THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
( Thursday, 2 December 1999)
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The following is a translation of the message from Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe on the 79th Anniversary of National Day:
To all the national people,
Today is the 79th Anniversary National Day, the day on which a milestone of national movement was erected in the history of the struggle for Myanmar's Independence. After Myanmar became a British colony, youths with modern education motivated to strive for race, religion and Sasana founded Young Men's Buddhist Association (YMBA) in 1906 and carried out nationalist activities. When it gained strong membership, it developed into General Council of Burmese Associations (GCBA) and stepped up nationalist activities as a front of national unity. At that time the British colonialists enacted Rangoon University Act meant for the limited few who would contribute towards the colonial administrative system, thereby restricting the rights of the majority of national youths to pursue higher education.
Patriotic youths with strong nationalistic and patriotic spirit launched protests against Rangoon University Act and demanded a better university education system. With the help of GCBA, the movement grew and gained success, and awakened and raised the nationalist spirit of the entire national people. Later, Dobama Asiayone stepped up nationalist activities and progressed to the stage of waging the struggle for national independence. As the nationalist movement was the one that sounded a clarion call for the anti-colonialist national Independence struggle of Myanmar national people, this day is marked as the National Day and commemorated every year.
Myanmars are people who safeguarded lineage and ancestry, upholding, maintaining and uplifting patriotism throughout successive periods of history. Myanmar people have great traditions and high cultural standards and they have always fought back without taking it with bowed heads whenever there was aggression perpetrated by alien nations many times in various periods of history. Because of lawless aggression and occupation by the British, Myanmar Naing-Ngan lost her sovereignty but Myanmar people regained independence by means of their nationalist might of dynamic love for their own country and nationality.
After regaining of Independence, the nation was formed with States and Divisions and nationalist spirit was to be fostered along with the Union spirit. However, due to divide-and-rule policy of colonialists, national solidarity had been weak during the past 40 years. Union spinet is the spirit of oneness and unity of the entire people irrespective of area of inhabitation in the country under the same flag of administration. It is the spirit based on patriotism, being of one mind, loving, cherishing, valuing one's own community and the sum total of communities, namely the motherland, one's nation, with the will to safeguard it and strive for its development. In other words, Union spirit is united patriotism, the will to live closely together in amity through thick and thin, weal or woe among the national races residing on the same land, drinking the same water, for aeons of time, having been born of the same ancestry.
Upholding Our Three Main National Causes, namely, non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty as the nationalist policy, the State Peace and Development Council is endeavouring hand in hand with the people, building a peaceful, pleasant, modern, developed discipline-flourishing democracy nation in accord with the State's political, economic and social objective. It will be seen that due to combined endeavours of the government and the national people, national re-consolidation has become firmer and national growth has gained high momentum.
On the other hand, neo-colonialists and their subservient negativist internal axe-handles, wearing the cloaks of human right and democracy, are violating all kinds of laws, moving to incite anarchy and interfering in internal affairs of the nation, and are even perpetrating terrorist acts transgressing the sovereignty of the State. The national people who cannot permit anything detrimental to stability, peace, tranquillity and development of the country must with full patriotic and Union spirit oppose, condemn and crush destructive acts of neocolonialists and internal axe-handles subservient to external elements.
I hereby make an emphatic call on all to strive with full nationalist fervour and vigour for emergence of a new peaceful, pleasant, modern, developed nation, that is the nationalist goal of the State and the national people, accepting as noble national duties the objectives of the 79th Anniversary National Day, namely
(1) to strengthen nationalist patriotic spirit, (2) to safeguard lineage and ancestry, (3) to strengthen national solidarity, and (4) to perpetuate independence and sovereignty in honour of the historic National Day, the day on which a milestone was erected prominently on the pages of the history of anti-colonialist struggle of the nation.
