(1) First tier of Shwehtidaw of Shwedagon Pagoda hoisted
YANGON, 4 Apr - Shwehtidaw hoisting ceremony of the Shwedagon Pagoda was held at the Aungmye of Yahu (North-West) corner and Sunday (North-East) corner on the pagoda platform this morning.
The Shwedagon Pagoda, like the gold mountain, is one of the world's wonders and lies on the top of Theinguttara Hill in the centre of Yangon City. Relics of four Buddhas - staff of Kakuthan, filter of Gawnagon, waist-cloth of Kassapa and sacred strands of hair of Gotama were enshrined the pagoda.
Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing attended the ceremony and Patron of the Leading Committee for Perpetual All-round Renovation of the Shwedagon Pagoda Secretary-1 of the state Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt hoisted the first tier of Shwehtidaw atop the pagoda.
Also present were State Ovadacariya Sayadaws, member Sayadaws led by Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abhidhaja Maha Ratha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Myingyan Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sobhita, Ovadacariya Sayadaw of Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees, Tipitakadhara Dhammab andagarika Sayadaws and members of the Sangha, Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San, Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and wife Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo and wife Daw Khin Than Nwe, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint and wife Daw Khin Cho Oo, members of the State Peace and Development Council Commander in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Nyunt Thein, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Kyaw Than, Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Deputy Prime Ministers Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin and Lt-Gen Tin Tun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Military Affairs Lt-Gen Tin Hla, Ministers, Chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board U Maung Maung Gyi, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay, the deputy ministers, senior military officers, diplomats, Chairman of the Leading Committee for Perpetual All-round Renovation of the Shwedagon Pagoda Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung and members, Chairman of Work Committee Deputy Commander of Yangon Command Brig-Gen Hsan Hsint and members, Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office Lt-Col Pe Nyein and officials, departmental officials, commanders of military regions, members of Division, District, Township and Ward Peace and Development Councils, member of Work Committee for holding of Shwehtidaw Hoisting Ceremony, members of Sub-committees, Myanmar engineers, members of Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees, students of International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University, members of religious and social organizations and wut associations, well-wishers and thousands of people.
The ceremony was held at Mingala Mandat in Aungmye of Yahu (North-West) corner and Sunday (North-East) corner at 7.20 am.
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(2) Officials of NPE, MRTV leave for PRC
YANGON, 4 Apr - Chief Editor U Soe Myint of The New Light of Myanmar of News and Periodicals Enterprise and Director (Admin) U Phon Myint of Myanma Radio and Television under the Ministry of Information, left here this morning by air for Beijing, People's Republic of China, to attend China-ASEAN Seminar on News Research to be held from 5 to 11 April in Beijing and Sinhsien.
They were seen off at Yangon International Airport by officials of NPE and MRTV and their families.
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(3) 100 members reign from Phyapon township NLD
YANGON, 4 Apr - One hundred members resigned from National League for Democracy of Phyapon Township, Ayeyawady Division.
One hundred members of Phyapon Township NLD, Ayeyawady Division, of their own volition, mooned by sending letters of resignation to Pbyapon Township Multi-party Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 21 December 1998 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
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(4) Final day of 54th Anniversary Armed Forces Day Exhibition
YANGON, 4 Apr - The 54th Anniversary Armed Forces Day Exhbition continued for the final day at Defence Services Museum on Shwedagon Pagoda Road today.
On display at the booth of Yangon Command were nine wonders of Shwedagon Pagoda, paintings of all-round renovation of Shwedagon, scale models of Shwedagon and Tooth Relic Pagodas, four Titans d Shwedagon, colour photo which described Senior General Ran Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing conveying Seinbudaw of Tooth Relic Pagoda on 24 November 1996, painting of Maha Bandoola. Twelve Objectives, land Relamation in wetlands, Tabuhla and Ngamoeyeik Dams and statue of Captain Aung San Thriya Taik Chun.
The Directorate of Medical Services displayed at its booth health care tasks of military operations in front-line areas carded out by medical unit honorary persons of medical service units showroom of Defence Services Medical Research and Development Committee, Defence Services Institute of Medicine, nursing cadet training course, Central Medical Store Depot and military hospitals in Mingaladon.
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(5) 43 members resign from Taze township NLD
YANGON,4 Apr - Forty-three members resigned from National League f or Democracy of Taze Township, Sagaing Division.
Forty-three members of Taze Township NLD, Sagaing Division, of their own volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Taze Township Multi-party Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 20 January 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in politics of NLD.
