(1) Senior General Than Shwe gives guidance on project for landscaping in PyinOoLwin
YANGON, 8 April - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, accompanied by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint and party, visited the Botanical Gardens of the Forest Department in PyinOoLwin yesterday.
At the Botanical Gardens Exhibition, Minister for Forestry U Aung Phone explained to Senior General Than Shwe that the Forest Department has conserved over 300,000 acres of PyinOoLwin Township as the forest area, that it has been planned to plant 5.8 million trees within three years to beautify PyinOoLwin, out of which 1.9 million are to be planted this year, that 170 acres of PyinOoLwin Botanical Gardens are covered by land and 70 acres by water, and that plans will be laid down for landscaping of the 80-year-old Botanical Gardens.
The Senior General said that PyinOoLwin is the world-renown one and the only hill station summer resort in Myanmar and that it was the place of the governor's summer office in the colonial period.
He noted that both by its name and popularity, it is a valuable hill station of Myanmar and that it is necessary to lay down plans to renovate-and beautify the Own to acquire the characteristics of "Taung-sakhan Myodaw", "Pan Myodaw" and "Cherry Myodaw".
He called for cooperation of all officials and local people to make the environs lush and verdant including the gates of the town.
Meanwhile, he said, efforts must be made to re-beautify the Botanical Gardens and Kandawgyi, and plant various local species of trees and flowers, and bring in the world-famous species into the plots of the Botanical Gardens.
The Senior General inspected there documentaries on conservation and protection of bio-diversities, and went round in the gardens.
The Botanical Gardens have the educative exhibition together with Khatta Garden, Kyaukhsaung Garden, Hninzi Garden, Herb Garden, Orchid Garden and orchards.
In Khatta (Land Lilly) Garden, there are 52 plots where various species of land lily are grown. Altogether 52 plots of Hninzi (Rose) Garden keep various species of roses.
Medicinal plants, various orchids and fruit trees are also planted in respective gardens.
The Senior General and entourage proceeded to the Defence Services Electrical and Mechanical Engineering School and inspected it.
Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing attended the dinner to mark the graduation of the 40th Intake of Defence Services Academy at 6.30 pm.
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(2) Sitha Dam opens in PyinOoLwin, Mandalay Division
YANGON, 8 April - Sitha Dam, built within a year at a cost of K 138 million, was inaugurated this morning in PyinOoLwin Township, Mandalay Division.
With the maximum storage capacity of 1,900 acre feet, the earth dam built on Sitha Creek, is 970 feet long and 80 feet high.
The ceremony to mark the opening of the dam was held at a pandal near the facility, addressed by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo.
The Secretary-2 said the dam will supply one million gallons of water to Central Institute of Civil Service (Upper Myanmar), Central Fire Services Training School and Myanmar Police Force Central Training Unit which are located near Zeebingyi village in the township. It will also irrigate 250 acres of crops.
He elaborated on the government's efforts for progress of all sectors such as transport, communications, education, health and information to ensure proportionate development for all the regions of Myanmar including border areas.
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(3) Foreign company officials call on MIC Secretary
YANGON, 8 April - Chairman of Indochina Gold-fields Ltd Mr. Ed Flood and party called on Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Brig-Gen Maung Maung at MIC Office this afternoon.
Also present on the occasion were officials of Department of Investment and Companies Administration.
The minister also received General Manager of Chang Investment Construction Inc Mr Hsu-Chin Chang and party of Panama at the same office this morning.
Officials of Department of Investment and Companies Administration were also present.
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(4) 1.945 kg of opium seized in Tanai Township
YANGON, 8 April - A combined team comprising members of regional intelligence unit, Myanmar Police Force and departmental officials on 20 March seized 0.465 kg of opium from Ma Ywe Maing, aged 19, daughter of U La Aung, of Sitapu Village, Myitkyina Township, and 0.456 kg of opium from Ma Laya Aung, aged 19, daughter of U In Bah La, of No 118, Hukaung Ward, Tanai, who were on board Hilux (3Ka/ 8481), at the check point in Tanai, Kachin State.
