THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
( Friday,  19  May 2000)

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  1. Deputy PM receives New Zealand Ambassador
  2. Myanmar and ROK officials seek means to further extend bilateral economic ties
  3. Deputy Minister meets Korean cultural troupe
  4. Minister inspects Cooperative Commercial Centre
  5. Kyauktan Township Maternal and Child Welfare Association gets delivery room
  6. 1000 lights offered to Shwedagon Pagoda
  7. Myanmar disabled sports contingent gets 33 more medals
  8. MWJA Central Body meeting to be held in June
  9. CEC member of USDA makes inspection tour of Danubyu
  10. Border Areas Development Association founded
  11. Myanmar, ROK exchange messages of felicitations on 25th Anniversary Diplomatic ties
  12. Headquarters and expatriate-absconder NLD (LA) Group apprehended
  13. 20 Rathedaung Township NLD members collectively resign of own accord
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( 1 ) Deputy PM receives New Zealand Ambassador

YANGON, 18 May- Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung  Maung Khin, on behalf of the  Chairman of the State Peace and  Development Council, received Ambassador of New Zealand to the   Union of Myanmar Mr Adrian Mace who had completed his tour of  duty in Myanmar, and whose office  was based in Bangkok, at the guest  house of Ministry of Defence this morning. Also present at the call  were  Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung and Director-Genera! of  Protocol Department Thura U  Aung Htet.

( 2) Myanmar and ROK officials seek means to further extend bilateral economic ties 

YANGON, 18 May - A ceremony to discuss bilateral economic cooperation between Myanmar and the  Republic of Korea to mark the 25th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Myanmar and ROK  was held at the Traders Hotel on Sule Pagoda Road at 5.45 pm today. Present were Minister for National  Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Minister at
the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Brig-Gen Abel, deputy ministers, Ambassador of ROK Mr Chung Jung-Gum, heads of department the rector and professors of the  Institute of the Economics, President of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce  and Industry U Win Myint and executives, economists and entrepreneurs from ROK and guests.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister U Soe Tha said the diplomatic relations between Myanmar and the  Republic of Korea began in 1975; ROK has provided farm and health assistance to Myanmar Professor  Dr Nam Sang Woo of Korea Development Institute explained the economic policy and matters on  cooperation. President of UMFCCI U Win Myint lauded ROK for granting special trade privileges to
developing countries including Myanmar, saying the programme will help promote Myanmar-ROK economic relations, enable Myanmar to export more goods to ROK market and enhancing the bilateral  trade for mutual benefit. Dr Ro Yae-Bong of Korea Institute for International Economic Policy discussed  opportunities to develop bilateral trade and exchange of technology in the economic sector. Minister  Brig-Gen Abel explained matters on development of economic enterprises of the two countries. Korean economists replied to queries raised by the participants. Dinner was hosted after the meeting.

( 3 )  Deputy Minister meets Korean cultural troupe

YANGON, 18 May- Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt met Leader of Korean cultural troupe  President of Banya Cultural Association Mr. Jung Young Hung and members, together with  Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Mr Chung Jung Gum, at his office at 10.30 am today. They  discussed matters related to promoting of friendship and cultural exchange sectors between Myanmar  and the Republic of Korea.

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( 4 ) Minister inspects Cooperative Commercial Centre

YANGON, 18 May-Minister for Cooperatives U Aung San inspected Cooperative Commercial Centre at  the corner of Saya San Street and University Avenue in Bahan Township this evening. The minister was  welcomed there by officials of the Department of Cooperatives and officials of Government Employees  (Education) Syndicate. The officials reported matters related to construction work of the building, the layout of rooms and halls in the building, preparations to open Taekwando courses and English,  Japanese and Korean and Chinese language courses under the cooperative education promotion  programme of International Academy Association of the Republic of Korea and Yangon Cooperatives  Degree College. The minister gave instructions on curricula of the course and the opening of the course.

( 5 ) Kyauktan Township Maternal and Child Welfare Association gets delivery room

YANGON, I8 May-The opening ceremony of delivery loom of Kyauktan Township Maternal and Child  Welfare Association, Yangon South District, was held at the room in Sanchainini Ward, Kyauktan  Township, this Present were Chair person of Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association  Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe, Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and EC members,  Chairperson
of Township Maternal and Child Welfare Association Daw Cho Cho and EC members and officials.

