The New Light of Myanmar (Monday, 7 January, 2002)(1/2)

[Okkar66126@xxxxxxx]

The New Light of Myanmar (Monday, 7 January, 2002)(1/2)
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1. Senior General Than Shwe attends Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air)
   Golf Tournament
2. Foreign Heads of State/Government send felicitations to
   Senior General Than Shwe
3. Secretary-1 attends merit-sharing ceremony for three-storey
   ordination hall of Shwehintha Thirimanda Sankyaung Pariyatti
   Sarthintaik in Bahan
4. Secretary-1 attends annual meeting of Myanmar Fisheries
   Federation
5. Yangon Division USDA holds mass rally to support national,
   rural development tasks
6. Minister inspects plots chosen for fish breeding ponds
7. Commander inspects agriculture and livestock breeding works
8. Independence Day Exhibition continues
9. Cash donated to MOC Chairman's Trophy Invitational Hockey
   Tournament

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( 1 ) Senior General Than Shwe attends Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) Golf
Tournament

Yangon, 6 Jan - A ceremony to open the Defence Services Commander-in-Chief's
Trophy Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) Golf Tournament for 2001-2002 was held
at Yemon Kyunthaya Golf Course in Yemon Tatmyo, here yesterday morning,
attended by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe.

Also present were Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, members of the State Peace and
Development Council Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, Maj-Gen Soe Win, Maj-Gen Ye
Myint, Maj-Gen Aung Htwe, Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Maj-Gen Maung Bo,
Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Thein Sein, Quartermaster-General Maj-Gen Thiha
Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, Maj-Gen Tin Aye, Commander-in-Chief (Navy)
Vice-Admiral Kyi Min, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Maj-Gen Myint Swe, Yangon
Command Commander Brig-Gen Myint Swe, ministers, the Mayor of Yangon, senior
military officers, golfers and guests. Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Thein Sein,
Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Kyi Min and Commander-in-Chief (Air)
Maj-Gen Myint Swe teed off the smoke balls to open the tournament. Altogether
16 teams took part in the tournament. The prize-presentation ceremony was
held at the hall of the golf course this evening. Present were General Maung
Aye and party, golfers and guests. Quartermaster-General Maj-Gen Thiha Thura
Tin Aung Myint Oo presented prizes for the team handicap and scratch events.

In the team handicap event, the Triangle Region Command team stood third with
608 strokes; the Western Command team second with 598 and the
Commander-in-Chief (Navy)'s Office team first with 567. In the team scratch
event, the North-West Command team stood third with 707 strokes; the Southern
Command team second with 689; the South-West Command team first with 659.
Maj-Gen Tin Aye presented prizes for the individual handicap and scratch
events. In the individual handicap event, Lieutenant Maung Maung Myint of the
Commander-in-Chief (Navy)'s Office team stood third with 139 strokes; Maj Zaw
Naing Aung of the Yangon Command team second with 131; Lieutenant Nyan Koe of
the South-West Command team first with 128.

In the individual scratch event, Sgt Tun Zaw of the Southern Command team
stood third with 160 strokes; Captain Khin Zaw of the South-West Command team
second with 159; Sgt Zaw Win of the Southern Command team first with 150.
Maj-Gen Soe Win presented par and birdie awards to the respective winners.
Commander-in-Chief (Air) Maj-Gen Myint Swe presented the best score awards
for the first and second days to the respective winners. Commander-in-Chief
(Navy) Vice-Admiral Kyi Min presented longest driving and nearest to the pin
awards and the perseverance award to the respective winners. On behalf of the
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Thein Sein
presented the championship trophy to the team of the Office of the
Commander-in-Chief (Navy).

___________________________

( 2 ) Foreign Heads of State/Government send felicitations to Senior General
Than Shwe

Yangon, 6 Jan- The following are the messages of felicitations from foreign
Heads of State and Government sent to Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of
the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister of the Union of
Myanmar, on the occasion of the 54th Anniversary Independence Day of the
Union of Myanmar.

>From Mr Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand:

I have the honour to extend to Your Excellency, on behalf of the Government
and people of Thailand, our sincere congratulations and warm wishes on the
occasion of the Independence Day of the Union of Myanmar. I am pleased to
note that our two countries have increasingly developed the cooperation
within ASEAN framework with sincere understanding and mutual trust. I truly
believe that both Governments will continue to strengthen and deepen the
existing relations for the progress and prosperity in the region. Accept,
Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

>From Mr Fidel V Ramos, former President of the Republic of the Philippines:

Please accept my warmest greetings and good wishes on the celebration of the
Independence Day of the Union of Myanmar. As your nation and people stand on
the threshold of a new chapter of nationhood and the new millennium, it is my
fervent hope to see the continued flourishing of Myanmar, and the friendship
and cooperation between our two nations and peoples. I close with every wish
for the continued peace and prosperity of Myanmar and her people, and for His
Excellency's good health and success. Please accept, Your Excellency, the
assurances of my highest esteem and consideration. Mabuhey (Best Wishes) !!

