THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
(Friday, 18 June 1999)
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YANGON, 17 June - The following is the full text of the Press Release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar today in connection with the ILO Conference in Geneva, Switzerland
Myanmar has been a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) since a few months after her independence in 1948 and had ratified 19 ILO conventions. As a responsible member of ILO, Myanmar has a long record of cooperation with the Organization with no major issues related to Labour standards between Myanmar and the ILO.
However, beginning from early 1990s, it has been observed that some Western nations were attempting to use the ILO to further their political aims in Myanmar. Subsequently, Myanmar was subjected to political pressure by these governments and those harbouring ill will towards Myanmar with the aim of imposing their values and systems without understanding or making any attempt to understand the actual conditions in the country. While paying lip service to workers' rights, they are making politically motivated allegations with the sole intention of tarnishing the image of the Myanmar Government and people.
In a move to further apply political pressure and at the instigation of Western nations, particularly Britain, a Commission of Inquiry on so-called forced Labour in Myanmar was formed in 1997 despite the objections of the Myanmar Government that there existed no grounds for the establishment of such a Commission. But as a responsible member, Myanmar has cooperated with the ILO as much as possible. The Report of the Commission and its recommendations Issued in July 1998 were one-sided, biased and based on unfounded allegations made by dissidents and insurgent groups.
On its own accord and in view of the improved conditions in the nation, the Government of the Union of Myanmar issued an order on 14 May 1999 directing the relevant authorities not to exercise the powers under certain provisions of the Towns Act, 1907 and the Village Act, 1907. The Order has been made public and circulated to all State bodies, Ministries and all local administrative bodies. This decisive legal action taken by the Government has already brought those two laws in line with the Forced Labour Convention (Convention 29). Through this action, the Government of the Union of Myanmar has shown its good faith and sincerity while essentially achieving the objectives of the recommendations of the Inquiry Commission.
Deliberately turning a blind eye to these positive developments, a number of Western nations had, at the current session of the International Labour Conference, pushed through a resolution accusing Myanmar of widespread use of forced Labour. This is an action which is unprecedented and is also not in conformity with the existing procedures of the ILO. Furthermore, similar accusations were made on Myanmar regarding Convention 87, i.e. the Convention on the Freedom of Association.
In view of the unfairness of the exercise, its lack of balance and objectivity as well as the underlying political motives, Myanmar finds it impossible to accept such deplorable and unscrupulous action on the part of those nations who want to interfere and meddle in the internal affairs of Myanmar. Myanmar has therefore dissociated herself from-this unfair and biased resolution and henceforth will cease participation in activities connected with Convention 29 and Convention 87 until such time that Myanmar receives fair and equitable treatment that must necessarily be accorded to all members of the ILO. However, as a responsible member of the international community, Myanmar will continue to comply with the Conventions to which she is a party.
It is most regrettable that such an august assembly like the ILO should fall victim to the machinations and political tricks of Western nations particularly Britain. It demonstrates the complete disregard of these countries to the rules and procedures of the international organizations as well as the dignity of these international fora. It is a move which has many dangerous implications for the small and developing countries. It will also dissuade those nations who have not yet signed the ILO core conventions from signing them, much to the detriment of the ILO membership as a whole.
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(2) Deputy Prime Minister inspects leather factory in Mandalay
YANGON, 17 June - Member of the Central Committee for Industrial Development Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Military Affairs Lt-Gen Tin Hla, together with Director of Military Engineers Brig-Gen Win Aung Tint, Director of Ordnance Brig-Gen Chit Than and officials, inspected the leather factory (Mandalay) on 41 st Street in Maha Aungmyay Township, Mandalay, yesterday afternoon.
In meeting with the factory manager and officials in the meeting hall of the factory, Lt-Gen Tin Hla said that in striving for development of the industrial sector, the objectives calling for mechanized farming based on agriculture and the establishment of an industrialized nation were laid down and are being implemented.
In implementing these objectives, efforts are to be made to extend the establishment of new factories and to run the factories at full capacity.
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(3) Deputy Prime Minister meets Vice-President of Siam Cement Public Co Ltd
YANGON, 17 June - Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of My anmar Investment Commission Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin met Vice-President of the Siam Cement Public Company Limited Mr Dusit Nontanakorn of Thailand and party who called at his office this evening.
They discussed investment opportunities of the Siam Cement Public Company in Myanmar.
Also present at the call were Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office and Secretaly of MIC Brig-Gen Maung Maung and officials of the MIC Office.
