N980412

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
( Wednesday, 8 March 2000)

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Chairman of State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe receives Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Lao PDR
General Maung Aye tours Lahe and Namyun Townships
Daw Kyaing Kyaing and family attend consecration for Buddha image, merits sharing for Thantithukha Dhammayon in South-East Command
LPDR Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance visits Shwedagon Pagoda, Hlinethaya
Minister for Health attends opening ceremony of Second National Seminar on Tuberculosis
Quadripartite Meeting of Working Group on Draft Agreement on Commercial Navigation on Lancang-Mekong River successfully concludes
Minister for Sports inspects booth of Ministry of Sports
Minister meets official of Kyushu University
14,690 stimulant tablets seized in Mongshu
25 Pyay Township NLD members resign of own accord
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(1)Chairman of State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe receives Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Lao PDR
YANGON, 7 March - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe received Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Boungnang Vorachith of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and goodwill delegation members at the Credentials Hall of the Pyithu Hluttaw Building.at 9.30 am today.
Also present at the call were Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Military Affairs, Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office, Minister for Finance and Revenue, Minister for Forestry, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Director-General of the Protocol Department.
The guests were accompanied by Ambassador of the Lao PDR Mr Ly Bounkham.

(2)General Maung Aye tours Lahe and Namyun Townships
YANGON, 7 March - Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, accompanied by State Peace and Development Council Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint, State Peace and Development Council Members Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Nyunt Thein and Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Chairman Commander Maj-Gen Soe Win, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and officials, left Hkamti by helicopter for Lahe in Sagaing Division at 8 am on 6 March.
The General and party proceeded to the border areas and national races development training school of the Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs and they were welcomed there by trainees of the national races.
Next, the General and party met with officials and townselders at the hall of the training school. Township Peace and Development Council Chairman U Soe Myint Win reported matters on area and population of Lahe Township, annual rainfall and agricultural undertakings, welfare activities for service personnel, dissemination of modern terrace cultivation methods to local populace, construction of new road under the border areas development programmes, efforts for upgrading roads in the town and requirements for ensuring better condition of the Hkamti-Hsinthay-Lahe motor road.
In delivering a speech, General Maung Aye said that it was his second trip to Lahe and he fulfilled the requirements for development during his first trip. As a result, the town was seen developed due to efforts of authorities and officials concerned, he noted. This trip too is to fulfil the requirements for development of Leyshe, Lahe and Hkamti regions, he stressed. He urged regional battalions, departments and people to strive for their regional development based on the help of the State. The General continued to say that necessary machinery and funds had been provided to turn the Lahe-Hkamti road into all weather road and it is incumbent upon the responsible personnel and officials concerned of the two town ships to actively take part in the implementation of the project. Likewise, the Htammathi-Leyshe road will be turned into all-season road, he said. As regards the development of Lahe and Leyshe townships, agriculture is the base and cultivation of suitable crops such as paddy, corn and so on should be extended not only for self-sufficiency of the region but also for surplus, he said. As the geographic conditions of the region are suitable for growing tea, efforts must be made for growing tea on commercial scale in Lahe and Leyshe regions, he pointed out. He also said that in this regard, the State will provide necessary assistance.
Then, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo presented medicines and medical equipment to Township Medical Officer Dr Soe Win. Minister for Education U Than Aung presented teaching aids for the township to Township Education Officer U Myint Shwe. Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt presented necessary provisions to Headmaster of the Border Areas and National Races Development Training School U Thaung Dan. Next, Deputy Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office U Zaw Myint Pe presented provisions for the township to the Township Peace and Development Council chairman. Afterwards, leader of Naga nationals U Hutti presented traditional gifts to General Maung Aye, Secretary-2 Lt- Gen Tin Oo and Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint.
Thence, General Maung Aye and party proceeded to the monastery, presented offertories to members of Sangha and paid obeisance. General Maung Aye made supplications on religious affairs to members of the Sangha and gave necessary instructions to the officials concerned Next, General Maung Aye and party went to the regional battalion and met with Tatmadawmen and their family members. Meanwhile, Ministers and officials who accompanied the General on the trip went to respective township offices and met with service personnel.
Afterwards, General Maung Aye and party posed for a documentary photograph together with Naga nationals.
At 11.30 am, General Maung Aye and party proceeded by helicopter to Namyun and they were welcomed there by State Peace and Development Council Member Kachin State Peace and Development Council Chairman Northern Command Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw Win and responsible personnel.
General Maung Aye then met and discussed with responsible personnel of the region at the hall of the regional battalion. At the discussions, General Maung Aye said that efforts are to be made to develop Namyun like other border towns in the future. At present, the requirements for enabling Namyun to possess characteristics of a town will be fulfilled, he said. He also said that especially the requirements for upgrading education health standards of the township will be fulfilled.
