(1) State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe's message on the occasion of 51st Anniversary Independence Day
On this auspicious and momentous occasion of the 51st Anniversary Independence Day of the Union of Myanmar, I extend my greetings with amity and esteem for all the national people of the country.
Our nation has stood prestigiously as a separate, independent sovereign State for years with our own sovereignty, nationality, religion and culture. Myanmar ancestors were truly ones who evolved and developed on Myanmar land and waters in successive stages through Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Glaze Age and so on beginning some 40 million years ago, the time of formation of primate fossils which we have found.
It has been placed on record with many concrete and profound evidences that Myanmars are people who have successively inherited and preserved the pride of their origin and lineage and safeguarded their freedom with heroic spirit. In the course of their struggles for regaining national independence without letting themselves get bogged down in the quagmire of slavery in the aftermath of lawless aggression of colonial forces, Myanmars on the strength of their love of lineage and nation had fought back against the colonialists politically and militarily in various ways. We should never forget that the proud strength and prowess of Myanmars who had forged strong unity and striven in unison throughout the course of the struggle for Independence, sacrificing lots of lives, blood and sweat, is glorious in Myanmar history.
A study of events in the course of history traversed by Myanmar people shows that we have always fought and vanquished all attempts perpetrated by treasonous internal elements and self-seeking malevolent external threats to break up the Union that is home to all national peoples residing together through prosperity or adversity. Movements crowned with victories throughout history also stand testimony to the fact that we had possessed awesome might and power of resolving and overcoming all emergent difficulties and building anew.
At present as we move on towards the end of the twentieth century, too, Myanmars have gathered experiences and valuable lessons for building the nation. On the basis of these experiences and lessons, for perpetuating our Union of Myanmar and building a new peaceful, modern, developed nation, we have already laid down Our Three Main National Causes, which must be carried through unswervingly and steadfastly by every citizen of the country.
In order to carry through Our Three Main Causes-non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity, and perpetuation of sovereignty-in practice in the right way, we have also already laid down the objectives for three main sectors, political, economic and social. Formulating an enduring State Constitution that will guarantee Our Three Main National Causes too is being carried through by the National Convention on behalf of all the people of the Union.
We heartily honour the wishes of the masses reverberating from mass meetings expressing the sentiments of the people-that all the people of the country have strongly pledged to safeguard the nation by means of the united might of the people against destructive threats o f negative-viewed axe-handles in the country and the neocolonialists accrued perpetrating hindrances and obstructions to deviate from the right way in implementing the national objectives.
Today, we are seeing with our very own eyes numerous pillars of success scored by the people as one in planning and implementing for progress of the agriculture sector and boosting production, progress in the transport and communications, preparations for building a discipline-flourishing democracy, as well as for material and spiritual development of human resources such as in national culture, national fine arts, national education and national health, reflecting already-achieved State peace and stability and improved economy and food, clothing and shelter situation of the people.
We must also put on record the role of organizational endeavours of the Union Solidarity and Development, Associations at different levels in the people's participation as one in endeavours for national development.
Our Union of Myanmar not only as a member of the United Nations but also as a member of the Association of the South-East Asian Nations is participating in Asian and global affairs on equal terms, firmly holding the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence.
In order to carry on with the task of building a new peaceful, modern and developed nation, all national brethren of the Union musts by means of the combined strength together with the Tatmadaw, build a great national force full of physical and intellectual powers I would like to urge one and all to take responsibility and strive with might and main with constant awareness that it will depend on dynamic patriotic spirit and national pride in carrying on with this historic responsibility.
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(2) National force of patriotic intelligentsia emerging Great help given by entrepreneurs, NGOs and public
YANGON, 3 Jan - The skills contest and exhibition, and the prize giving ceremony to mark the Education Family Day for 1998-99 academic year were held at the Yangon University Diamond Jubilee Hall today, attended by Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
The ceremony was also attended by secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint, member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, ministers, the Chief Justice, the Chairman of the Civil Service Selection and. Training Board, the Yangon Mayor, deputy ministers, members of MEC, senior military officers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads, township education officers, members of the school honorary committees, school heads, teachers, students and guests.
High school students representing states and divisions formally opened the contest and exhibition, followed by dances, playing of the band troupe's music, aerobic sports presentation, martial arts skill presentation and singing of songs presented by the students.
Afterwards, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and party went round in the exhibition.
The prize-giving ceremony to mark the Education Family Day continued in the hall.
It was opened with the playing of the National Anthem.
Afterwards, girl students sang"Son-nyi pwedaw dohhnwe-pyaw" song, followed by the songs presented by the prize winning students in the Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions.