(2) State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to LPDR
YANGON, 2 Dec - On the occasion of the National Day of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, which falls on 2 December 1999, Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar, has sent messages of felicitations to His Excellency Mr Khamtay Siphandone, President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and to His Excellency Mr Sisavath Keobounphanh, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
(3) Opening of Maha Thantithukha Buddhist
Missionary Kyaungdaw coordinated
YANGON, 1 Dec - A coordination meeting for opening of Maha Thantithutha Buddhist Missionary Kyaungdaw was held at the Kyaungdaw in Natchaung Ward in Tamway Township this afternoon, attended by Patron of opening of Maha Thantithukha Buddhist Missionary Kyaungdaw Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Present on the occasion were member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander, the ministers, the Yangon mayor, Deputy Minister for Construction, the vice-mayor, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental officials, members of Leading Committee and Sub-Committees, Chairman of Upahtaka Committee of Maha Thantithukha Buddhist Missionary Kyaungdaw (Retd) and officials.
The Secretary-l said he met members of Work Committee and Sub-committees to know preparations and I work done for opening of Maha Thantithukha Buddhist Missionary Kyaungdaw.
He spoke of the need to make arrangements for systematic opening of Maha Thantithukha Buddhist Missionary Kyaungdaw.
Chairman of Leading Committee for opening of Maha Thantithukha Buddhist Missionary Kyaungdaw Deputy Minister reported on preparations for opening of Maha Thantithukha Buddhist Missionary Kyaungdaw, Vice-Chairman of Leading Committee Vice-Chairman of YCDC and Vice-Mayor on finance and expenditure and Chairman of Upahtaka Committee on teaching and management affairs.
Chairmen and officials of various Sub-committees reported on preparations.
The Secretary-l took part in the discussions.
(4) Over K 13.92 million for construction of Maha Thantithukha Buddhist Missionary Kyaungdaw
YANGON, 1 Dec - The 11th donation ceremony for the construction of Maha Thantithukha Buddhist Missionary Kyaungdaw was held at the Kyaungdaw on Natchaung Ward in Tamway Township, Yangon Division, at 1.45 pm today, attended by Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Also present on the occasion were member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander, ministers, the Yangon Mayor, the Deputy Minister for Construction, the Vice- Mayor, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of department, Chairman of Upahtaka Committee of Maha Thantithukha Buddhist Missionary Kyaung-dawgyi and committee members and well-wishers.
Altogether 37 well-wishers presented over K 13.92 million to Secretary-l Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Commander, Mayor, Ministers.
Secretary-l Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and officials accepted the donations and presented the certificates of honour to donors.
(5) Transport staff urged to make cooperative, harmonious efforts to ensure convenient, amicable services
YANGON, 1 Dec - Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo met officials of the Ministry of Transport in the hall at Nanthida Jetty this morning, giving suggestions for progress in the ministry's tasks.
Minister for Transport reported to the Secretary-2 on the ministry's works, saying it is extending its passenger and freight transport services; and Inland Water Transport has stretched out its operations from 64 services to 72.
The number of commuter market boats between Yangon and Mandalay has been extended from two to three; and another two market boats are plying between Mandalay and Bhamo.
Earnings within the eight months from April to November l999 reached K 914 million, surpassing the target by K 22.45 million.
Managing Director of IWT reported on the tasks and implementations of the enterprise.
The Secretary-2 attended to the needs, expressing pleasure
in seeing progress in the ministry's
services.
Staff should try to accelerate the momentum of success in implementing their services; and should make cooperative and harmonious efforts for the convenience and satisfaction of passengers, he stressed.
Accompanied by member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command, ministers, deputy ministers, senior military officers and officials, the Secretary-2 inspected Myathida Market Boat at the jetty.
Carrying 749 tons of goods, the boat will leave here
for Mandalay today to conduct trading at
towns and villages along Ayeyawady River.
In addition to the 18 regular shops, 15 booths of the Ministry of Industry-1, the Ministry of Industry-2, the Ministry of Cooperatives and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and three private shops will be included on board the ship.
The six shops of the Ministry of Industry-1 will sell beverage, textiles and clothing, ceramics and chemical products, the four shops of the Ministry of Industry-2 farm machinery, cycles, power-tillers and electronic apparatus, the three shops of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation farm equipment, seeds, and power-tillers and the two shops of the Ministry of Cooperatives consumer goods.