>From Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, King of Nepal:

On the happy occasion of the Independence Day of the Union of Myanmar on
behalf of the people and the Government of Nepal and on our own we extend to
Your Excellency our cordial felicitations and best wishes for Your
Excellency's personal health and happiness and for the progress and
prosperity of the people of Myan-mar. We are confident that the friendly
relations between our two countries will grow further in the years to come.

>From Mr Sher Bahadur Deuba, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Nepal:

On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Union of Myanmar on behalf of
His Majesty's Government of Nepal and on my own I extend to Your Excellency
and the people of Myanmar my sincere congratulations. I wish you good health
and happiness as well as progress and prosperity of the people of Myanmar.

>From HE Mr Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt:

On the auspicious occasion of the 54th Anniversary of the Independence Day of
the Union of Myanmar, it is my great pleasure to extend to Your Excellency my
most sincere and heartfelt congratulations as well as my best wishes for your
wellbeing and for progress and prosperity of your friendly people. With my
highest consideration. From HE Mr Moshe Katsav, President of the State of
Israel: On the occasion of the Union of Myanmar's Independence Day, it gives
me great pleasure to extend to Your Excellency, on behalf of the people of
Israel and myself, warm congratulations and best wishes for your personal
wellbeing and for the progress and prosperity of your country and people.

>From Mr Tran Duc Luong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and
Mr Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam:

On behalf of the State, Government and people of the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam, We wish to convoy to Your Excellency, Government and the people of
the Union of Myanmar our warmest congratulations on the occasion of the 54th
Anniversary of the Independence Day of the Union of Myanmar. The people of
Vietnam are very delighted at the important achievements recorded by the
people of Myanmar in the past 54 years and sincerely wishes the people of
Myanmar further new successes in the cause of building a peaceful, prosperous
country and happy life. We are very pleased with the development of the
traditional relations and multi- faceted-cooperation between Vietnam and
Myanmar. We are confident that with the common efforts of two sides this
relations will be increasingly consolidated and further extended in the
coming years for the benefits of our two peoples and for peace, stability,
cooperation and prosperity in South-East Asia and in the world. Please
accept, Your Excellency, our best wishes for your good health, happiness and
the assurances of our highest consideration.

>From Mr Shri Kocheril Raman Narayanan, President of the Republic of India:

On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Union of Myanmar, I take
immense pleasure in extending, on behalf of the people of the Republic of
India and on my own behalf, warm greetings and best wishes to Your Excellency
and to the people of the Union of Myanmar for their progress and prosperity.
I look forward to further strengthening, in the years ahead, the age-old ties
of friendship which link India and Myanmar. Please accept, Excellency, my
best wishes for your personal health and happiness and the assurances of my
highest consideration.

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>From HE Mr Leonid Kuchma, President of Ukraine:

Your Excellency, please, accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of
the National Holiday of the Union of Myanmar ÑÊ54th Anniversary of the
proclamation of the Independence of your country. Taking this opportunity, I
would like to express my confidence that the relations of friendship and
partnership which exist between Ukraine and the Union of Myanmar, will be
further strengthening and developing for the benefit of the two countries. I
wish you, Your Excellency, every success in your responsible state activity,
happiness and good health as well as peace and prosperity of the people of
the Union of Myanmar.

___________________________

( 3 ) Secretary-1 attends merit-sharing ceremony for three-storey ordination
hall of Shwehintha Thirimanda Sankyaung Pariyatti Sarthintaik in Bahan

Yangon, 6 Jan- The merit-sharing ceremony for Theravasa Maha Wizayakaryi
three-storey ordination hall of Shwehintha Thirimanda San-kyaung Pariyatti
Sarthintaik was held at the Kyaungtaik on New Yedashe Road in Bahan Township
at 9.30 am today, attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

Also present on the occasion were State Ovadacariya Shwekyin Nikaya
Sasanabaing Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika
Nyaung-shwe Kangyi Pariyatti Sarthintaik Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vimalabhivamsa,
State Ovadacariya Joint Shwekyin Sasanabaing Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Agga
Maha Pandita Shwe-hintha Thirimanda Sankyaung Pariyatti Sarthintaik Sayadaw
Bhaddanta Rajindabhivamsa, Tipitakadhara Dhamma-bhandagarika Agga Maha
Pandita Bhaddanta Suman-galalankara (PhD) and members of the Sangha, the
ministers, the deputy ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development
Council Office, departmental heads, authorities of Yangon West District and
Bahan Township, members of Union Solidarity and Development Association, the
Chairman of the Committee for donation of provisions to the Shwehintha
Thirimanda Sankyaung, disciples and guests. Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vimalabhivamsa
administered the Five Precepts. Then, the Shwekyin Nikaya Sasanabaing Sayadaw
and members of the Sangha recited Metta Sutta.

