The New Light of Myanmar (Monday, 13 November, 2000)(1/2)

[Ok Kar <Okkar66126@xxxxxxx>]

The New Light of Myanmar (Monday, 13 November, 2000)(1/2)

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1. Secretary-1 inspects regional development work in
   northern Shan State, attends opening of new school
   buildings in Lashio
2. Secretary-1 addresses opening of Chinshwehaw-Kunlong-Hsenwi
   Road, Nyinaung Bridge and Namting Bridge in Shan State (North)
3. Secretary-2 calls on departmental officials to pay serious
   attention to all-round development projects
4. MWVO Pre- Conference ( Yangon- Division ) held; Attended
   by Chairman of Organizing Central Committee Adjutant- General
   Lt- General Lt- Gen Win Myint
5. Minister for Home Affairs pays goodwill visit to India
6. Australian pilot rescued near Mali island
7. Sayagyi Alinka Kyawswa Dr U Thu Kha honoured
8. Delegates arrive to attend
9. 6 members resign from Yinmabin Township NLD of own accord

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( 1 ) Secretary-1 inspects regional development work in northern  Shan State,
attends opening of new school buildings in Lashio


Yangon, 12 Nov - Chairman of the Work Committee for Development of Border
Areas and National Races Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and party, together with Chairman of Shan State
(North) Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung
Myint Oo, left Lashio in northern Shan State for Kunkalon Dam in Wanhin
region, Maingmaw District, Wa region yesterday morning.

The Secretary-1 and party were welcomed by Tactical Operations Commander Col
Sein Win, Wa national race leader U Pauk U Chan, national race leaders and
local people. The opening ceremony of Kunkalon Dam was attended by the
Secretary-1 and party, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China Mr Liang
Dong, Ambassador of Japan Mr Shigeru Tsumori, Wa national race leader U Pauk
Yu Chan and national race leaders, officials of Wa Areas Development
Programme in Maing-pauk, guests from PRC and local people.

Wa national race leader U Kyauk Win Kwan spoke of construction of Kunkalon
Dam. Then, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin and Wa
national race leader U Pauk Yu Chan formally opened the dam and the sluice
gate. Afterwards, the Secretary-1 and party inspected the dam and terraced
fields to be irrigated by the dam. Next, the Secretary-1 and party left for
Lonhtan village by helicopter and inspected mining blocks near the village.
At Lonhtan village, the Secretary-1 and party were welcomed by national race
leaders and local people.

The Secretary-1 and party inspected warehouse where tin ores are kept, at
Lonhtan Mine. The cornerstone laying ceremony of Lonhtan Refinery was held at
the designated place. It was attended by the Secretary-1 and party, the
Chinese and Japanese Ambassadors, national race leaders and officials of
WADP, guests from PRC and local people.


U Pauk Yu Chan spoke of facts about the refinery, and said that tin was mined
in this region beginning 1896, and after 1900, tin was mined on a commercial
scale. He added tin lode has been found in the regions adjacent to Lonhtan
and Wanlin regions, and production of tin has increased gradually; therefore,
arrangements have been made to build a refinery; mining of tin will
contribute towards development of the region and create employment
opportunities for local people. Officials reported on the layout plan of the
refinery and buildings.

Then, the cornerstone laying ceremony began. The Secretary-1 laid a silver
casket containing nine metals produced from Wa region. Minister for Mines
Brig-Gen Ohn Myint laid a stone plaque on the foundation.

The Secretary-1 and U Pauk Yu Chan sprinkled scented water over the
foundation. After the ceremony, the Secretary-1 and party inspected the site
chosen for construction of Lonhtan Refinery. Afterwards, the Secretary-1 and
party left for Khuma and inspected earth work for the growing of Sihonghwa
(Saffron) herbal plants by helicopter.

The Secretary-1 and party were welcomed by national race leaders and local
people. An exhibition on metals and goods produced from Wa region was held in
the compound of the town hall in Khuma. Minister for Progress of Border Areas
and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt and Wa national
race leader U Pauk Yu Chan formally opened the exhibition. Then, the
Secretary-1 and party viewed metal ores and metals, granite slabs, bottles of
purified drinking water, foodstuff, Sihonghwa (Saffron) herbal plants and
local products.

