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(1) Senior General Than Shwe attends consecration of Lawkachantha Pagoda
YANGON, 19 Apr - A ceremony to consecrate ancient pagoda No 233 Lawkachantha Pagoda renovated by Maj Thein Naing and wife Daw Khin Pyone Shwe with the patronage of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing was held at the Mingala Mandat near the pagoda this morning.
Before the consecration ceremony, Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing and family, donors Maj Thein Naing and wife Daw Khin Pyone Shwe and family paid obeisance to the Buddha image of the pagoda.
At the consecration ceremony, Director of Bagan Cultural Heritage Region U Aung Kyaing of the Department of Archaeology supplicated to the Sayadaws on the history of Lawkachantha Pagoda.
Afterwards, 18 members of the Sangha headed by Chairman of the Township Sangha Nayaka Committee Maha Visutayama Taikthit Sayadaw consecrated the pagoda.
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(2) Senior General Than Shwe visits pagodas in Bagan-NyaungU
YANGON, 19 Apr - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, while on tour in Bagan-NyaungU, together with his entourage visited Lawkananda Pagoda in Bagan and made cash donations towards the pagoda funds last night.
Then, the Senior General and entourage visited Hsinmyashin Pagoda. Afterwards, they proceeded to Shwezigon Pagoda in NyaungU Township. The Senior General paid homage to the pagoda and had a cordial meeting with pilgrims. He also presented donations towards the pagoda funds.
Shopkeepers from the stairway of the pagoda presented local products to the Senior General.
The Senior General and entourage this morning went to Shin Arahan Oakkyaung at Maha Hngetpyittaung, and paid homage to the statue of Venerable Shin Arahan.
The Senior General and entourage inspected renovation works of Shin Arahan Oakkyaung and the stone inscription. Next, the Senior General went to Alodawpyi Pagoda, and gave to officials guidance on preservation of ancient works of art. Then, the Senior General and entourage paid obeisance to Alodawpyi Pagoda.
The Senior General offered Shwethingan to Alodawpyi Buddha Image, and made cash donations towards the pagoda funds. After that, the Senior General and entourage went to Ananda Pagoda, and had a cordial meeting with pilgrims and tourists. Then, the Senior General paid homage to Ananda Pagoda and presented donations towards the pagoda funds. Shopkeepers from the pagoda presented gifts to the Senior General. Then Senior General and entourage later inspected Bagan cultural zone in a motorcade.
The Senior General and entourage arrived back here by Tatmadaw aircraft in the afternoon. The Senior General toured 22 townships in Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway Divisions and Shan State (North) from 5 to 19 April. During his tour, the Senior General attended and addressed the passing-out parades of the Defence Services Academy and the Defence Services Institute of Technology.
In addition, the Senior General inspected Mandalay International Airport Project, the University for Development of National Races, defence services institutes, training schools of the ministries, towns and villages, commercial activities, road and bridge construction projects, mining works, irrigation works, agricultural projects, oil and natural gas fields and the cultural zone, and he also attended the ceremony to open Magway-Taungdwingyi Railroad which was built with the labour of Tatmadaw members.
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(3) Secretary-1 lays cornerstone for the Shwedagon pagoda with Shwedagon Pagoda Htidaw design
YANGON, 19 Apr - A cornerstone-laying ceremony to build the pagoda with Shwedagon Pagoda Htidaw design was held at the designated site on the Shwedagon Pagoda platform in the north-east corner this morning, attended by Patron of the Committee for All-round Perpetual Renovation of the Shwedagon Pagoda Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
The Secretary-l and the congregation received the Nine Precepts from State Ovadacariya Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Shaddanta Rajintabhivamsa of Thirimanda Sankyaung.
Then, the Sayadaws and members of the Sangha recited parittas.
The Secretary-l presented a casket and a brick to be used as a cornerstone to Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Rajintabhivamsa.
Then, the Secretary-l offered alms to the Sayadaw.
Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Lt-Gen Tin Hla and ministers also presented bricks to be used as cornerstones and alms to the Sayadaws.
Vice-Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Ovadacariya of Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees Aungmyaybonsan Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Panindabhivamsa delivered a sermon.
