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1 ) Senior General Than Shwe pays homage to
Maha Muni Buddha Image in Mandalay
 
Yangon, 18 April -Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Senior General Than Shwe, paid homage and offered shwethingan to Maha Muni Buddha Image in Mandalay yesterday evening.
  
Next, Senior General Than Shwe signed in the distinguished
visitors, book and donated cash for the Maha Muni Image. Then, Head of State Senior General Than Shwe and party inspected the gold htidaw (sacred umbrella) to be hoisted atop the main pyatthat building of Maha Muni Image. They also viewed documentary photos of the Image.
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( 2 )
Shwehtidaw hoisted atop Hsandawshin Shwedagonlay Pagoda at
Kyaikpadaing village, Bago Township, Bago Division
 
Yangon, 18 April - A ceremony to enshrine
sacred objects in the upper reliquary of the historic Hsandawshin
Shwedagonlay Pagoda at Kyaikpadaing village, Bago Township, Bago
Division, was held in conjunction with a Shwehtidaw-hoisting
ceremony this morning.
 
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended the ceremony.
Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vimala administered the Five
Precepts.
Lay persons offered paritta flowers, water,
thread and sand to Sayadaws.
Sayadaws then recited Parittas.
The Secretary-1 presented the sacred objects, the
Seinphudaw and offertories to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vimala. The
commander and the ministers also presented offertories to the
Sayadaws.
Member of the State Central Working Committee of
the Sangha Sayadaw Maha Saddhammajotika-dhaja Bhaddanta Kumara
delivered a sermon. The congregation shared the merits gained.
 
Flanked by deva and regal processions, the
Secretary-1 and party and well-wishers conveyed the sacred objects,
the Seinphudaw, the Hnget-myatnadaw and the different tires of the
Shwehtidaw.
The Secretary-1 and party conveyed the sacred
objects to the upper reliquary.
Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt enshrined the
sacred objects in the reliquary.
The Seinphudaw, the Hngetmyatnadaw and the tires
of the Shwehtidaw were conveyed atop the pagoda by the decorated
carriage.
The Secretary-1 and party fixed the Seinphudaw,
the Hngetmyatnadaw and tires of the Shwehtidaw atop the pagoda and
sprinkled scented water on them.
Lay persons, on behalf of the well-wishers ,
hoisted Htidaws atop the encircling stapes.
The Sayadaws consecrated the pagoda.
U Kyaw Khin and Daw Than Htay presented K 10
million to the pagoda fund; Thirithudhamma  Manijotadhara
Dr Tha Yin Myat and Daw Nwe Nwe Aye and daughter Chaw Su Myat, K 6.8
million; U Teza and Daw Thida Zaw (Htoo Trading Company), K 5.5
million; Thirithudhamma Manijotadhara U Sein Hla Win and Daw Phyu
Phyu Khin, K 2 million; U Soe Myint and Daw Aye Aye Po, K 1.27
million, a ruby ring and 50 pieces of topaz; U Aye Myint and Daw Hla
Aye and family, K 1.2 million; and the Ministry of Mines, K 700,000.
The Secretary-1 accepted the donations.
Secretary-1 attends merit-sharing ceremony for Tazaungdawgyi of Seinthalyaung Buddha Image in Bago
Yangon, 18 April - The merit-sharing ceremony for Tazaungdawgyi of Seinthalyaung Buddha Image in Bago, Bago Division, was held at Mingalar pandal within the precinct of the Image at 2.30 pm today.
 