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(4) Secretary-General of USDA leaves for Malaysia
YANGON, 17 June - At the invitation of General-Secretary of United Malays National Organization UMNO of Malaysia, Secretary-General of the Union Solidarity and Development Association U Than Aung together with delegate of USDA U Tin Maung Oo left here by air this morning for Malaysia to attend the inauguration ceremony of General Assembly of UMNO Party to be held from 18 to 20 June in Kuala Lumpur
The minister was seen off at Yangon International Airport by Minister for Culture U Win Sein, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Deputy Ministers for Education Dr Than Nyunt and Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung, directors-general, chairmen and officials of the Ministry of Education.
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(5) Books presented to IPRD for library use
YANGON, 17 June - Well-wishers today presented various sorts of books for use at the libraries of the Information and Public Relations Department.
Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein accepted the books at the IPRD Head Office and presented certificates of honour to the well-wishers.
The donated books were 650 copies of Shwe Aunglan Magazine worth K 13,000 by Pyawbwe Soe Myint Aung of Shwe Aunglan Sarpay, 125, 101st Street, Mingala Taungnyunt Township, 200 copies of Sabei Phyu Magazine worth K 24,000 by Sabei Phyu Magazine Chief Editor U Myint Tun Oo-Daw Khin May and family of No 70, Kyaukmyaung Innwa Street, Tamway Township, 1,018 copies of Myodaw Yangon Magazine worth K 50,900 by Department Head U Hla Myint Swe of Yangon City DevelopmentCommittee, 150 copies of "Piti-myet-yay hnint and other short stories" valued at K 22,500 by WO Min Shwe (Min Shwe Min Taungup).
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YANGON, 17 June - Wing Fung Construction Co Ltd donated US$ 1,000 for the Myanmar National. Working Committee for Women's Affairs at the Social Welfare Department this afternoon.
Present on the occasion were Vice-Chairperson of MNWCWA Professor Daw May May Yi, member Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe member of Yangon Division Working Committee for Women's Affairs Daw Marlar Tint and members, advisers and well-wishers.
Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe accepted the donations and presented a certificate of honour to the well-wisher.
Professor Daw May May Yi spoke words of thanks.
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(7) Heroin, amphetamines seized in Mingala Taungnyunt
YANGON, 17 June - Personnel of the local intelligence unit and Myanmar Police Force seized heroin and amphetamines in Mingala Taungnyunt Township on 9 June.
Acting on information, they waited and nabbed Phone Zaw (a) Cho Pyone, son of U Zaw Lwin. of Ngahtatgyi (South) Ward, Bahan Township, and Aung Chit (a) Tin Lin, son of U Tin Maung Tun, of Kanthaya Ward, between 55th and 56th Street, Mandalay, with 44.33 grams of heroin and 30 tablets of amphetamine.
Legal action is being taken against them.
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(8) Minister inspects Hsinbyushin Bridge Project
YANGON, 17 June - Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung inspected the alignment of Pakokku-Seikphyu railroad on 15 June morning.
Accompanied by officials, the minister met with staff of Division 10 of Myanma Railways in Pakokku, explaining the rules and regulations concerning the expenditures and urging them to strive to boost income.
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(9) K 300,000 for Anti-Narcotics Assn
YANGON, 17 June - Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control donated K 300,000 to Myanma Anti-Narcotics Association (MANA) for the drug abuse control programme among the school children on 15 June.
Officials presented K 300,000 to Secretary of MANA U Aung Myint who presented certificate of honour to the donors.
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(10) Commander inspects schools in Toungoo
YANGON, 17 June - Chairman of Bago Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Southern Command Maj-Gen Tin Aye inspected Natsinkon Basic Education High School in Toungoo on 16 June morning.
The commander, accompanied by officials, inspected teaching of the school and gave instructions.
He then offered alms to Chairman Sayadaw of Toungoo Township Sangha Nayaka Committee Sayadaw U Osadha at Laykaingdaunt Kyaung.
While in Toungoo, the commander and officials also inspected a site for construction of O-kon Primary School in Ward 18, Primary School and poultry farm and noodle factory of No 930 Supply and Transport Depot and gave instructions.
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(11) Minister for Transport meets staff of MAT
YANGON, 17 June - Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe met the staff of Myanma Airways International under the Ministry of Transport in the meeting hall of the ministry this evening.
Also present on the occasion were Deputy Minister for Transport U Pe Than, Chairman of MAI Managing Director of Myanma Airways U Tin Hlaing Hmi and members of the board of directors, department heads and employees.
Minister Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe urged the staff to work hard, seek ways and means to earn more foreign exchange, to be loyal to the State, to take innovative measures, to uphold national prestige and integrity and to make all-out efforts for development of the State.
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(12) Minister meets President of Shinmei Co
YANGON, 17 June-Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein met President of Shinmei Co Ltd of Japan Mr Hirokazu Inatomi and party who called at his office at 1 pm today.