The Secretary-l and the congregation shared merits gained for the good deeds.
Dewawin Group conveyed the casket, cornerstones and the plaque up to the designated places.
At the auspicious time, the Secretary-l laid the casket in the centre of the foundation and then the cornerstone.
Then, the Secretary-l laid the plaque in the centre of the foundation.
The Secretary-l and party sprinkled the casket, the cornerstones and the plaque with scented water.
After the ceremony, the Secretary- I performed the ritual of golden and silver showers.
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(4) National Convention Convening Commission meets
YANGON, 19 Apr - The National Convention Convening Commission held its meeting in the hall of NCCC at 2 pm today.
Present on the occasion were Chairman Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Vice-Chairmen Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, and Brig-Gen Pyi Sone and commission members.
Secretary of National Convention Convening Commission and members of National Convention Convening Work Committee and National Convention Convening Management Committee reported on matters concerning the National Convention.
Members of National Convention Convening Commission took part in the discussions.
The meeting came to a close with concluding remarks by Chairman Maj-Gen Saw Lwin.
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(5) Minister meets ambassadors
YANGON, 19 Apr - Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung met Ambassador of Malaysia Dato' Muhammad Bin Noh and party who called at his office at 3 pm today.
Similarly, Minister for Industry-l U Aung Thaung met Ambassador of Republic of Korea Mr Chung lung-gum and party who called at his office at 4 pm today.
Present at the call were Deputy Ministers Brig-Gen Thein Tun and Brig-Gen Kyaw Win and directors-general and managing directors of departments and enterprises.
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(6) 23.84 kilos of opium seized in Kunlong Township
YANGON, 19 Apr - While discharging duties at Monpawlay area in Kunlong Township, Shan State (North) on 17 March, Tatmadaw members of local battalion searched a Trawler-G car (Ka Kha 133) which was on its way from Monpawlay to Monsi.
They nabbed driver Ahnaw, son of U Kyaw Thein and Antwe, son of U Arkhaik of Monsi Village, Kutkai Township, Than Gwin, son of U Shoe Thu of Naungmu Village and Lawu, son of U Lauk Ta of Mani Pon Village of the same township, together with 21 packets of opium weighing 23.84 kilos.
Action is being taken against the four according t o the law.
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(7) Commander attends opening of bridge, repaved road in Taninthayi
YANGON, 19 Apr - Chairman of Taninthayi Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Coastal Region Command Maj-Gen Thura Thiha Thura Sit Maung, accompanied by Commander of Taninthayi Naval Region Command Commodore Soe Myint, Deputy Commander Brig-Gen Tin Latt and departmental officials, attended the opening ceremony of the bridge across Myitnge River in Taninthayi Township, Myeik District, on 17 April morning.
The commander and Division Superintending Engineer U Kyaw Min Thein formally opened the bridge. It is 540-foot-long and 15-foot-wide wooden bridge. It cost over K 6.20 million.
The commander and party also attended a ceremony to put back into use a repaved road section, three miles and six furlongs long, between Bawdi Road and Banlaw.
They inspected the construction of a concrete bridge at Nyaungbinkwin Village and progress of new road paving between Banlaw and Thebyu.
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(8) Preliminary meeting held on Myanmar-Thai cooperation in drug control
YANGON, 19 Apr - A preliminary meeting on Myanmar-Thai cooperation in eradication of narcotic drugs and stimulants took place at the meeting hall of the Ministry of Home Affairs, this morning.
Present on the occasion were Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, and members of Law Enforcement Work Committee and officials of the Ministry of Defence and CCDAC Office.
They discussed preparations to pave the way for Myanmar-Thai representatives to discuss cooperation, in drug abuse control. preparations for Myanmar-Thai-Lao drug abuse control meeting and implementation of the resolutions passed by 42nd meeting of UN Drug Control Programme.
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(9) Preparatory meeting for Myanmar Medical Conf on 24 April
YANGON, 19 Apr - The Organizing Committee of the 46th Myanmar Medical Conference of Myanmar Medical Association has invited all Medicine and Medical Equipment Representatives to attend a meeting and discuss matters preparatory to the Conference at 10 am on 24 April at the MMA Auditorium (B), 249 Theinbyu Road, Mingala Taungnyunt Township.
