THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR -Thursday, 21 Jan 1999

[Ok Kar <OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx>]

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

Thursday, 21 Jan 1999

HEADLINES:
1.      General Maung Aye inspects Defence Services Academy Defence     Services
Institute of    Technology
2.      Exhibition on Renovation of Htidaw of Shwedagon Pagoda opens
3.      MNOC Chairman views mixed doubles events of Asian Round Badminton
        Tournament
4.      Minister inspects IPRD offices in Sagaing, Magway and Bago Divisions
5.      Deputy Prime Minister meets specialists of Beverly Hospital
6.      Rehearsal for military band competition prize distribution ceremony held
7.      Minister meets adviser of Singapore Tourism Board
8.      Two knitting machines donated to MMCWA
9.      Kyauktaw Township NLD dissolved
10.     More NLD members resign
11.     3,546 drug-related cases exposed in 1998
12.     Tatmadaw men, national people destroy 3,23231 acres of poppy fields




General Maung Aye inspects Defence Services Academy Defence Services Institute
of     Technology

 YANGON, 20 Jan-Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army)
General Maung Aye, accompanied by Secretary-3 of the State Peace and
Development Council Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Win Myint, Deputy Prime Minister,
Minister for Military Affairs and Quartermaster-General Lt-Gen Tin Hla,
ministers and senior military officers, inspected practising of graduation
parade at Defence Services Academy in PyinOoLwin Township this morning.

    Then, General Maung Aye and party went to Defence Services Electrical and
Mechanical Engineering Training School where Officiating Commandant of the
School Lt-Col Phoe Aung explained on the courses being conducted, construction
of lecture halls and hostels for the trainees to the General.

Exhibition on Renovation of Htidaw of Shwedagon Pagoda opens

YANGON, 20 Jan-Exhibition on Renovation of the Htidaw of Shwedagon Pagoda was
opened this morning in Chanthagyi Tazaung on the pagoda platform.

    Patron of the Committee for All-round Perpetual Renovation of Shwedagon
Pagoda Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt formally opened it.

    Also present on the occasion were Minister for National Planning and
Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung,
Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin
Hlaing, Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung, Minister for Information
Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Minister
for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and
Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, Minister for Culture U Win Sein, Minister
for Livestock and Fisheries BrigGen Maung Maung Thein, Minister for Science
and Technology U Thaung, Minister for, Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister for
Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, deputy ministers, Chairman of Leading
Committee for All-round Perpetual Renovation of Shwedagon Pagoda Deputy
Minster for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, officials of the State
Peace and Development Council Office, Chairman of Work Committee for All-round
Perpetual Renovation of Shwedagon Pagoda Deputy Commander of Yangon Command
Col Hsan Hsint and members, Myanmar engineers, members of pagoda board of
trustees, members of various religious and social associations, donors and
pilgrims. Speaking on the occasion, Col Hsan Hsint said durability of the
Htidaw was always uplifted when the entire stupa was gilded every four years.
Groups were formed with experts to check the pagoda and the htidaw before
gilding. As the defects were found at the htidaw which was over 128 years old,
major renovation was being conducted under the ovada of Shwedagon Pagoda
Ovadacariva Sayadaws.

MNOC Chairman views mixed doubles events of Asian Round Badminton Tournament

YANGON, 20 Jan-Chairman of Myanmar National Olympic Council Secretary-1 of the
State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt arrived at the National
Indoor Stadium, No 1 on Thuwunna, in Thingangyun Township, this morning.
    He was welcomed there by Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Sein Win, Director-
General of Sports and Physical Education Department Col Hla Myint Kyaw,
Managing Director of Mya Yeik Nyo Hotel Group U Khin Shwe, President of
Myanmar Badminton Federation U Kyi Nyunt and officials.

Then, the Secretary-l viewed the mixed doubles events of Asian Round Badminton
Tournament for the third day and left there in the afternoon.

MinistD offices in Sagaing, Magway and Bago Divisionser inspects IPR

YANGON, 20 Jan-Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung inspected district
and township Information and Public Relations Department offices in Sagaing,
Magway and Bago divisions on 18 and 19 January.

    The minister was accompanied by Director-General of IPRD U Chit Naing,
Managing Director of Printing and Publishing Enterprise U Than Maung, Chairman
of Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association U Kyaw Aung (Kyaw Aung) and
officials.