A ceremony to mark the opening of Kunkalon Dam, the cornerstone laying
ceremony of Lonhtan Refinery and the opening of Khuma Sihonghwa Herbal Farm
was held at the town hall in Khuma. At the ceremony, the Secretary-1 said
that at a time when the government is making all-out efforts for development
of border areas where national races are residing, the opening of Kunkalon
Dam and the arrangements for the establishment of Lonhtan Refinery and Khuma
Herbal Plant Farm are efforts to accelerate regional development.

Now national unity, the most basic foundation for the Union of Myanmar to be
able to stand tall in the international community, has been built, and
favourable conditions for development of border areas are emerging. It is
evident that the efforts of the government and the people for regional
development, economic development and improvement of living conditions of
local people, are bearing fruit. The government is carrying out regional
development tasks related to construction of roads, bridges and dams and
energy and electricity, and implementing plans for development of border
areas and national races which covers education, health, culture,
agriculture, livestock breeding, production and trade; due to participation
of local people, regional development is gaining momentum.

To facilitate border trade with neighbouring nations, border areas have been
upgraded up to township level and district level, and suitable places have
been designated as entrances to the nation; therefore, modern towns and
cities are emerging in border areas. Moreover, the government is giving
encouragement to the establishment of businesses suitable for the region, and
as a result, businesses related to agriculture, livestock breeding and trade
are becoming successful. As arrangements are being made to open Lonhtan
Refinery and Khuma Herbal Plant Farm, the momentum of economic development of
the region will increase all the more.

It is encouraging to see that local national people are participating in the
regional development tasks of the government and working with might and main
for the development of their regions. In accord with this tradition, Wa
national race brethren are building roads, bridges, dams, embankments and
power plants in their region not only with the assistance of the government
but also on self-reliance.

It is gratifying to see that Wa national race brethren are carrying out
agriculture and livestock breeding work, the basic business of local national
people, with the aim of ensuring regional food sufficiency. Wanlin Dam (a)
Kunkalon Dam will be of great benefit to agricultural undertakings in the
region, and they are living proof of the self-reliant effort of Wa national
race brethren. Lonhtan Refinery and Khuma Herbal Plant Farm which will emerge
soon, will be of great help to efforts for economic development of the region
and improvement of living conditions of local people.

Today the State Peace and Development Council, believing that only when there
is equitable development among regions of the Union and improvement of living
conditions of all the national races, will national unity be stronger and
will the Union be able to exist forever, is paying special attention to
development of the regions which lagged behind in development for various
reasons. Local national people are actively participating in the regional
development tasks of the government and working for regional development on
self-reliance, which is an encouraging feat for the future of the Union.

The emergence of favourable conditions can be attributed to solidarity and
unity of national brethren. All the national brethren need to maintain the
tradition of active cooperation with one another under the leadership of the
government with a view to keeping national solidarity and peace and
tranquillity in perpetuity.

Today some big nations which want to dominate the Union of Myanmar, in
collusion with internal elements, are attempting to disrupt stability and
peace and tranquillity of the nation and break up national solidarity and
unity.

Regional peace and tranquillity, regional development and socio-economic
development of national brethren are inter-linked and interdependent.

Continuous efforts are to be exerted to keep them alive forever. In
conclusion, the Secretary-1 urged all to maintain the tradition of
conscientiously participating in the regional development tasks and work for
the development of Wa region, thereby contributing to the development of the
Union.

U Pau Yu Chan said, we are striving for drug eradication work in accord with
the guidance of the Head of State, under the leader of the government On the
other hand, it is an essential task to make efforts to fulfil the needs of
local people.

Construction of Wanlin Darn began on 26 September 1999 and was finished on 28
need to be implemented for out of 1,200 acres of land, only over 200 acres
can be irrigated to date.

Efforts are to be made for the economic development of Wa region through
construction of dams and land reclamation for 95 per cent of the people in Wa
region are farmers. We ate extending agricultural land changing outdated
cultivation methods to modem ones for conservation of environment.

In Khuma region, experimental cultivation of various kinds of crops was
carried out. Cultivation of saffron herbal plants to be carried out now as
preliminary programme of opium substitute crops cultivation.

