(1) New Central Institute of Civil Service (Upper Myanmar) opened in PyinOoLwin Township
YANGON, 8 Feb - The Central Institute of Civil Service (Upper Myanmar) was opened at Yadana Hall of the institute in PyinOoLwin Township, Mandalay Division, on 7 February, attended by Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Present on the occasion were member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen Ye Myint, Minister for Industry-l U Aung Thaung, Minister for Commerce Maj-Gen Kyaw Than, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister for Labour Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe, Minister at the Prime Ministers Office Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe, Chief Justice U Aung Toe, Attorney-General U Tha Tun, Chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board U Maung Maung Gyi and members, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Ohn Myint, Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung, Deputy Minister for Electric Power Brig-Gen Maung Maung, Deputy Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen Than Tun, Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint, Deputy Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs U Kyaw Tin, Deputy Minister for Forestry Brig-Gen Soe Myint, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Chief of Staff (Air) Col Myint Swe, Mayor of Mandalay Brig-Gen Yan Thein, Deputy Commander of Central Command Col Nay Win, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads, members of Division, District and Township Peace and Development Councils, service personnel, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, Red Cross and Auxiliary Fire Brigades, Rector of CICS (Upper Myanmar) Col Aung Hsan Win, the pro-rector, heads of departments, tutors and trainees.
Col Aung Hsan Win said the Head of State gave guidance on construction of another CICS in Zeebingyi Village in PyinOoLwin Township. He reported on the objectives of the institute and courses.
The institute on 1,061 acres is situated on Mandalay-PyinOoLwin Road.
Next, the Secretary-l formally unveiled the stone plaque and sprayed scented water on it.
Chairman of CSSTB U Maung Maung Gyi and member U Hla Myint Oo presented commemorative gifts to the Secretary-l, the commander and guests.
The opening ceremony of Special Refresher Course No 1 for Basic Education Teachers was held at Yadana Hall of the institute this morning.
The Secretary-1 said the day was auspicious for all the nationals of the upper Myanmar as the CICS (Upper Myanmar) has emerged magnificently.
In giving guidance for development and modernization of the Union of Myanmar, Head of State and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe stressed the need to make arrangements for harmonious progress of the entire nation including border areas and for the nationals living in upper Myanmar centering Mandalay City to enjoy proportionate development in health, education and social foundations as in Yangon City.
In line with this guidance, arrangements are under way to uplift advanced hospitals, vocational universities, administrative departments centering Mandalay for the people of upper Myanmar to meet the level of Yangon.
The new CICS was opened for the State service personnel totaling one million out of the total population of 47 million to organize as a brilliant national force as given guidance by Head of State Senior General Than Shwe.
As is known to all, the State Peace and Development Council is implementing new ideas and programmes in all sectors with the participation of the entire nationals and is striving with greater momentum for the nation to be peaceful, developed and modern and to get abreast with world nations.
In endeavouring for emergence of a new, modern and developed nation, the government is laying down the required plans for future so as the nation to gain development as in other countries, while removing and crushing all evil legacies of colonialists hampering national progress and destructive acts of neocolonialists.
Education promotion programmes are being implemented for the advancement of the education sector in conformity with political, economic and social development of the mother country.
The education promotion will develop the students not only in their studies but also in physical, moral, aesthetic skills and vocational education which are required for their entire life.
The Secretary-1 said the Continuous Assessment and Progression System is being introduced for uplift of all-round education and moral advancement of students, elaborating the system of Chapter End Test in assessing the students' development in all-round ability.
He said it is satisfying to see parents and well-wishers ardently taking part in the government's national education promotion programmes which are being implemented with greater momentum, explaining the installation of computers and opening of multimedia classrooms with the help of school board of trustees. Five schools in Mandalay now have multimedia classrooms, he added.
School family day could be celebrated in all schools of the entire nation on 3 January as the programmes are gaining success, showing the brilliant abilities of the students.
He urged teachers to take part with nationalism and with added momentum in implementing the programmes, which are gaining success.
The Secretary-1 cordially greeted the trainees.
After having lunch together with the trainees, he left the institute.
Teachers from the respective states and divisions totaling 1,011 are attending the four-week course.
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(2) Union Flag conveyed to Kyauktan
YANGON, 8 Feb - The Union Flag which rested for one year at the City Hall was conveyed from the hall to sports ground in Kyauktan Township this morning under the Union Flag relay programme in four districts in Yangon Division.
The flag started its journey for holding the 52nd Union Day Flag Hoisting Ceremony with the national objectives for all the nationals to harmoniously strive to uphold and safeguard non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty, for all the nationals to join hands in unity in endeavouring to build a new peaceful, tranquil, modern and developed nation, for all the nationals to strive in harmony and unison for the emergence of an enduring State Constitution which can always serve the interests of the entire national people and for all the nationals to oppose and crush destructionists from inside and out-side the nation who are disturbing and jeopardizing the State stability, peace and development.
First, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay took out the Union Flag from the silver bowl in the guest hall of the mayor after saluting it. The mayor carried the flag flanked by four Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) and Police Officers and 32 Union nationals to the designated place on Maha Bandoola Street in front of the City Hall with the Myodaw music troupe playing royal drum music and the public saluted it.
