THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
(Monday, 14 June 1999)
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YANGON, 13 June - Patron of All-round Perpetual Renovation of the Shwedagon Pagoda Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, together with officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, arrived at the Shwedagon Pagoda this morning.
The Secretary-1 and party paid homage to the jade Buddha Image and the Shwehtidaw.
Then, the Secretary-1 heard reports by Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Brig-Gen Hsan Hsint, engineers and members of the pagoda board of trustees on publishing books on hoisting the Shwehtidaw atop the Shwedagon Pagoda and works of technicians, offering copper plates to the pagoda and renovation of the archway and the tiered roof of the western stairway.
In connection with their reports, the Secretary-1 called on all to collect all the facts in compiling the complete book on hoisting the Shwehtidaw atop the Shwedagon Pagoda and works of the technicians with the aim of leaving them as accurate evidence and ensuring the long-term existence and to work out designs for the renovation of the western stairway with Myanmar arts and crafts.
Afterwards, the Secretary-1 and party inspected construction of Gandakutitaik where the jade Buddha Image will be kept, renovation of the museum, Pitakataik and Mawguntaik with Myanmar arts and crafts, interior decoration of Aungmyay Prayer Hall and construction of the Shwedagon Pagoda's Shwehtidaw-design pagoda.
Next, the Secretary-1 and party went up to the upper terrace of the Shwedagon Pagoda and paid homage to Padamya Myetshin Buddha image.
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(2) Secretary-1 inspects Traditional Medicine Hospital, Maha Bandoola Bridge construction
YANGON, 13 June - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt inspected construction projects of Traditional Medicine Hospital (50 bed) and Maha Bandoola Bridge this morning.
The Secretary-1, accompanied by Deputy Commander of Yangon Command Brig-Gen Hsan Hsint and officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, arrived at the project site of Traditional Medicine Hospital (50 bed) on Ngahtatgyi Pagoda Road in Bahan Township this morning.
The Secretary-1 heard reports by the minister and officials on facts about the project, progress of work and arrangements for keeping the compound of the hospital clean and pleasant.
The Secretary-1 gave instructions on the works.
Then, the Secretary-1 and party inspected the progress of work.
Afterwards, the Secretary-1 and party proceeded to Maha Bandoola Bridge Construction Project in Pazundaung Township.
Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint and officials reported on progress of work in building the main bridge and the approach structure and works to be done, decoration of the bridge with Myanma handicrafts, and Deputy Minister U Pe Than on waterway of Pazundaung Creek.
The Secretary-1 gave instructions on the works.
Later, the Secretary-1 inspected the construction of the main bridge and the approach road and structure.
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(3) Secretary-2 inspects reclamation of land for cultivation in Hsinbaungwe Township
YANGON, 13 June - Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, together with ministers and deputy ministers, left here by helicopter for Magway yesterday morning.
The Secretary-2 and party proceeded to Koebin in Hsinbaungwe Township where Shwe Family Agriculture Group is implementing the project for reclamation of virgin and fallow land for agricultural purposes.
In the briefing hall, Director of Shwe Family Agriculture Group U Hla Maung Shwe reported to the Secretary-2 and party on the agriculture project on 10,000 acres at Koebin, clearing of the ground and cultivation of sesamum, pedisein, cotton f and castor oil plants.
Similarly, Chairman of Shwe Thazin Agriculture Ltd U Shwe reported on the company's agriculture project on 20,000 acres at Thazi region in Hsinbaungwe Township, and Chairman of Olympic Co Ltd U Aik Tun on the company's project on 10,000 acres at Ekarit in the same township.
Col Thein Zaw also reported on the progress of work in the nine entrepreneurs groups' agriculture projects, reclamation of virgin and vacant land.
Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo coordinated tasks to fulfill the requirements and noted that as Magway Division gets low rainfall, all possible ways must be sought for availability of water for agriculture purposes.