According to further information, the team searched the house of Daw La Maung Lu, owner of the; seized opium, aged 50, daughter of U La Maung Naw, of Makaw Village, Tanai Township, and found 10 packets of opium weighing 1.024 kilogram and opium seeds (white/brown) weighing one viss and 35 ticals.
Action is being taken against the three under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law.
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(5) Golf Tourney for the disabled
YANGON, 8 April - National Amateur Golf Tourney for the disabled sponsored by Myanmar Disabled Athletes Federation was opened at Myanmar Golf Club this morning.
Twenty-one disabled golfers are taking part in it.
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(6) Victorious Myanmar swimming team back from Philippines
YANGON, 8 April - Victorious Myanmar swimming team which won ten gold medals and two bronze in South East Asia Age-wise swimming competition held from 2 to 4 April in Balocod, the Philippines arrived back here yesterday.
The team was led by Assistant Director U Nyunt Soe of Sports and Physical Education Department.
The team was welcomed by General Secretary of Myanmar Olympic Committee Director-General of SPED Col Hla Myint Kyaw, Adviser Col Ngo Ciin Pau, Patron of Myanmar Women Sports Federation Daw Aye Aye Tint, Chairperson of MWSF Professor Dr May May Yi and officials, President of Myanmar Swimming Federation and athletes of Yangon swimming club, selected players of Myanmar men's and women's football teams officials of Myanmar Rowing Federation, Myanmar Badminton Federation, Myanmar Boxing Federation, Myanmar Hockey Federation, Myanmar Tennis Federation, athletes camping and training at SPED, members of Union Solidarity and Development Association of Shwepyitha and Mingaladon Townships, sports fans and relatives.
Ma Moe Thu Aung (15-17 age) won ten gold medals in 200-m freestyle, 100-m back-stroke, 100-m butterfly stroke, 200-m breaststroke, 100-m freestyle, 100-m breaststroke, 400-m individual medley, 400-m freestyle, 50-m freestyle and 200-m butterfly stroke.
Maung Phyo Kyaw Thu (11-12 age) won two bronze in 50-m and 100-m backstroke events.
Altogether 153 swimmers of 12 teams from six nations participated in the competition.
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(7) Commander inspects Bo Myat Tun Bridge Project
YANGON, 8 April - Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West Command Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann inspected building of Bo Myat Tun Bridge across Ayeyawady River yesterday morning.
The Commander heard the report of Deputy Chief Engineer (Project) of Public Works U Pe Than and gave instructions on completing the bridge, meeting the set standards and ensuring work-site safety.
Afterwards, the commander toured the project area.
On completion, the bridge will be the longest in the country.
Installation of the bridge frames will be completed in the very near future.
The Commander then paid obeisance to Manaung Pyidawpyan Buddha Image in Zalun and inspected renovation work there.
He instructed officials to make arrangements for convenience of pilgrims from various regions.
The Commander paid respects to Chairman Sayadaw of Township Sangha Nayaka Committee and members, and supplicated on religious matters.
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(8) Medicine donated for Tatmadawmen
YANGON, 8 April - Ma Nu Thida of Lower Kyimyindine Road, Ahlon Township, donated medicine worth K 30,000 to be used for the Tatmadawmen at No 1 Base Medical Store Depot yesterday morning.
Commandant Lt-Col Thein Soe accepted the medicine and thanked the donor.
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(9) Temporary cut in microwave links
YANGON, 8 April - Yangon-Pathein, Yangon-Hinthada and Pathein-Labutta microwave links will temporarily be cut from noon to mid-night on 10 April as equipment are to be reinstalled at the reconstructed auto-exchange in Pathein, Ayeyawady Division.
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(10) 59 members resign from Myaung Township NLD
YANGON, 8 April - Fifty-nine members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Myaung Township, Sagaing Division.
Fifty-nine members of Myaung Township NLD, Sagaing Division, of their own volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to the Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 7 December 1998 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
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(11) 72 members resign from Myittha Township NLD
YANGON, 8 April - Seventy-two members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Myittha Township, Mandalay Division.
Seventy-two members of Myittha Township NLD, Mandalay Division, of their own
volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to the Township Multiparty
Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 12 February
1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.