(1) State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to King of Nepal
YANGON, 28 Dec - On the occasion of the Birthday of the King of Nepal, which falls on 28 December 1998, Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of felicitations to His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, King of Nepal.
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(2) Secretary-l inspects works for maintenance of Shwedagon htidaw
YANGON, 27 Dec - Patron of the Committee for Perpetual All-round Renovation of the Shwedagon Pagoda Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt today inspected works for maintenance of the htidaw (sacred umbrella) of the pagoda.
Accompanied by officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, the Secretary-1 arrived at the southern stairway of the pagoda at 6.30 am and was welcomed there by Chairman of the Work Committee for Perpetual All-round Renovation of the Shwedagon Deputy Commander of Yangon Command Col Hsan Hsint and members, and members of the Board of Trustees.
First, the Secretary-1 and party paid obeisance to Padamya Myetshin Buddha Image on the upper terrace.
Afterwards, the Secretary-1 and Myanmar engineers and scholars went atop the stupa and paid obeisance to the htidaw.
After inspecting the work for maintenance of the htidaw, the Secretary-1 held discussions on the works.
Later, the Secretary-1 and party inspected preparations being made at the Old Museum Tazaung for gilding the Shwedagon Pagoda's main stupa and encircling stupas.
Col Hsan Hsint, Myanmar engineers and scholars reported to the Secretary-1 on the works that should be carried out for perpetual maintenance of the htidaw.
Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt noted that it is a rare opportunity to carry out works for perpetual maintenance of the htidaw of the Shwedagon.
He said they are participating in the tasks, contributing labour to perform the deed of merit, and called for coordination of all scholars.
Afterwards, the Secretary-1 viewed the first tier of the htidaw to be displayed in Chanthagyi Tazaung Museum and inspected preservation of ancient small bells of the htidaw.
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(3) Cultivation of crops in vacant, fallow and virgin land in three divisions coordinated
YANGON, 27 Dec - Cultivation of crops in the vacant, fallow and virgin land in Yangon, Ayeyawady and Magway Divisions was coordinated at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation at 10.45 am today and Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo delivered an address.
The meeting was also attended by members of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and Chairman of Shan State Peace and Development Council Commander of Eastern Command Maj-Gen Maung Bo, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Win Tin, Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Brig-Gen Lun Maung, deputy ministers, Chairman of Magway Division Peace and Development Council Col Thein Zaw, heads of department of the State Peace and Development Council Office and departments concerned and entrepreneurs who would work on the vacant, fallow and virgin land.
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(4) Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation tours Wundwin, PyinOoLwin
YANGON, 27 Dec - Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, together with departmental heads and divisional agriculture supervisory committee members, toured Wundwin Township and PyinOoLwin Township on 24 December.
He inspected irrigation of Taungpulu Dam and construction of Thabyeyoe Dam in Wundwin Township.
Officials of Irrigation Department's Construction Division 7 reported to him on ground clearing work for the main structure, spraying of water and earth compacting works.
The minister gave suggestions on completion of works as scheduled, preventing loss and wastage, supply of sufficient drinking water and irrigation water and minimizing cost.
Thabyeyoe Dam, which will be 1,150 feet long and 75 feet high, is being built to enable Taungpulu Dam to irrigate 7,636 acres fully.
After inspecting the inflow into Taungpulu Dam, the minister and party proceeded to Mandalay.
In Mandalay, they inspected maintenance of machines of Irrigation Department's Division 4.
They next proceeded to Sitha Dam Project being implemented by Irrigation Department's Division 4 in PyinOoLwin Township.
Officials reported to the minister on progress of work in the project.
The minister later inspected the site, construction of the main dam, spillway, outlet conduit and the plantation in the watershed area.
On completion, Sitha Dam, 970 feet long and 80 feet high, can store 1,900 acre-feet and will irrigate, the fields in the region and supply drinking water to Upper Myanmar Central Institute of Civil Service, Central Fire Services Institute and Police Training Institute.