The Secretary-1 donated provisions to the Shwekyin Sasanabaing Sayadaw and
the Sayadaws. Afterwards, the wellwishers offered donations to the Sayadaws.
Chairman of the Supply Committee retired professor of Mathematics Department
of Yangon University U Sein Min supplicated on the brief history of emergence
of the ordination hall. Next, Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sumangalalankara (PhD)
delivered a sermon. The congregation shared merits for their meritorious
deeds at the ceremony. After the ceremony, the rituals of golden and silver
showers were performed to mark the successful completion of the ceremony.
Afterwards, the Secretary-1 and party offered "soon" to the Sayadaws.

__________________________


( 4 ) Fisheries sector important for sufficiency of food and reliable
economic sector to earn foreign exchange
Secretary-1 attends annual meeting of Myanmar Fisheries Federation

Yangon, 6 Jan- Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen
Khin Nyunt delivered an address at the Third Annual Meeting of Myanmar
Fisheries Federation at Yuzana Plaza Hall in Mingala Taungnyunt Township at
8.30 am today.

Also present at the meeting were the ministers, the deputy ministers, members
of the Extended Meat and Fish Production Committee, officials of the State
Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads, the
director-general of Fisheries Department, state/division and district heads
of Fisheries Department, President of Myanmar Fisheries Federation U Htay
Myint and central executive committee members, advisers, member companies of
the federation, federation members and guests. First, the Secretary-1
delivered an address. The Secretary-1 said that Myanmar Fisheries Federation,
a productive force of the nation and national economic force, is making
progress, and it is a strong national force on which the State can rely.
Therefore, it can contribute to the modernization and development of the
State and the improvement of national economy. Myanmar Fisheries Federation,
which is now able to stand as a consolidated national force, needs to
organize and lead its members in striving for the development of the
fisheries sector while promoting the interests of the members.

The fisheries sector is an important production sector for the sufficiency of
food for the people, and it is also a reliable economic sector for the State
to earn foreign exchange. As Myanmar is teeming with rivers, creeks and
lakes, fish and prawns are plentiful. There are also inexhaustible marine
resources in Myanma waters. Research shows that the annual catching of over 1
million tones of fish and prawn cannot cause extinction of fish and prawns.
As Myanmar people mainly live on fish and prawns, they get 60% to 70% of
protein from fish. In 1998, a citizen of Myanmar ate 18 kilograms of fish,
and in 2001, he or she can consume 21.4 kilograms of fish. Therefore, Myanmar
people's consumption of fish is high by the international standard. It is
also found that Myanmar can produce and consume more fish. In addition, the
fish and meat sector contributed to GDP by 7.5% in 2000-2001. Marine products
can fetch about US $ 200 million every year.



Therefore, the fisheries sector is a production sector which can effectively
improve the economic and social standards of the people and strengthen the
national economy. Moreover, today, fisheries industry is making progress, and
it can be attributed to the assistance and encouragement of the government.
And it is also found that breeding and sale of fish and prawn, packaging,
storage and transport services are improving. As the economic and social
standards of the people are improving, the breeding of pet fishes is common.
Pet fish breeding has become a business. The government has laid down plans
designed to encourage the fisheries sector so that it can contribute fully to
food sufficiency for the growing population and improvement of the national
economy.

The government is giving all kinds of encouragement to the fisheries sector
with the aim of promoting the development of the fisheries sector, extending
fish and prawn breeding, using modern techniques in catching, breeding,
packaging and distributing fish, producing fish without causing extinction of
fish and prawn and earning more foreign exchange. The Ministry of Livestock
and Fisheries has laid down working plans to distribute good strains of fish,
to promote the development of fish and meat production in the State, to earn
more foreign exchange by exporting surpluses of fish and meat, to develop the
meat and fish sector, to extend prawn breeding, to conserve fish and prawn
resources, to take measures for the development of fish resources in the
waters of the nation where fishing can be done and to improve the social and
economic standards of fisheries entrepreneurs. Head of State Senior General
Than Shwe has given guidance to distribute more good strains of fish, to
develop prawn breeding and to undertake livestock breeding tasks in rural
areas. Therefore, in accord with the guidance of the Head of State, Myanmar
Fisheries Federation and fisheries entrepreneurs need to carry out their
tasks.


