Information Sheet No.A. 0519(I)

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

                                         Information  Sheet

                            No.A. 0519(I)       25 July 1998

(1)		General Maung Aye Receives Thai Military Delegation Led by Commanding
General of Third Army Region of Royal Thai	Armed Forces

		Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-
in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye
received the Thai Military Delegation led by Commanding General of the Third
Army Region of Royal Thai Armed Forces Lt-Gen Sommai Wichaworn, who attended
the 16th Meeting of Myanmar-Thai Border Committee, at Zeya Thiri Beikman,
Konmyinttha, in Yangon on 24 July.

(2)		Myanmar, Thailand Sign Agreement on Tourism Cooperation
		The Signing Ceremony of the Agreement on Tourism Cooperation between  the
Government of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the Kingdom of
Thailand was held in Mingalar Hall of Kandawgyi Palace Hotel on 24 July.

(3)		Minister at Office of the Prime Minister of Thailand Arrives
		Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister of Thailand and Chairman of
Thai Tourism Authority Mr Jurin Laksanawisit and party arrived on Yangon by
air on 24 July to sign an agreement for the development of tourism cooperation
between Myanmar and Thailand.

                            OFFICE CALLS IN YANGON ON 24 JULY

(A)		Minister for Health received Director Mr Ghil J Levi and party of Karni-
levi & Hocheberg of Israel at his office.

(B)		Minister for Commerce received Director Mr Alexander V Strelbitsky and
party of Basko Joint Stock Company of Ukraine at his office.


                                          Again Just After (3) Days ?

		On 24 July at 1055 hrs. U Hla Pe ( NLD Ayarwaddy Division Organizer), Mrs.
Aris and two drivers (one reserve ) in a motor vehicle were stopped by the
local security officials at near Anyarsu village located 20 miles south-west
of Yangon. The local security officials noticing the absence of Mrs. Aris?
security team similar to the incident of 7 July and 20 July made an enquiry
and requested the party not to proceed with their planned trip but to return. 
        
		The local authorities enquiring thrice on the destination of the trip and
other relevant matters with the intents of forthright and forthwith
arrangement for their itinerary was not responded at all by the party. At the
same time in Yangon U Tin Oo (NLD) was disseminating news about the incident
to certain diplomats from Western Embassies and some foreign news agencies in
concerted and timely fashion-action to induce some governments and media to
exploit the opportunity to berate the Government and to portray Myanmar as a
lawless and unstable country where the democratic forces are being suppressed
while the country is about to explode with civil unrest.

		Regretfully, the NLD leadership has again turned a deaf ear on the
authorities? request to give due consideration and importance in the
maintenance of peace and stability of the entire nation by way of not
prioritizing party politicking at this stage of development. Moreover the
importance and necessity of maintaining and consolidating peace and stability
is indispensible at this juncture, especially when the children of Myanmar are
now in the process of preparing to sit for their final examinations of the
institutes of higher education.

		Obviously, adopting and engaging in a confrontational stance by challenging
the government at every turn under the pretext of human rights and democracy
will definitely not serve the interests of the overwhelming majority of the
Myanmar people in the process of rebuilding a nation. The government is
meeting her commitments while hoping and expecting the political parties
especially the NLD meet theirs so that Myanmar will become a functioning
democracy within a reach of reasonable time frame. 

		It is the fervent desire of the nation and the people  for the NLD
leadership to be more realistic in outlook and move forward on a suitable and
proper-track with a humantarian vision and horizon rather than charging ahead
in an improper  and bullheaded way with the sole intention of creating waves
to rock the boat.

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