    He inspected Sagaing District IPRD Office on 18 December and Taungdwingyi
IPRD Office in Magway District, Aunglan IPRD Office in Thayet District and
Pyay District IPRD Office the following day.
    While in Taungdwingyi, the minister instructed officials to disseminate
State policies, objectives and endeavours for emergence of a modern, developed
nation to the local people through newspaper, TV programmes and book fairs.

    At the Thayet District IPRD Office, he spoke about Television and Video
Law and rules and regulations on video industry, meeting the Personnel of the
office and members of Township WJA.

    While inspecting Pyay District IPRD Office, he spoke about the Television
and Video Law and the rules and regulations on video industry, calling on
members of District/Township Peace and Development Councils and police members
to take effective action against those who break the law and rules and
notifications.

    The minister also inspected MRTV Retransmission Station on Mingyi Hill in
Pyay and gave necessary instructions to U Than Tun, manager of the station.

Deputy Prime Minister meets specialists of Beverly Hospital

YANGON, 20 Jan-Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen Tin Tun met Specialists Doctor
Robert A Orlando and Doctor Eugene Taw of Beverly Hospital in California, the
United States who called at his office at 11 am today. Present at the call
were officials of the Government Office.

Rehearsal for military band competition prize distribution ceremony held

YANGON, 20 Jan - Rehearsal for the prizes distribution ceremony of the Eighth
Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) Military Band Competition in commemoration of
the 54th Anniversary Armed Forces Day for 1999 was held at the People's Square
this morning.

    Present on the occasion were officials of Management Committee for
Organizing the
Eighth Tatmadaw (Army, Navy, Air) Military Band Competition, the Organizing
Leading Committee for the Competition, work committee and sub-committee for
the competition, band troupes incharge Daw Khin Than Htay of Mayangon
Township, teachers of Hmawby and Sangyoung Townships and Tatmadawmen.

Minister meets adviser of Singapore Tourism Board

YANGON, 20 Jan-Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin met Adviser of
Singapore Tourism Board Mrs Pamelia Lee and party who called at his office at
4 pm today.

    Present at the call were Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu, Director-
General U Khin Maung Latt of Directorate of Hotels and Tourism, Managing
Director U Kyi Lwin of Myanma Hotels and Tourism Service and officials.

Two knitting machines donated to MMCWA

YANGON, 20 Jan-A ceremony to donate two knitting machines to Domestic Science
Training School of Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association by Women's
Federation for World Peace was held at MMCWA at the corner of Thanthuma and
Parami Roads in South Okkalapa Township at 9 am today.

    Present on the occasion were Chairperson of MMCWA Professor Daw Kyu Kyu
Swe, Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and Executive Committee members and
Chairperson
of Women's Federation for World Peace, Shizuko Region, Mrs Fumi Katayama and
members.

    Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe of MMCWA accepted the donation and
presented the certificates of honour to Mrs Fumi Katayama and Mrs Kame Hotta.

    Afterwards, Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe thanked the will-wishers.

    A ten-day knitting course for members of MMCWA will be conducted by
Women's Federation for World Peace.

Kyauktaw Township NLD dissolved

YANGON, 20 Jan-All the Executive Committee members of Kyauktaw Township
National League for Democracy, Rakhine State, tendered their resignations and
dissolved the Township NLD on their own volition on 11 November 1998.

    Kyauktaw Township NLD was first formed on 16 May 1989 with 17 EC members.
All the 17 EC members of the Township NLD resigned from the party membership
on their own volition since they no longer wished to continue to take part in
NLD's party politics. They notified the office of Kyauktaw Township Multiparty
Democracy General Election Commission and the chairman of the party concerned.
On 11 November, personnel of the township NLD dissolved it by handing over the
signboard, seals and documents to the Township Multiparty Democracy General
Election Commission.


More NLD members resign

YANGON, 20 Jan-Thirty members resigned from the National League for Democracy
of Dagon Myothit Township, Yangon Division.

    Nine members of Dagon Myothit (North) Township NLD, Yangon Division, on
their own volition, tendered their resignations by sending letters of
resignation to Dagon Myothit Township Multiparty Democracy General Election
Commission Office and the party concerned on 16 January 1998, 11 members of
Dagon Myothit (South) Township on 15 January, two members of Dagon Myothit
(East) Township on 9 January, eight members of Dagon Myothit (Seikkan)
Township on 5 January, totalling 30, as they no longer wished to participate
in party politics of NLD.


