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- State Peace and Development Council Chairman and - PM Senior General Than Shwe sends message of - congratulations to Sri Lanka
- State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe sends message of congratulations to Poland
- Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe receives United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- Secretary-1 sees off UN High Commissioner for Refugees
- The World Food Day for Year 2000 was observed
- News in Brief
- Delegates from ASEAN nations arrive
- Regional Workshop on Agricultural Marketing Training and Extension held
- 1,299,000 stimulant tablets seized in Kengtung
- 8 members resign from Namhsan Township NLD of own accord
(1) State Peace and Development Council Chairman and PM Senior General Than Shwe sends message of congratulations to Sri LankaYANGON, 16 Oct-Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of congratulations to His Excellency Hon Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, who has been re-appointed as Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on 13 October 2000.
(2) State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe sends message of congratulations to Poland
YANGON, 17 Oct-Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of congratulations to His Excellency Mr Aleksander Kwasniewski who has been re-elected as President of the Federal Republic of Poland.
(3) Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe receives United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
YANGON, 16 Oct- Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe received United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Madame Sadako Ogata and party at the Credentials Hall of Pyithu Hluttaw Building at 11 am today.
Also present at the call were Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung, Minister for Immigration and Population U Saw Tun, Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office Lt-Col Pe Nyein and Director-General of the Protocol Department Thura U Aung Htet. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Madame Sadako Ogata was accompanied by Chief of Mission Mr Canh Nguyen-Tang of the UNHCR Office in Yangon.
(4) Secretary-1 sees off UN High Commissioner for Refugees
YANGON, 16 Oct-Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt met United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Madame Sadako Ogata and party at Inya Kantha State House this evening. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Madame Sadako Ogata and party, together with the Secretary-1, proceeded to Yangon International Airport. Madame Sadako Ogata and party left here at 8 PM.
They were seen off at the airport by Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Brig-Gen Abel, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Immigration and Population U Saw Tun, Chief of Mission of the UNHCR Office in Yangon Mr Canh Nguyen-Tang and officials.
(5) The World Food Day for Year 2000 was observed
YANGON, 16 Oct - The World Food Day for Year 2000 was observed at the International Business Centre on Pyay Road this morning. Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt delivered an address on the occasion.
Also present were member of the ministers, deputy ministers, senior military officers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of department, ambassadors and charges d'Affaires, resident representatives and officials of UN agencies, officials of the Central Committee for Observing the World Food Day and sub-committees, heads of departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, officials of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, prize-winning townships and persons, entrepreneurs and guests.
In his address, the Secretary-1 said that on the basis of the founding day of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, the World Food Day is observed on 16 October every year. Not only does this occasion mark an anniversary celebration, but it is also the time to take stock of how to fulfil the basic needs of the people of the world.
This year the World Food Day with the theme " A Millennium Free from Hunger ", is being celebrated in every nation of the world. At a time when a new millennium has already begun, to ensure daily sufficient food for all is a prime vision and also depicts a commitment to achieve a world free from hunger in future. Therefore, it can be said that not only is this theme very appropriate to the time, but it also urges all the people of the world to have an active part in striving to ensure sufficient food for all and to guard against hunger.
The Food and Agricultural Organization, from its inception till this millennium, has laid down invaluable tasks to ensure that enough food is available for everyone. However, the 21st Century will see the challenge to ensure sufficient food for the world, the most fundamental necessity for mankind to " be free from hunger ".
In many countries in the developing world, food availability per person is still less than necessary. About 20 percent of the people in the developing world were struggling to survive on diets that do not provide the basis energy they need.
Myanmar has a population of 50 million. In view of her topography and natural resources, Myanmar has to strive for the development of economy based on the agriculture sector not only for the short term but also for the long term. Myanmar, being an agrarian country, has food surpluses. The people of Myanmar regard the fulfillment of the people's needs of food as that of the most fundamental need of mankind. Altogether 63 percent of labour in Myanmar is working in the agriculture sector, and the agriculture sector which contributes to the gross national product by 36%, is regarded as the basis of Myanmar economy.
In the course of Myanmar history, measures have been taken to improve infrastructure of the agriculture sector and to boost agricultural productivity, and evidently, the present government is providing more assistance for the agriculture and food production sector than before. To extend sown acreage, to work the land with the use of better strains of crops and to cultivate extra crops and multiple crops, agricultural requirements are being fulfilled.
Measures have been taken to employ better modern methods and to get agricultural work mechanized extensively. Therefore, agricultural productivity has been improving remarkably. Moreover, in the history of the agricultural sector in Myanmar, arrangements have been made for the emergence of the first ever biggest agricultural lands.
