THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
( Sunday,  6  February  2000)

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  1. Senior General Than Shwe graces inauguration of Yangon-Sittway High way and Minchaung Bridge
  2. Rice salt donated to monasteries in Sittway
  3. Secretary-1 lays cornerstone for construction of Pathayani Ordination Hall at ITBMU
  4. Secretary-1 attends opening of multimedia teaching centre in Dagon Myothit (South)
  5. Gandama Office Automation Co Ltd donates teaching aids to Myanmar Education Committee
  6. Ministry of Health holds third four-monthly coord meeting
  7. 33 Latpadan Township NLD membes resign of own accord
  8. WEATHER
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(1)Senior General Than Shwe graces inauguration of Yangon-Sittway  High way and Minchaung Bridge

Bridges built with conviction of ensuring equitable progress for all national races  Minchaung Bridge, last of ten major on Yangon- Sittway Highway, built on self-reliance  Rakhine nationals urged to double or triple efforts for regional development

 YANGON, 5 Feb-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe delivered an address at the inauguration ceremony of Yangon-Sittway Highway and Minchaung Bridge at the pandal near the bridge in Sittway, Rakhine State, this morning.

Also present were Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint, members of the State Peace and Development Council Commander in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Nyunt Thein and members of Rakhine State Peace and Development Council and departmental officials of Rakhine State, district and townships, Tatmadaw members and families, government employees, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, Red Cross, Auxiliary Fire Brigade and Maternal and Child Welfare Association, teachers and students, local people, traditional dance and band troupes numbering more than 80,000.

Chairman of the Central Supervisory Committee for Ensuring Secure and Smooth Transport Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo said Sittway-An section of Yangon-Sittway Highway is over 200 miles long, and engineers of Public Works, Tatmadaw members ant local people of Rakhine State built it energetically for about four years. As a result of sharing duties among engineers and workers in building the roads and the bridges, travelling can be made directly by car from Sittway to An and from An to other divisions and states such as Minbu, Magway, Pyay, Yangon and Mandalay.

Once, traveling by car from Sittway to other states and divisions was just a dream, and but due to goodwill and guidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe, that dream has come true today.

Beginning today, Rakhine State has overcome natural barriers, and due to emergence of Yangon-Sittway Highway, Rakhine State will make progress considerably for sure. Minchaung Bridge is an over-2,000-foot-long bridge. There are nine big bridges which have already been inaugurated before Minchaung Bridge. They are Yoechaung Bridge, Kinchaung Bridge, Maungbwechaung Bridge, Ohntechaung Bridge, Pikauk Bridge, Yawchaung Bridge, Daletchaung Bridge, Ramoung Bridge and Kissapanadi Bridge. These bridges and the highway have been built without foreign assistance but on self-reliance.

The budget of the State has been used for the bridges and roads, and reliance has to be placed on local engineers for their technical know-how and skill.

The cost of ten bridges is about K 7.298 million and US $ 6.99 million excluding the costs for building roads, surfacing tar and construction of small bridges. Therefore, it is very evident how much goodwill the Government has in working for development of Rakhine State.

As traveling can now be made from Sittway to An-Padan-Padaung-Pyay and to An-Padan-Minbu-Magway, agricultural produce and marine products of Rakhine State will be able to get the wider market. As much as the market becomes wide, production on a manageable scale will be upgraded into that on a large scale, and the living conditions of local people of Rakhine State will improve.

After the opening of Yangon-Sittway Highway, Kyaukpyu-Pyinwin-An-Taungup road will be built. After another three- years, travelling can be made from Sittway-An-Taungup-Thandwe-Ngathainggyaung to Ayeyawady Division.

Rakhine State which had to rely on waterway and airway, will be able to use the means of road transport soon. With the conviction of reducing the gap of development among states and divisions and ensuring the development of under-developed regions, the Government is striving for improvement of transport of states and divisions including border areas. Highways such as Yangon-Sittway Highway are being built. Big bridges across the Ayeyawady River, the Chindwin River and the Thanlwin River are being built, and small and medium sized bridges are also being constructed.

The basic requirement for development of states and divisions of the Union is improvement of transport.

The Secretary-2 quoted Head of State Senior General Than Shwe as saying that the purpose of building highways linking among states and divisions such as Yangon-Sittway Highway, is to ensure improvement of living conditions of national races and further strengthening of amity among them, and if transport is not good, development work cannot be done.

In accord with this guidance, strenuous efforts are being made in building Myitkyina-Putao road in Kachin State, the northern part of the Union, and Myeik-Taninthayi-Bokpyin-Kawthoung road in Taninthayi Division, the southern part of the Union. Necessary bridges are also being constructed. Today, efforts are being exerted with the aim of ensuring easy access from the east to the west and from the north to the south in the Union.

