The New Light of Myanmar (Sunday, 24 February, 2002)(1/2)

[Okkar66126@xxxxxxx]

The New Light of Myanmar (Sunday, 24 February, 2002)(1/2)
------------------------------
1. Two stairways of Gandhakuti Kyaungdawgyi, stone inscription,
   two foot-prints of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Image opened
2. Secretary-1 presents Bhaddanta Vepulla's Buddhist Literature
   Awards to winners
3. One-year course No 2 (Yangon) for traditional medicine
   practitioners opens
4. City Housing Project Supervisory Committee holds meeting
5. - Pre-diamond jubilee of Maha Bhodi Tahtaung Sayadaw to be held
   - Korean delegation concludes visit
6. - Myanma Education Goal stone inscription unveiled
   - Education goal stone inscription unveiled in Myitkyina
   - Commander inspects regional development in Sagaing Division
7. - Red Cross, UNICEF open training course in Myitkyina
   - Shan State MPF (North) meets
   - Commander tours Myaungmya District
8. - Deputy Minister inspects wetland reclamation tasks in
     Ayeyawady Division
   - Study group from An region tours Yangon
9. - Commander inspects cotton farm in Kyaukse
   - Commander discusses implementation of rural development task

---------

( 1 ) Two stairways of Gandhakuti Kyaungdawgyi, stone inscription, two
foot-prints of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Image opened

Yangon, 23 Feb- The opening ceremonies of the two stairways of Gandhakuti
Kyaungdawgyi, the stone inscription and the two foot-prints at the First
Buddha Pujaniya of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Image were held at
Mindhamma Hill in Insein Township at 8 am today. Daw Kyaing Kyaing, wife of
Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of
Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, attended the ceremonies and
formally opened the northern stairway of the Gandhakuti Kyaungdawgyi.
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Cxouncil Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt
unveiled the stone inscription of the Buddha Image.

Also present on the occasion were Daw Mya Mya San, wife of Vice-Chairman of
the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence
Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe,
wife of the Secretary-1, Daw Khin Than Nwe, wife of Lt-Gen Tin Oo, members of
the State Peace and Development Council and their wives, wives of the
Commander-in-Chief (Navy) and the Commander-in-Chief (Air), the Chairman of
Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command and
wife, the ministers, the Attorney-General, the Auditor-General, the deputy
ministers, the vice-chairman of Yangon City Development Committee vice-mayor,
departmental heads, scholars, members of the Mindhamma Hill Board of
Trustees, Myanmar Music Asiayon, Myanmar Thabin Asiayon, Ti-Ni Upathaka
artistes, wellwishers, guests and wut associations.

 Then, a ceremony to inaugurate two stairways of the Gandhakuti Kyaungdawgyi
was held. Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Daw Mya Mya San, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt
and party took the designated places near the northern stairway. Similarly,
Commander Brig-Gen Myint Swe, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung,
Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin and party took the designated
places near the southern stairway. Chairman of Myanmar Thabin Asiayon Wunna
Kyawhtin U Sein Aung Min recited the Ratu verses composed by Secretary of
Myanmar Thabin Asiayon U Aung Tin Win. At the auspicious time, the southern
and the northern stairways were inaugurated simultaneously. Daw Kyaing
Kyaing, Daw Mya Mya San and Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt formally opened the
northern stairway. Likewise, Commander Brig-Gen Myint Swe, Ministers Maj-Gen
Kyi Aung and U Aung Khin formally opened the southern stairway. At that time,
the conch shells were blown and the drums were beaten by Taingyar Htidaw
Hoisting team. Then, Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Daw Mya Mya San, the Secretary-1 and
party ascended the northern stairway and Commander Brig-Gen Myint Swe,
Ministers Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, U Aung Khin and party the southern stairway. The
two groups sprinkled scented water on respective stairways. Then, they took
the designated places.