Market prospects for saffron plants are very promising as it is a cash crop
and useful to health and because of its medicinal value. Cultivation of
saffron plant is a way to increase income of the farmers in the region
because marketing price of the plant is very high. If this programme is
successful it will be extend in the vast area of Wa region.

A good factor in the region is abundance of water resources and mineral
resources. Mineral resources are to be exploited to the best of ability with
the use of present water resources.

Lonhtan refinery is constructed to add value to the minerals mined in the
region by refining them. Then, Wa national race leader U Pau Yu Chan
presented gift to the Secretary-l. Similarly, the Secretary-l presented gifts
to U Pau Yu Chan. After that, the Secretary-l and party arrived back in
Lashio in the evening.

At 4 pm, a ceremony to open buildings of basic education schools in Lashio
was held in conjunction with the handing over of the buildings to the
Ministry of Education at Lashio Basic Education High School No 6, with an
address by Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary- I Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt.

Also present on the occasion were department heads, state, district and
township authorities, departmental personnel, members of Union Solidarity and
Development Association, wellwishers, officials of No 2 Basic Education
Department, the township education officer, school heads, members of the
school board of trustees and the parent teacher association and students.

Also present on the occasion were department heads, state, district and
township authorities, departmental personnel, members of Union Solidarity and
Development Association, wellwishers, officials of No 2 Basic Education
Department, the township education officer, school heads, members of the
school board of trustees and the parent teacher association and students.

Headmistress Daw Khin Myat Nwe and Chairman SB retired Maj Myo Win and
three-distinction winner Nag Sein Oo who stood the first in Shan State
(North) in the Matriculation Examination for 1999-2000 academic year formally
opened the two-storey building of Lashio BEHS No 6.

Then, the Secretary-l unveiled the signboard of Thiri Yadana school building
and inspected the building. The Secretary-l also inspected rooms of the
learning centre, the projected media, the video system, the computer-aided
instruction, the electronic media, the printed media, the audio system and
the mechanical and domestic science and skills demonstrated by students.
Afterwards, a ceremony to made the opening and handing over of the school
buildings to the Ministry of Education was held at Kanbawza Hall.

At first, Assistant Shan State (North) Education Officer (Admin) Daw Nang
Ywet Hsai Lao reported on the purpose of the construction of the school
buildings, multimedia teaching centres which have been opened at BEHSs in
Lashio and arrangements being made uplifting- the student sports sector.
Next, Chairman of SBT retired Maj Myo Win of BEHS

No 6 reported on efforts made for extended construction of the school
buildings.

Then, Commander Maj-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo  and officials
accepted donations cashes for school buildings by Shan State (North) Peace
and Development Council.

The Secretary- 1 presented teaching aid for BEHSs in Lashio to Headmistress
Daw Khin Myat Nwe of BEHS No 6. Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary-1
said :


Under the leadership of North-East Command, school buildings have been built
by regiments and units in the command area, Shan State (North) Peace and
Development Council, local authorities, local people, wellwishers and school
boards of trustees to enable students to conveniently and peacefully pursue
education at BEPSs, BEMSs and BEHSs.

These are efforts of the Government and the people to develop human resources
which are important for the development of the future State. Actually, the
cooperation of the people is essential as the Government is fulfilling
requirements of BEPSs, BEMSs, BEHSs, universities and colleges such as
lecture halls, furniture, teaching aid and modern multimedia teaching
centres.

The people are actively participating in implementing the education promotion
programmes with a view to ensuring all-round education development of
students, human resources of the nation and improvement of education standard
up to international's level and narrowing the educational gap between urban
and rural areas. So, success has been achieved in the respective tasks.

It is a noble deed that the government and the people are nurturing the human
resources for building the future State.

In conclusion, the Secretary-l urged all to expedite efforts of local
authorities, local people, wellwishers and school boards of trustees in order
to achieve success in implementing education promotion programmes and
nurturing human resources, and to continuously strive for emergence of a
modem and developed nation in a short time. Then, students presented variety
songs and dances.

Next, the Secretary- 1 posed for a documentary photo together with members of
SBT, PTA, the school head, teachers and students.

