THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR ( Sunday, (r)

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

Subject: The New Light of Myanmar ( Sunday, December 5, 1999 )

The New Light of Myanmar ( Sunday, December 5, 1999 )
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1. Secretary-1 and wife attend reception to mark Birthday of His Majesty King 
Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand
2. Secretary-1 attends ceremony to donate gold plates to Shwedagon Pagoda
3. K 21.2m donated for ancient Pauk Mahadatu Pagoda in Inlay region
4. Over K 18m presented for construction of Thatbyinnyu Pagoda in Mayangon
5. Provisions donated to Wayluwun Sarthintaik in Sangyoung
6. Singapore Shwephayakyaung Sayadaw donates K 2 million for Thameikdawdaya 
Thukhitayama Daw Nyanasari Myanaung Nunnery
7. Commander paddy, edible oil crops in Hlegu Township
8. Minister meets Sayadaw of Singapore
9. 12th Governing Council Meeting of ClRDAP held in Bagan-NyaungU
10. Surgeons from Singapore and Myanmar perform kidney transplant
11. Study of Bahinia Pondaungensis gives support to hypothesis of Asian 
origin of anthropoids
12. Singapore Golden Temple Sayadaw donates T-shirts for children of day-care 
centres
13. 142 members resign from Letpadan Township NLD
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1. Secretary-1 and wife attend reception to mark Birthday of His Majesty King 
Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand

YANGON, 4 Dec-Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen 
Khin Nyunt and wife Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe attended the reception to mark the 
Birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand at Hotel 
Equatorial on Alanpya Phaya Road at 6.30 pm today.

Also present on the occasion were the ministers, the deputy ministers, senior 
military officers, departmental heads and their wives, Ambassadors and 
Charger d? Affaires ai of the embassies and their wives and guests.
___________________________________________

2. Secretary-1 attends ceremony to donate gold plates to Shwedagon Pagoda

YANGON, 4 Dec-Patron of Perpetual All-Round Renovation of Shwedagon Pagoda 
Secretary- I of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, 
accompanied by officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, 
arrived at southern archway of Shwedagon Pagoda this morning.
The Secretary-l paid obeisance to Seinphudaw, Hngetmyatnadaw to be hoisted 
atop Shwedagon Htidaw Pagoda and relics to be enshrined at the old museum 
Tazaung on the pagoda platform.
Next, well-wishers donated gold plates for Shwedagon Pagoda. Retired 
Ambassador U Khin Nyein and wife presented  gold plates  weighing three 
ounces, Police Lt-Col Than Nwe and Daw Kyin Than a three-tical gold plate, 
Major Yan Aung and Daw Phyu Win Maw a three-tical gold plate, U San Yon-Daw 
Mya Mya Than of Taunggyi and U Bo Than Aung-Daw Tin Tin Ohn Myaing of Yangon 
a three-tical gold plate and U Thein Soe-Daw Aye Aye Kyin a three-tical gold 
plate to the Secretary-l.Chairman of Work Committee Deputy Commander of 
Yangon Command Brig-Gen Hsan Hsint reported on donation of gold plates, 
arrangements for gilding gold plate by well- wishers themselves.
The Secretary-l then gave instructions on finishing works at the open season 
on priority basis, systematic publication of record book of Wonderful 
Shwedagon, perpetuation of the pagoda, measures to be undertaken properly by 
Work Committee and Pagoda Board of Trustees. 
The Secretary- 1and party inspected arrangements for renovation of encircling 
pagodas at the upper terrace. Next, they paid obeisance to Padamya Myetshin 
Buddha image. The Secretary-l and party inspected construction of Htidaw 
design Pagoda and renovation of religious buildings on the pagoda platform.
______________________________________

3. K 21.2m donated for ancient Pauk Mahadatu Pagoda in Inlay region

YANGON, 4 Dec-Shwe-phayakyaung Sayadaw Venerable Shi Fazhao of Singapore and 
disciples donated K 21.2 million for restoration of ancient Pauk Mahadatu 
Pagoda in Nam-pan Village, Inlay region, Nyaungshwe Township, Shan State, at 
the Yadana-hline Kyaung of Pitakat-thonbon Nikaya Sarthintaik on Pale Yadana 
Street in Ward 26, Dagon Myothit (South) Township, this afternoon.

Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt 
attended the cash donation ceremony and accepted the donations.Venerable Shi 
Fazhao first explained the purpose of the donation.The Secretary- 1 accepted  
the donations and then handed them to Pa-O national race leader U Aung Kham 
Hti and party of Shan State (South) Special Region 6.
_____________________________________

4. Over K 18m presented for construction of Thatbyinnyu Pagoda in Mayangon

YANGON, 4 Dec-The 9th donation ceremony for construction of Thatbyinnyu 
Pagoda was held at the site for construction of Thatbyinnyu Pagoda in Ward 5, 
Mayangon Township this afternoon, attended by Secretary-l of the State Peace 
and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Next, Chairman of Construction Sub-Committee Deputy Minister for Agriculture 
and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung reported on progress of work and Chairman 
of Finance Sub-Committee Deputy Minister for Rail Transportation Thura U 
Thaung Lwin on donations and expenditure.

The Secretary-l then gave instructions. Well-wishers presented K 18,058,916 
including K 10 million by Yangon City Development Committee; a plot of land 
measuring 100x60 feet by Col Khin Maung Myint-Daw Aye Aye Than,K 1,010,416 by 
well-wishers in Mon State; K 500,000 by Ministry of Transport; K 500,000 by 
Ministry of Industry-2; K 800,000 for 1,000 bags of cement by U Thein Win-Daw 
Ni (Shwethanlwin) Co; K 350,000 by Lt-Gen Tin Tun and wife Daw Tin Tin Sein; 
K 350,000 by Lt-Gen Min Thein and family; K 350,000 by Maj-Gen Thura Saw Pru 
(Retd) and wife Daw Sein Sein; K 350,000 by Ministry of Health; K 350,000 by 
Brig-Gen Than Tun and wife Daw Win Win Daung and daughter Ma Myat Thanda Tun, 
K 350,000 by Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa; K 350,000 by well-wishers of Mongshu 
Gemland; K 350,000 by Joint Secretary of YCDC U Kyi Win; K 350,000 by Daw Tin 
Tin Aye; K 300,000 by U Htay Oo-Daw Kyu Kyu Min (Shwechantha Daungmin Geha 
Trading); K 250,000 by Daw Ma Ma Kyi; K 100,000 by Ministry of Social 
Welfare, Relief and Resettlement; K 100,000 by Ministry of Commerce; K 
100,000 by Ministry of Energy; K 100,000 by Ministry of Mines; K 100,000 by 
Ministry of Science and Technology; K 100,000 by Myanma Jute Industries; K 
100,000 by Myanmar Edible Oil Merchants and Deaiers Association.
Next, the Secretary -1 and party inspected progress of work of Thatbyinnyu 
Pagoda.Manijotadhara Title Recipient U Than Naing-Daw Kyi Kyi Swe of Thamada 
Thintaik, U Aung Mon-Daw Hla Hla Maw of Mya Khwa Nyo Housing, Secretary of 
Taninthayi Express Passenger Transport Service U Aung &. U Yan Naing-Daw Yi 
Yi Thein of Sayagyi Co, U Tin Aung-Daw Hla Hla Nwe of Winyadana Transport 
Service, U Myo Aung-Daw Khin Yi Mon of Sun Myanmar International Impat Co, 
Sandhi Traditional Medicines family, Township departmental concerned, 
Township Union Solidarity and Development Association and well-wishers.
Well-wishers and departmental officials presented over K 100,000 to 
officials. Director of People?s Militia and Frontier Forces Col Than Maung 
supplicated on the purpose of donation.
___________________________