As better transportation is needed for regional development, the 73-mile Tanai-Namyun road will be upgraded into all-season granite road, he said. The Government is striving for equitable development of all the regions of the Union with genuine goodwill and the local national peoples are to make efforts for speedy and effective development of their respective regions, he stressed. Success will surely be achieved in developing the regions as the Government, the people and the Tatmadaw are making collective efforts actively, noted the General.
Next, Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun and Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt reported matters on construction of Tanai-Namyun road. General Maung Aye gave necessary instructions.
Afterwards, General Maung Aye and party met with township authorities, service personnel and townselders at the town hall. Township Peace and Development Council Chairman Capt Kaung San Oo reported matters on township development and agricultural under-takings. General Maung Aye urged local people to extend cultivated acreage of paddy for self-sufficiency of rice in the region: The General also urged them to grow garlic, onion, chilli, potato and other vegetables and to make efforts for regional development collectively. Next, Minister U Than Aung presented teaching aids to Namyun high school headmaster U Yawn Yam. Deputy Minister Dr Mya Oo presented medicines and medical equipment to Township Medical Officer Dr Lin Thant Aung. Minister Col Thein Nyunt, Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw Win and Commander Maj-Gen Soe Win presented necessary items, to the Township Peace and Development Council Chairman. Then, General Maung Aye greeted depart mental personnel and local people and inspected the town. Meanwhile, Secretary- 2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo and Ministers inspected the basic education high school and gave necessary instructions to officials concerned. Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint and Ministers offered offertories to Namyun Monastery Sayadaw Bhaddanta Tezinda at the Township Union Solidarity and Development Association office. Likewise, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung inspected the television re-transmission station in Namyun.
Afterwards, General Maung Aye and party proceeded by helicopter to Tanai and they were welcomed there by Command Staff (Colonel) Col Win Myint and Tactical Operation Commander Col Kyi Win of Northern Command and officials. General Maung Aye met with Tatmadawmen and their family members of Tanai Station at the Aungthura Hall of regional battalion. Next, General Maung Aye and party met with township authorities, service personnel and local people at the Hukaung Hall. General Maung Aye said that Kachin State has now become self-sufficient in rice. He urged the local national people of Tanai region to extend cultivation of paddy and other crops for Kachin State as Tanai region has fertile land conditions. In this way Tanai region will develop, he pointed out. Next, Ministers presented teaching aids, medical equipment and other provisions for Tanai Township to officials concerned. Afterwards, General Maung Aye warmly greeted officials, service personnel and the local people. General Maung Aye and party then went to construction site of Tanai Creek Bridge and inspected progress of work in rebuilding the bridge.
State Peace and Development Council Secretary-2 Lt- Gen Tin Oo together with Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw Win and Ministers at 6.15 am today attended the ceremony to make donations for building school annex to No 2 primary school in Hsemsa Ward in Tanai. Engineer U Khin Maung Oo explained matters on building the school annex. Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw Win and Ministers also spoke matters relating to the school annex. Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo gave instructions on formation of respective committees systematically for building the school annex; and to complete the construction works in time. Chairman U Yu Zau Khawn of Jade Land Co handed over 20 million kyats for construction of the school annex to Minister for Education U Than Aung. Then, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo and Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw Win drove commencement stakes for building the school annex. It is learnt that the school annex will be built with the donation of 20 million kyats made by U Yu Zau Khawn, wife Daw Shadawn Khong Toung and family of Jade Land Co of Myitkyina.
Union Solidarity and Development Association Central Executive Committee members Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Brig-Gen Ohn Myint and U Aung Khin also met with the Township USDA secretary, executives and organizers at 7 am this morning in Tanai.
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(3)Daw Kyaing Kyaing and family attend consecration for Buddha image, merits sharing for Thantithukha Dhammayon in South-East Command
YANGON, 7 March - A ceremony to consecrate the Buddha image at Thantithukha Dhamayon in South-East Command donated by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing and family, was held in conjunction with the merits-sharing ceremony for Thantithukha Dhammayon at the Dhammayon on 5 March morning.
Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vijayabhivamsa and members of the Sangha consecrated the Buddha image which will be kept in Thantithukha Dhammayon of South-East Command.
Then, a ceremony to share merits for donation of Thantithukha Dhammayon was held.
The congregation recited Namo Tassa three times.
Daw Kyaing Kyaing, wife of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of Mon State Peace and Development Council Commander of South-East Command Maj-Gen Myint Aung and wife Daw Thazin Khaing and congregation received the Five Precepts from Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Obhasa.
Afterwards, members of the Sangha recited the Parittas. Then, Daw Kyaing Kyaing and family and officials donated rice, edible oil and provisions to the Sayadaws.
Then, Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Obhasa delivered a sermon. Daw Kyaing Kyaing and family and officials shared merits of pious deeds.
After the ceremony, Daw Kyaing Kyaing and family performed the rituals of golden and silver showers to mark successful completion of the ceremony and offered 'soon' to members of the Sangha.