Chairperson Daw Kyu Kyu Swe and Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe formally opened the  delivery room. Chairperson of MMCWA Daw Kyu Kyu Swe made a speech. Altogether 19 wellwishers  presented K 491,000 to Daw Malar Tint and Dr Tin Maung Win for the delivery room.

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( 6 ) 1000 lights offered to Shwedagon Pagoda

YANGON, 18 May-The 1000 lights offering ceremony of the Shwedagon Pagoda sponsored by Sri  Lanka Embassy and Myanmar-Sri Lanka Yama Kyaungtaik was held at Daw Saw Mya Tazaung of the  Shwedagon pagoda this evening. Present were Sri Lanka Aloka Kyaungtaik Sayadaw Meydankaya  and Myanmar Sri Lanka Yama Kyaungtaik Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Naninda and members of the Sangha, Director-General of Religious Affairs Department Dr Myo Myint and
Ambassador of Sri Lanka Mr Ubhayasekara Mapa and officials. Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Myanmar Mr Ubhayasekara Mapa made a speech on the occasion.

Aloka Kyaungtaik Sayadaw Meydankaya  presented Dhamma gifts to Director-General Dr Myo Myint, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Myanmar
and officials presented offertories to members of the Sangha.

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( 7 )  Myanmar disabled sports contingent gets 33 more medals

YANGON, 18 May- Myanmar disabled sports contingent taking part in the Tenth Malaysian Disabled  Sports Tournament being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, won 43 medals including 21 gold, 12 silver  and 10 bronze on 15 and 16 May. The team won 33 more medals including 23 gold, 9 silver and 1  bronze  in third day's events on 17 May.  The Myanmar team won 76 medals including  44 gold,  21 sliver and 11
bronze in three days on 15,16 and 17 May.

( 8 ) MWJA Central Body meeting to be held in June

YANGON, 18 May-The special meeting of Central Executive Committee of Myanmar Writers and  Journalists Association was held at the meeting hall of MWJA this afternoon. Present were Chairman of  MWJA U Hla Myaing (Ko Hsaung), Vice-Chairman (3) U Than Maung (Than Maung), Secretary U Hla
Tun (Hla Tun - Twantay) and CEC members. Chairman U Hla Myaing (Ko Hsaung) made a speech on the occasion. Secretary U Hla. Tun (Hla Tun -Twantay) explained the resolutions of the previous  meeting. The meeting discussed the report to be submitted to the Central Body Meeting. It ended in the  evening with concluding remarks by the Chairman. The Central Body meeting of Myanmar Writers and
Journalists Association will be held in the last week of June.

( 9 ) CEC member of USDA makes inspection tour of Danubyu

YANGON, 18 May- Member of the Central Executive Committee of the Union Solidarity and  Development Association U Saw Tun, together with officials, attended the third Bo-tree watering  ceremony sponsored by Danubyu Township Working Commit tee for Women's Affairs in Danubyu,  Ayeyawady Division, yesterday afternoon. Then, the minister and party, together with the chairman and
members of Township Peace and Development Council, members of the pagoda board of trustees, USDA members, teachers, students and local people, poured water at the Bo tree on Sunday corner of  Kyaikkalunbun Pagoda. The CEC member and party inspected the renovation of Naungdawgyi  Tazaung and Dalabya Tazaung in the precincts of the pagoda. Then, he made an inspection tour of  Danubyu.

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( 10 ) Border Areas Development Association founded

YANGON, 18 May-A meeting to form Border Areas Development Association was held at the meeting  hall of Agricultural Museum at Myepadetha Park this morning. The meeting also elected members of the  association.  Retired Deputy Minister U Tin Hlaing was elected chairman and officials of Ministry of  Agriculture and Irrigation and Minister of progress of Border Areas and National Races and  Development Affairs were elected patrons and members.

( 11 ) Myanmar, ROK exchange messages of felicitations on 25th Anniversary Diplomatic ties

YANGON, 19 May- ON the occasion of 15th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations  between the Union of Myanmar and the Republic of Korea, the following messages of felicitations were  exchanged between the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the two countries. Message from His Excellency  U Win Aung, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar to His Excellency Mr. Lee Joung  binn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea:

I take pleasure in extending to Your Excellency my sincere best wishes on the auspicious occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the  establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Union of Myanmar and the Republic of Korea. The successive leaders of the Union of Myanmar and the Republic of Korea have steadfastly maintained the existing cordial relationship based on sincerity, mutual respect and understanding. As the Union of  Myanmar is now gaining momentum in striving to build a peaceful, modern and developed nation, we  look forward to maintaining continued economic and technical cooperation with the Republic of Korea for mutual benefit. I am confident that the existing cordial relations between our two countries will be further strengthened in the years to come through closer cooperation and mutual understanding.