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended the ceremony and presented offertories to the
Sayadaws.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of Thudhamma Nikaya Maha Nayaka Bago Dhamma Lankara Kyaungtaik Sayadaw Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Bhaddanta Visuddha and
Sayadaws.
The Secretary-1 and party paid reverence to the Image.
 Commander Brig-Gen Aung Min and Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin formally opened the
Tazaungdawgyi.
Then, the Secretary-1 formally unveiled the stone inscription of the Tazaung-dawgyi and sprinkled scented water on it. Afterwards, the merit-sharing ceremony followed at the pandal.
Sayadaw Bhaddanta Visuddha invested the congregation with the Five Precepts.
Then, the Sayadaws recited parittas.
The Secretary-1 and party presented offertories to the Sayadaws.
Member of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Bago Panhlaing Sarthintaik Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Sasana delivered a sermon, followed by sharing of merits gained.
After the ceremony, the Secretary-1 performed rituals of golden and silver showers to mark the success of the ceremony.
Later, led by Sayadaw Bhaddanta Visuddha, the Secretary-1 and party inspected preparations for casting of Tampa Lawha Maha Muni Bronze Buddha Image in front of Bago Degree College near Yangon-Mandalay Highway.
Sayadaw Bhaddanta Visuddha explained matters related to casting the image to the Secretary-1.
On completion, the image will be 31 feet high and will weigh 30 tons.
Those wishing to donate bronze and cash for casting the image may contact Bago Dhamma Lankara Kyaungtaik or Bago Degree College.
Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and party arrived back here in the evening.
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( 3 )
State systematically forms special regions, makes arrangements to lay good
economic, education and health foundations for brethren of border areas
Plans under way to totally wipe out poppy cultivation and narcotic drugs
production in border areas with participation of national race leaders
Secretary-1 hosts dinner in honour of national races cultural group
Yangon, 18 April - Chairman of Border Areas and National Races Development Work Committee
 Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt hosted a dinner in
honor of visiting members of national race cultural group from Panwa region and Lweje region
(Kachin State Special Region-2) in Kachin State, Bawlake region in Kayah State, Whaetshan and Myainggyingu regions in Kayin State, Paletwa and Kyikha regions in Chin State, Leshi and Lahe regions in Sagaing Division,
Mongton, Kutkai, Panghsan and Mongmao regions in Shan State (North),
Mongpauk, Tachilek and Monghsat regions in Shan State (East) and Bokpyin region in Taninthayi Division at the Mya Yeik Nyo Royal Hotel this evening.
The Secretary-1 arrived at the hotel and cordially greeted the group members.
At the dinner, the Secretary-1 delivered a speech.
He expressed pleasure to see the national brethren from the respective border areas joyfully taking part in the Maha Thingyan Festival of Yangon in unity and amity. The present gathering of the national races living in the various parts of the Union was
frilly auspicious. Their participation in the Thin-gyan Festival in unity clearly reflects the spirit of unity of the national races although they are living in different regions.
As the various national races are living in every
region of the Union, all the regions themselves are also forming as
the mini-Unions. In reality all the national races have been close
relatives born and brought up in the Union since the time of the
forefathers.
The State regards them as the sons and daughters of the Union, and without making any discrimination, it is also striving to
fulfill their education and health needs on equal terms and to enable them to enjoy a high standard of living.
Like the parents who love the children, who are in a weaker position, more, the State has been given priority to the progress of the border regions which lagged behind development.
The State while continuously striving to strengthen the love and unity of the national people is also making efforts in all sectors for peace, stability and prosperity of the border regions.
In doing so, it is paying special attention to the development of the transport sector which is the basic requirement for regional progress.
At the same time, it has formed the special regions and made systematic arrangements to lay good economic, education and health foundations for the brethren of the border areas.
As the State has given priority to implementing the border area development
programmers, the transport sector of the border areas is developing and their education and health standards are improving. Modern urban areas are emerging in the areas. Thus, the border areas are developing in the same pace with other regions of the nation.
Systematic programmers have been laid down and implemented with the participation of the national race leaders to totally wipe out the poppy cultivation and narcotic drugs production from the border areas. At present, success has been achieved in rooting the drug problem which is harming the entire people of the nation including the local people of the poppy cultivation and drug producing regions.
As the opium-substitute farming and economic enterprises are flourishing, prospects are bright to totally eliminate poppy cultivation and opium production in the targeted period.
Due to the progress in the road transport sector, there is a proportionate development between the border areas and other regions and increase in extending relations among the national people. It is encouraging to see that the spirit of unity and Union spirit are further flourishing.
It can be said that the making of arrangements to enable national brethren to meet with one another and exchange their cultures means the further strengthening of the family spirit called Union Spirit.
The Government is giving encouragement to preservation of traditional cultures of each national race. As a result, national race cultural troupes were able to study cultural traits and traditional arts. They also know that their traditional cultures share fundamental elements. These facts make the family spirit further flourish.
Arrangements were made to enable national brethren from border areas to gather at Myanma Traditional Maha Thingyan, to further cement the ties of friendship among them, to exchange their cultures and traditions and to further strengthen Union Spirit and national unity.
These arrangements have been going on for ten years.
As they, enjoying Maha Thingyan, were able to study the progress of the State and visited famous pagodas, they have witnessed the harmonious development of the entire Union including their regions.
They need to earnestly participate in the regional development tasks.
Sharing their knowledge of the development of the State and traditional cultures of various national races, they need to continuously work hard for the further flourishing of national unity and Union Spirit.
Responding to the goodwill of the Government and in accordance with its goal, they need to work hard for the harmonious development of all the parts of the Union from whatever role they are assigned.
While participating in opium substitute cultivation tasks, livestock breeding tasks and economic development tasks, they need to give education concerning drugs to local people so that they come to realize the danger and bad consequences of narcotic drugs.
They also need to take part in drug elimination
programmers being implemented by the leaders of national races under the arrangement of the Government.
In conclusion, the Secretary-1 urged all the members of the traditional cultural troupes to strive for the further strengthening of national solidarity and for the further flourishing of Union Spirit as cultural delegates of the State, to entertain Union Spirit and to work together for the perpetual existence of the Union.
Then, the Secretary-1 presented gifts to the group members.
On behalf of the group members, Ma Nan Yuzana Nwe of Thingan Nyinaung Whaetshan Region in Kayin State spoke words of thanks.
Afterwards, those present were entertained with Myanmar traditional cultural dances.
Later, the Secretary-1 served the dinner to the
guests and the group members.
Bago BEHS No 4 gets multimedia teaching centre
 
