(1) Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Army General Surayud Chulanont and wife leave for Heho
YANGON, 18 Feb - Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San cordially met Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Army General Surayud Chulanont and wife Col (WAC) Khunying Chitrawadee at Tatmadaw Guest House at 11.45 am today before departure from here to continue the goodwill visit in Myanmar.
Then, General Surayud Chulanont and wife and party left for Heho Airport by special flight at 12.40 pm.
The guests were seen off at Yangon International Airport by General Maung Aye and wife, Chief of Bureau of Special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo and wife, Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Win Myint and wife, Quartermaster-General Lt-Gen Tin Hla and wife, Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and wife, Navy Attache of Thai Embassy Capt Prawit Srisukwattana (RTN) and wife and embassy staff.
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(2) Secretary-1 inspects work for durability of Shwedagon Htidaw
YANGON, 18 Feb - Patron of the Committee for All-round Perpetual Renovation of Shwedagon Pagoda Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt inspected works being carried out to enhance the durability of the Htidaw of Shwedagon Pagoda this morning.
Accompanied by officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, the Secretary-1 arrived at the pagoda at 6.45 am and was welcomed by Chairman of the Work Committee for All-round Perpetual Renovation of Shwedagon Pagoda Deputy Commander of Yangon Command Col Hsan Hsint and members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees.
First, the Secretary-1 paid obeisance to the Stupa from the upper terrace.
Together with Myanmar engineers, the Secretary-1 inspected the Htidaw's durability being tested through sub-surface interface radar system (SIR).
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt offered jasmine flowers to the Seinphudaw and Hngetmyatnadaw.
The Secretary-1 and Myanmar engineers inspected installation of steel frames and supports to enhance the Htidaw's durability and its decorative parts.
He then cordially met donors who were offering gold and gold plates to the Stupa.
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(3) Secretary-1 views special show of Myanmar-Japan Goodwill Cultural Dances
YANGON, 18 Feb - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended the special show of Myanmar-Japan goodwill cultural dances at the National Theatre on Myoma Kyaung Road at 7 pm today.
The Myanmar-Japan cultural dances were sponsored by Vice-Chairperson of All Japan Kimono Association Mrs Nakhashima Kheikho and Director of the Play Bogalay Tint Aung of Myanma Motion Picture Asiayon and Musician Gitalulin Maung Ko Ko.
It was also attended by Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe, wife of Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council, Daw Khin Than Nwe, wife of Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council, Daw Khin Cho Oo, wife of Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council, member of the State Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and wife, ministers and their wives, Ambassador of Japan Mr Kazuo Asakai and wife, heads of department and other guests.
The cultural dances will be presented at the National Theatre to the public from 19 to 21 February beginning 7 pm daily.
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(4) Myanmar Association Japan presents ophthalmologic equipment to Ministry of Health
YANGON, 18 Feb - Myanmar Association Japan presented ophthalmologic equipment to the Ministry of Health at Hotel Nikko Royal Lake on Natmauk Road this evening, attended by Chairman of National Health Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Also present on the occasion were Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Brig-Gen Abel, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar Mr Kazuo Asakai, Deputy Commander of Yangon Command Col Hsan Hsint, heads of department Chairman of MAJ Mr Sakuzo Nakao and party and guests.
Mr Sakuzo Nakao explained the purpose of the donation.
He then handed the gifts to Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt who presented him a certificate of honour.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein said primary health care programmes has been going on since 1978 to realize the goal "Health for All by the Year 2000". Hospital project was included in the six projects of the 1996-2001 health plan, he noted. Improvement of treatment and hospital quality was included in the hospital project, he said, adding efforts were being made for proportionate advancement of hospitals in Yangon and Mandalay. Upgrading of medical equipment was vital in modernization and uplifting of hospitals. Today's donations presented by MAJ included operation microscope and other ophthalmologic equipment, he said.
Dr Yoshifumi Fujita explained an eye operation with audio-visual aids.
The Secretary-1 and party inspected the equipment.
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(5) Tatmadaw Medical Seminar to be held
YANGON, 18 Feb - The 9th Medical Seminar of Myanmar Tatmadaw will be held at Defence Services Orthopaedic Hospital (500-Bed) from 28 February to 3 March.
Medical professionals and interested persons may attend the seminar and enrolment is to be made before 22 February at Defence Services General Hospital, Mingaladon (Tel 635054), No 2 Defence Services Hospital (505 Bed) (Tel: 280258) and Defence Services Orthopaedic Hospital (500 Bed) with registration fees of K 300 per head for house surgeons, cadets of Defence Services Medical Institute and nursing cadets and K 500 per head for others.
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(6) 158 members resign from Tabayin Township NLD
Similarly, 158 members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Tabayin Township, Sagaing Division.