In this task, the private sector has been taking part with huge investments. Now, hundreds of thousands of acres of land are being reclaimed into fields. As water is very important for agriculture, the government, during the period from 1988 to date, has built 113 dams at a cost of over K 40,000 million. As 253 river-water pumping projects have been implemented, cultivation on irrigated fields has been improving within 12 years. Now, out of 25 million acres of agricultural land, 17 percent is irrigated agricultural lands.
At present, altogether 27 dams are in course of construction. Therefore, in a few years' time, the agricultural productivity of the nation will make remarkable progress. Once Myanmar exported food most in the world. We believe that as agricultural production is picking up significantly, Myanmar will become a major nation which exports food in the not-too-distant future. Myanmar is striving to promote agricultural productivity as well as attending to the needs for development of fishery industry and other businesses related to marine resources. There are marine resources along the over 1,300-mile long coastline of Myanmar and inland rivers, creeks and lakes. With the aim of ensuring sustainability of marine resources of the country, we are exporting just a part of resources. It can be said that Myanmar has necessary conditions to become a country which mainly undertakes fishery industry.
Fifty percent of the area of the nation is covered with forests, and teak forests of the nation are included in the group of the largest teak forests of the world. Forest conservation systems which are being adopted in Myanmar, set the pattern for other nations to follow. Myanmar is a hard wood exporting nation. As forests of Myanmar are well conserved and safeguarded, these forests will benefit all the mankind of the world and continue to exist for the long term. In striving to promote productivity of agriculture, livestock breeding and fishery industry and extraction of forest products, policies designed for sustainable development and prevention of environmental degradation have been set down. As the government, taking account of the population growth, is laying down and implementing policies systematically, there is no problem for food in Myanmar. We believe that there will be no problem of this sort in future.
In addition, as our nation is formulating and implementing plans designed to step up production of food, it is believed that not only will Myanmar have domestic food sufficiency, Myanmar will also be able to fulfil local and international requirements for food. To sum up, being an active member of FAO, Myanmar is taking part in development tasks sector-wise, which bears witness to the fact that Myanmar is doing its level best to realize the noble aims of FAO.
While cooperating with other member nations in implementing the guidelines of the World Food Summit poverty-reducing economic growth, policies to enhance the employment and income-earning opportunities of the poor, safety nets to protect the most vulnerable and marginalized. and adequate attention to agriculture and rural development Ñ Myanmar will actively, effectively and seriously carry out the tasks to make the world free from hunger in accord with the theme of the World Food Day " A Millennium Free from Hunger".
Then, the Secretary-1 and guests viewed various crops, documentary photos and strains of crops displayed in the hall of the International Business Centre by the Agriculture and Irrigation Department.
Afterwards, the ceremony resumed. Residential Representative of FAO Mr Francis Rinville read the message of the Secretary-General of the UN. Next, a World Food Day commemorative video was shown.
After that, prizes for outstanding performance in cultivation of crops, forestry work and livestock breeding work were presented to townships, farmers and breeders. Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin presented first, second and third prizes for outstanding performance in cultivation of monsoon paddy in townships State respectively.
Then, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein presented the prize for outstanding performance in breeding fresh water fish in townships, Divisions and Co.Ltd of respectively.
Resident Representative of FAO Mr Francis Rinville presented prizes for their outstanding performance in cultivation of groundnut; sesame, sunflower, matpe, pedisein, a pigeon pea, in townships, Divisions, Co.Ltd of respectively.
Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung presented first, second and third prizes to respectively for their outstanding performance in cultivation of pre-monsoon long staple cotton of township and Division.
Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Ohn Myint presented first, second and third prizes to respectively for their outstanding performance in cultivation of sugarcane of township and Division.
Deputy Minister for Forestry Col Thaik Tun presented first, second and third prizes to Chedawya plantation in Sagaing Township, Bwetgyi plantation in Aunglan Township and Taungtalon plantation respectively for their outstanding performance in cultivation of special teak plantation projects. Then, the ceremony came to a close.
Minister for H&T meets General Manager
YANGON, 16 Oct-Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin met General Manager Mr Brett Meizer of Shwe Lay Ta Gun Travels and Tours Co Ltd at his office at 1 p.m. today. Also present were officials of the ministry.
Chairman of Hiroshima City Committee meets UMFCCI officials
YANGON, 16 Oct-A nine-member delegation led by Chairman Mr Hirano Hiroaki of City Committee in Hiroshima, Japan met Vice-President of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry U Htein Win, Secretary-General of UMFCCI U Zaw Min Win and CEC members at UMFCCI office this afternoon. They discussed opportunities business and investment.