Please,  accept, Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.

Message from His Excellency Mr Lee  Joung-binn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea to His Excellency U Win Aung, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar:

On behalf of the Government and the people of the Republic of Korea, I would like to convey my heartfelt greetings and friendship to the Government and the people of the Union of Myanmar on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries. Since Korea and Myanmar
established diplomatic relations in 1975, our cooperative relations have developed in various areas. The 25th Anniversary provides the momentum to elevate the relations to a higher level. Endowed with  abundant natural and human resources, Myanmar is the country of much potential throughout the  1990s, Myanmar has gradually moved towards an open, market-oriented economy. I firmly believe that Myanmar will be able to make the most of its potential to achieve great advances in national development. In the process, I hope that the strengthened and continued cooperation between Korea
and Myanmar, on the basis of the complementarily of the two economies, will make valuable contributions.

I am confident that Myanmar, an active member of ASEAN, will assume a greater role in maintaining peace and dynamic growth in East Asia and beyond. The Korea Myanmar relationship, it is hoped, will be further strengthened within the framework of the Korea- ASEAN partnership.

Korea and Myanmar share a common experience in nurturing a distinctive culture, on the basis of  tradition and creative adoption and digestion of foreign cultural influences. The enhanced  understanding and expanded interchange between the peoples of our two countries should develop  into a more cooperative and comprehensive partnership in the new millennium.

On the auspicious occasion of the 25th Anniversary of our diplomatic relations, I would like to express,  once again, my ardent wish for a bright and thriving future in the friendly and cooperative relationship  between Korea and Myanmar.

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( 12 )  Headquarters and expatriate-absconder NLD (LA) Group apprehended

YANGON, 18 May-A press conference on how the National League for Democracy which is hailing  itself as a legitimate party and how the expatriate-absconder group NLD (LA), based in Maesot,  Thailand, claiming to represent the NLD and working in duplicity have been communicating with each  other, using what kind of activists and their means of communication, was held in the meeting hall of  Myanma Radio and Television on Pyay Road this morning. Present were Deputy Minister for
Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Soe Win, Director of Special Investigation Department Police Brig-Gen Ba Hein, Heads of Department under the  Office of Strategic Studies of the Ministry of Defence Col Thein Swe and Col Than Tun, officials of the  Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence, Director General of Myanma Radio and Television U Khin
Maung Htay, Managing Director of News and Periodicals Enterprise U Tin Kha, Director (News) U Hla Tun, Chief Editor of the Myanma Ahlin U Kyi Nyunt, advisers to the Ministry of Information and News  and Periodicals Enterprise, Patron of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club U Sein Win, President U  Sao Kai Pha and members, departmental officials, local and foreign journalists and guests. General Staff
Officer (Grade I) Lt-Col Tin Oo of the Office of Strategic Studies acted as master of ceremonies.

The  deputy minister made an introductory speech on the press conference. Head of Department Col Than  Tun also spoke on the occasion.

Then, Correspondent Nihon Keizai Shimbun U. Hla Htwe put two questions the first one was whether the Thai government actively keeps control of those involved in anti-Myanmar government activities after taking a stronghold in Thailand, neighbouring nation, and the second one was whether Myanmar government has ever employed any diplomatic means or otherwise to control and remove anti-Myanmar government activities in the territory of Thailand and if any, what kind of result has been got.

In  replying to these questions, Cot Than Tun of the Office of Strategic Studies said that with regard to the  first question, every nation has its own problems; there are problems related to its neighbouring nation  as well as problems cropping up separately in its own territory; there are also international problems;  these problems are being tackled in their own ways; Thailand also has to solve its internal problems;  with regard to these problems, there is not any matter which can mar friendship between the two  countries; the friendly ties between the two countries are making progress. With regard to the second question, it is for years that these problems have happened; previously before the Tatmadaw  government has assumed the duties of state, these problems arose; these problems have seemed to become extensive as there have been cries in the world now; these problems are being tackled through communication. In this regard, ways and means which maintain friendship between the two countries are being employed; there have been some occasions in which mutual understanding has not; it is
typical of two nations in the international relations.