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(4) Dedication ceremony for Khaymathiri Nunnery and Thiri Sandayon Nunnery
YANGON, 13 June - The merits sharing ceremony for the completion of two-storey lecture halls of Nunneries on Myathalun Hill in Nankatkyun tract, Magway Township, Magway Division, yesterday morning.
The merits sharing ceremony for completion of the lecture hall of Khaymathiri Nunnery was held there at 9.15 am yesterday.
Secretary Sayadaw of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Magway Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kumara administered the Eight Precepts.
Members of the Sangha recited the parittas.
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(5) Minister, Commander attend tree planting ceremony in Danubyu
YANGON, 13 June - Member of Central Executive Committee of Union Solidarity and Development Association Minister for Immigration and population U Saw Tun, together with Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West Command Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, attended a tree planting ceremony in Danubyu Township yesterday.
Chairman of Maubin District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col J Han Shein, the commanding officer of local battalion, the director of Division Development Affairs Committee and officials, executives of Danubyu Township Association (Yangon), Red Cross and Auxiliary Fire Brigade members, members of USDA and local people totaling over 3,000 took part in the activity.
The commander, the minister and wife planted flowering plants on either side of Aung Mingala Street.
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(6) Myanmar delegation leaves for Iran, Thailand
YANGON, 13 June - Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin left here by air this morning to study the agriculture and irrigation works in Iran at the invitation of Iran Government and to attend the ministerial meeting on poverty elimination and progress of agriculture sector in Asia region sponsored by FAO to be held from 14 to 15 June in Thailand.
The delegation was seen off at Yangon International Airport by Minister for Cooperatives U Aung San, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Ohn Myint, Ambassador of Singapore Brig-Gen Patrick Choy Choong Tow, resident representative of FAO Mr Francis Rinville and heads of department.
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(7) Sale of jewellery and jade of UMEHL begins
YANGON, 13 June - The 11th sale of jewellery and jade of Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd was held at Gems Emporium on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road this morning.
Present at the sale were Managing Director Brig-Gen Win Hlaing of UMEHL, Brig-Gen Khin Aung Myint, Police Brig-Gen Aung Nwe, and members of Board of Directors, officials and 280 domestic gem merchants and 15 foreign gem merchants.
A total of 291 jewllery lots with floor price K 260.04 million, 138 jade lots with floor price US$ 1.62 million, 14 jewellery lots of outsiders worth K 13.22 million totaling 443 jewellery and jade lots worth K 273 .26 million and US$ 1.62 million are on display at the emporium.
The jewellery and jade lots will be on display from 9 am to 5 pm daily up to 17 June and they will be on sale on 18 June through bargain and auction systems.
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(8) Tourism delegation leaves for Bangkok
YANGON, 13 June - At the invitation of Irrawaddy Thai International Co Ltd of Bangkok, Thailand, with a view to boosting Myanmar tourism industry, a Myanmar delegation led by Director-General U Khin Maung Latt of Directorate of Hotels and Tourism left for Thailand by air this morning to study ancient cultural heritage and ancient buildings in Hua Hin-Ayuthaya Sukhothai of Thailand from 13 to 18 June.
The delegation included General Manager U Htay Aung of Myanma Hotels and Tourism Services, Directors U Tin Pe Aye and Daw Nyunt Nyunt Than and Assistant Director Daw Kyi Kyi Aye of Directorate of Hotels and Tourism.
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(9) Ministry of Transport presents cash assistance to staff's children students
YANGON, 13 June - A ceremony to present cash assistance to students of staff members of the Ministry of Transport was held at the ministry this afternoon, attended by Minister Maj-Gen Myint Swe Minister Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe gave an opening speech.
The minister, deputy ministers and heads of departments presented cash assistance to the students individually.
A student, on behalf of the students, spoke words of thanks.
