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(1) The Special Refresher Course No 33 for Basic Education Teachers concluded
YANGON, 23 Oct - The Special Refresher Course No 33 for Basic Education Teachers concluded at the Central Institute of Civil Service in Hlegu Township, Yangon Division, this morning, with an address by Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt Gen Khin Nyunt.
Also present were Minister for Commerce Maj-Gen Kyaw Than, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw, Minister for Information Maj Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj Gen Saw Lwin, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Minister for Energy Brig Gen Lun Thi, Minister for Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Ministers at the Office of the Prime Minister Brig-Gen Lun Maung and U Than Shwe, Chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board U Maung Maung Gyi, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay, senior officers of the Ministry of Defence, deputy ministers, Director-General of the Office of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Pe Nyein and officials departmental heads, Rector of CICS U Tin Tun and Trainee teachers.
In his address, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt expressed belief that all the teachers who completed the training had grasped the government' s lofty aims and goodwill in carrying out the youth mobilization programmes for emergence of a force of patriotic youths who would play a pivotal role for national defence and development.
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(2) International Symposium on Interaction for Progress: Myanmar in ASEAN commences
YANGON, 23 Oct - The opening ceremony of International Symposium on Interaction for Progress: Myanmar in ASEAN, sponsored by Office of Strategic Studies of Ministry of Defence, Information and Resource Center of Singapore and Sasakawa Peace Foundation of Japan, was held at Sedona Hotel this morning, attended by Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Chief of the Office of Strategic Studies and Director of Defence Services Intelligence Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Present also were Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Win Myint, members of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Real-Admiral Nyunt Thein and Commander-in-Chief (Air) Maj-Gen Kyaw Than, ministers, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, the Auditor General, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee the Mayor, the deputy ministers, Deputy Chief of the Office of Strategic Studies and Deputy Director of Defence Services Intelligence Brig-Gen Kyaw Win and Heads of Department, senior Tatmadaw officers, retired scholars, advisers of ministries, rectors and professors of universities and colleges, Ambassadors of foreign embassies, representatives of Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, departmental officials, officials of Information and Resource Center of Singapore and Sasakawa Peace Foundation of Japan chairmen, vice-chairmen and members of NGOs, private entrepreneurs, patron and members of Foreign Correspondents Club, local and foreign journalists and guests.
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(3) Cash assistance Provided for disabled Tatmadaw for 28th times
YANGON, 23 Oct - The 28th ceremony to present cash assistance to in-service Tatmadawmen who sacrificed their limbs by Thanmyanthu Economic Enterprise was held at the City Hall this evening.
Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Chief of Bureau of Special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo addressed the ceremony and presented account books to the disabled servicemen.
Also present were Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Judge-Advocate General Maj Gen Than Oo, Chief of Staff (Navy) Captain Kyi Min, Chief of Staff (Air) Col Myint Swe, Vice-Adjutant General Brig Gen Maung Nyo, Deputy Minister for Forestry Col Thaik Tun, Deputy Minister for Labor U Kyaw Aye, Vice Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa, Officer on Special Duty at the Office of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Than Tiat and departmental officials, officials of Thanmyanthu Economic Enterprise, guests, donors and the Tatmadaw-men who sacrificed their limbs.
In his address, Lt-Gen Tin Oo said up to 28th cash assistance providing ceremony, cash assistance could be provided for 1,667 disabled Tatmadawmen, and thanked Thanmyanthu Economic Enterprise that holds cash assistance providing ceremony monthly without fail and well-wishers who donate c ash of their own will.
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(4) Meeting held to prepare for organizing military band competition
YANGON, 23 Oct - A coordination meeting on organizing Eighth Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) Military Band Competition for 1999 was held in the meeting hall of the Resistance Park this morning, addressed by member of the Panel of Patrons of the Committee for Organizing Military Band Competition Chief of Bureau of Special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo.
Present also were member of the Panel of the Patrons of the Committee for Organizing Military Band Competition Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Chairman of the Committee for Organizing the Military Band Competition Vice-Adjutant General Brig-Gen Maung Nyo and members, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig Gen Thura Myint Maung and departmental officials, chairmen and members of the working committee and subcommittees.
In his address, Lt-Gen Tin Oo said Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) Military Band Competition has been held since 1992, and the Eighth Military Band Competition will be held next Year.
Arrangements are to be made, based on experience of previous competitions, with a view to holding the Eighth Military Band Competition with pomp and ceremony, he said and added the competitions will be held with four objectives-to upgrade the skill of military bands of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) up to international level; to raise spirit and inspire soldierly bravery; to hold grand military parades, and; to promote skills in playing the military band.
He noted that the military band competition began with five bands in 1992, and it is learnt that up to forty military bands will participate in the Eighth Military Band Competition.
He expressed his satisfaction for the fact that the number of competing military bands has increased to such an extent because of encouragement and assistance by each command and battalion.
He urged officials concerned to make arrangements to present deserving prizes and to be able to hold the Eighth Military Band Competition with pomp and ceremony.