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(3) Secretary-l attends opening ceremony of 51st Anniversary Independence Day Exhibition
YANGON, 3 Jan - A ceremony to open the 51st Anniversary Independence Day Exhibition was held at the Tatmadaw Convention Hall on U Wisara Road this morning, attended by Chairman of Central Committee for Observance of the 51st Anniversary Independence Day Secretary -1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Present also on the occasion were Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Win Myint, member of the State Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Brig-Gen Abel, Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister at the Prime Minister s office Brig-Gen Lun Maung, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay, the deputy ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of departments, officials, EC members of Yangon Division, District and Township Union Solidarity and Development Associations officials of Committee for Holding of the 51st Anniversary Independence Day Exhibition and Sub-Committee and guests.
Chairman of Sub-committee for Holding of the 51st Anniversary Independence Day Exhibition Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein then formally opened the exhibition.
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(4) Secretary-2 attends inauguration ceremony of Hsinthe Dam
YANGON, 3 Jan - A ceremony to inaugurate Hsinthe Dam was held in Tatkon Township, Yamethin District, Mandalay Division, this morning, addressed by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo.
The Secretary-2, together with member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Bago Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Southern Command Maj-Gen Tin Aye, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung, Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung, Minister for Electric Power Maj-Gen Tin Htut, Chief of Staff (Air) Col Myint Swe, Col Thein Swe of Pyinmana Station and officials, left for Hsinthe Dam in Tatkon Township, Toungoo, by Tatmadaw aircraft at 7.00 am.
The Secretary-2 and party were welcomed by Deputy Commander of Central Command Col Nay Win, Director-General of Irrigation Department U Myo Myint and officials.
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(5) Independence Day ceremonies to be telecast live
YANGON, 3 Jan - Independence Day State flag hoisting and saluting ceremonies of Yangon City will be telecast live on Myanmar Radio and TV at 6.30 am on 4 January.
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(6) Defence Services C-in-C's gallantry medals, certificates of honour awarded
YANGON, 4 Jan - The Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services presented the gallantry medal to three in-Service military personnel for their outstanding performance in discharging national defence duties at the risk of their lives, and the certificate of honour to 21 in-service military personnel for their outstanding performance in discharging the assigned duties.
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(7) Thayetchaung Township NLD dissolved
YANGON, 3 Jan - The Executive Committee members and all members of Thayetchaung Township National League for Democracy, Taninthayi Division, tendered their resignations and dissolved the Township NLD on their own volition on 25 December, 1998.
Thayetchaung Township NLD was first formed on 8 November 1988 with five EC members, Out of five EC members, four were left. The remaining EC members of the Township NLD resigned from the party membership on their own volition since they no longer wished to continue to take part in NLD's party politics. They notified the office of Thayetchaung Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the chairman of the party concerned on 25 December.
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YANGON, 3 Jan - Four hundred and seventeen members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Yekyi Township, Ayeyawady Division.
Two hundred and sixty-four members of Yekyi Township NLD, on their own volition, tendered their resignations by sending letters of resignation to Yekyi Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission Office and the party concerned on 13 December and 153 members followed suit on 23 December as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD, totaling 417.
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(9) School Family Day of Yangon Institute of Education Practising School observed
YANGON, 3 Jan - The School Family Day of Yangon Institute of Education Practising School was observed on the lawns of the institute this morning.
Present on the occasion were Director-General of Higher Education Department (Lower Myanmar) U Myo Nyunt, Deputy Director-General U Saw Lwin, Rector of Yangon Institute of Education U Han Tin, Pro-Rector Dr Khin Zaw, Head of Department (Training) of Yangon Institute of Education U Tha Aung Kyaw, Chairman of Parent-Teacher Association Headmistress Daw Khin Win Aung, Chairman of School Welfare Committee.
Ma Nan Pyay Myo Thet, first winner with highest mark in the 1998 Basic Education High School examination, formally opened the ceremony.
The director-general and guests visited the fair and games for fun.
Next, the 31st PTA meeting and prize distribution of Yangon Institute of Education Practising School was held.
Patron of PTA Dr Daw Ma Ma Yi, Rector U Han Tin, Headmistress Daw Khin Win Aung made speeches.
U Han Tin and Daw Khin Win Aung presented prizes to outstanding students in education.
Students entertained the audience with a programme of dances.
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(10) National Museum opens daily
YANGON, 3 Jan - The Department of Cultural Institute today announced that the National Museum is open every day including Independence Day from 10 am to 4 pm starting from 1 January 1999.
It was closed on Mondays and gazetted holidays.
Now that the museum is open daily, travel and tour companies can now arrange study tour for foreign tourists, and schools and departments can organize group visits.
The entry fees are 5 US dollars or FECs per head for foreigners, and 10 kyats per head for adults and five kyats per head for monks, nuns, children and students.
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(11) Shwe Paho Technical Services holds eighth lucky draw
YANGON, 4 Jan - Shwe Paho Technical Services today organized the eighth lucky-draw for the buyers of Nibban TV antenna, Nibban electronic safeguard and Paho step-up transformer at M-3 Food Centre today.
Entrepreneur U Thein Kyi extended greetings to the sales representatives and guests.
The lucky draw awards will be presented at M-3 Food Centre on 7 February.