Yangon, 18 April -A ceremony to open a multimedia teaching centre of Basic Education High School No 4 in Bago, Bago Division, 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.
 
First, a ceremony to unveil the stone inscription of Myanma education goal was held at the school.
The Secretary-1 and party and those present saluted the State Flag. The students sang the national anthem to the accompaniment of a band troupe.
The outstanding students formally unveiled the stone inscription.
Next, the students sang the song "Myanma school" to commemorate the unveiling of the stone inscription.
Afterwards, the ceremony to open the multimedia teaching centre was held.
Headmaster U Kyaw Myint and Chairman of the School Board of Trustees U Htay Win formally
 opened the multimedia teaching centre.
Then, the Secretary-1 formally unveiled the signboard of the multimedia teaching centre.
The Secretary-1 and party inspected the painting room, the domestic science and handicraft room, the printed media (reading corner) room, the electronic media (video system) room, the electronic media (language lab) room, the computer-aided instruction room, and the computer application and e-mail room.
The Secretary-1 and party also watched the music and artistic skill demonstration of the students.
Next, a ceremony to mark the opening of the multimedia teaching centre was held in the hall of the school.
Headmaster U Kyaw Myint reported on the purpose of opening the multimedia teaching centre and installation of modern teaching aids; Chairman of the School Board of Trustees U Htay Win on efforts to open the multimedia teaching centre.
The Secretary-1 presented video tapes to be used as teaching aids for BEHS No 4 to the headmaster.
The Secretary-1 accepted a television set and a video cassette recorder worth K 500,000 donated by the Ministry of Rail Transportation.
In his speech, the Secretary-1 expressed his pleasure for the concerted efforts of students, teachers, parents, well-wishers and local authorities to open the multimedia teaching centre.
Under the leadership of the Government, the education promotion
programmed designed to train students to be outstanding in all fields, to upgrade education up to the international level and to bridge the gap of education between rural and urban areas, is being implemented in conjunction with the special four-year national education promotion plan to link the basic education sector and the higher education sector.
In building a modern nation, uplifting the education of human resources is of vital importance. Only when information technology can be widely used, can the highly-qualified human resources be nurtured.
The Government is employing various ways and means to develop human resources. Students need to work hard so that they will become highly dynamic and qualified.
Teachers also need to make systematic use of modern teaching aids and train students to become technicians and academicians. Well-wishers,
on their part, need to continue to provide assistance.
Then, the Secretary-1 and party, together with the members of the
School Board of Trustees, the headmaster, the teachers and the
students, posed for documentary photos.
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( 4
) Regular press conference held in connection with bomb explosion near Friendship Bridge in Myawady on Thingyan Akyat Day (15 April) caused by KNU sending commandos from Maesot
Yangon, 18 April-A regular press conference was held at Tatmadaw Guest House on Inya Road at 1 pm today. It was attended by Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Brig-Gen Khin Aung Myint of the Ministry of Defense, senior military officers, departmental heads, officials of the Ministry of Information, U Sein Win of Kyodo News Agency, President U Sao Kai Hpa and member
 correspondent of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club and guests.
Lt-Col San Pwint of the Office of the Chief of Military Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense said an explosion broke out on a trishaw in front of Thein Gaba Tea Shop and Swe Zone Restaurant on Bogyoke Road, north of the Friendship Bridge, No 1 Ward, Myawady, at 4.15 pm on 15 April, Akyat Day of Thingyan.
As a result, a total of five people Trishawman Tin Win of Ward 4 in Myawady, passenger Aesop (a) Soe Aung, 33, Pa Shi, 14, an unidentified man and passer-by Ma Win, a cheroot maker, 27, were killed on the spot, and their bodies were torn into pieces.
 
