(1) Minister sends felicitations to New Zealand
YANGON, 6 Feb - On the occasion of the anniversary of the National Day of New Zealand, which falls on 6 February 1999, U Win Aung, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar has sent a message of felicitations to His Excellency Mr Don Mckinnon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand.
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(2) K 62,900 million used in education sector over 5,000 new schools opened in ten years
YANGON, 5 Feb - The Special Refresher Course No 35 for Basic Education Teachers opened at the Central Institute of Civil Service in Hlegu Township today with an address by Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Also present at the opening ceremony were Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Minister for Culture U Win Sein, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi, Minister for Education U Than Aung, Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Sein Win, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister for Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Ministers at the Prime Minister's Office U Than Shwe and Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe, Chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board U Maung Maung Gyi, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay, deputy ministers, senior military officers, Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office Lt-Col Pe Nyein and officials, departmental heads, Rector of CICS U Tin Tun and trainee teachers.
In his address, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt said that as is known to all the State Peace and Development Council is striving for modernization and development of the nation laying down new plans and schemes with the participation of the entire people in all sectors.
In endeavoring for development and modernization of the nation, necessary plans were laid down and are being implemented to keep abreast of the times wiping out evil legacy of colonialists hindering national development and countering subversives of the neo-colonialists, he said.
Thus, he said, national objectives were laid down and are being implemented effectively in the political, economic and social sectors, and policies and work strategies were also implemented for materialization of these national objectives with the plans for inculcating brilliant qualities in the national forces.
For the national forces to possess brilliant abilities, he said, it is essential for them to be learn technology and know-how as well as to shoulder their national duties in the light of future prospects under the prevailing situations.
He said the special refresher courses are being conducted for the purpose of promoting inherent qualities of the national forces, and he quoted Senior General Than Shwe as saying in his address.
He stressed that the special refresher courses will fertilities the teachers with their national duty in the education sector so that they will be able to carry out the educational policy tasks and strategies and uphold their code of conduct more seriously.
He spoke of the educational promotion programmes and cited the objectives, and noted that the State Peace and Development Council is implementing tasks for uplift of the social sector with the aims for uplift of the education standard of the entire nation, uplift of morale and code of conduct of the entire nation, and preservation and safeguarding of the cultural heritage and national character, and these educational promotion programmes are introduced into basic education schools.
Speaking of the prospects of the educational promotion programmes, the Secretary-1 noted that these programmes will keep the student youths in touch with modern science and technology and bring them to have patriotism, Union spirit and nation-building conviction.
These programmes not only nurture the students to be thorough in their lessons but also lead to development of multi-faceted education system instilling in students proper rationality, decisiveness, humanitarian values, family values and social values so that they will be imbued with proper social ethics, sense of responsibility and discipline and righteousness, he said.
Continuing, the Secretary-1 dealt with the new system to constantly assess and record the progress of students, without totally judging their abilities based on the results in the examinations, introduction of chapter end tests and the six processes to record their participation in the school activities.
He urged the teachers to have firm belief in the government's educational promotion programmes and pay keen extra attention to their pupils' progress.
While the government is paying special attention to promotion of the education system and the entire people are actively participating in the tasks, internal and external saboteurs with negative outlook on Myanmar using the neo-colonialists-controlled broadcasting stations and media are making accusations that the education standard in Myanmar is getting low, that teachers are not qualified and that the government does not pay attention to the education sector, he said.
The entire people, who realize that the government is implementing the educational promotion programmes with national outlook, are actively participating in the tasks for development of the sector.
Speaking of the accomplishments in the education sector, the Secretary-1 noted that from 1988 to 1998, the number of primary schools increased from 31,329 to 35,833, that of middle schools from 1,696 to 2,115 and that of high schools from 722 to 936.
He said over 5,000 new schools were opened during the period in the time of the Tatmadaw government and among those new schools, 4,504 new primary schools were opened and 419 primary schools were upgraded to the middle school level and 214 middle schools to the high school level, he added.
The Secretary-1 said included in these schools are 353 basic education primary schools, 51 BEMS and 20 BEHS which were opened in remote border areas of Myanmar.
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(3) South Okkalapa gets new buildings for Township Court, Township Law Office
YANGON, 5 Feb - New buildings for South Okkalapa Township Court and South Okkalapa Township Law Office were opened in South Okkalapa Township this morning.