After that, the Secretary and party arrived at Shweli Yeiktha in Lashio. At
9.25 am today, the Secretary-l and party, accompanied by Commander Maj-Gen
Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, left for Chinshwehaw, Laukkai District, by
Tatmadaw helicopter.

The Secretary-l and party were welcomed there by Brig-Gen Zaw Win of Laukkai
Station and officials, departmental personnel and national race leaders.

Chairman of Work Committee for Development of Border-Areas and National Races
Secretary-l Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended the opening ceremony of
Chinshwehaw-Kunlong-Hsenwi road section, Nyinaung Bridge and Namting Bridge
and gave a speech. Then, the Secretary-1 and party flew back to Lashio in the
afternoon. Later, the Secretary-l and party arrived back here in the evening.

Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, who accompanied the Secretary-l, met
service personnel of Geological Survey and Minerals Exploration Department,
Nos I and 2 Mining Enterprise of Shan State (North) on 11 November evening.
Similarly, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and
Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt met employees of state, district and
township Development

Affairs Departments and the domestic science training school in Lashio on 11
November evening. Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe inspected
Lashio Airport, and met service personnel. Minister for Immigration and
Population U Saw Tun also met service personnel of departments under the
ministry in Lashio on 11 November evening.

Likewise, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Maj-Gen Sein
Htwa inspected Youth Training Centre in Lashio on 10 November evening and
Deputy Minister for Health Professor Dr Kyaw Myint inspected Lashio General
Hospital.

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( 2 ) Secretary-1 addresses opening of Chinshwehaw-Kunlong-Hsenwi Road,
Nyinaung Bridge and Namting Bridge in Shan State (North)

Nyinaung Bridge emerges as proof of cooperation between Kokang, Wa brethren
in peaceful regions


-Yangon, 12 Nov - Chinshwehaw-Kunlong-Hsenwi Road, Nyinaung Bridge and
Namting Bridge in Shan State (North) were commissioned into service today.
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of the Work
Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt made a speech at the inauguration ceremony held at Mingala Mandat on
Chinshwehaw-Kunlong-Hsenwi Road in Chinshwehaw, Laukkai District, Shan State
(North).

Also present were members of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman
of Shan State (North) Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen Thiha Thura Tin
Aung Myint Oo, ministers, the Chief of Staff (Air), deputy ministers, senior
military officers, the Ambassador of China to Myanmar, the Ambassador of
Japan to Myanmar, officials of the State Peace and Development Council
Office, departmental heads, local authorities, guests from China, Kokang
national leader U Phon Kya Shin and members, Wa national leader U Pau Yu Chan
and members, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association and
other social organizations, student youths, cultural troupes, and local
people.

Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt said the day was auspicious for Shan, Wa and Kokang
national brethren as well as for the Union, as Hsenwi-Kunlong-Chinshwehaw
Road passing through Shan region, and Wa and Kokang regions, and Namting
Bridge and Nyinaung Bridge linking Wa region with Kokang region could be put
into service. The government is today paying special attention to further
consolidation of national unity and vitalization of Union spirit, and
harmonious development of all regions of the Union. During this time, new
roads and bridges which could contribute effectively to regional development
emerge one after another, and it is quite opportune for local national
peoples as they can enjoy the benefits accruing from them. Chinshwehaw is a
significant place, for it is the place where the government and the national
brethren reached a peace accord in 1989. After the peace agreement had been
reached with Kokang national brethren, Wa national brethren followed this
example, and then, peace continued flourishing all over the country.

Chinshwehaw region can be called the peaceful, victorious ground of the
entire Union, and thus, emergence of roads and bridges intended for
development of Chinshwehaw and Namtit regions is auspicious not only for the
respective regions but also for the Union. Regional peace and stability and
efficient transport are the most essential requirements for the development
of the Union. Socio-economic life of the local nationalities will be improved
when regional peace and security, and transport efficiency have been further
enhanced. It is usual that promotion of relations among the nationalities of
various regions in turn enhances trade and social relationship, resulting in
further consolidation of national unity and Union spirit. The government
therefore pays special priority to construction of roads and bridges in
carrying out tasks for development of border areas and national races. Today,
the regions of Wa and Kokang brethren have become more and more peaceful with
efficient transport, and this has engendered encouraging results such as
promotion of relations among nationalities, economic development and progress
in border trade. Under these circumstances, national entrepreneurs who have
emerged  with the government's encouragement and support are investing in the
agriculture, livestock and transport sectors.