Altogether 31 civilians who were merrily taking part in Thingyan Festival near the site were severely wounded. Fifteen of the victims were being given treatment as inpatients and sixteen as outpatients at the hospital in Myawady. Among the inpatients, the two are in critical condition. When officials inspected the site, a piece of yellow cloth and fragments of a tin container were found, which indicated that it was a time-bomb.
  
According to the investigation, the ABMU insurgent group and the DAB destructionist group led by the KNU insurgent group met with three Indian men and two Indian women who are merchants, at Mei Daw village in Thailand on 13 April.
Their meeting focused on the fact that merchants who employ unscrupulous means suffer losses as the border area inspection and control unit in Myawady inspects goods strictly and systematically and seize smuggled goods. They discussed exploding bombs in Mya-wady to panic the public there.
  
Accordingly, the KNU group hatched up a plan to perpetrate destructive acts and explode bombs. To strike the public in Myawady more panicky, they planned to detonate bombs on Thingyan Akyat Day (15 April) when the streets would be busy. The destructive elements were sent from Maesot of Thailand to explode bombs, it is learnt.
Though KNU denied in Thai newspapers that it committed the bomb explosion, it was actually a terrorist act masterminded by KNU (Central).
  
The terrorist acts committed recently in Myawady region by the KNU terrorist insurgent group were as follows;
-A passenger Hilux which left Myawady for Kawkareik on 26-2-2002 was attacked by a mine and as a result, 2 passengers were dead and three wounded.
- A time bomb exploded near the garment factory in Myawady on 2-3-2002.
- About 40 members of KNU No 7 brigade attacked Kokko village of our side near Myawady with heavy weapons from the side of Thailand on 14-3-2002. As a result, 4 innocent villagers were wounded severely and 53 houses were destroyed by fire.
- Similarly, a time bomb planted near Mogok gate in Myawady was exposed and defused in time on 30-3-2002.
Those were only current incidents and there had been many terrorist acts by the KNU in other border areas.
 Hence, this bomb explosion was surely caused by the KNU. It is, in fact, an unforgivable terrorist act as it was aimed to harm innocent people joyfully celebrating the traditional Thingyan Festival.
Next, queries raised by the journalists were replied and the regular press conference ended.
Afterwards, the journalists viewed documentary photos of the incident of bomb explosion on 15-4-2002 caused by the KNU group.
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( 5 ) Maj-Gen Ye Myint attends opening of footwear
factory in Kyaukse
Yangon, 18 April - The opening ceremony of a footwear factory of the Ministry of Indusrtry-1 in Kyaukse Industrial Zone, Kyaukse, Mandalay Division, was held at the factory on 11 April morning.
It was attended by the State Peace and Development Council member Maj-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defense, Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, Minister for Science & Technology U Thaung, Deputy Minister for Industry-1 Brig-Gen Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Myint Thein, Mandalay City Mayor Brig-Gen Yan Thein, No 99 LID Commander Col Aung Khin Soe, Officiating Tactical Operations Commander of Central Command Lt-Col Kyin Soe, departmental heads and responsible personnel, USDA members, those of social organizations, local people and dance and pompom troupes.
Managing Director of Myanma General and Maintenance Industries of the Ministry of Industry-1 U Thaik Tun formally unveiled the signboard of the factory. Next, Maj-Gen Ye Myint, ministers, deputy ministers and party inspected the production process of the factory. Then, Minister U Aung Thaung explained matters on various kinds of shoes and
footwear's produced by the factory to Maj-Gen Ye Myint and party.
The footwear factory (Kyaukse) was built with the aims of producing various kinds of footwear's
for the public by the state-owned sector; substituting imports;
creating job opportunities; and earning more foreign exchange.
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( 6 )
Commerce Minister receives
Ambassador
 Yangon, 18 April - Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone received Ambassador of Malaysia to Myanmar Mr Dato Cheah Sam Kip at his office at 2 pm today.