The opening ceremony of the buildings was held in front of the new buildings on Thitsar Road in the township with the attendance of Chief Justice U Aung Toe and Attorney-General U Tha Tun.
Also present on the occasion were Supreme Court Justices, Deputy Attorney-General U Khin Maung Aye, directors-general and directors and officials concerned.
Chief Justice U Aung Toe formally opened the new building of Township Court and Attorney-General U Tha Tun opened that for Township Law Office.
Township Judge U HSAA Tint and Township Law Officer Daw Hla Nyunt reported on construction of the buildings.
U HSAA Tint and Daw Hla Nyunt presented commemorative pennants to U Aung Toe, Tha Tun and officials.
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(4) Deputy Prime Minister receives President of Kaga Inc
YANGON, 5 Feb - Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received President of Kaga Inc of Japan Mr Masa Nozaki and party who called at his office at 10.30 am today.
Present at the call were officials of Myanmar Investment Commission Office, Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications and Myanma Machine Tool and Electrical Industries.
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(5) Minister meets Manager of Sichuan Xinxing Group Co
YANGON, 5 Feb - Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Brig-Gen Maung Maung met Manager of Sichuan Xinxing Group Co Mr Liu Ming De and party who called at the MIC Office at 9.30 am today.
Present at the call were officials of Directorate of Investment and Companies Administration.
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(6) Co-ord meeting of Ministry of Labour concludes
YANGON, 5 Feb - The final-day session of the coordination meeting of departmental organizations under the Ministry of Labour was held at Pinlon Hall in 43 Ward, Dagon Myothit (North), this morning.
Present on the occasion were Minister- for Labour Maj Gen Tin Ngwe, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Win Sein, heads of departments, division, district and township level officers under the ministry.
The heads of departments presented department-wise reports to the meeting.
Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Win Sein reviewed the reports and laid down future tasks to be carried out in the first four months.
Giving concluding remarks at the meeting, Minister Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe spoke about collecting correct and accurate data on labour and rendering services for creating job opportunities for vacancies at ministries.
He also said it is required to thoroughly carry out recruiting workers required for agricultural work at vacant and virgin lands and wetlands in Ayeyawady, Magway and Sagaing Divisions.
To bring down commodity prices, it is specially needed to boost agricultural production and import substitutes production and to practice thrift, he noted and instructed officials to carry out work to ensure prevalence of peace and tranquillity at factories.
He also gave instructions on making arrangements for staff welfare in accordance with the issued directives.
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(7) Union Flag conveying for the 52nd Anniversary Union Day rehearsed
YANGON, 5 Feb - The Union Flag conveying for the 52nd Anniversary Union Day was rehearsed in front of the City Hall this morning, at tended by Vice-Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander of Yangon Command Col HSAA Hsint, Chairman of Sub-committee for Flag Relaying, Putting up Billboards and State and Division Commemorative Posters of 52nd Anniversary Union Day Secretary of Yangon City Development Committee Col Myint Aung and officials.
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(8) Auditor-General inspects Dawbon, Tamway Township Auditors' Offices
YANGON, 5 Feb - Auditor General Brig-Gen Tin Aye, accompanied by Director of the Auditor-General's Office U Tun Hla San and Divisional Auditing Officer U Tin Aung, inspected Dawbon and Tamway Township Auditors' Offices in Yangon Division this morning.
The Auditor-General gave instructions on inspection matter to service personnel of the township offices.
Respective township officers reported on progress of work.
The Auditor-General fulfilled the requirements of the offices.
At 1 pm, the Auditor-General attended the 1997-98 Annual General Meeting of Cooperative Credit Society Ltd of the Auditor-General's Office.
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(9) Talks given on danger of narcotic drugs
YANGON, 5 Feb - Talks on the danger of narcotic drugs, jointly sponsored by Tamway Township Anti-Narcotics Association, Township Union Solidarity and Development Association and Township Health Department, were held for final day at Basic Education Middle School No 2 and No 11 in Tamway Township this morning.
Officials and instructors of Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association and Health Department gave talks on the danger of narcotic drugs.
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(10) A Summer Buddhist culture courses to be opened
YANGON, 5 Feb - A coordination meeting on conducting summer Buddhist culture courses under the leadership of the Union Solidarity and Development Association was held at the Ministry of Religious Affairs at Kaba Aye this afternoon.
