Information Sheet No.A-0726(

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

Subject: Information  Sheet       No.A-0726(I)

MYANMAR  INFORMATION  COMMITTEE
YANGON
Information  Sheet

                                 No.A-0726(I)
12-12-98

(1)		MRTV ( Myanmar Radio and Television Department)  Telecasts Reaching 126
Nations 130 Retransmitting Stations Built in Country

A ceremony to hand over documents on the lease of Thaicom-3 global beam
transponder and related equipment to Myanma Radio and TV and to launch nine-
metre earth station was held in Studio A of MRTV and at the nine-meter earth
station in the compound of MRTV respectively on 11 December. The MRTV started
using Thaicom-3 on 2 May 1998, thus MRTV programmes can be  viewed in 126
countries in the entire Asian region, including Japan and Australia, as well
as in Africa and eastern Europe.  MRTV, is using the three-quarters of the
transponder of the nine-metre earth station for analog system and the
remainder of the transponder for digital system simultaneously.  The
government endeavouring for development of border areas and national races has
built 130 TV retransmission stations at major places including border areas,
and a total of K 891 million has been utilized on construction of these
stations. Chairman Dr. Dumrong Kasemset of Shinawatra Satellite Public Co Ltd
(SSA) also spoke about the lease of Thaicom-3 transponder. Afterwards, Dr.
Dumrong Kasemset handed the related documents to Director-General of MRTV and
Managing Director of Myanma Posts and Telecommunications. Later, Director-
General of MRTV and Chairman of SSA Dr. Dumrong Kasemset formally opened the
nine-metre earth station.  Chief Engineer of MRTV explained the working of the
nine-metre earth station and its related equipment. 

(2)		World's Largest Floating Book Exhibition on Oldest Active Passenger Ship
Visits Yangon

		MV Doulos, registered in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest
active passenger ship, has sailed into Yangon harbour for  a six-day visit.
This will be the first-ever visit of the mv Doulos to the Union of Myanmar.
The ship was built in 1914 and originally named Median. During her long career
she had different  names: Medina, Roma, Franca C, and Doulos; serving in four
different roles; freighter, migrant career, cruise liner and floating book
exhibition. The Doulos is also the world's largest floating book exhibition
carrying more than half a million books and four thousand titles. The vast
range of subjects in the exhibition include Science, Medicine, the Arts,
Cooking, Hobbies as well as a large range of Literature and Children's Books.
Since 1978 more than 15 million people have visited the MV Doulos as she has
travelled to over 380 posts in 85 countries of the world.  

		Doulos represents a bold experiment in international understanding and
goodwill. On board, East meets West  in a unique environment of living,
learning and working together. With an unsalaried crew and staff of more than
300 volunteers form 30 different nations, including families, the ship has
been described as a floating "united nations". The Doulos is proof that people
from a wide variety of culture, languages and backgrounds can live and work
together in harmony. The visit of the ship to the Union of Myanmar was planned
in close cooperation with the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and various other
government ministries. The state reception and official welcoming ceremony was
held on board on the evening of Friday, 11th of December, for state guests and
the diplomatic community.  Other events in the Doulos programme will include a
Children's Ship Adventure for 400 specially invited children, as well as
receptions for various communities, government ministry staff, and the
business community.  An international  cultural programme entitled " Christmas
Around the World" will be performed by the Doulos crew and staff in the
Myanmar National  Theatre on the evening of Saturday, 12th December.
Invitations have been sent to 1,500 guests for this event.  The MV Doulos is
being berthed at Nan Thida Jetty downtown Yangon. 

(3)		Half a Million Books, 4000 Titles Exhibited Aboard MV Doulos

		Officials of mv Doulos, registered at the German-based Good Books for All
(GBA), met local and foreign journalists led by Managing Director of News and
Periodicals Enterprise on board the ship on 11 December. Mark Kuo, Peter
Conlen Stephen Cassidy, Paul Bellward and Ronald Lappin explained to the
journalists about the ship, saying the largest passenger ship in the world has
made its first visit to Yangon for six days.  Built in 1914, two years younger
than the "Titanic", it is the largest floating book exhibition in the world,
carrying more than half a million books and four thousand titles including
science, medicine, the arts, cooking, hobbies as well as a wide range of
literature and children's books. It has been in books exhibition sork since
1978. It came to Myanmar from Maldives and will stop over in Singapore for her
next visit. Replying to journalists as soon as they arrived the peaceful and
stable Myanmar, they were greeted with the smiling faces and hospitality of
Myanmars. Glimpse of Myanmar Book Show, displaying books on Myanmar and
nation-building endeavours in English, opened on board mv Doulos at Nanthida
Jetty on 11 December. 

(4)		Minister at SPDC Chairman's Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs Leave
for Meetings in Vietnam

		Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Brig-
Gen Abel and Minister for Foreign Affairs left Yangon by air on 11 December
for Hanoi to attend the ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting and the ASEAN
Ministerial Meeting to be held on 12 December and Joint Ministerial Meeting to
be held on 13 December in Hanoi, Vietnam.

(5)		Win Win Maw  Wins Silver in 69-Kilo Weight-Lifting 

		Win Win Maw lifted 227.5 kilos and won silver in 69- kilo class Women's
Weightlifting Contest in the XIII Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, on 11
December. China Stood first with 245 kilos and China, Taipei third with 225
kilos. Myanmar vs Thai women's team will meet in the Sepak Takraw Team Contest
final on 12 December.

(6)		Emergency Medical Service Ltd Opened

		Singapore-based Myanmar AEA International Ltd which is rendering health
services with the assistance of the Ministry of Health,  opened Emergency
Medical Service Ltd at Inya Lake Hotel on 11 December. The Emergency Medical
Service Ltd is providing emergency medical service, medical evacuation and
referral, family practice, dental service and medical specialists,
repatriation of mortal remains, site surveys for energy, mining and industrial
projects, first aid training and equipment, occupational health service and
medical staffing throughout the world, and can be reached by Phone 667877
round the clock. 

(7)		Singapore Association of Myanmar Donates Cash for MMCWA

		Singapore Association of Myanmar donated to Myanmar Maternal and Child
Welfare Association in the meeting hall of the office of MMCWA in South
Okkalapa Township.  Chairman of Singapore Association Myanmar Mr. Haung Hong
Peng explained the purpose of the donation.  Ambassador of Singapore  handed
over the donation to Chairperson of MMCWA, who presented a certificate of
honour and thanked the donors.

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