Also present at the call were Deputy Minister U Aung Thein, Director-General U Kyaw Lwin of Directorate of Livestock and Fisheries, Director-General U Than Tun of Fisheries Department and Head of Office U Myint Shwe.
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(13) Commander inspects construction of TadaU International Airport
YANGON, 17 June - Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Central Command Maj-Gen Ye Myint, accompanied by officials, inspected construction site of Pan Laung Bridge across the Pan Laung River on Chanthagon Sagaing section in the approach road of TadaU International Airport on 15 June morning.
Officials conducted the commander round the construction site.
The commander and party arrived at the construction site of International Airport Project where officials of the project reported to the commander on progress of work and future tasks.
Commander Maj-Gen Ye Myint gave necessary instructions and inspected the project site.
The Commander and party also inspected the construction of road on the approach road of the Mann Chaung Bridge across the Dotehtawady River and gave instructions to officials.
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(14) 43 members resign from Myittha Township NLD
YANGON, 17 June - Forty-three members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Myittha Township, Mandalay Division.
Forty-three 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 1 May 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of letters.
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(15) Bargain, auction sale of gems and jade 18 June
YANGON, 17 June - Bargain and auction sale of jade and gems of Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited will begin at 9 am on 18 June after opening the bargain forms.
Bargain forms can be submitted at Myanmar Gems Mart, the venue of the 11th UMEHL gems and jade sales, at 7 am on 18 June the latest. The forms will be opened at 7.30 am on that day.
One-hundred-eight foreign merchants and 434 local merchants visited the mart at 66 Kaba Aye Pagoda Road today from 9 am to 5 pm to check the stones.
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(16) 18 members resign from Mohnyin Township NLD
YANGON, 17 June - Eighteen members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Mohnyin Township, Kachin State.
Eleven members of Mohnyin Township NLD, Kachin State of their own volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to the Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 4 June 1999 and seven members followed suit on 5 June l999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
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(17) 20 of armed groups exchange arms for peace
YANGON, June - The government is striving for national reconsolidation and endeavouring for emergence of a peaceful, tranquil, modern and developed nation after laying down the 12 political, economic and social objectives. After realizing the goodwill of the government, the remaining armed groups, abandoning destructive acts, which do not benefit the nation, are continuously exchanging arms for peace.
From 1 to 31 May, pvt Yaw Bwan of ABSDF 702 Battalion exchanged arms for peace in the Northern Command area, member of RDFE armed group Aung Kyaw Thein in Western Command area, cpl Saw Sein Win of KNU Brigade No 2, bringing in one AK47, one magazine and 28 rounds of ammunition, in the Southern Command area and pvt Tun Mya of KNU No 12 Battalion in Coastal Region Command area.
In South-East Command area, pvt Saw Ee Htu (a) Than Sein, Po Win, Lu Aye (a) Kyauk Lein and Zaw Wan KNU brigade 1, battlion 2, exchanged arms for peace, medic Saw Hla Min (a) Thar Nge of KNDO Battalion 6, secretary Hsalaing Yin Vic of PPF and member Aung Kyaw Oo, platoon commander Kyaw Naing (a) Saw Gyein of KNU Battalion 209, section commander Ye Naing (a) Po Tha Htu (a) Po Naing and pvt Kyaw Maung Maung Lwin (a) Kyaw Kyaw, bringing in .45 home-made gun and nine rounds of ammunition.
In Eastern Command area, school teacher Gyaw Ni, sgt Naing Oo (a) Maung Hla of Kayinni Armed Group, bringing in one AK-47, three magazines and 65 rounds of ammunition, exchanged arms for peace and sgt clerk Saing Aung Aung of SURA bringing in one M-16, six magazines and 151 rounds of ammunition.
In Triangle Region Command area, members of remaining MTA armed group Kya Wa, Wi Kham and Li Kya, bringing in one grenade, .30 carbine, one magazine and 10 rounds of ammunition, exchanged arms for peace.
Officials at military camps concerned warmly welcomed the 20 people who exchanged arms for peace and provided necessary supplies for them.
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High Temperature (88° F)
Low Temperature (73° F)
Rainfall on 17-6-99 was 30mm (1.18 inches) at Yangon Airport, 24mm (0.94 inch) at Kaba-Aye and was 15mm (051 inch) at central Yangon.
Total rainfall since 1 January 1999 was 990mm (38.98 inches) at Yangon Airport, 1206mm (47.48 inches) at Kaba-Aye and 1491 mm (58.70 inches) at central Yangon.
Maximum wind speed at Yangon (Kaba-Aye) was 16 mph from Northwest at 21:50
hours MST on 16-6-99.
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