(4)LPDR Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance visits Shwedagon Pagoda, Hlinethaya
YANGON, 7 March - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr Boungnang Vorachith of Lao People's Democratic Republic and members, currently on a goodwill visit to Myanmar, accompanied by Minister for Forestry U Aung Phone, Ambassador of LPDR Mr Ly Bounkham and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited Shwedagon Pagoda this morning.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr Boungnang Vorachith of LPDR and members observed the bell of King Thayawady at the north-east corner on the pagoda platform. They paid obeisance to Htidaw design pagoda.
The guests paid obeisance to golden pagoda in Shwezedi Tazaung and jade Buddha image in jade image Tazaung. They offered flowers, lights and incense sticks to the Buddha images in the prayer hall of the western archway. The visiting Deputy Prime Minister signed in the visitors' book and made donations. The Pagoda Board of Trustees accepted the donation and presented the photo of Shwedagon.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister poured water on Buddha image and paid obeisance to the pagoda.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and party visited Hlinethaya City of Industry at 10.30 am. They were welcomed by Deputy Minister for Construction U Tint Swe, Director-General of Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development U Arnt Kyaw and officials.
Deputy Minister U Tint Swe extended greetings and reported on facts about Hlinethaya City of Industry and housing projects of DHSHD.
The deputy minister presented gifts to the visiting Deputy Prime Minister.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and members, accompanied by Deputy Minister U Tint Swe visited FMI City. They were conducted round by Director of FMI SPA Group of Co U Soe Myint. The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and members visited Tai Yi Shoe Factory where officials of Tai Yi International Co Ltd reported on production process.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister signed in the visitor's book. Officials of Tai Yi International Co Ltd presented gift to the Deputy Prime Minister.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and members visited garment factory of Myanmar Apparel Co Ltd. They went to Bo Myat Tun Bridge in Nyaungdon Township where they were welcomed by Chief Engineer (Bridges) of Public Works U Pe Than and officials.
Deputy Minister U Tint Swe and Chief Engineer U Pe Than reported on construction of Bo Myat Tun Bridge. The visiting Deputy Prime Minister then passed the bridge.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and members went to construction site of Aung Zeya Bridge linking Hlinethaya and Insein Townships. They were welcomed by Superintending Engineer (Project) of Public Works U Khin Maung Aye and officials. Deputy Minister U Tint Swe and Superintending Engineer U Khin Maung Aye reported on construction of the bridge.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and members went to the construction site of Maha Bandoola Bridge linking Pazundaung and Dawbon Townships.
Deputy Superintending Engineer of Public Works U Ohn Han and officials.
They were welcomed by Deputy Minister U Tint Swe and Deputy Superintending Engineer U Ohn Han reported on construction of Maha Bandoola Bridge.
They left the construction site at 4.25 pm.
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(5)Minister for Health attends opening ceremony of Second National Seminar on Tuberculosis
YANGON, 7 March - A ceremony to open the Second National Seminar on Tuberculosis co-organized by the Ministry of Health and the Research Institute of Tuberculosis (RIT) of Japan was held at the hall of Myanmar Medical Association on Theinbyu Road this morning.
First, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein delivered an address. He said:
First of all, may I wish good health and happiness to Dr Nobukatsu Ishikawa and Dr Takashi Yoshiyama of the Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan. Members of Maternal and Child Welfare Association, Myanmar Medical Association, Myanmar Red Cross Association, Myanmar Nurses Association, Myanmar Health Assist- ant Association, Officer concerned of various departments.
The Seminar we are holding today is the 2nd Seminar held in collaboration between Minister of Health, Myanmar and the Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan.
With the aim to foster peace, economic, social and human development which are pre-requisites to attain the goal of a peaceful, prosperous, modern and developed nation, the Government has set four political, four economic and four social objectives.
>From Health aspect "Health, well-being and human development" have been assigned high priority in our national development endeavours.
In order to provide guidance for health development in the country the National Health Committee has been founded and the Government; has adopted systematic programme for the enhancement of health in the nation.
Tuberculosis is still a problem in Myanmar, and other South-East Asian Countries re-emerging infectious disease.
World Health Organization estimate that one third of the world population are infected with tubercle bacilli and each year eight million people are suffering from this disease and among them two million people die of TB.
Among these tuberculosis patients, 80% of them are from the 22 high burden countries. More than half of them were reported from South-East Asia Region namely India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand.
TB patients are not taking proper and adequate treatment, not completing the course of treatment which give rise to multidrug resistant tuberculosis and TB/HIV co-infection are the main reasons for the re-emergence of tuberculosis in the world.
One sad point is that 75% of these TB patients are within the age group of 15 to 59 year which is the most active working group.
But nowadays there are potent anti-TB drugs which can cure TB, if they strictly follow the WHO guidelines of DOTS strategy. Most of the countries has adopted DOTS as a policy and has begun implementing it, covering more than 16% of the global populations.
Although, South-East Asia Region accounts for 25% of world population, TB morbidity is 38% in this region and yearly there is 0.7 million deaths due to TB. In the region 27% of the population is covered with DOTS.
TB is one of the major public health problems in Myanmar, and it is considered as the second priority disease in the National Health Plan.
In Myanmar, it is estimated that annually one hundred thousand people develop tuberculosis. Half of them being infectious with positive sputum smears.
HIV infection among TB cases is found to be 4.5% and 60-80% of AIDS cases are suffering from tuberculosis. This HIV/AIDS will become one of the challenges for TB Control Programme in the near future.
We have followed the WHO guidelines using Short Course Chemotherapy in implementing DOTS strategy and have 223 DOTS townships which covered 80% of total population.
At present, Myanmar have achieved case detection rate of 44% and cure rate of 74% with success rate of 82%. We still need to work more to meet the targeted 70% case detection and 85% cure rate.
In 1999, Myanmar has hosted two important Health meetings. One is the Regional meeting on Stop TB Initiative and the other is the Seventh meeting of Health Ministers WHO South-East Asia Region. Myanmar has followed the recommendation laid down from these important meetings.
With the aids of WHO, UNDP, JFAP and JATA we have conducted many training courses in the country and also send health workers abroad for capacity building.
In this seminar, there will be presentations and discussions of global TB situation, Myanmar situation as a whole and also of State/Divisional level TB/HIV problems MDR-TB, Supervision Reports and Inter and Intra sectorial linkages done in DOTS implementation .
So, I encouraged all those attending this seminar to participate energetically giving comments and discussions so as to obtain great benefit for TB programme as well as our nation.
I would like to express my gratitude for donation Anti-TB drugs to Nations Tuberculosis Programme Myanmar.
Last, but not the least would like to acknowledge
my great thanks to the Research Institute of TB, Japan anti-TB Association for helping us in conducting this seminar. I hope that you will continue working with us giving technical and financial support when needed.
Then, Nobukatsu Ishikawa of Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association of the Research Institute of Tuberculosis of Japan gave a speech.
Afterwards, officials of Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association of the Research Institute of Tuberculosis of Japan presented medicines for TB disease worth US$ 3,000 to the National Tuberculosis Control Project of the Union of Myanmar.
The seminar continues tomorrow.

