(1) Senior General Than Shwe goes on inspection tour of Buthidaung and Maungtaw
YANGON, 2 Mar - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, together with Secretary-2 of the State Peace ant Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo ant members of the State Peace and Development Council, Deputy Prime Ministers Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin and Lt-Gen Tin Hla and ministers, flew to Buthidaung by helicopter yesterday morning.
They were welcomed there by Tactical Operations Commander Col Aung Naing Tun, senior military officers, families and departmental officials.
The Senior General heard a report by Col Aung Naing Tun on the situation of Buthidaung region, and gave guidance as necessary.
Afterwards, the Senior General went to the regional battalion and had a cordial meeting with the Tatmadaw members of the Station and families.
Then, the Senior General went on an inspection tour of Buthidaung.
Meanwhile, the ministers accompanying the Senior General met with departmental officials and employees of Buthidaung District, Maungtaw District and townships at Buthidaung Hall.
Chairman of Buthidaung District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Hla Maung and Chairman of Maungtaw District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Tin Hla Oo reported on development works district wise.
On behalf of the ministers, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin and Minister for Commerce Maj-Gen Kyaw Than gave instructions on the projects.
At 1.30 pm, the Senior Council and ply left for Maungtaw by car, and inspected Buthidaung-Maungtaw Motor Road and No 1 Border Trade Camp.
In the hall near the camp, Col Aung Naing Tun and Head of Border Region Immigration Control Office U Thet Htut reported on regional situation.
The Senior General gave guidance as necessary.
Minister Maj-Gen Kyaw Than gave instructions on border trade to officials at Border Trade Department in Maungtaw.
Similarly, member of the Central Executive Committee of the Union Solidarity ant Development Association U Soe Tha and U Thaung met members of Buthidaung and Maungtaw, District and Township USDAs.
At 3.00 pm, the Senior General gave guidance to departmental officials, and left for Sittway by helicopter.
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(2) Secretary-1 inspects development work in Pathein, preservation of cultural heritage in Danubyu
YANGON, 2 Mar - Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, accompanied by Minister for Education U than Aung, Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Sein Win, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister for Immigration and Population U Saw Tun, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung, Deputy Minister for Progress of Border Areas ant National Races and Development Affairs U Kyaw Tin. Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries U Aung Thein, Deputy Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Thein Aung, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo, Chief of Staff (Air) Col Myint Swe, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental officials, left here for Pathein by Tatmadaw helicopter this morning.
The Secretary-l and party were welcomed by member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander of South West Command Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, military and civilian officers, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, members of Red Cross and Auxiliary Fire Brigades and officials.
The Secretary-1 delivered a speech at the opening of paper-reading session on Myanma Traditional Medicine and seminar.
The Secretary-l and party went, to the Library and Museum in Pathein where they were welcomed by Curator U Han Sein and officials.
The Secretary-l and party inspected the museum.
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(3) Myanma traditional medicine paper-reading session and seminar for 1999 opened
YANGON, 2 Mar - A ceremony to open the Myanma traditional medicine paper-reading session and seminar for 1999 was held in Ayeya Shwewa Hall in Pathein, Ayeyawady Division, this morning, addressed by Chairman of National Health Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace ant Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Also present on the occasion were member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, ministers, deputy ministers, Chief of Staff (Air), officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, department heads, members of Division Peace and Development Council, division-level department heads, Director-General of Traditional Medicine Department Professor Dr Kyaw members of Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association, veteran traditional medicine practitioners heads of State/Division Traditional Medicine Departments, medical superintendents of traditional medicine hospitals, non-government organization and gusts.
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(4) MEB, private banks open new branches in Myitkyina
YANGON, 2 Mar - The new branch of Myitkyina Myanma Economic Bank was opened in Myitkyina yesterday.
Chairman of Kachin State Peace and Development Council Commander of Northern Command Maj-Gen Kyaw Win and Minister for France and Revenue U Khin Maung Thein formally opened it.
Managing Director of MEB Thura U Myint Shwe unveiled the signboard.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister U Khin Maung Thein explained the introduction of new buildings and equipment for-progress of banking services.
Also present on the occasion were Governor of Central Bank of Myanmar U Kyaw Kyaw Maung, officials, members of Union Solidarity and Development Association and guests.
Later, Myitkyina Township Branch of Asia Wealth Bank was opened.
The commander, the minister, Chairman of AWB U Win Maung and Vice-Chairman U Aik Tun formally opened it.