Then, Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than explained arrangements for accommodating the competing military bands, experience of previous competitions and measures which should be taken.
Brig-Gen Maung Nyo reported on formation of committees and arrangements for holding the competition.
Next, chairmen and officials of various committees and sub-committees reported on the arrangements to be carried out by them.
Afterwards, those present contributed to the discussions on holding the competition on a grand scale.
In conclusion, Lt-Gen Tin Oo said that with the increase in the number of the competing military bands, the competition need to become one of high standard, and called for systematic formation of more bands of Myanma Police Force, Fire Services Department and schools, on the basis of setup of the military bands.
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(5) Her Royal Highness Princess of Thailand offers Kathina robs to Sayadaws
YANGON, 23 Oct - Her Royal Highness Princess of Thailand Galayani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhivas Rajanagarindha, elder sister of the King of Thailand, and party arrived here by special flight at 10.30 am today for offering communal Kathina robes in Yangon.
Her Royal Highness Princess of Thailand and party were welcomed at Yangon International Airport by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyunt Swe and wife, Director-General Thura U Aung Htet of the Protocol Department and officials, Ambassador of Thailand Mr Pensak Chalarak and wife and staff of the Royal Thai Embassy.
Her Royal Highness Princess of Thailand together with Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyunt Swe and party donated Kathina robes and offertories to Bhaddanta Sundra and members of the Sangha at Pariyatti Saddhammapala Aungmyaybontha Shan Kyaungtaik on Pyay Road in Mayangon Township at 11 am to mark the 72nd birthday of the King of Thailand.
After offering ceremony, the Her Royal Highness Princess of Thailand shared merits gained.
This donation is among nine Royal Kathina robes offering ceremonies held in Malaysia on 7 October, Singapore on 8 October, Indonesia on 9 October, Cambodia on 13 October, Vietnam on 13 and 14 October, Thailand on 16 October and similar ceremonies will be held in Laos on 28 October and the People's Republic of China on 29 October.
Today's donations for the Shan Kyaungtaik included US $ 26,260 donated by well-wishers of Thailand, K 337,700 by Myanmar and Baht 10,000 by the King of Thailand.
At 2:30 pm, Her Royal Highness Princess of Thailand and party proceeded to the National Museum on Pyay Road where Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt and Director-General Thura U Aung Htet of the Protocol Department welcomed them.
Her Royal Highness Princess of Thailand viewed the exhibits in the museum and signed in the Visitors' Book.
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(6) Minister meets Chinese entrepreneurs
YANGON, 23 Oct - Minister for Industry-l U Aung Thaung met Yangon-based in-charge Mr Wu Yahl Chai of China Chen Zhou Engineering and Yangon-based in-charge Mr Gao Jia Ling of Kunming Light Industry Machinery Corporation of the People's Republic of China at his office at 3 pm today.
Present were Deputy Minister Col Than Zin, Director-General U Win Zaw Nyunt of Directorate of Industries, Managing Director U Zaw Sein Win of Myanma Paper and Chemical Industries and officials.
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(7) MIC Chairman meets MD of Asian Marine Services
YANGON, 23 Oct - Deputy Prime Minister Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Managing Director Mr Thiropong Varangoon and party of Asian Marine Services Public Co Ltd of Thailand who called at his office at 10:30 am today.
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(8) Printing Course 1/98 of PPE concludes
YANGON, 23 Oct - Off-set Printing Course 1/98, sponsored by Printing and Publishing Enterprise of the Ministry of Information, concluded this morning at GTC Press, Insein Township, addressed by Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein.
Director-General of Information and Public Relations Department U Chit Naing, Managing Director of PPE U Than Maung, Managing Director of Myanma Motion Picture Enterprise Col Bo Kyi, advisers, other officials, guests, course instructors and trainees were also present.
Brig-Gen Aung Thein presented certificates to 29 trainees who had completed the six-week course.
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(9) Visiting Minister of Education of Brunei Darussalam visits Institute of Medicine-1
YANGON, 23 Oct - Visiting President of Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Council (SEAMEC) of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Minister of Education of Brunei Darussalam Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Haji Abdul Aziz Umar, accompanied by the directors of SEAMEO Regional Centers, arrived at Yangon Institute of Medicine-l this morning.
Minister for Health Maj Gen Ket Sein, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo, Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung, directors-general, rectors and officials welcomed the visiting minister and party.
Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein and the visiting President of Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Council and party visited the departments of IM-1.
Director-General of the Medical Science Department briefed the dignitaries on the history of IM-1 and teaching in medical courses.
Then, Rector of Mandalay Institute of Medicine Dr Soe Tun and Rector of Institute of Medicine-l Dr Myo Myint presented gifts to the visiting minister.
The medical experts of the visiting group and Director-General Dr Kyaw Myint of MSD and party of Myanmar side held discussions on control and treatment of tropical diseases and cooperation in public health between two countries.