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(10) Myanmar-Singapore Friendly International Billiards & Snooker Tournament ends
YANGON, 13 June - Secretary General of Myanmar Olympic Committee Director-General of Sports and Physical Education Department Col Thaung Htaik attended second-day matches of Myanmar-Singapore Friendly International Billiards, Snooker and Pocket Billiards Tournament which took place at Raffles Recreation Centre, at Theingyizay D Complex on Shwedagon Pagoda Road this evening.
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(11) Commander inspects monsoon paddy cultivation and construction of bridges
YANGON, 13 June - Chairman of the Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West Command Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, together with departmental officials, met farmers who were ploughing fields for cultivation of monsoon paddy near Taloakgon Village, Tagundaing Village-tract, Kyaunggon Township on 12 June morning.
The commander inquired about matters related to good strains, fertilizer and agricultural loans, and gave instructions on cultivation of monsoon paddy.
Altogether 3.32 million acres of land are targeted to put under monsoon paddy, and up to 10 June, monsoon paddy was grown on 264,900 acres.
The commander and party later proceeded to the project site of Bo Myat Tun Bridge (Nyaungdon) across Ayeyawady River.
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(12) International Olympic Day mass walk on 19 June
YANGON, 13 June - As an International Olympic Day commemorative movement, the Myanmar Olympic Committee and the Myanmar Hiking and Mountaineering Federation will organize a mass walk at 6 am on 19 June.
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YANGON, 13 June - Thirty-nine members resigned from National League for Democracy of Pyapon Township, Ayeyawady Division.
Thirty-nine 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 and the party concerned on 23 December 1998 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
Dapayin
Similarly, forty-nine members resigned from National league for Democracy of Dapayin Township, Sagaing Division.
Forty-nine members of Dapayin Township NLD, Sagaing Division, of their own volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Dapayin Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 16 January 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
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Summary of observations recorded at 0930 hours MST: During the past 24 hours, weather has been cloudy in Mon State, lower Sagaing and Ayeyawady Divisions, rain has been isolated in Shan State, Mandalay and Magway Divisions, scattered in Kachin and Kayah States, upper Sagaing, and Bago Divisions and widespread in the remaining areas. The noteworthy amounts of rainfall recorded were Myeik 2.17 inches, Sittway 1.85 inches, Kawthoung 1.81 inches and Thandwe 1.61 inches. Maximum temperature on 12-6-99 was 31.5°C (89°F).
Minimum temperature on 13-6-99 was 24.5°C (76°F).
Relative humidity at 0930 hours on 13-6-99 was 79%.
Total duration of sunshine on 12-6-99 was 2.7 hours (Approx).
Rainfall on 13-6-99 was 5mm (0.20 inch) at Yangon Airport, 5mm (0.20 inch) at Kaba-Aye and was 5mm (0.20 inch) at central Yangon.
Total rainfall since 1 January 1999 was 936mm (36.85 inches) at Yangon Airport, 1156mm (45.52 inches) at Kaba-Aye and 1463mm (57.60 inches) at central Yangon.
Maximum wind speed at Yangon (Kaba-Aye) was 11 mph from Northwest at 16:50 hours MST on 12-6-99.
Bay inference: Monsoon is moderate in the Bay of Bengal.
Forecast valid until evening of 14th June 1999: Rain will be isolated in lower Sagaing, Mandalay and Magway Divisions, scattered in Kachin, Chin, Shan and Kayah States, upper Sagaing, and Ayeyawady Division and widespread in the remaining areas. Degree of certainty is 80%.
State of the sea: Squalls with moderate to rough seas are likely at times off and along Myanmar coasts. Surface wind speed in squalls may reach 35-40 mph.
Outlook for subsequent two days: Moderate monsoon.
Forecast for Yangon and neighbouring area for 14th June 1999: Some rain. Degree of certainty is 100%.
Forecast for Mandalay and neighbouring area for 14th June 1999: Isolated rain
is likely. Degree of certainty is 60%.
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