Correspondent of NTV news agency U Aung Shwe said that he heard of purported organizational activities to form NLD Youth; he would like to know  whether these activities are in accord with the law and rules and regulations; he added it is said that
some youth leaders and leaders from some townships in Yangon have been arrested; and he asked a  question of whether there are any connections between these youths arrested and the said  communications; he said that in view of the penal code, the acts of aiding and abetting and the acts of  harboring are criminal offences; the signs are found that the acts of the runaways who formed a parallel  government and the said communications are as serious as high treason; and he put the questions of  whether there are any connections with the alleged arrest of the youths, or action has been taken according to the law and rules and regulations and how these things are connected. In replying to his questions, Cot Than Tun said that there is an instruction issued by Multiparty Democracy General  Election Convening Commission on whether there is any right to form the Youth; political parties  concerned must follow this instruction; if this instruction is studied, whether the political parties can do  it or not can be known; with regard to news about NLD youths, the matters about them have been put
under the close scrutiny; in the news I have already explained, it can he found that NLD member youths  have been in communications with insurgents; although anything about who these persons are and to  what extent they have been involved in the makers cannot be said at present, in the opportune time, it  will be disclosed. Correspondent of NHK Correspondent of NHK news agency U Khin Maung Myint  asked a question of how many NLD representatives-elect who resigned themselves as they were  displeased with the activities of NLD and who resigned as the people did not support them, are there. In replying to this question, Col Than Tun said that according to the list compiled by Multiparty  Democracy General Election Commission, there are altogether 485 representatives-elect from political  parties including independent representatives-elect; out of them, 34 passed away; there are altogether  97 who resigned of their own accord; there are altogether 185 whose positions were revoked as they committed offences, or were punished and failed to meet the set qualifications; the number of the rest is  169; out of 196 representatives-elect, there are 110 from NLD, and the rust 59 are from other parties and  independent representatives-elect. Director (News) of News and Periodicals Enterprise U Hla Tun said  that he would like to know the aim of the press conference held today, and also raised a question of
whether any action will be taken against the pencil of NLD which is hailing itself a legitimate party. In replying to these questions, Col Than Tun said that the aim of the press conference is to informal the  people of the prevailing political situation; it is found that some foreign broadcasting stations are  creating false and fabricated news and issuing all kinds of statement with a sinister conspiracy to upset  the conditions of the people and to cause conflicts in the State where stability and peace and tranquillity has reigned; be added that as mentioned above, NLD from inside the country is making
various kinds of declaration under the pretext of so-called significant days; in their declarations, there are many falsehoods; all the journalists have already known the condition of having to hold the press  conference at the YMBA, it aims at getting the people who incompletely heard of the declarations is  sued in a deceitful way, to know the truth; it also aims at getting the people to see and know agitative  activities being done under the pretext of religion by means of entering the religious associations, false
and fabricated news being created, and conflicts being incited inside the country with a sinister motive; it also aims at enabling the people to avoid being deceived. The journalists present here are engaged in  the media inside and outside the nation; the explanation is made to enable the journalists to calculate,  assess and know the news from inside and outside the nations, news coming out from the headquarters  of NLD and their steps.

In replying to the question of whether any action will be taken against the headquarters of NLD, he said  that the taking of action is not a main problem; today, in the entire Myanmar, there is no longs support  or favor for Dow Aung San Suu Kyi and activist ties of NLD; the people have expressed disagreement  about the votes which they cast in the 1990 election as a result of being taken in; as mentioned above,  in view of activities which break the law, it is time for the top leaders of NLD inside the country to see the light; similarly, organizations from outside the country should understand the objective condition.

After the press conference, local and foreign journalists viewed the documentary photos showing  communications between NLD and expatriate-absconder NLD ( LA).

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( 13 ) 20 Rathedaung Township NLD members collectively resign of own accord

YANGON, 18 May-A ceremony to present resignation letters of 21 members of National League for Democracy to  Rathedaung Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Sub-commission was  held at Basic Education Primary School of Natchaung Village-tract, Rathedaung Township, Rakhine  State on 10 May 2000. Twenty members of Rathedaung Township NLD, Rakhine State, of their own
accord, collectively resigned by sending letters of resignation to the party concerned and Rathedaung  Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Sub-commission as they no longer wished to  participate in party politics of NLD. NLD member U Thein Hla, on behalf of them, explained the reason of  resignation and  presented the resignation letters to member, of Multiparty Democracy General Election  Sub-commission U San Lin.
 

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