Present on the occasion were Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin, officials of the departments concerned, secretaries and executive committee members of State and Division USDAs and course instructors.
Deputy Minister U Aung Khin made a speech.
Representatives of the States and Divisions took part in the discussions.
The meeting decided on the opening date of the course, accepting trainees, texts and instructors.
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(11) Mayor lays cornerstone for construction of No 1 Bayintnaung Zeyamon Housing Project
YANGON, 5 Feb - Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay attended foundation laying of No 1 Bayintnaung Zeyamon Housing Project in Mayangon Township yesterday.
Located at the corner of Bayintnaung Road and Yuzana Street, the project is being implemented by Nagani Construction Co Ltd.
U Ko Lay, YCDC Secretary Col Myint Aung, members Col Thaung Wai, Col Tin Soe and officials laid the cornerstones at the designated places.
Mayor U Ko Lay and Secretary Col Myint Aung performed the ritual of gold and silver showers.
The Zeyamon Housing Project comprises-five-storey condominium costing K 100 million.
Mayor U Ko Lay and party inspected Bayintnaung brokerage and haulage truck terminal and streets.
Then, Mayor U Ko Lay met rice, edible oil, potato, onion and fisheries merchants and gave instructions.
Chairman of Myanmar Rice Dealers Association U Nyein and entrepreneurs reported to the Mayor on commodity flows.
The mayor attended to their needs.
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(12) 52nd Anniversary Union Day Exhibition and Festivities opening ceremony rehearsed
YANGON, 5 Feb - The rehearsal for the opening ceremony of 52nd Anniversary Union Day Exhibition and Festivities was held at Yangon Command Sports Ground in Hline Township this morning.
Present on the occasion were Vice-Chairman of 52nd Anniversary Union Day Exhibition and Festivities Subcommittee Director-General of Cooperatives Department U Maung Hti, Sub-committee members, officials of entertainment group, photo exhibition group, security and discipline group, transport group, displaying group, construction group, power supply group, management and finance group, information group, health and accommodation groups.
Then, the 52nd Anniversary Union Day Exhibition and Festivities Sub-committee held its meeting there.
Director-General U Maung Hti made a speech on the occasion.
Secretary of Sub-committee Deputy Director of Cooperatives U Kyaw Hlaing reported to the meeting on progress of work.
Those present took part in the discussions.
The Anniversary Union Day Exhibition and Festivities will be held from 7 to 13 February in Yangon Command Sports Ground.
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(13) Narcotic drugs, paraphernalia seized in Muse Township
YANGON, 5 Feb - Members of a military column of local battalion, acting on information, on 21 January combed an area in Muse Township at map reference P-313683, Shan State (North) and found an opium refinery.
Members of the column seized 3.56 kilos of heroin, 25.6 kilos of raw opium, 40 gallons of acetic anhydride, 27 gallons of chloroform, 63 gallons of spirit, 45 gallons of Lysol, six litters of hydrochloric acid, two litters of liquid heroin, 20 gallons of liquid opium and paraphernalia used for refining heroin including two huts. The two huts were set on fire.
Action is being taken in connection with the seizure of drugs and paraphernalia according to law.
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(14) Khayan Township NLD dissolved
YANGON, 5 Feb - All the Executive Committee members of Khayan Township National League for Democracy, Yangon Division, tendered their resignations and dissolved the Township NLD of their own volition on 4 February 1999.
Khayan Township NLD was first formed on 25 December 1988 with 21 EC members. All the EC members of the Township NLD resigned from the party membership of their own volition since they no longer wished to continue to take part in NLD's party politics. They notified the office of Khayan Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the chairman of the party concerned.
On 4 February, Chairman U Win Kyaing and EC members of the Township NLD dissolved it by handing over their resignations, the signboard, flag and seals to the Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission.
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(15) 45 members resign from Einme Township NLD
YANGON, 5 Feb - Forty-five members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Einme Township, Ayeyawady Division.
Forty-five members of Einme Township NLD, Ayeyawady Division, of their own
volition, tendered their resignations by sending letters of resignation to Einme
Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission Office and the party
concerned on 16 December 1998 as they no longer wished to participate in party
politics of NLD.