 The harpists Troupe of Myanmar Music Asiayon played music. The Secretary-1
unveiled the stone inscriptions prescribed in Pali, Myanmar, Sanskrit and
English and sprinkled scented water on the stone inscriptions. Adviser to the
State calendar committee Saya Kyaw recited ‚intamani Gatha. Afterwards, the
Secretary-1 and party went round the Gandhakuti Kyaungdawgyi clock-wise and
took their places in front of the two foot-prints. The Ti-Ni Upathaka
artistes troupe sang the song composed in honour of the Lord Buddha. Then,
wellwisher Thiri Thudhamma Manijotadhara U Taw Taw and Patron of the Hill
Board of Trustees Maha Saddhammajotikadhaja U Shein Aung Bo recited the
religious verses. Next, Minister U Aung Khin and Thiri Thudhamma
Manijotadhara U Taw Taw opened the foot-prints on the right and that on the
left respectively.

 The Secretary-1 and officials sprinkled scented water on the two
foot-prints. Afterwards, Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Daw Mya Mya San and the
Secretary-1 paid obeisance to the Buddha Image and offered soon, fruits,
water and flowers to the Image. On behalf of the wellwishers, Staff Officer U
San Thin Hlaing of Yangon Division Religious Affairs Department recited the
religious verses on offering of soon, water and flowers and shared merits
gained. The conch shells were blown and the drums were beaten by Taingyar
Htidaw Hoisting team. Officials performed the rituals of golden and silver
showers to mark the successful completion of the ceremonies. On the Mindhamma
Hill, the Taingyar Htidaw Hoisting team served those who attended the opening
ceremonies with Htamane and Shwe Thanlwin Co family also served meals and
snacks, fried vermicelli and noodle to the people.
___________________________

( 2 ) Secretary-1 presents Bhaddanta Vepulla's Buddhist Literature Awards to
winners

Yangon, 23 Feb- The prize presentation ceremony for the 2001 Buddhist
Literature Award and the examination of Presiding Nayaka Sayadaw Missionary
Sayadaw in Japan Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Vepulla of Maha Sasana Weiponla
Kyaungtaik in Gyardawya Road in Bahan Township was held at Wizaya Mingala
Dhamma Thabin Hall, Kaba Aye, here at 3.30 pm today, attended by Secretary-1
of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. Also present
were State Ovadaariya Shwekyin Nikaya Joint Sasanabaing Thirimanda Sankyaung
Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Rajindabhivamsa, Vice-Chairman
of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha
Saddhammajotikadhaja Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kesara and member Sayadaws, Missionary
Sayadaw in Japan Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Vepulla and members of the
Sangha, monks, nuns and those who won the Buddhist Literature Award and
passed the examination, ministers, deputy ministers, officials of the State
Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads, members of the
Trust Fund Supervisory Committee for Maha Sasana Weipunla Kyaung Buddhist
Literature Award and Examination, students who stood from first to sixth
positions in the 2001 matriculation examination and guests.

The Vice-Chairman Sayadaw administered the Five Precepts. Sayadaw Bhaddanta
Vepulla explained that he had set up a trust fund with 8.5 million to mark
his 85th birthday plus K 1,278 to mark his year of birth 1278 ME totalling K
8,501,278, and presented prizes to the winners with the aims of ensuring
promotion and propagation of Buddhist literature, uplifting the standard of
Pariyatti literature and developing the education standard of the youths.

 Then, the Secretary-1 and party and wellwishers offered provisions to the
Sayadaws. Next, the Secretary-1 presented certificates of honour and prizes
to first and second Buddhist Literature Award winners Bhaddanta Kundala of
East Ledi Taik in Monywa and Bhaddanta Pan–asami of Taunggale Pariyatti
Sarthintaik in Taunggale Village, Hpa-an Township respectively and
certificates of honour and prizes to a monk who passed the Digha Nikaya
Kovida and the four who passed the Vinaya Kovida in the Tipitakadhara
Selection Examination and a monk who won the first prize in the Sakkyasiha
Dhammanariya examination.

Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin, Minister for Education U Than
Aung, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Culture U Tin
Winn and Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Aung Ko
presented certificates of honour and prizes to a monk who won the first prize
in ‚etiyangana Dhammaariya examination, three monks who won first, second
and third prizes in the Agga Maha Akyaw Dhammanariya examination
respectively, three monks who won first, second and third prizes in the
Pathamagyi, Pathamalat and Pathamange examinations respectively, five
first-prize winner monks in the Widu examination of Nikaya group Nos 1, 2, 4,
5 and 8, one nun who won the first prize in the Nun Pathamagyi examination
and one nun who won the first prize in the Visuddhi Magga examination.