As the Asia World Co Ltd, an economic firm belonging to Kokang national
entrepreneurs, could repave Hsenwi-Kunlong-Chinshwehaw Road through BOT
system in cooperation with the government, it could be opened today. The same
company built Lashio-Muse Road through BOT system, and it could be opened in
1997, and today, efficient transport is direct from Lashio-Hsenwi-Kunlong to
Chinshwehaw. Furthermore, the road opened today will be able to effectively
provide easy access to the other regions adjoining Wa and Kokang regions, and
contribute to greater development border trade with the People's Republic of
China and uplift of socio-economic life of local nationalities. The
Secretary-1 continued to say that greater increase in local people's
cooperation in regional development projects and implementation of some
development projects on their own prove the uplift of the socio-economic life
of the local people. Wa national brethren, in their cooperation for
development of Thanlwin eastern region projects, repaved Tachilek-Monghsat
Road and built Namkhup Bridge on the road. Again, Wa and Kokang national
brethren cooperated and successfully built Nyinaung Bridge named meaningfully
to be known as a "brethren bridge".

The regions of the brethren who, in the past, had to cross the creek to go to
another region have now become closely linked because of the bridge, and it
will further promote relations between Kokang and Wa brethren and strengthen
their love and cooperation. As the bridge is the first one built by the
national brethren together, it can be called the Union bridge in a distant
area complete with national essence.

The government has also built Namting Bridge on Hsenwi-Kunlong-Chinshwehaw
spanning Namting Creek and linking Kunlong with Hopang. Secretary-1 Lt-Gen
Khin Nyunt spoke of efforts for building of roads and bridges in all states
and divisions to form a network and the benefits accrued from them such as
development of economy, production and trade sectors, and encouraging results
in cultivation of poppy substitute crops and reduction of cultivation of
opium poppy and trafficking of narcotic drugs. He emphasized the need for
local people to maintain Nyinaung Bridge and Namting Bridge for their
long-term durability and to make them stand to show united cooperation of
Kokang and Wa national brethren and the government's goodwill for brethren
nationalities.

He also stressed the need for national entrepreneurs to use
Hsenwi-Kunlong-Chinshwehaw Road for actual development of the regions and
socio-economic uplift of the brethren.

In conclusion, the Secretary-1 urged all brethren to perpetually strengthen
unity, love, peace and cooperation of national brethren. Speaking next,
Commander Maj-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo said Asia World Co Ltd
undertook the construction of Hsenwi-Kunlong-Chinshwehaw Road, the Ministry
of Construction rebuilt Namting Creek Bridge which was destroyed by the flood
in 1998. He thanked Asia World Co Ltd and the brethren who cooperated in the
tasks.

The Secretary-l and party went to Nyinaung Bridge. A ceremony to inaugurate
Nyinaung Bridge linking Kokang and Wa regions was held at the bridge.

Commander Maj-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen
Myint Thein, national race leader U Phon Kya Shin and Wa national race leader
U Pauk Yu Chan formally opened the bridge.

The Secretary-l and party and guests walked on the bridge and had souvenir
photo taken. The reinforced concrete Nyinaung Bridge, 403 feet long and 21
feet wide, was built on Namting Creek and it links Chinshwehaw in Kokang
region and Namtip in Wa region.

The Secretary-l and party went to Namting Bridge. A ceremony to open Namting
Bridge on Hsenwi-Kunlong-Hopang-Mongmaw road was held at the Mingala Mandat
near the bridge.

The Secretary-l said it is an auspicious day to open the Namting Bridge
linking Shan State, Kokang and Wa regions and there was once no peace in the
region due to misunderstanding and doubts among the national races.

The Secretary-l fomally unveiled the stone inscription of  the bridge. The
Secretary-l and guests had souvenir photo taken and inspected the bridge.

The Namting Bridge lies on Hsenwi-Kunlong-Hopang-Mongnuw road and was built
across Namting Creek. It is 432 feet long and 16 feet 6 inches wide and can
withstand 36 ton loads.

_________________________

to be continued...