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(10) 93 members resign from Pyapon Township NLD
YANGON, 19 Apr - Ninety-three members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Pyapon Township, Ayeyawady Division.
Ninety-three 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 23 December 1998 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
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(11) 73 members resign from Taze Township NLD
YANGON, 19 Apr - Seventy-three members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Taze Township, Sagaing Division.
Seventy-three members of Taze Township NLD, Sagaing Division, of their own volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Taze Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission Office and the party concerned on 8 February 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in NLD.
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(12) Over 33,000 eligible voters of Thongwa submit declarations of no confidence in representative-elect U Lwin of NLD
YANGON, 19 Apr - Eligible voters of Thongwa Township Constituency-l of Yangon Division, submitted declarations of no confidence in U Lwin who was elected as Pyithu Hluttaw Representative of National League for Democracy at the 1990 Multi-party Democracy General Election from Thongwa Township Constituency-l and no support for him at the rallies held at Phayagyi, Gatonpaw and Nyaunglangon Stations on 5 April and Hseywa, Aungpansein and Thagara Stations on 7 April.
On 5 April morning, over 4,400 local people of five villages rallied at the sports ground of Basic Education High School of Phayagyi Sanpya Village in Phayagyi Station.
Farmer U Than Aung (a) U Thaukkya of Phayagyi Sanpya Village, on behalf of the voters, expressed no confidence in U Lwin, Pyithu Hluttaw Representative of National League for Democracy, and no support for him. Joint-Secretary of Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Sub-commission Township Cooperatives Department Officer U Bo Ni accepted declarations of no confidence in U Lwin and no support for him signed by local people presented by U Khin Maung Myint, on behalf of the Phayagyi Sanpya Village, U Hla Soe, on behalf of the Michaungkan Village, U Thaung Tun, on behalf of the Azantawzun Village, U Taw Bon, on behalf of the Azetwa Village and U San Thein, on behalf of the Tamangyi Village.
Likewise, a rally was held at the sports ground of Gatonpaw Alei Village in Gatonpaw Station, attended by over 4,700 local people of seven villages.
At Nyaunglangon Station, over 7,300 local people of nine villages attended the rally.
U Zaw Min of Nyaunglangon Village, on behalf of the voters, expressed no confidence in U Lwin and no support for him. Merchant U Kyaw Tun Naing of the village. on behalf of the voters, presented petitions of no confidence in U Lwin and no support for him signed by local people to member of Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Sub-commission U Myat Swe.
On 7 April. over 2,900 local people of four villages attended the similar ceremony which took place at Hseywa Sanpya Village of Hseywa Station.
Daw Hla Yi of the village, on behalf of the voters, expressed no confidence in U Lwin and no support for him. Member of Township Multi-party Democracy General Election Sub-commission Township Education Officer Daw Tin Hla accepted declarations of no confidence in U Lwin and no support for him signed by local people presented by U San Shwe, on behalf of the Hseywa Sanpya Village, U Hla, on behalf of the Kadappana Village, U Myint Kyi, on behalf of the Tharawtaw Village and U Khin Shwe, on behalf of the Ahphaung Village.
At Aungpansein Station, over 2,600 local people of six villages attended the rally which took place at Aungpansein Village.
Farmer U Tin Win of the village, on behalf of the voters, expressed no confidence in U Lwin and no support for him. Fisheries entrepreneur U Maung Maung Than of Thamaseitta Village, on behalf of the voters, presented declarations of no confidence in U Lwin and no support for him signed by local people to member of Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Sub-commission U Khin Swe.
A similar rally was held at Thagara Village of Thagara Station, attended by over 2,600 local people of four villages.
Farmer U Shwe Win of Thagara Village, on behalf of the voters, expressed no confidence in U Lwin and no support for him. Farmer U Aung Kyaw Hsan of the village, on behalf of the voters,
Out of eligible voters of Thongwa Township Constituency-l of Yangon Division,
18,189 or 68.11 per cent voted for U Lwin of NLD in 1999 Multiparty Democracy
General Election. The number of voters who presented signed petitions of no
confidence in U Lwin and no support for him totaled 33.692.