Fisheries entrepreneurs need to extend fish and prawn breeding work in accord
with the plans of the State and use good strains of fish and modern breeding
methods. Good strains of prawn, quality feedstuff and modern methods are to
be used for producing fresh prawns which can be put on sale in the
international market. To produce fish and prawn which can be acceptable by
the international standard, systematic plans are to be laid down with respect
to production process, cleaning process and safety rules and regulations.
Officials concerned and entrepreneurs need to cooperate in ensuring that fish
and prawn can be produced all the year round, the catching of fish and prawn
at sea can be done throughout the year and fish and prawn resources are not
extinct. The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries is setting free fingerlings
into rivers, streams, lakes and dams.

Therefore, to prevent extinction of fish and prawn, no-fishing zones like
Nursery Ground have been designated and rules and regulations for catching
fish have been issued. One thing to be born in mind is that fingerlings set
free in dams are meant for farmers who live near the dam, and they can catch
fish along outlets. The catching of fish in the dam on a commercial scale is
to be prevented. Therefore fisheries federation at different levels need to
carry out organizing work to protect reproduction of fish. The long-term
existence of fish and prawn resources depends ecosystem. The government is
taking measures for the improvement of ecosystem of rivers, creeks, streams
and shallow waters and conservation of flora and fauna at islands and coral
reefs along coastal waters and rare marine life. Fisheries entrepreneurs need
not to use fishing methods and fishing nets which are not allowed for the
sake of ecosystem.

They also need to participate in the environmental conservation work and to
do their business in accord with rules and regulations. Myanmar Fisheries
Federation needs to participate in the tasks undertaken by the government for
the development of fish and prawn production, qualitative and quantitative
improvement, prevention of extinction of fish and prawn resources,
conservation of the environment and ecosystem, production of fish and prawn
by use of good strains and modern methods and earning more foreign exchange.
Through participation in the fisheries private sectors in ASEAN nations in
accord with the aims of Myanmar Fisheries Federation, it is necessary to
search for new markets and new strains of fish. Efforts are to be made to
disseminate new technology and commercial information to members of the
federation. Under the leadership of the federation, efforts are to be made to
build a modern office building and an international fish market.

The government will provide necessary assistance within the framework of
rules and regulations. In conclusion, the Secretary-1 called on all to strive
for the successful materialization of aims and working plans laid down by the
government for the development of fisheries industry, to strive for the
development of the private fisheries sector of national entrepreneurs in
consonance with the production development tasks of the government and to
earn more foreign exchange by systematically producing fish and prawns from
Myanma waters, rivers, streams and lakes full of marine resources. Then,
Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein and President
of MFF U Htay Myint reported on arrangements for construction of MFF building
together with the scale model of the building.

Next, the Secretary-1 and Chairman of Meat and Fish Extended Production
Committee Minister for Cooperatives Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe accepted K 10 million for
construction of the MFF building donated by Chairman of Yuzana Co Ltd and
Annawa Fisheries Holdings Ltd U Htay Myint, K 10 million by Off-shore Trawler
Owners Association, K 5 million by Taninthayi Division Fisheries Federation,
K 3 million by Yangon Division Fisheries Federation, K 2.5 million by U Nyo
Min-Daw Ohnma Lwin of Minzarni Co Ltd, K 1 million by International Fisheries
(Taninthayi) Ltd, K 1 million by Sanpya Fish Feedstuff Production Enterprise
(Mandalay), K 1 million by U Aung Htein-Daw Aye Kyaing of Sanpya Fish Market,
K 1 million by U Mya Han-Daw Khin Sabei Kyi of Fortune International, K
500,000 each by Taninthayi Fisheries Ltd, Aungmye International Co Ltd, U
Than Win Aung (Pale Nadi) and Maj Aung Lwin (Retd) (Seven Sea Fisheries).
Then, the Secretary-1 left the Yuzana Plaza Hall. Afterwards, wellwishers
presented K 4.7 million for construction of the MFF building to Minister for
Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein and Deputy Minister U Aung
Thein. Next, chairman of the meeting U Htay Myint and Minister Lt-Gen Tin
Ngwe gave speeches. General Secretary U Kyee Ngwe submitted the annual report
of the executive committee and financial report.

Then, the meeting approved the reports and rules amendment of the federation.
Next, 45 members of Executive Committee including President U Htay Myint,
General Secretary U Kyee Ngwe were elected. Then, President U Htay Myint
extended greetings. Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung
Thein and MFF President U Htay Myint formally opened the export promotion
booths for fishery products and the guests viewed the booths.

slogans.

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to be continued ...