Then, the Secretary-1 presented certificates of honour and prizes to the
Second Buddhist Literature Award to Chit Nge (Philosophy) from North Okkalapa
and Maung Aung Kyaw Hsan Lin (Monywa), Ma Thinza Oo (Taunggyi) and Ma Yin Win
Htet (Myaungmya) who won first, second and third prizes in the 2000-2001
matriculation examination. Next, the ministers presented certificates of
honour and prizes to students who stood from 4th to 6th positions in the
2000-2001 matriculation examination. Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs
Brig-Gen Thura Aung Ko presented certificates of honour and prizes to
first-prize winner Ma Khin Swe Myint (Kalay) in the Visuddhi Magga
Examination for lay persons and first-prize winner Maung Win Naing (Natmauk)
in the Abhidhamma examination. Then, the ceremony came to an end.
___________________________

( 3 )  Arrangements under way for systematic development of Myanma
traditional medicine to reach international standard

One-year course No 2 (Yangon) for traditional medicine practitioners opens

Yangon, 23 Feb- The opening ceremony of one-year course No 2 (Yangon) for
traditional medicine practitioners of the Traditional Medicine Department
under the Ministry of Health was held at the Institute of Nursing (Yangon) on
Bogyoke Aung San Road this evening, with an address by Chairman of the
National Health Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. Also present were ministers, deputy ministers,
officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, the
directors-general and the deputy directors-general of departments under the
Ministry of Health, members of the Traditional Medicine Council, the rectors
of the Institutes of Medicine in Yangon, the chairmen of non-governmental
organizations, course instructors and trainees.

The Secretary-1 delivered an address. He said that in Yangon and Mandalay,
the government is silmutaneously conducting one-year courses for traditional
medicine practitioners that can further broaden their scope of knowledge of
traditional medicine and provide health care services to the people. The
course No 2 and course No 4 have been successfully conducted in Yangon and
Mandalay respectively. The courses have been successful due to concerted
efforts for realization of the objectives  systematic development of Myanmar
traditional medicine and improvement of the quality of Myanmar traditional
medicine practitioners.

These are lofty aims laid down by Head of State Senior General Than Shwe with
respect to the traditional medicine field. Myanmar traditional medicine,
which was inherited from forefathers, has developed step by step and has been
interrelated with social, economic and cultural elements in the course of
history of Myanmar and its people. Traditional medicine has developed among
Myanmar people since the dawn of Myanma civilization and contributed to
effective provision of health care to the people throughout the course of the
Myanmar history which has lasted for thousands of years. Therefore,
traditional medicine has served as great assistance in national defence and
development. Due to the preservation of traditional medicine by Myanmar
traditional medicine practitioners, traditional medicine survived when the
nation was under servitude, when independence struggle which stirred up
nationalistic spirit began, and after independence was regained.

Despite external and internal hindrances, the State Peace and Development
Council is making efforts on self-reliance for raising the living standard of
Myanmar society and emergence of a peaceful, prosperous, modern, developed
democratic nation. Moreover, it is endeavouring for all-round development of
the nation, relying on national forces in order to enable the nation to keep
abreast with others. In its efforts for all-round development of the nation,
the government is making arrangements for systematic development of Myanma
traditional medicine so as to reach international standard. The government
also sees to it that everybody can effectively use the traditional medicine,
adopting the attitude that the traditional medicine is a national heritage
that contributes to the health and fitness of the people which play an
important role in defending the nation. Myanma traditional medicine with
potent medicines and various effective remedies has developed in the course
of Myanmar history. It will become extinct if posterity do not preserve it
systematically. The government's assistance is needed to develop Myanmar
traditional medicine up to international standard.

 This is why the government has been giving priority to development of the
Myanmar traditional medicine in providing health care services to the people.
Head of State Senior General Than Shwe stressed the State's lofty objectives
related to Myanmar traditional medicine in the message sent to the second
Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners"  Conference in 2001. He said, "
With proper standardization and good quality assurance the role of
traditional medicine will be greatly enhanced, which will be popular not only
in Myanmar but also abroad."