By building roads and bridges, the consolidated, strong and modern Union is to be built for all the national brethren. It is the concern of the entire people.

With a view to ensuring the emergence of a strong and modern nation, appropriate national policies have been laid down, and there is also active leadership. Therefore, the Government, the people and-the Tatmadaw have been working in unison and with might and main. Their concerted efforts are now bringing forth fruits of success.

These fruits of success are meant not for an individual person or a group but for all the national brethren, the Union and posterity. In other words, good foundations are being built with the aim of ensuring the strong future and long-term benefits of the Union of Myanmar.

At that time, an internal reactionary group subsisting on foreign doles are still attempting to deprive the Union of the future.

Though all national people cherish peace and tranquillity, stability and development, that international reactionary group, going against the aspiration of the people, are attempting to take a course of head-on confrontation and devastation. In view of these things, the end of that destructive group is not far away. The Union of today is on the correct path of development. Local people of Rakhine State has begun to travel all over the Union through Sittway-Yangon Highway. It is sure that the economic and social conditions of Rakhine State will improve.

In conclusion, the Secretary-2 lauded efforts of engineers, government employees, Tatmadaw members and local people who participated in building the highway, urging them to maintain roads and bridges for the benefits of posterity, to build roads linking the highway on self-reliance and to work hard for development of Rakhine State as well as of the entire Union.

Then, Commander Maj-Gen Aung Htwe spoke. Then, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun said Minchaung Bridge is situated on Yangon-Sittway Highway. The stake-driving ceremony was held on 22-897. The bridge is built of reinforced concrete and steel frame. The total length of the bridge is 2,003 feet. The bridge, 40 feet wide, has a 28-foot-wide motor way and two six-foot-wide pedestrian lanes on both sides. The waterway under the bridge is 230 feet wide and the clearance is 45 feet high.

Minchaung Bridge is the tenth of its kind on Yangon-Sittway Highway and inaugurated last. It is also the 105th one among the over1 80-foot-long bridges already opened in Myanmar.

The Government built that bridge at a cost of K 1,750 billion and US $ 0.78 million for Rakhine State.

An-Sittway section of Yangon-Sittway Highway is 202 miles and three furlongs long. On that highway, there are over 800 small bridges in addition to 10 river-crossing bridges.

On behalf of local people, Secretary of Rakhine State USDA U Oo Kyaw Yin spoke words of thanks.

Afterwards, the Senior General said today is an auspicious day for the State, and Yangon-Sittway Highway has emerged for development of Rakhine State. The Senior General added that in building the highway, a large sum of money had to be used and many difficulties overcome. Yangon-Sittway Union Highway has been constructed successfully with the conviction of ensuring equitable development of all national races and narrowing the gap of development among them.

Arrangements have been made to build Yangon-Kyaukpyu Union Highway for Rakhine State.

In building a modern and developed nation, many tasks such as construction of the Union highways have remained to be carried out. These tasks cover economic undertakings, agriculture, health, education and so on. All are to continue to carry out these tasks in Union spirit and unison.

If all the national brethren cooperate and work, success will be achieved and in the time of posterity, the nation will be able to keep abreast of other nations.

The most important thing is to work in Union spirit, and national people from Rakhine State are to double and triple their efforts for regional development. Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun presented gifts to the Senior General.

The Senior General also presented gifts to Superintending Engineer (Project) of Yangon-Sittway Highway Project U Kyaw Tint and Deputy Superintending of Special Group 11 of Bridge Construction Project U Myo Chit. Commander Maj-Gen Aung Htwe and Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun formally opened the bridge. Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun formally unveiled the stone plaque of the bridge. Then, the Senior General and party inspected the bridge. The 172-mile-and-3-furlong-long part of An-Sittway section of Yangon-Sittway Highway has been surfaced with tar. The remaining gravel road, 30-mile-long, will be surfaced with tar in March.

Employees of Yangon- Sittway Highway Project have built 806 small and medium-sized bridges, and the cost of building Yangon-Sittway Highway and bridges exclusive of foreign currency is over K 9.5 billion

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(2)Rice salt donated to monasteries in Sittway
 
YANGON, 5 Feb-A ceremony to donate rice and salt to monasteries in Sittway, Rakhine State, was held in conjunction with a merit sharing ceremony for Maha Waiyan Sasana Beikman building in the compound of Lawkananda Pagoda, at Maha Waiyan Sasana Beikman at 7.30 pm yesterday attended by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe.

Also present on the occasion were Sayadaws of monasteries in Sittway, Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint, members of the State Peace and Development Council Commander in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Nyunt Thein and Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Kyaw Than, Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin, Chairman of Rakhine State Peace and Development Council Commander of Western Command Maj-Gen Aung Htwe, ministers, senior military officers, departmental heads, guests and nuns.