5. Provisions donated to Wayluwun Sarthintaik in Sangyoung

YANGON, 4 Dec - Tatmadaw? families (Army, Navy and Air) and well-wishers 
donated rice to Wayluwun Sarthintaik ?in Sangyoung Township at 8.45 am today, 
attended by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Chief of 
Bureau of Special Operations and Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo.
Wayluwun Sarthintaik Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Indavamsabhivamsa 
administered the Five Precepts. Then, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo and party 
presented offertories to Sayadaws. Chief of Staff (Air) Brig-Gen Myint Swe, 
Deputy Adjutant-General Col Ye Tun and General Staff Officer (Navy) Comdr. 
Tin Oo presented rice donated by Tatmadaw families to Naya-ka Sayadaw.

Provisions-34 bags of rice, 10 viss of edible oil, 100 viss of iodized salt, 
25 packets of soft salt for tooth? brushing, 550 bottles of assorted 
traditional medicines and a set of robes- were donated by Yangon City 
Development Committee, Yangon Division, Yangon West District and Sangyoung 
Township Peace and Development Councils, Nyeinchanyay Bus Line Control 
Committee, Myanmar Salt and Marine Chemicals Enterprise, Director-General of 
Traditional Medicine Department Professor Dr Kyaw Myint Tun and family, 
service personnel, proprietors of traditional medicine halls, Hmancho and 
Tunshwewa medical halls, Myanmar Edible Oil Merchants and Dealers 
Association, Myanmar Rice Wholesalers Association, Myanmar Fisheries 
Federation, Yangon Division Fisheries Association.Will-wishers and 
departmental officials presented over k100,00 to officials.
Director of People?s Militia and Frontier Forces Col Than Maung supplicated 
on the purpose of donation.

___________________________

6. Singapore Shwephayakyaung Sayadaw donates K 2 million for Thameikdawdaya 
Thukhitayama Daw Nyanasari Myanaung Nunnery

YANGON, 4 Dec - Shwephayakyaung Sayadaw of Singapore Venerable Shi Fazhao 
made donations for Thameikdawdaya Thukhitayama Daw Nyanasari Myanaung Nunnery 
in Sangyoung Township at the nunnery at 9.15 am today. Secretary-2 of the 
State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo accepted the donations.

Also present on the occasion were Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and 
Resettlement Maj-Gen Sein Htwa. Officials of the State Peace and Development 
Council Office, departmental officials and guests.

Then, Shwephayakyaung Sayadaw of Singapore Venerable Shi Fazhao presented K 2 
million for the nunnery to Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo. Sri Asia Tourism 
Company presented K 50,000 for the nunnery to Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo Then, 
Shwephayakyaung Sayadaw of Singapore Venerable Shi Fazhao presented a 
painting to Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo.

_________________________

7. Commander paddy, edible oil crops in Hlegu Township

YANGON, 4 Dec-Member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of 
Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command 
Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than inspected regional development works in Hlegu 
Township, Yangon North District, this morning. Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung 
Than met with township-level departmental officials in the meeting hall of 
Township Peace and Development Council Office.
______________________________

8. Minister meets Sayadaw of Singapore

YANGON, 4 Dec-Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Maj-Gen 
Sein Htwa met Golden Temple Sayadaw of Singapore who called at his office 
yesterday evening.Also present at the call were Director-General U Sit Myaing 
of Social Welfare Department, Director-General U Myint Tun of Fire Services 
Department, Director-General U Than Oo of Relief and Resettlement Department 
and Head of Office U Maung Pi.
__________________________________________