The mayor handed over the Union Flag to Vice-Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander of Yangon Command Col Hsan Hsint, on behalf of the Chairman of the 52nd Anniversary Union Day Observance Management Committee Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than. Col Hsan Hsint handed it to Chairman of Yangon South District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Maung Maung Sein.
Lt-Col Maung Maung Sein carried the flag onto the Union Boat and planted it in the silver bowl at 6.50 am.
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(3) Three US citizens ordained at Alodawpyi Monastery
YANGON, 8 Feb - Three US citizens were ordained at the Alodawpyi Monastery at Tamwelay Ward here this morning.
The ordination was sponsored by US Military Attache Lt-Col Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Eagle Group of Companies Mr Pet James and General Manager of Eagle Group of Companies Mr Sean Haley.
Also present on the occasion were Daw Khin Than Nwe, wife of Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Deputy Minister for Science and Technology U Hlaing Win, member of the Multi-party Democracy General Election Commission U San Maung, officials of the Religious Affairs Department and well-wishers.
Daw Khin Than Nwe and well-wishers presented offertories to the Sayadaws and newly-ordained monks.
The congregation shared the merits gained.
Sayadaws recited metta sutta.
Vice-Chairman Sayadaw of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee delivered a sermon.
The monks will practice vipassana for five days at Alodawpyi Monastery in Bagan-NyaungU.
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(4) Ether factory seized in Hsenwi
YANGON, 8 Feb - Acting on information, a Tatmadaw column of North-East Command seized an ether factory near Namsho Creek, seven miles south-east of Hsenwi Township, Shan State, on 27 January 1999. The factory manufactured ether to be used in production of narcotic drugs.
Under the leadership of the local battalion, members of the Tatmadaw column,
Defence Services Intelligence Unit and Anti-drug Squad, operated at Namsho Creek
region at 7 pm on 27 January, and seized three huts and the following
paraphernalia used in ether production were seized:
The Tatmadaw is combating narcotic drugs as a national duty and destroyed two heroin refineries, one ether factory and two factories which produced stimulant tablets from l January 1999 till today. The Tatmadaw will continue to combat narcotic drugs with momentum.
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(5) 23 members resign from Thongwa Township NLD
YANGON, 8 Feb - Twenty-three members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Thongwa Township, Yangon Division.
Twenty-three members of Thongwa Township NLD, Yangon Division, of their own volition, tendered their resignations by sending letters of resignation to Thongwa Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission Office and the party concerned on 7 February 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
Singu Township
Similarly, 65 members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Singu Township, Mandalay Division.
Sixty-five members of Singu Township NLD, Mandalay Division, of their own volition, tendered their resignations by sending letters of resignation to Singu Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission Office and the party concerned on 16 January 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
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(6) Yen 1,000,000 for International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University
YANGON, 8 Feb - Mr Take Saburo and Mr Iida Tasuku, on behalf of Nun Jakoken of Japan, donated Yen 1,000,000 for International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University at the Ministry of Religious Affairs today.
Minister for Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa accepted the donation.
Present on the occasion were Deputy Minister U Aung Khin, Director-General of Religious Affairs Department U Arnt Maung, Pro-rector of ITBMU Dr Hla Pe and officials.
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(7) Yangon City chess team recounts experiences
YANGON, 8 Feb - A ceremony to recount experience of Yangon City chess team which took part in the Asian Clubs Chess Tournament held in Singapore from 18 to 20 January 1999 was held in conjunction with a coordination meeting on a visit to Myanmar to be paid by the chairman of International Chess Federation at National Indoor Stadium-1 in Thuwunna this afternoon, attended by Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Sein Win.
Present on the occasion were Director-General of Sports and Physical Education Department Col Ra Myint Kyaw, advisers to the ministry Col Ngo Ciin Pau and U Saw Gilbert Gyi, President of Myanmar Chess Federation U Kyaw Than and executives and athletes of Yangon City Chess team.
The minister made a speech.
Officials and players reported on holding of the tournament, participation, success and the winning of medals.
The meeting ended with remarks by Minister Brig-Gen Sein Win.
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(8) Talks given on danger of narcotic drugs
YANGON, 8 Feb - Talks on the danger of narcotic drugs, jointly sponsored by Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association and Kamayut Township Basic Education High School No 2, were held at BEHS No 2 in Kamayut Township from 11 am to 2 pm.
Instructors of Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association and trainees gave talks on the dangers of narcotic drugs.
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YANGON, 8 Feb - Under the youth exchange programme between ASEAN member countries and the Republic of Korea, an 11-member youth delegation led by Deputy Director of Ministry of International Affairs and Commerce of ROK Mr Ham Jeong Han met youths of Yangon Division, Districts and Townships at Yangon Division Union Solidarity and Development Association Office at 9 am today.
They discussed youth affairs between the Republic of Korea and Myanmar.
The Korean youth delegation then visited the computer course being conducted at Yangon Division USDA Office.
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(10) Cruise-liner MS Berlin arrives at Nanthida Jetty
YANGON, 8 Feb - Cruise liner MS Berlin of Germany with 276 tourists on board arrived this morning at Nanthida Jetty, here under arrangement of Myanma Tourism Service of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and Myanmar Voyages Co Ltd.
It was welcomed by General Manager U Htay Aung of Myanma Tourism Service and officials.
The tourists will visit downtown Yangon, Thanlyin, Bago and Bagan in two
days. Cultural variety dances were presented by Myanma Tourism Service in the
evening on board the liner.