The ceremony was opened with recitation of Namotassa three times.

Chairman of Rakihine State Sangha Nayaka Committees Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Canda administered the Five Precepts. Then, Senior General Than Shwe donated rice and salt to the Chairman of Rakhine State Sangha Nayaka Committee.Next, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo offered rice and salt to Rakhine State Nun Executive Committee Padana Nayaka Nun Daw Aggacari of Ambarama Nunnery.

Then,.the ceremony concluded with recitation of Buddha Sasanam Ciram Titthatu three times. After the ceremony, Senior General Than Shwe and party paid obeisance to Lawkananda Pagoda and Buddha images at the pagoda. The Senior General signed in the visitors' book, and presented donations for the pagoda funds to Commander Mai-Gen Aung Htwe.


(3)  Secretary-1 lays cornerstone for construction of Pathayani Ordination Hall at ITBMU

YANGON, 5 Feb—A ceremony to lay cornerstones for the construction of Pathayani Ordination Hall at International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University of Ministry of Religious Affairs was held at the construction site of the university near Buddha's Tooth Relic Pagoda on Dhammapala Hill in Mayangon Township this morning, attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and

Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. Also present on the occasion were ministers, deputy ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, department heads, officials of the Religious Affairs Department, Department for Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana, International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University and Public Works. Member of Myanmar Calendar Board Advisory Committee U Kyaw acted as master of ceremonies.

Then, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt placed the gems casket and bronze plaque into the foundation. Then, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and party sprinkled scented water on the gems casket. After the ceremony, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and party performed the ritual of golden and silver shower to mark the success of the ceremony. Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt selected the site chosen for the construction of the ordination hall.

Chairman of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Bhaddanta Sobhita and members Sayadaws, Rector of International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Bhaddanta Silanandabhivamsa and members of the Sangha consecrated the ground for the ordination hall on 11 January morning.

The Secretary-1  and party inspected construction of lecture hall No 4 at the University and construction of Buddha's Tooth Relic Pagoda. Later, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and party arrived at the construction site of administrative office and the ordination hall. Officials conducted the Secretary-1 round the project sites. Afterwards, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt gave instructions to officials.

(4) Secretary-1 attends opening of multimedia teaching centre in Dagon Myothit (South)

YANGON, 5 Feb-A ceremony to.open multimedia teaching centre of No 3 Basic Education High School in Dagon Myothit (South) Township was held at the school this afternoon, attended by Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary- 1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

Also present on the occasion were the ministers, the deputy ministers, senior military officers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads, Division, District, Township and Ward Peace and Development Councils, departmental personnel, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, Wellwishers, the director-general of No 3 Basic Education Department and officials, Township Education Officers, school heads, members of School Board of Trustees, members of Parent-Teacher Association, Headmaster of No 3 Basic Education High School in Dagon Myothit (South) Township U Pe Lin, teachers and students. Headmaster U Pe Lin and Chairman of School Board of Trustees U Than Myint formally opened the centre.

The Secretary-1 formally unveiled the stone plaque commemorating the opening of the multimedia teaching centre.

The Secretary- 1 and party inspected reading section, listening section, audio visual teaching section, demonstrative media section, computerized section, music and arts room and domestic science room. The Secretary-1 inspected skill of students.

Headmaster U Pe Lin reported on history of the school and efforts made for the opening of the multimedia teaching centre for teaching of advanced subjects under the education promotion programme and installation of modern teaching aids at the centre.

Chairman of School Board of Trustees U Than Myint reported on assistance of Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Rail Transportation and Yangon City Development Committee and cooperation of members of School Board of Trustees.

Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe donated four computers and K 100,000, U Khin Maung Lay Daw Kyu Kyu of Gandama Office Equipment Co Ltd overhead projector and screen worth K 187,000, Township Peace and Development Council K 100,000, Dagon Myothit (South) Industrial Zone No 2 Management Committee K 50,000, U Sein Thaung of Dagon Myothit (South) K 32,000, Township Maternal and Child Welfare Association K 200,000, parents of No 3 BEHS, Dagon Myothit (South) K 322,250, Asia Wealth Bank K 100,000, Myanma Airways International and Cargo Agency Co K 72,500, U Nyunt Swe-Daw Mar Mar Aye of Shine Electrical Service K 30,000, Seikkan Township Police Commander Police Major Kyaw Myint a cassette worth K 20,000 and U Nyunt Hlaing-Daw Yi Yi Myint of Dagon Myothit (South) K 20,000. The Secretary-1 and Minister Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe accepted the donations and gifts and presented certificate, of honour to the donors.

The Secretary- 1 presented a videotape on the life of Buddha for the school to Headmaster U Pe Lin. The Secretary- 1 then signed in the school record book.