3,546 drug-related cases exposed in 1998

YANGON, 20 Jan-Personnel of the Tatmadaw, the Myanmar Police Force and Customs
Department exposed 3,546 drug-related cases in 1998.

    The authorities seized 5,393.6293 kilos of opium in 410 cases, 403.8048
kilos of heroin in 1,425 cases, 380.9704 kilos of marijuana in 337 cases,
1,286.9051 litres of Phensedyl in 73 cases, 312.2521 kilos of low-grade opium
in 143 cases, 95.78 kilos of morphene, 206.073 kilos of opium oil in 38 cases,
177.178 kilos of opium liquid, 6.0624 kilos of opium powder in four cases,
16,026,688 stimulant tablets in 172 cases, 3,819.0988 kilos of ephedrine in 13
cases, 160.3 litres of cough syrup in 27 cases, 1,604.8187 gallons of acetic
anhydride in 14 cases, 18,803.79 gallons of other chemicals in 25 cases, 789
cases of failure to register and 76 other cases.

    The battalions and units seized 2,105.7507 kilos of opium, 211.5489 kilos
of heroin, 81.7489 kilos of marijuana, 238.625 litres of Phensedyl, 282.7305
kilos of low-grade opium, 78.77 kilos of morphene, 175.6755 kilos of opium
oil, 176.98 kilos of opium liquid, 173,750 stimulant
tablets, 470.5 gallons of acetic anhydride and 16,052.972 gallons of other
chemicals.

    Seizures made by MPF were 3286.7126 kilos of opium in 407 cases, 189.9353
kilos of heroin in 1,423 cases, 299.2215 kilos of marijuana in 337 cases,
1,045.7801 litres of Phensedyl in 72 cases, 29.4196 kilos of low-grade opium
in 143 cases, 17.1 kilos of morphene, 24.4975 kilos of opium oil in 38 cases,
0.198 kilos of opium liquid. 6.0624 kilos of opium powder In four cases,
15,852,325 stimulant tablets in 171 cases, 3,965.5988 kilos of ephedrine in 12
cases, 160.3 litres of cough syrup in 27 cases, 803.3187 gallons of acetic
anhydride in 13 cases, 2,750.818 gallons of other chemicals in 25 cases, 789
cases of failure to register and 76 other cases.

    Seizures made by MPF and the Tatmadaw were 2,620.2748 kilos of opium in
103 cases, 163.7526 kilos of heroin in 138 cases, 4.85 kilos of brown opium,
9.048 kilos of opium oil in one case, 1.3084 kilos of low-grade opium in one
case, 15,415,984 stimulant tablets in 64 cases, 3,349.169 kilos of ephedrine
in in five cases, 11.61 litres of cough syrup in three cases, 442.417 gallons
of other anhydride ill two cases and 1,427.88 gallons of other chemicals in
four cases.

    Seizures made by Customs Department were 1.166 kilos of opium in one case,
2.3206 kilos of heroin in two cases, 2.5 litres of Phesedyl in one cause,
0.102 kilos of low-grade opium, 5.9 kilos of opium oil, 613 stimulant tablets
in one case, 253.5 kilos of ephedrine in in one case and 331 gallons of acetic
anhydride in one case.

    Action was taken against 4,845 persons including 4,003 men and 842 women
involved in 3,546 cases in 1998.

    The battalions and units, while performing security duties in the region,
seized chemicals and paraphernalia from five ether refineries and 16 opium
refineries.

    Altogether 44,479.35 acres of opium were destroyed in 1997-98 and 1,307.95
acres in 1998-99.

Tatmadaw men, national people destroy 3,23231 acres of poppy fields

YANGON,20 Jan - Members of the Tatmadaw Columns, Defence Services Intelligence
Units and Myanmar Police Force, together with local people, are destroying
poppy fields in far-flung areas of Shan State.

    A total of 885.95 acres of poppy fields including 25 acres in Hseinwi
Township, 287.70 acres in 1 angyong Township, 44.50 acres in Kunlong Township,
31 acres in Kutkai Township and 497 /5 acres in
Muse Township, the northern part of Shan State, were destroyed on 31 December
1998.

    The Tatmadaw destroyed 3,232.31 acres of poppy fields in Shan State during
the period from November to 31 December 1998.

    The Tatmadaw, regarding the duty to stamp out the danger of narcotic drugs
as national duty and joining hands with the national people, continues to
destroy poppy fields.