(1) 90,000 reclaimed vacant, virgin land ready for cultivation in Nyaungdon field
YANGON, 21 Oct - Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo today visited Ayeyawady Division where he inspected the wetlands, progress in reclaiming the wetlands and cultivation of crops there.
The Secretary-2, accompanied by Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Ohn Myint, Deputy Minister for Industry-2 U Thein Tun, Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint, Secretary of Yangon City Development Committee Col Myint Aung, Deputy Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office U Zaw Myint Pe, Director-General of the General Administration Department U Aung Thein, entrepreneurs and officials, left here by helicopter for Wadaw Sluice Gate in Maubin Township.
They were welcomed there by Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West Command Brig-Gen Thura Shwe Mann and officials.
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(2) Deputy Prime Minister meets-HK company executive director
YANGON, 21 Oct - Executive Director Mr Matthew S K Chan of Hutchison Port Holdings of Hong Kong and party paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin at his office this morning.
Implementation of Thilawa Port Development Project by Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa (MITT) and future programmes were discussed.
Present at the call were officials of Government Office and MIC.
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(3) National Convention Convening Commission meets
YANGON, 21 Oct - National Convention Convening Commission held its meeting at the Commission's office this afternoon.
Present were Chairman of the Commission Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Vice-Chairmen Maj-Gen Sein Htwa and Brig-Gen Pyi Sone and members.
Chairman Maj-Gen Saw Lwin led the discussions.
National Convention Work Committee and Management Committee reported on the National Convention. Members of the Commission took part in the discussions.
The meeting ended with the concluding remarks by Chairman Maj-Gen Saw Lwin.
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(4) YMBA opens anti-narcotic drug course
YANGON, 21 Oct - Young Men's Buddhist Association (YMBA) opened a course to disseminate means to fight against the abuse of narcotic drugs in accord with Mingala Sutta, one of the teachings of Lord Buddha.
Declared open by Vice-Chairman of YMBA U Zaw Win Zaw, the opening ceremony was held this morning at the association at 77, Yaygyaw Street, Pazundaung Township.
Chairman of the YMBA Myintzuthaka U Than Maung explained the association's aims concerning safeguarding and promotion of the race, religion and education.
Joint Secretary Police Col Ngwe Soe Tun of Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) and Resident Representative Mr Richard Dickins of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) briefed the trainees on programmes of the two bodies.
Twenty-two trainees including eight members of the Sangha led by Myoma Sayadaw Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Bhaddanta Kovida of Ayeyawady Division are attaining the three-day course.
Physicians specialized in anti-drug field are giving lectures at the course which is being conducted from 21 to 23 October.
Departmental personnel of the Health Department and township offices, specialists physicians, Chairman of Myanmar Anti-Narcotic Drugs Committee Dr Nay Win and members and executives of YMBA were also present.
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(5) Minister meets tourism officials from Singapore
YANGON, 21 Oct - Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin met Ms Pamela Lee and party of Singapore Tourism Board at his office at 1 pm today.
Present at the call were Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu, Director-General U Khin Maung Latt of Directorate of Hotels and Tourism, Managing Director U Kyi Tun of Myanma Hotels and Tourism Services and officials.
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(6) Allegations of forced labour in Myanmar categorically rejected Conclusions in Commission report one-side, untrue and unfair Mr Fatchett's statements fatally flawed, most deplorable, most imprudent to interfere in Myanmar internal affairs
The following is the text of a press release dated 19 October 1998 in Myanmar News Bulletin published by the Embassy of the Union of Myanmar in London, England:
The Financial Times of 15 October 1998 carried the Press statement by Mr Derek Fatchett, Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on the situation in Myanmar, in which he said that the United Kingdom would seek the suspension of Myanmar's membership in the International Labour Organization. The BBC also broadcast an interview with Mr Fatchett, in which he urged the EU Member States, among other things, to impose restrictions on trade, investment and tourism in Myanmar and on issuance of transit visas to Myanmar officials. The Embassy of the Union of Myanmar has found these press statements by Mr Fatchett to be fatally flawed, totally unjustified and most deplorable.