(6) Thailand Exhibition '99 opens
YANGON, 1 Dec - Under the programme for promotion of bilateral economic cooperation between Myanmar and Thailand, Thailand Exhibition '99 was opened at the Tatmadaw Convention Hall this morning with the permission of the Ministry of Commerce.
Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo attended the opening
ceremony of the exhibition which he inspected.
Also present on the occasion were member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command, ministers, deputy ministers, senior military officers, the Deputy Minister of Commerce of Thailand and delegation heads of department, the Ambassador of Thailand to Myanmar and ambassadors, military attaches, the President of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and executives, entrepreneurs from Thailand, local and foreign journalists, and guests.
Afterwards, Deputy Minister of Commerce of Thailand Mr Phaithocan Kaeothong made a speech.
Thailand Exhibition '99 is the second exhibition of its kind,
to be organized as a repeated event, following the one held at this same
venue in 1998 The objective of the exhibitions is to present a a
cross section outlook of Thai products and services, that are
being recognized and accepted
internationally, to the
individuals and potential businessmen from the Union
of Myanmar. I hope
that the exhibition Will
stimulate the awareness of the people of Myanmar who are
considered our
prospective business counterparts
and further promote trade between the two countries.
Later, the Secretary-2 and officials toured it.
Thailand Exhibition '99 is open till 4 December 120
Thai companies are taking part in the
exhibition.
(7) Parami commuter bus line of Bandoola Transport Co Ltd opens
YANGON, 1 Dec - Bandoola Transport Co Ltd established by the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd with cent percent investment opened at t,he corner of Waizayanta Road and Parami Road in South Okkalapa Township this morning, attended by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo and Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint.
Also present on the occasion were member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command, the ministers, the Yangon mayor, the deputy ministers, the vice-mayor, senior military officers, officials of Road Transport Department, members of the Board of Directors of Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd, Secretaries and EC members of Yangon Division, District and Township Union Solidarity and Development Associations, Chairman of All Bus Lines Control Committee and members and guests.
Director Col Aung San of the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings. Ltd reported on establishment of Bandoola Transport Co Ltd and Bandoola Commuter Service.
Minister for Rail Transportation formally unveiled the signboard of Bandoola Transport Co Ltd.
Next, Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Lt-Gen Min Thein formally opened the No 173 new Parami commuter bus line.
The Secretary-2 and the Secretary-3 observed the vehicles of the bus line.
The company will operate passenger transport
service and freight transport service in Yangon
and
other-States and Divisions.
The route is from Parami gate in South Okkalapa Township to Tawa gate on Thanlyin-Khayan Thongwa Road.
Arrangements have been made for running of city and highway buses in January.
(8) National Convention Convening Commission meets
YANGON, 1 Dec - National Convention Convening
Convening held its meeting at NCCC Office this
afternoon.
Present on the occasion were
Chairman of NCCC Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Vice-Chairman
and commission members.
Chairman Maj-Gen Saw Lwin
made a speech on the occasion.
Then, National Convention Convening Work Committee and National Convention Convening Management Committee presented matters pertaining to the National Convention.
Members of the commission took part in the discussions.
The meeting ended in the evening with concluding remarks by Maj-Gen Saw Lwin.
(9) Time-table for 10th Std Exam
YANGON, 1 Dec - The Myanmar Board of Examinations of the Ministry of Education today announced the time-table of the Matriculation Examination to be held in March in the year 2000.
The examination will be held from 7 to 13 March in the year 2000 between 9 am and 12 noon daily. Myanmarsa is on Tuesday 7 March, English on Wednesday 8 March, Mathematics on Wednesday 9 March, Co-ordinated Science on Saturday 11 March and Social Science on Monday 13 March.
(10) 33 members resign from Pwintbyu Township NLD
YANGON, 1 Dec - Thirty-three members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Pwintbyu Township, Magway Division.
Thirty-three members of Pwintbyu Township NLD,
Magway Division, of their own volition, resigned by sending
letters of resignation to Township Multiparty
Democracy General Election Sub-commission and the party
concerned on 5 October 1999 as they no
longer wished to participate in the politics of
NLD.
Maximum temperature on Nov30 was 33.5 C (92F)
Minimum temperature on Dec 1 was 20.0 C(68F)
To view with photos, please
browse at - http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/