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(6) Appointment of Ambassador of UK agreed
YANGON, 5 Apr - The Government of the Union of Myanmar has agreed to the appointment of Dr John Jenkins LVO as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Union of Myanmar in succession to His Excellency Mr Robert Anthony Eagleson Gordon OBE.
Dr. John Jenkins was born on 26 January 1955. He attended the Cambridge University and completed a Doctorate in 1980. He joined the Diplomatic Service in the same year and has served in various capacities in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and also in diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur. He last served as Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission in Kuwait since 1995.
In 1989 Dr Jenkins was appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) by HM the Queen.
Dr John Jenkins was married.
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(7) Cruiseliner mv Astor arrives with 433 tourists
YANGON, 4 Apr - Under the arrangement of Myanma Hotels and Tourism Services of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and Myanmar Voyages International Tourism Co Ltd. cruiseliner mv Astor of Transocean Tours Co of Germany with 433 German tourists and 284 crew members arrived at the wharf of Myanmar International Thilawa Terminal this morning.
They will tour Yangon, Bago, Thanlyin and Bagan regions.
In the evening, Myanmar traditional dances will be presented to the tourists on board the cruiseliner. They will leave here on 5 April.
Cruiseliner mv Astor is 176.5 metres long. Ministry of Transport conducted the bruise liners to use the wharfs of MITT so as to ensure development of tourism service.
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(8) Dinner for Japanese Takarazuka Kagekidan troupe
YANGON, 4 Apr - Director-General of Fine Arts Department U Tin Htoo hosted dinner in honour of the nine-member Japanese Takarazuka Kagekidan troupe, currently here, under the cultural exchange programme between the two countries at the National Theatre this evening.
The dinner was attended by the directors-general of departments under the Ministry of Culture, the directors and officials of Japanese Embassy.
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(9) Deputy minister inspects Kyangin Cement Plant
YANGON, 4 Apr - Deputy Minister for Industry-1 Brig-Gen Kyaw Win, accompanied by officials of Myanma Ceramics Industries, inspected Kyangin Cement Plant in Kyangin Township, Ayeyawady Division, yesterday morning.
The deputy minister gave instructions on manufacturing quality products and exceeding the target. He then fulfilled the requirements.
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(10) Central Command Commander inspects Paunglaung hydel power plant project
YANGON, 4 Apr - Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Central Command Maj-Gen Ye Myint, accompanied by Brig-Gen Thein Swe of Pyinmana Station and officials, inspected Paunglaung Hydel power plant project on I April morning.
Planning Manager U Bon Kyi of Paunglaung Hydel power plant project reported to the Commander on the construction of diversion tunnel No 2, work of the factory, function of the factory, entrance of diversion tunnel and entrance and exit of sluice gate, Director of Irrigation Department U Win Maung on arrangements for construction of the main dam, arrival of machinery and construction of spillway.
The commander gave necessary instructions and inspected the project site.
The commander and party inspected the building of Pyinmana-Pinlaung-Hlwegyi road, Yayzin Dam and farmland No 1597 and 1598 near Mautaw Village in Pyinmana Township in the afternoon.
Officials of Various work sites reported to the Commander on their activities. The Commander gave instructions and left there in the evening.
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(11) Agga Maha Saddhamma jotikadhaja title recipient Mon Sayadaw honoured
YANGON, 4 Apr - Agga Maha Saddhamma jotikadhaja title recipient Mon Sayadaw Bhaddanta Pubba Ramma of Myanmar Kyaungtaik in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, was honoured at Mon Dhammayon on Shwedagon Pagoda Road this afternoon.
Congregation received the Five Precepts from Sayadaw Pubba Ramma. Disciples and well-wishers presented offertories and shared merits.
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(12) Basic Executives' Multiplier Management Course No 1/99 concludes in Hsihseng
YANGON, 4 Apr - The Basic Executives' Multiplier Management Course No 1/99, organized by Hsihseng Township Union Solidarity and Development Association of Shan State (South), concluded at Hsaikkhaung Village Peace and Development Council Office on 2 April morning.
Present on the occasion were Commander of Banyin Station Maior Hla Myint Shwe and military officers, Secretary of Hsihseng Township Peace and Development Council U Thein Than Maung and departmental officials, the secretary and executives of Township USDA, organizers, Pa-O national races and residents.
Station Commander Major Hla Myint Shwe, U Thein Than Maung and Acting Secretary of Township USDA U Khun Than Htoo gave speeches.
Altogether 4 5 USDA members attended the course. The Acting Secretary of Township USDA presented prizes and certificates to the outstanding trainees. He then accepted K 200,000 for construction of Township USDA Office donated by U Win Naing and family of Hsihseng.