The intimidatory language and the tactics used by Mr Fatchett are, of course, not new. They are too familiar to the Myanmar people. A Myanmar citizen would say "deja vu". In fact, Mr Fatchett's press statements are reminiscent of the British policy and tactics towards Myanmar way back in 1880's, just before its military invasion and final annexation of Myanmar into the British Empire in 1886. The same kinds of unfounded and fabricated allegations and intimidatory language were used by the British at that time in order to justify and pave the way for its annexation of Myanmar and the enslavement of the Myanmar people.
The following specific comments and observations are in order:
First and foremost, the Embassy categorically rejects the allegations of the use of forced labour in Myanmar. The Embassy firmly reiterates that there are no incidents of the use of forced labour in the country. Nor is it the policy of the Myanmar Government to practice or condone the use of forced labour in the country. The conclusions in the Report of the ILO Inquiry Commission are one-sided, untrue and unfair, as they are totally based on unfounded allegations, emanating from anti-government elements.
Under the influence of his anti-Myanmar Government bias, Mr Fatchett was prejudging the matter, without knowing whether the response of the Myanmar Government would be positive or negative.
On its own initiative, the Myanmar Government has reviewed the 1925 Village Act and Towns Act several times, and is now taking steps to bring them in line with the present-day conditions in the country and to fulfil Myanmar's obligations as State Party to Convention 29 and as a Member State of the International Labour Organization. In fact, the Ministry of Labour of the Union of Myanmar has already given a reply to that effect to the Director-General of the International Labour Office last month.
Mr Fatchett talked about the need for a dialogue in Myanmar. In fact, in the Union of Myanmar the National Convention process is in progress. This National Convention process, in which representatives-elect and representatives from political parties, national races, peasants, workers, intelligentsia, service personnel and other invited guests are participating, constitutes the meaningful and effective dialogue, which will lead to the emergence of a much-needed strong and enduring State Constitution.
Myanmar has just emerged from a long and painful process of combating and conquering the insurgency problem - a legacy of the British colonialists, it is healing its wounds, and with its ample natural and human resources and a stable economic base, is now well poised to establish a modern, peaceful and prosperous democratic state. At a time like this, it is most imprudent of Mr Fatchett to interfere in the internal affairs of Myanmar, and to hinder this positive trend in the country.
By interfering in the internal affairs of a country, making a verbal slanderous attack on it and threatening a sovereign state with most severe measures, Mr Fatchett has infringed the fundamental principles of diplomacy and the accepted international norms in interstate relations under the Vienna Convention on Friendly Relations among States.
The Embassy wishes to point out that the Myanmar people place the interest of the country before that of an individual, whereas the NLD and its supporters place the interest of the individual before that of the country, resulting a personality cult. One wonders whether a group of new masters-would-be are trying to play the behind the scene role to install in power in Myanmar an individual who is married to a British citizen and is widely suspected to have vowed her allegiance to that foreign power.
The principle of noninterference in the internal affairs of another state is a time-honoured principle, enshrined in Article 2(7) of the United Nations Charter and reenforced by the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence and the state practice. No sovereign state would allow or tolerate a breach of this principles with regard to its internal situation. One wonders how the British people wound react if a cabinet minister from a foreign country publicly demands or dictates as to how the British Parliament should act or which political parties the British people should choose in their election.
It is ironic that most of the major long-standing problems and difficulties in Myanmar are legacies of the British colonial rule. For instance the insurgency problem, which the Myanmar Government has just overcome with 17 armed groups having returned to the legal fold and joining hands with the Government, is a legacy of the divide-and-rule policy of the British colonialists. Another legacy is the problems of narcotic drugs, which was unknown in Myanmar before the British annexation of the country in the 19th century.