(6)Quadripartite Meeting of Working Group on Draft Agreement on Commercial Navigation on Lancang-Mekong River successfully concludes
YANGON, 7 March - The Quadripartite Meeting of the Working Group on the Draft Agreement on Commercial Navigation on Lancang-Mekong River among the Governments of the People's Republic of China, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Union of Myanmar and thc Kingdom of Thailand was successfully concluded this morning with the adoption and initialing of the text of the draft Agreement at the Wungyi Padethayazar Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The closing session was addressed by Deputy Minister for Transport U Pe Than and attended by the delegations of the four countries.
The Quadripartite Meeting of the Working Group resumed its session for the second day under the chairmanship by U Kyaw Tint Swe, Co-Leader of Myanmar delegation and Director-General of International Organizations and Economic Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar. After thoroughly reviewing and verifying the amendments made by the delegations, the meeting reached an agreement and adopted the revised draft Agreement on Commercial Navigation on Lancang-Mekong River.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the record of the meeting was signed and the text of the draft Agreement was initialed by the heads of the delegation, Mr Ju Chengzhi, Deputy Director-General, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Communications of the People's Republic of China, Mr Math Sounmala, Director-General of Cabinet of the Ministry of Communication, Trans port, Post and Construction of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Captain Chit Khin (Navy), Director-General, Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems, Ministry of Transport of the Union of Myanmar and Mr Krit Kraichitti, Deputy Director-General, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
The meeting also agreed to submit the initialed draft to their respective Governments for approval with a view to proceeding with the convening of the signing ceremony at the Ministerial level in Myanmar at the earliest date mutually convenient to all parties.

