (draft).
A general round of discussions followed on the draft programme. The meeting also discussed finance and strength of staff to be assigned during the conference.
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(11) Minister for Mines visits mines in Southern Shan State
YANGON, 17 Mar - Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, accompanied by Director U Nyunt Pe of No 1 Mining Enterprise, inspected mines and projects under the Ministry of Mines in Shan State (South) from 14 to 15 March.
On 14 March, the minister and Chairman of Shan State Peace and Development Council Commander of Eastern Command Brig-Gen Maung Bo held meeting on mineral sector.
The minister and party inspected Bawsaing Mine of No 1 Mining Enterprise and Barite Mines of No 3 Mining Enterprise and gave instructions to the officials.
The minister met members of Union Solidarity and Development Association in Bawsaing Mine.
On 15 March, the minister and party together with Acting Commander of No 55 LID Col Tint Swe attended Htidaw hoisting ceremony of Aungtheikdi Mingala Pagoda donated by service personnel of Bawsaing Mine.
In the evening, the minister the party met service personnel of antimony refinery plant of No 3 Mining Enterprise at Inbyin near Kalaw Township.
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