The Embassy also wishes to point out that the pressure tactics and the coercive measures, leveled at Myanmar would only be self-defeating and counterproductive. The Myanmar people are proud, independent-minded and peace-loving people. They will not yield to pressure. They have chosen their own path to establish a modern, peaceful and prosperous democratic state. They will steadfastly march towards this goal.
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(7) Committee Chairman inquires after delegates' health
YANGON, 21 Oct - Chairman of National Convention Management Committee Brig-Gen Tin Aye, accompanied by Secretary Lt-Col Win Naung, Chairman of Invitation and Accommodation Sub-Committee Col Myo Myint and Joint Secretary of Health Sub-Committee Lt-Col Kyi Lin, visited National Convention delegates receiving medical treatment at Yangon General Hospital and new YGH this morning.
Brig-Gen Tin Aye and party were welcomed by Medical Superintendent Dr Teik Wan.
Officials reported on health of delegates U Soe Tin and U Yaw Aye Hla.
Brig-Gen Tin Aye encouraged the delegates individually.
Brig-Gen Tin Aye went to the new YGH where he was welcomed by Medical Superintendent Dr Min Swe.
Brig-Gen Tin Aye gave encouragement to delegate U Kyaw Myint (a) U Win Maung.
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(8) 251 drug-related cases exposed in September
YANGON, 21 Oct - The Tatmadaw, the Myanmar Police Force and Customs Department personnel exposed 251 drug-related cases in September.
The authorities seized 292.1206 kilos of opium in 27 cases, 25.2096 kilos of heroin in 113 cases, 37.4176 kilos of marijuana in 27 cases, three litres of Phensedyl in two cases, 50.7046 kilos of low-grade opium in five cases, 2,108,748 stimulant tablets in 11 cases, 499.163 kilos of ephedrine in two cases, 546.31 kilos of phenyl acetic acid in one case, 82 gallons of acetic anhydride in two cases, 1,641 gallons of ether in one case, 45 gallons of lysol in two cases, 0.058 kilo of opium oil, 175 kilos of liquid opium, 69,860 diphenoxylate tablets, 8.88 gallons of hydrochloric acid, 69 gallons of sulphuric acid, 18 gallons of nitric acid, 20 gallons of chemical liquid, 1,760 gallons of alcohol, 192 gallons of chloroform, 55 kilos of charcoal, 34 kilos of ammonium chloride, 428.25 kilos of soda, 51 cases for failure to register and other seven cases.
Action was taken against 366 persons - 313 men and 53 women according to law.
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(9) Jade sales fetch over $ 1.2m
YANGON, 21 Oct - Patron of Myanma Gems Emporium Central Committee Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint arrived at Myanma Gems Emporium Hall on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road this morning.
The minister was welcomed by Chairman of Myanma Gems Emporium Central Committee Deputy Minister for Mines U Myint Thein, Secretary U Khin Oo and members.
Minister Brig-Gen Ohn Myint oversaw sale of gems and jade lots under tender system and competitive bidding system at the Mid-Year Gems Emporium.
A total of 27 jade lots valued at US S 1,260,919 were sold under tender system and through competitive bidding.
Jewellery and jade figurines worth $ 22,080 were also sold today.
Sales by tender and competitive bidding of pearl lots continue tomorrow.
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(10) Housing Estate Technology Exhibition '98 on 10 to 13 Dec
YANGON, 21 Oct - With the permission of the Ministry of Commerce, the Second Housing Estate Technology Exhibition '98, sponsored by TTF (Yangon) Co Ltd, is scheduled to be held in Tatmadaw Convention Hall on U Wisara Road from 10 to 13 December.
The entrepreneurs wishing to participate in the exhibition may contact TTF (Yangon) Co Ltd, No 96, Bogalay Market Street, Botahtaung Township, through phones 294006, 24513, 245138, Fax 951 245092.