9. 12th Governing Council Meeting of ClRDAP held in Bagan-NyaungU

YANGON, 4 Dec- The 12th Governing Council Meeting of the Centre of Integrated 
Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) was held at the Bagan 
Hotel in BaganNyaungU, Mandalay Division, yesterday. 
Present on the occasion were Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation .Maj-Gen 
Nyunt Tin ,Deputy Minister U Ohn Myint,heads of department, representatives 
of CIRDAP member countries-Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, 
Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam-and guests.
Minister Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin was elected as chairman of the 
meeting.Director-General of CIRDAP Dr AVS Reddy presented a report on 
functions of CIRDAP, and the participants took part in discussions about 
implementation of the minutes of the previous meeting.
They then reviewed functions of the technical committee and discussed plans 
to be made by the 20th meeting of the executive committee and ClRDAP?s future 
tasks.
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10. Surgeons from Singapore and Myanmar perform kidney transplant

YANGON, 4 Dec- A team led by Dr Lye Wai Chong and renal specialists Dr E C 
Tan and Dr Abu Rauff of Mt Elizabeth Hospital of Singapore performed kidney 
transplant at Defence Services General Hospital in Mingaladon on 2 Decemberin 
cooperation with a medical team of Myanma Tatmadaw under the supervision of 
Directorate of Medical Services and with the permission of the 
Adjutant-General?s Office of the Ministry of Defence.
______________________________________

11. Study of Bahinia Pondaungensis gives support to hypothesis of Asian 
origin of anthropoids

YANGON, 4 Dec -With the leadership of the Office of Strategic Studies of the 
Ministry of Defence, geologists of the Ministry of Education have conducted 
the study and collection of fossils of primates and other creatures in 
Pondaung region beginning March 1997.
It can be asserted that anthropoid primates the origin of man, were born in 
the Pondaung area and resided there. Beginning 1998, fossil exploration has 
been conducted with the cooperation of scholars from France, and this year, 
field study and researches were also conducted; as a result of collaborative 
efforts, fossil research work has become successful and fossils have been 
discovered.

A team of French scholars comprising Professor Dr Jean Jacques Jaeger, Dr 
Stephane Ducrocq, Dr Muoloud Benammi and Dr Yaowalak Chairman arrived here on 
2 November 1999, and in cooperation with Myanmar Pondaung Fossil Exploration 
team, conducted the field study and collection of fossils in the areas of 
Bahin and Makyeekan Villages, Myaing Township, Magway Division, and in the 
areas of Moegaung and Wetkya Villages, Pale Township, Sagaing Division, from 
3 to 24 November. 
The French scholars left here for Thailand by air on 30 November morning. 
Together with the French scholars, Col Than Tun of the Office of Strategic 
Studies, Maj Khin Maung Win, Maj Kyaw Kyaw, Captain Kyaw Zin Thet, Lieutenant 
Than Tun Oo, Lecturer of the Ministry of Education Dr Aye Ko Aung and 
demonstrators U Aung Naing Soe and U Kyaw Htin Khaing participated in the 
fossil exploration work.

Paleontologists from France led by Professor; Jean Jacques Jaeger had been to 
Myanmar from l to 18 April 1998 for the first time and from 15 November to 8 
December 1998 for the second time, and conducted researches in the Pondaung 
area in cooperation with Myanmar scholars; this is the third time they came 
here.

An incisor of Amphipithecus primate was found in Yashe Kyitchaung about two 
miles north-west of Bahin Village, and a canine tooth in Paukkhaung 
Kyitchaung about three miles north-west of Bahin Village; a lower jawbone 
fragment bearing premolar No-4 and molar No-1 of Rodent, the origin of 
ancestor rats, squirrels and rabbits, a lower jawbone fragment bearing molar 
No-2 and No-3 of a mammalian species, molars, canine teeth and a mandible 
fragment of Creodont, a carnivorous species which is probably related to 
Mesonychids, teeth and fossilized remains of ancestor pigs and rhinoceros and 
fossils of snakes, carnivorous chameleons, crocodiles, fish and turtles could 
be collected. These fossilized remains are those of creatures which evolved 
together with primates in the Pondaung formation about 40 million years ago.