Minister U Khin Maung Thein said it was the 22nd branch of AWB which is extending branches in the entire nation, urging private banks to render financial assistance to national entrepreneurs who are reclaiming vacant and wetlands.
Afterwards, Myitkyina Township Branch of Yoma Bank was opened, addressed by the minister.
He spoke of the need to strive for progress of private banks and to work in accord with the directives of the government.
It is the 23rd branch of YB.
The commander, the minister and Chairman of YB U Thein Wai formally opened it.
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(5) 187 members resign from Pyapon Township NLD
YANGON, 2 Mar - One hundred and eighty-seven members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Pyapon Township, Ayeyawady Division.
One hundred and eighty-seven members of Pyapon Township NLD, Ayeyawady Division, on their own volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Pyapon Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 14 December 1998 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
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(6) 118 members resign from Kyaukse Township NLD
YANGON, 2 Mar - One hundred and eighteen members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Kyaukse Township, Mandalay Division.
One hundred and eighteen members of Kyaukse Township NLD, Mandalay Division, on their own volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Kyaukse Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 7 February 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
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(7) Cash donations made for Thatbyinyu Pagoda to be built in Mayangon
YANGON, 2 Mar - A ceremony to donate cash for Thatbyinyu Pagoda to be built in the precincts of Dhammaythaka Nunnery in Mayangon Township and to pay homage to Buddha images was held in the Mogaung Dhammayon in the precincts of Maha Muni Buddha Image in Mandalay this morning.
It was attended by Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Central Command Maj-Gen Ye Myint and wife Dr Tin Lin Myint Chairman of Mandalay City Development Committee Mayor of Mandalay Brig-Gen Yan Thein and wife, Secretary of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Tin Ohn and others.
Maj-Gen Ye Myint accepted K 300, 000 from Lt-Gen Tin Ohn for the pagoda, K 200,000 from Brig-Gen Yan Thein and others from the Commander family and the Mayor family.
The commander, the mayor and officials also accepted donations from well-wishers and presented certificates of honour to them.
The total cash donations amounted to K 1.84 million.
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(8) Gold donations to Shwedagon
YANGON, 2 Mar - The 119th gold, gold sheets, gold leaves and golden bells donation ceremony for the Shwedagon Pagoda was held at the pagoda this afternoon.
It was attended by Alternate Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Pagoda U Mya Thein and members, officials of religious organizations and well-wishers.
A total of 119 well-wishers donated gold, gold sheets, gold leaves and golden bells worth K 4.5 million to the pagoda.
U Mya Thein and officials accepted the donations and presented certificates of honour.
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(9) Myanmar Open Chess Tournament on 18 March
YANGON, 2 Mar - Myanmar Open Chess Tournament, sponsored by Myanmar Chess Federation, will be held on 18 March. The tournament will choose selected players tentatively to turn out the Grand Master and International Master players.
The tournament is open to all except eight Myanmar selected players.
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(10) UNDR trainees conclude excursion
YANGON, 2 Mar - Trainees of Teachership Course No 30 of University for Development of National Races concluded their excursion after visiting Bagan-NyaungU, Popa Hill, Kyetmauktaung Dam and Kinda Dam on 27 and 28 February.
On 27 February morning, they paid homage to ancient pagodas and visited Lacquer-ware Institute and Bagan Archaeological Museum in Bagan-NyaungU.
In the afternoon, they visited Mount Popa.
On 28 February morning, the UDNR trainees went to Kyetmauktaung Dam.
The trainees then -visited Kinda Dam where Assistant Director U Tun Wai of Irrigation Department briefed them on the dam.
Manager of Kinda Power Plant U Kyaw Thaung conducted them around the plant.
In the evening, the trainees arrived back at UDNR via Kinda Dam.
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(11) Magway Association (Yangon) holds Gunavisithapuja to titles recipient Sayadaws
YANGON, 2 Mar - The Gunavisithapuja of Magway Association (Yangon) was held in conjunction with paying respects ceremony at the Universities' Dhammayon at 1 pm today, attended by Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung.
Secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abhidhaja Maha Ratha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Kumara administered the Five Precepts. Treasurer of the association U Thein Maw Oo read out the profiles of religious title recipient Sayadaws who were honoured.
Minister U Aung Thaung supplicated on religious matters. Then, Minister U Aung Thaung and officials presented offertories to the Sayadaws and nuns.
Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kumara delivered a sermon and the congregation shared merits gained. Afterwards, members of the association paid respects to the old persons.
On behalf of the old persons, U Ohn Pe (Saya Tet Toe) gave a speech.