The Secretary- 1 expressed pleasure to see the students who are pursuing education industriously. He said opening ceremonies of multimedia teaching centres are continuously held in various regions of the country and found that every student in every school is desirous of opening multimedia teaching centres.

He said multimedia teaching centres have been opened at 260 schools within three years and there are many schools which are ready to open the centre. Students in those schools are waiting for the opening of the centre with the hope of gaining modern teaching techniques and education of international standard.

The Secretary-1 said although Myanmar people were brave and brilliant and stood in the front in successive eras, national development lagged behind due to oppression by the colonialists for over 100 years and doubt occurred over forty years among the national races by driving a wedge among the national races after regaining the independence.

Considerable achievements have been made in State's economy after rebuilding national solidarity and making efforts for peace and tranquillity of the country, he said.

He said as man has ability to create his environment as he wishes, man is important for national development. The nation would develop with added momentum if all citizens endeavor for national development in harmony, he added.

Education promotion programmes are being implemented at the basic education schools for human resources development, national progress and uplift of education standard of entire citizens.

He spoke on participation of the people in education promotion programmes and successful opening of multimedia teaching centres.

He said the government is making efforts with the objectives of turning out brilliant students from multimedia teaching centres and keeping abreast with education standard of developed nations to South East Asia within four years.

The Secretary-1 called on departments and people to provide assistance for turning out outstanding intellectuals and intelligentsia on whom the State could rely by combining intellectual ability, industry and diligence of the student youths and systematic teaching methods of the teachers.

The Secretary-1 and party then had photo taken with members of SBT, members of PTA, the headmaster, teachers and students.

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(5)Gandama Office Automation Co Ltd donates teaching aids to Myanmar Education Committee

YANGON, 5 Fe5-Gandama Office Automation Co Ltd presented teaching aids to the Myanmar Education Committee today.

The ceremony to present the teaching aids was held at the Diamond Jubilee Hall this afternoon with Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt in attendance.

Also present were ministers, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, the Auditor General, the Chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board, deputy ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of department under the Ministry of Education, rectors and officials. Managing Director of Gandama Office Automation Co Ltd Daw Kyu Kyu explained the donation.

Chairman of the Company U Khin Maung Lay and Daw Kyu Kyu handed 25 projectors and six visual presenters worth K 6 million to the Secretary-1 .

Deputy Minister for Education U Myo Nyunt thanked the donors, saying at a time when the government is implementing the four-year plan for uplift of national education, such modern teaching aids will assist teaching and learning sector.

Today was first called IT Age and it was then called Knowledge Age, he said and spoke of technologic competent and systematic and effective application of appropriate technology in the sectors concerned.

Computer technology and information technology are basic for it, and modern hardware are necessary to apply the two technologies, he said. According to the education promotion programme, sector-wise tasks are being carried out in the higher and basic education sectors for better curriculum and teaching and assessment methods, application of IT, and fulfillment of materials, he said.

After the ceremony, the Secretary-1 inspected the teaching aids.

(6)Ministry of Health holds third four-monthly coord meeting

YANGON, 5 Feb-The Ministry of Health held third four-monthly coordination meeting for 1999 at the meeting hall of Medical Research Department on Ziwaka Road this morning, attended by Minister Mai-Gen Ket Sein.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said weak and strong points of health care system are to be reviewed and those present at the meeting must discuss tasks to be able to achieve more success in health care system in Year 2000.

The State has supplied advanced equipment to general hospitals in Yangon and Mandalay. . Essential hospital equipment will be supplied to other state, division and district  hospitals in Year 2000-2001 and township and station hospitals as well. Action is to be taken against those who produce foods and medicines which can be harmful to the public. It is necessary that trust-funds for medicines as well as cost-sharing care service are to be set up at the hospitals.

He added the Government is making efforts for development of academic matters of medical education at the top of ASEAN member nations. Out of 32 Myanmar surgeons, 18 have already passed FRCS Part A examination recently and seven Myanmar surgeons in Part B and Part C. The pass rate was higher than that in other nations.

He urged them to improve the academic matters of medical education and treatment in accord with the health policies and objectives laid down by the State.

Deputy Minister Dr Mya Oo then gave a speech. Afterwards, officials submitted reports in their respective sectors. The minister then gave concluding remarks.

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(7)33 Latpadan Township NLD membes resign of own accord

YANGON, 5 Fe-Thirty-three members resigned from National League for Democracy of Latpadan Township, Bago Division.

Thirty-three members of Latpadan Township NLD, Bago Division, of their own accord, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Latpadan Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Subcommission and the party concerned on 15 December 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.

(8)WEATHER

Maximum temperature on Feb 4-2-2000 was 33.6°C (93°F)
Minimum temperature on Feb  5-2-2000 was 15.5 °C (60°F)
 


 
 

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