Minister for Education meets foreign guests
YANGON, 16 Oct-Minister for Education U Than Aung met Director of Literacy Promoting Division, ACCU Japan Mr Shigeru Aoyagi and Secretary- General of National Resource Center for Non- Formal Education ( LRC Nepal ) Dr Uttam Karmacharya who arrived here to attend National Workshop on Capacity Building of NFE Personnel of MLRC organized by Myanmar Education Research Bureau and ACCU, Japan at his office at 3 p.m. today. Also present at the call were Deputy ministers Brig- Gen Soe Win Maung and officials.
SRV Minister of Foreign Affairs arrives
YANGON, 16 Oct- At the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung, a Vietnamese delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Mr Nguyen Dy Nien arrived here by air this evening. They were welcomed at the airport by Minister U Win Aung, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador of Socialist Republic of Vietnam Mr Nguyen Dang Khoa and Embassy staff.
MRCS EC member leaves for SingaporeYANGON 16 Oct-Executive Committee member Dr Than Swe of Myanmar Red Cross Society left here for Singapore this morning to attend Regional Workshop on Voluntary Blood Donor Recruitment to be held from 17 to 21 October and Regional Workshop on Quality in RC/RC Health Programmes to be held from 23 to 27 October. The two workshops are sponsored by regional representative office of International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Red Cross Society of Singapore. He was seen off at Yangon International Airport by EC members, officials and family members.
Myanmar delegates arrive back
YANGON, 16 Oct-A Myanmar delegation led by Auditor-General Brig-Gen Tin Aye, who attended the eighth Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institution Assembly held in Chiangmai, Thailand from 9 to 15 October, arrived back here this evening.
They were welcomed back at the airport by Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Brig-Gen Lun Maung, Chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board Dr Than Nyunt, Deputy Auditor-General U Khin Win, directors and officials form the Auditor-General's Office and families. The delegation comprised Director-General at the Auditor-General's Office Daw Thin Thin and Director Daw Tin Kyi Oo.
Ministry of Industry-1 holds biannual meeting
YANGON, 16 Oct - The Ministry of Industry-1 held its first biannual meeting for fiscal 2000-2001 this morning at the training hall of the ministry, addressed by Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the meeting was held to review the weak points and advantages of the ministry during the first six months of the fiscal.
The State is striving to develop all economic sectors based on progress in agriculture to increase its financial power. Thus, factory managers should assess their work in finding ways to remedy the weak points and further uplift the accomplishments. Due to the efforts of all the people the GDP and the individual income are growing.
Managers of the industries of Myanma Textile Industries, Myanma Foodstuff Industries, Myanma Pharmaceutical Industries, Myanma Ceramic Industries, Myanma General Maintenance Industries, Myanma Paper and Chemical Industries, and Industrial Supervision and Inspection Department and industries in states and divisions discussed means to promote production and distribution of their respective factories. The heads of departments gave suggestions sector-wise.
Timber extraction discussed in Bago Division
YANGON, 16 Oct-Minister for Forestry U Aung Phone and officials yesterday inspected Nyaungbin-tha No 104 Saw Mill in Phyu Township.
The minister discussed extraction of teak in eastern sector Bago Division with the director-general of Forest Department, the managing director of Myanma Timber Enterprise, the director of Forest Products Joint Venture Corporation Ltd, the head of Bago Division Forest Department, division manager of eastern Bago Division, officials and private timber entrepreneurs.
The minister also gave instructions on arrangements of timber extraction in seven zones in open season and transport of teak and other hard wood to designated places. The minister arrived back here in the evening.
Minister inspects maintenance of Mandalay PalaceYANGON, 16 Oct-Minister for Culture U Win Sein, accompanied by officials, inspected maintenance of the turrets at northern and eastern sides of the palace wall yesterday morning.
Officials conducted them around the sites. The project, begun on 24 August, is completed 60 per cent at present. The Minister urged officials to restore their original style. Then the Minister and party inspected Thingaza Kyaungtaik in Chanayethazan Township. The monastery was donated by King Mindon in 1223 ME. They also inspected the Zaytawun hall renovated by Department of Archaeology.
The Thingaza Kyaungtaik including Phaya hall, Dhana hall and Zaytawun hall was built with 232 teak pillars. The decayed foundations of pillars have been replaced. Renovation of Phaya hall was completed and renovation of the Zaytawun hall, under way. The Minister and party then inspected brick stairways in Yadana Bonkyaw Kyaung of Asoka Yama Kyaungtaik in Kyun Lon Okshaung Ward. Yadana Bonkyaw Kyaung with 417 teak pillars was built in 1149 ME and completed in 1151 ME.