Also present at the call were Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, Acting Director-General of the Directorate of Trade U Kyi Maung, Director-General
of the Border Trade Department U Nay Win and officials of the Myanma Agricultural Produce Trading.
CPT Minister receives Korean guests
Yangon, 18 April - Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Thein Zaw received Vice-Chairman of LG Electronic Inc Mr Charles Kang at 1 pm and Myanmar Honorary Counsellor to Pusan of the Republic of Korea Mr Won-Bae Dahn at 1.30 pm at his office today.
Also present at the calls were officials of Myanma Posts and
Telecommunications.
Yangon Mayor
receives guests
Yangon, 18 April - The urban development planning group led by Adviser to the Malaysian Prime Minister on Science Tan Sri Datuk Mr Ahmad Zaharuggin Idrus called on Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay at City Farm and Resort Centre and visited the agriculture and livestock breeding farm in Uto-Kya-in Region, Taikkyi Township this morning.
The guests also viewed protected birds in Insu Lake by boat and left the farm in the afternoon.
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( 7 ) Malaysian
industrial
delegation arrives
Yangon, 18 April - An 11-member Malaysian delegation led by Vice-Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Science and Technology of Malaysia Might Tan Sri Datuk Mr Ahmad Zaharuggin Idrus arrived here by air yesterday evening to draw Strategic Development Plan for Yangon City.
They were welcomed at the airport by YCDC Vice-Chairman Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa, Chairman of Committee for Drawing Strategic Development Plan for Yangon City YCDC Joint-Secretary U Kyi Win and members and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Hockey players undergoing training
Yangon, 18 April -Myanmar hockey players who will take part in the International Invitational Hockey Tournament of Myanmar Olympic Committee Chairman to be held in Yangon from 29 April to 5 May 2002 are undergoing training.
The players are being trained by coaches U Kyaw Naing, Mr Khouaja Mohamed Awais of Pakistan, team manager U Kyaw Htay Thein (Kyaw Construction), executives U Maung Maung, U Tin Myint Ni (Nilar biryani), U Ba Tun and
others.
National races cultural group
visits pagodas in Thanlyin
Yangon, 18 April - At the invitation of Chairman
of Border Areas and National Races Development Work Committee
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt, the visiting 197-member border areas national races cultural
group from Panwa and Lweje regions in Kachin State, Bawlake region
in Kayah State, Myainggyingu and Whaetshan regions in Kayin State,
Kyikha and Paletwa regions in Chin State, Leshi and Lahe regions in
Sagaing Division, Mongton, Kutkai, Panghsan and Mongmao regions in
Northern Shan State, Mongpauk, Adee and Monghsat regions in Eastern
Shan State and Bokpyin region in Taninthayi Division, led by Deputy
Director of the Progress of Border Areas and National Races
Department Maj Nyan Lin Myint, visitedv the famous pagodas in
Thanlyin this morning.
First, they paid reverence to Thanlyin Kyaikkhauk
Pagoda and Kyeikhmawwun Yele Pagoda and made cash donations. Then, the
Thanlyin Development Affairs Department hosted lunch and presented
souvenirs to them. Later, they visited the Shukhintha Resort.
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( 9
) Programmers for
entrance examinations of the MMU, MAEU announced
Yangon, 18 April - Applications have been invited from those who will attend Myanmar Maritime University under the Ministry of Transport and the Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University under the Ministry of Science and Technology to be opened in August, 2002 from dailies.
The lists of candidates will be issued at University Entrance Scrutiny Board, Higher Education Department (Lower Myanmar), Thaton Road on 15 May 2002 (Wednesday).
The candidates are to report in person at the department from 20 to 24 May, 2002 together with three passport size photos, National Registration Card (original and copy), the original copy of testimony of Ward Peace and Development Council concerned, the original and duplicated copies of mark list in matriculation exam and the original copy of health certificate from township health officer.
The entrance exams will be held on 27 May 2002. The schedules for the exams will be issued on 15 May 2002 at the department together with the list of
examinees.
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