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(5) 590 members of Nyaungdon Township NLD resign
YANGON, 27 Dec - Five hundred and ninety members resigned from National League for Democracy of Nyaungdon Township, Ayeyawady Division.
Eleven members of Nyaungdon Township NLD party, Ayeyawady Division, on their own volition, tendered their resignations by sending letters of resignation to Nyaungdon Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission Office on 25 November, 350 members followed suit on 16 December and 229 members on 23 December altogether totaling 590, as they no longer wished to participate in political activities of NLD.
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(6) Minister visits Thakayta Combined Cycle Power Plant
YANGON, 27 Dec - Minister for Electric Power Maj-Gen Tin Htut, accompanied by Managing Director of Myanma Electric Power Enterprise U Yan Naing and officials, visited Thakayta Combined Cycle Power Plant this morning.
The minister inspected maintenance of the power plant.
He gave instructions on systematic maintenance and repair of machinery, completion of repair and maintenance work earlier than scheduled, expenses and work-site safety.
He also spoke of the need for all the employees to study installation of machinery.
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YANGON, 27 Dec - Thirty-six members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Maha Aungmyay Township, Mandalay Division, on 21 December 1998.
Thirty-six members of Maha Aungmyay Township NLD party, Mandalay Division, on their own volition, tendered their resignations by sending letters of resignation to Maha Aungmyay Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission Office and the party concerned on 21 December as they no longer wished to participate in political activities of NLD.
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(8) Universities Boat Club (Yangon) hosts Diamond Jubilee Dinner
YANGON, 27 Dec - The Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Dinner of the Universities Boat Club (Yangon) was held at the Club building on Inya Road in Kamayut Township at 7 pm today.
It was attended by Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Education U Than Aung, Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Sein Win, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Chairman of the Universities Boat Club (Yangon) Diamond Jubilee Organizing Leading Committee Patron of the Club Deputy Minister for Education Dr Than Nyunt, Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung, the directors-general and officials of departments under the Ministry of Education, rectors, permanent members and old members of the club, President of the Club Rector of Institute of Education U Han Tin and Club members, contesting teams, students and guests.
Patron of the Club Deputy Minister for Education Dr Than Nyunt delivered an ad dress.
President of the Club U Han Tin expressed words of thanks and then presented a gift to Minister for Education U Than Aung.
Then followed a cash donation ceremony. The donations were US$ 2,000 each by Professor Dr Htut Hsaing and Dr Tin Wa for purchasing boats, K 100,000 by Rector U Han Tin for organizing the Diamond Jubilee of the Club, K 100,000 by Col Zaw Lin and party for publishing a book on the event and K 128,000 by Professor U Kan Zaw, Restor of Monywa Institute of Economics attached, and wife Daw Nanda Hmoon for purchasing four boats.
Minister U Than Aung accepted the cash donations.
Afterwards, Minister U Than Aung presented prizes to winners in international events. They were Maung Zeya Lin, 4th year student of Yangon Technological University, third prize winner and Maung Tun Myint, 4th year student of Yangon Technological University, third prize winner in 1997 South-East Asian Games, and Ma Yin Min Htay, 3rd year student of Hline College, five gold medallist and one silver medallist in 1998 Singapore Invitational Event.
Prizes were also presented to winners in the Club's-Diamond Jubilee commemorative boat races.
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(9) Budh Gaya pilgrims on tour No 12/98 leave for Calcutta
YANGON, 27 Dec - Members of Budh Gaya Pilgrimage Tour No 12198 sponsored by the Ministry of Religious Affairs left for Calcutta, India, by air this morning.
They were seen off at Yangon International Airport by Patron of Myanmar Budh Gaya Missionary Federation Shwemyintin U Nyo, Chairman U Kyaw Khin Myint and officials.
At the passenger lounge, Chairman U Kyaw Khin Myint handed over the religious flag to Assistant Sayadaw of Budh Gaya Myanmar Monastery Bhaddanta Panfiasami.