A lower jawbone fragment bearing premolar No4 and molar No-l of Rodent, the 
ancestor of rats, squirrels and rabbits, was discovered at Sabapondaung 
Kyitchaung about four miles north-west of Bahin Village. This fossil is of 
the same kind as Hystricognatous included in the family of Baluchimyinae 
found in the Karabi region of Thailand and the Bagati region of Pakistan; it 
is also the ancestor of African Phiomyids found together with Fayum 
anthropoid primates of Egypt. 
These Hystricognatous fossils together with anthropoid primates have been 
found in Asia and Africa. In view of sufficient evidence, scholars have 
already accepted that Rodent was born in the Asia region. A hypothesis can be 
formed that anthropoid primates discovered together with Rodent were born in 
the Asia region, and migrated to 
Africa in the early part of Eocene. In Sabapondaung Kyitchaung locality, the 
mandible fragment bearing molar No-2 and No-3 of a mammalian species which 
had never been discovered before, were found while Pondaung region fossil 
exploration was conducted. It is learnt that the French scholars have taken 
special interest in these fossils and will continue to study them in detail. 
Moreover, molars, canines and bones of carnivores, which probably belong to 
Mesonychids, discovered in Kyaukmakyee Kyitchaung locality near Moegaung 
Village and Kyawdaw Kyitchaung locality near Wetkya Village are very 
interesting and can be of great benefit to research work.
The significant success of Myanmar-France Pondaung Region Fossil Exploration 
Team is that the upper jawbone and the right mandible fragment of Bahinia 
Pondaungensis, a new genus and species of anthropoid primate, were discovered 
in Yashe Kyitchaung locality about two miles north-west of Bahin Village on 
22 November 1998. Bahinia Pondaungensis can be described as the early origin 
of anthropoids because it is morphologically related to fully-developed 
anthropoids and the early origin of anthropoids; the genus name was given 
Bahinia after Bahin Village because the primate fossil was found near Bahin 
Village; Bahinia is larger and is more morphologically primitive than 
Eosimias found in China; Bahinia is more morphologically primitive and 
geologically older than Siamopithecus and Wailekia, anthropoid primates 
founding Thailand; it is more morpho logically primitive and geologically 
older than Siamopithecus and Wailekia, anthropoid primates found in Thailand; 
it is more morphologically primitive and about seven million years older than 
Apidium, Qatrania and Catopithecus, anthropoid primates found in Fayum 
formation of Egypt; these facts give support to the hypothesis of the fact 
that anthropoid primates, the origin of man, were born in the Pondaung region 
of Myanmar in Asia and migrated to Africa.

Myanmar and French scholars sent an article titled A New Primate from the 
Middle Eocene of Myanmar and the Asian Early Origin of Anthropoids to 
American Science Magazine dated 15 October 1999, and the article appeared on 
Pages 528, 529 and 530, Volume 286 of that magazine. 

______________________________

12. Singapore Golden Temple Sayadaw donates T-shirts for children of day-care 
centres

YANGON, 4 Dec-Golden Temple Sayadaw Venerable Shi Fazao and disciples of 
Singapore presented Power Ranger T-shirts worth US $ 8,000 for the children 
of daycare schools established by Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare 
Association at MMCWA building at the corner of Thanthuma and Parami Roads in 
South Okkalapa Township this afternoon.
Present on the occasion were Golden Temple Sayadaw Venerable Shi Fazao and 
disciples, Chairperson of MMCWA Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe, Vice-Chairperson 
Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and Central Executive Committee members. First, Sayadaw 
Ven Shi Fazao explained the purpose of the donations.Then, the Sayadaw 
presented donations to Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe.Afterwards, Chairperson Professor 
Daw Kyu Kyu Swe supplicated on words of thanks.
_____________________________

13. 142 members resign from Letpadan Township NLD

YANGON, 4 Dec-One hundred and forty-two members resigned from National League 
for Democracy of Letpadan Township, Bago Division. One hundred and forty-two 
members of Letpadan Township NLD, Bago Division, of their own volition, 
resigned by sending letters of resignation to Letpadan Township Multiparty 
Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 8 October 
1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.

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