The donor was King Padon (a) Bodaw Phaya. A fire destroyed it in 1245 ME leaving only ten brick stairways. Afterwards, the Minister and party headed for U Nay Tun's Bandoola Brass Casting Workshop in Tampawady Ward, Chanmyathazi Township and inspected the casting of a Buddha Image weighting 86 tickles of gold donated by Shwe Kyaung Sayadaw Shivasaw and disciples of Singapore and gave necessary instructions.
New aircraft for Yangon Airways arrives
YANGON, 16 Oct-An ATR 42 arrived at Yangon International Airport on 12 October to join the fleet of Yangon Airways' ATR 72s. The aircraft ferried from Denmark landed at Yangon International Airport on 15:15 local time as scheduled. The ATR 42 chartered from Danish Air Transport has a seating capacity of 46 passengers and will increase the airways capacity by 32%. It has entered service from 14 October along with Yangon Airways' existing ATR 72s to enhance Yangon Airways services.
(7) Delegates from ASEAN nations arrive
YANGON, 16 Oct-Delegates from the ASEAN nations arrived here to attend the 22nd ASEAN Railway General Managers' Conference to be held in Myanmar, today. Laotian delegation led by Director-General of Railway Authority Dr Khamsemg Sayakane and Indonesian delegation led by Director of Personnel and General Affairs Mr Urip Subagjo arrived here in the morning, and Cambodian delegation led by High Ranking Officer of Royal Railway of Cambodia Mr Seng Setha, Thai delegation led by General Manager of State Railway of Thailand Mr Saravudh Dhamasiri and Malaysian delegation led by Chairman of Excu KTMB-Malayan Railway Y Bhg Dato Mohd-Nor Idrus in the afternoon. They were welcomed at the airport by Director-General Col Hla Thaung Myint and departmental heads and officials from embassies concerned.
(8) Regional Workshop on Agricultural Marketing Training and Extension held
YANGON, 16 Oct-Opening ceremony of Food and Agriculture Organization / Asia -Pacific Food Marketing Agencies / Myanmar: Regional Workshop on Agricultural Marketing Training and Extension sponsored by Ministry of Commerce was held at Hotel Equatorial on Alanpya Phaya Road this morning.
It was attended by Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, departmental officials, officials of FAO and AFMA, delegates from 12 countries including Myanmar, resource persons, observers and guests. Minister Brig-Gen Pyi Sone delivered a speech. Then, consultant Dr Jan Jan Sonius of FAO and Executive Director Mr M R Satyal of AFMA extended greetings. Then, the ceremony came to an end. The workshop will continue till 18 October.
(9) 1,299,000 stimulant tablets seized in Kengtung
YANGON, 16 Oct- A combined team comprising members of local intelligence unit, Kengtung Special Anti-Drug Squad and Myanmar Police Force, on information, searched a car with number plate Ba/6192 driven by Salai Hsan Noh Toung (a) Maung Soe, 21, and conductor Zaw Min Aung, 18, leaving Kengtung for Tachilek, at Naungnwan checkpoint on 4 June morning.
The team seized WY brand 1,299,000 stimulant tablets weighing 129.9 kilos in the car and then nabbed car owner Hsan Htay and stimulant tablet owner Sai Htwe. In this regard, Kengtung police station filed Salai Hsan Noh Toung (a) Maung Soe, son of U Tint Lwin of Phahtauk Ward in Falam, Zaw Min Aung, son of U Bo Ni of Hsalauk Village in Seikphyu Township, Hsan Htay, son of U Ngun Hok of Ward 3 in Kengtung and Sai Htway, 33, son of U Sai Yi of Aukpyat Ward in Kengtung under the Sections 15/19 (A)/ 20 (A)/ 21 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law.
Kengtung District Court sentenced Salai Hsan Noh Toung (a) Maung Soe to 5 years' imprisonment under Section 15 and unlimited years' imprisonment under Section 19(A) to serve concurrently; Zaw Min Aung to unlimited years' under Section 19 (A)/ Hsan Htay to 5 years' under Section 15 and unlimited years' under Sections 20(A)/21 to serve concurrently; and Sai Htwe to 5 years' under Section 15 and the death sentence under Section 20 (A) to serve concurrently on 7 September.
(10) 8 members resign from Namhsan Township NLD of own accord
YANGON, 16 Oct- Eight members resigned of their own accord from the National League for Democracy of Namhsan Township, Shan State. Eight members of Namhsan Township NLD, Shan State, of their own accord, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Namhsan Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Sub-commission and the party concerned on 20 September 2000 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
WEATHER REPORT
TODAYForecast for Yangon and neighbouring area for17th October 2000: Intermittent rain which may be heavy at time. Degree of certainty is 70%.
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