(7)Minister for Sports inspects booth of Ministry of Sports
YANGON, 7 March - Chairman of Myanmar Olympic Committee Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint arrived at the Defence Services Museum on Shwedagon Pagoda Road this afternoon.
Minister Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint inspected the booth of the ministry and nation-building endeavours and twelve political objectives booths of the 55th Anniversary Armed Forces Day and left there.

(8)Minister meets official of Kyushu University
YANGON, 7 March - Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin met Project Secretary Professor Dr Takashi Sakai of Kyushu University (IGCP) of Japan who called at his office this afternoon.

(9)14,690 stimulant tablets seized in Mongshu
YANGON,7 March - A combined team comprising members of local intelligence unit and Myanmar Police Force, acting on a tip-off, on 21 February, waited at Aungthaya block, Wantan Ward, Mongshu Township, Southern Shan State, and searched one Maung Myint, son of U Lawlu, Aungthaya block, Wantan Ward, Mongshu Township, and seized 14,690 stimulant tablets of WY brand, in 54 packets, from his knapsack.
According to his confession, they arrested the owner Soe Myint, son of U Shwe Wa, Wantan Ward, Mongshu Mine, Mongshu Township.
Action is being taken against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law.

(10)25 Pyay Township NLD members resign of own accord
YANGON, 7 March - Twenty-five members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Pyay Township, Bago Division.
Twenty-five members of Pyay Township NLD, Bago Division, of their own accord, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Pyay Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 22 October 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.

(11)WEATHER
Maximum temperature on Mar 6-3-2000 was 37.0°C (99°F)
Minimum temperature on Mar 7-3-2000 was 20.0 °C (69°F)

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