Three members of Tabayin Township NLD, Sagaing Division, of their own volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Tabayin Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission Office and the party concerned on 22 December 1998, 52 and 103 members followed suit on 25 December 1998 and 27 January 1999 respectively as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
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(7) Minister meets official of Transocean Tour Co
YANGON, 28 Feb - Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin met Product Management Tourism Director of Transocean I our Co Ltd of Germany Mr Manfred Buchholz who called at his office at 3 pm today.
Present at the call were Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu, Director-General U Khin Maung Latt of Directorate of Hotels and Tourism, Managing Director U Kyi Tun of Myanma Hotels and Tourism Service.
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(8) State Peace and Development Council Notification No 15/99
The State Peace and Development Council has reassigned duties to the Deputy
Minister for Industry-1 Brig-Gen Than Tun as Deputy Minister for Progress of
Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs.
By order
Sd
Khin Nyunt
Lieutenant-General
Secretary-1
State
Peace and Development Council
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(9) State Peace and Development Council Notification No 16/99
The State Peace and Development Council has appointed and assigned duties to
Brig-Gen Kyaw Win as Deputy Minister for Industry-1.
By order
Sd
Khin Nyunt
Lieutenant-General
Secretary-1
State
Peace and Development Council
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(10) 174 members resign from Pyapon Township NLD
YANGON, 18 Feb - One hundred and seventy-four members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Pyapon Township, Ayeyawady Division.
One hundred and seventy-four members of Pyapon Township NLD, Ayeyawady Division, of their own volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Pyapon Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission Office and the party concerned on 5 February 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
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(11) Minister inspects rail track repair, stations
YANGON, 18 Feb - Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung, accompanied by officials, inspected rail track repair and stations between Thanbyuzayat Station and Mawlamyine Station on 17 February.
At Mawlamyine Station, he gave instructions on repair of wagons.
Meeting personnel under the ministry at the station, the minister instructed them to systematically collect taxes, to strive for ensuring secure and smooth transport of passengers and freight, to take remedial measures for weaknesses, to present difficulties, to strive to become qualified staff and to make efforts so that accidents will not occur.
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(12) 49th Maha Convocation held to present certificates to successful candidates in religious exams
YANGON, 18 Feb - The 49th Maha Convocation to present certificates to the successful candidate members of the Sangha, nuns and lay persons in various religious examinations was held at Maha Pasana Cave, Kaba Aye, with the sponsorship of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council today.
Present on the occasion were Vice-Chairman Sayadaw of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Suriyabhivamsa, Secretary Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Magway Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kumara and member Sayadaws, member Sayadaws of Yangon Division Sangha Nayaka Committee of All Ganas, member Sayadaws of the Central Education Committee, members of the Sangha, nuns and lay persons who passed the Dhammacariya Pahtamabyan, Five Nikaya Pali, Abhidhamma and Visuddhi Magga examinations, Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin, Vice-Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander of Yangon Command Col Hsan Hsint and members, Director-General of Department of Religious Affairs U Arnt Maung, Director-General of Department for Promotion and Propagation of Sasana U Sann Lwin, Officer on Special Duty at the Ministry of Religious Affairs U Thet Shay, Deputy Director-General of Department of Religious Affairs Dr Myo Myint and officials, district and township authorities, officials of religious associations, well-wishers and guests.
The Vice-Chairman Sayadaw of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee invested the congregation with the Five Precepts.
Secretary Sayadaw Shaddanta Kumara read out the ovadakatha of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Chairman Sayadaw.
In his ovadakatha, the Chairman Sayadaw stated that the government and people are providing all-out support for perpetual existence of Pariyatti, Patipatti and Pativedha Sasanas and presenting deserving religious titles.
He urged the successful candidate members of the Sangha, nuns and lay persons to constantly give lectures on the Three Pitakat Treatises and practice meditation.
In his supplications to the Sayadaws, Deputy Minister U Aung Khin spoke of holding of Abhidhamma Visuddhi Magga exam in the Tipitakadhara Selection Exam in the times of successive governments for propagation of Pariyatti Sasana and holding of the Five Nikaya Pali exam starting from the time of the State Law and Order Restoration Council.
He also dealt with expansion of missionary tasks such as opening of the International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University.
Later, Col Hsan Hsint also made supplications to the Sayadaws.
Deputy Minister U Aung Khin, Deputy Commander Col Hsan Hsint, the chairmen of District Peace and Development Councils and officials presented medals and certificates to the members of the Sangha, nuns and lay persons who passed the Dhammacariya Pahtamabyan, Five Nikaya Pali, Abhidhamma and Visuddhi Magga examinations.
Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kumara delivered a sermon, followed by sharing of merits.