 In addition, Head of State Senior General Than Shwe has given the guidance:
to do research and standardize Myanma traditional medicines and remedies and
make use of modern methods and equipment, to combine western medicine and
traditional medicine in giving treatment and improve the traditional
medicines and remedies which can cure diseases that cannot be cured by
western medicine, and to develop highly-qualified human resources for the
systematic propagation of traditional medicine. In accord with the guidance
of the Head of State, the government is taking systematic measures to develop
Myanma traditional medicine, to preserve and improve Myanma traditional
medicine and to disseminate it systematically. In this regard, plans for
development of highly-qualified human resources play a crucial role.

Today the first ever University of Traditional Medicine in the history of
Myanma traditional medicine has emerged. The university will produce
traditional medicine practitioners who have a good knowledge of western
medicines, English language, Sanskrit and science. Moreover, courses in
Myanma traditional medicine will continue to be conducted, and the university
will be able to produce a lot of Myanma traditional medicine practitioners.
The one-year traditional medicine practitioner courses are conducted in
accord with the guidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe in order
to pass on the heritage of traditional medicine, to promote the ability of
the traditional medicine practitioners and to present the
government-recognized certificates. To produce Myanma traditional medicine
practitioners, different courses are being conducted with the use of
syllabuses which contain the essence of Myanma traditional medicine.

This effort is aimed at producing traditional medicine practitioners who are
capable of improving the health standard of the nation. Therefore, there will
be an increase in the number of graduate traditional medicine practitioners,
diploma holder traditional medicine practitioners and those who have
completed the traditional medicine course. If the national health plans of
the State are implemented with the collective strength of these qualified
traditional medicine practitioners, the objective of uplifting the national
health standard will be achieved, and the standard and quality of Myanma
traditional medicine will improve all the more. Altogether 299 trainees are
going to attend the present course.

There are those who are taking care of public health with traditional
medicine, traditional medicine producers, doctors and Tatmadaw members among
the trainees. So the range of traditional medicine has become wider and
wider. As for the Tatmadaw men, they have been sent to attend the one-year
traditional medicine practitioner course only after they had completed
outstandingly well the basic traditional medicine course jointly conducted by
the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Defence.

Therefore, the Tatmadaw men who have the opportunity of attending the course
need to study hard so that they can provide health care for the people with
traditional medicine when they discharge national defence duty at border and
remote areas. All the trainees need to live in unity and amity, share their
knowledge and study hard in order to be able to provide health care for the
national people. In conclusion, the Secretary-1 urged all to strive for the
development and propagation of Myanma traditional medicine which is the
heritage of Myanmar and the people, to strive for the further improvement of
Myanma traditional medicine at a good time when the government is giving
encouragement to the flourishing of traditional medicine, to preserve and
disseminate Myanma traditional medicine and to contribute with the use of
their knowledge to the modernization and development of the future nation and
the building of a peaceful, democratic nation free from foreign influence.
After the opening ceremony, the Secretary-1 had a cordial meeting with the
trainees. Altogether 299 trainees are attending the course.
__________________________

( 4 ) City Housing Project Supervisory Committee holds meeting

Yangon, 23 Feb - City Housing Project Supervisory Committee held meeting No
4/2002 at the meeting hall of the Department of Human Settlement and Housing
Development this morning. Chairman of the Supervisory Committee Secretary-1
of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended the
meeting. Also present were Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development
Council Commander Brig-Gen Myint Swe, ministers, deputy ministers, the
vice-mayor, members of the Supervisory Committee, officials of the State
Peace and Development Council Office, heads of department and officials.

The Secretary-1 said that at the present meeting, matters related to
systematic implementation of city housing projects are to be discussed. The
Supervisory Committee is to make sure that city housing estates of required
standard are available to those who need apartments of their own. The
Supervisory Committee needs to provide effective supervision for the
successful realization of the aims of city housing projects and development
of the city in accord with the city development project. Then, those present
discussed matters related to the establishment of industrial zones, land and
buildings, housing projects and city development tasks. The meeting ended
with concluding remarks by the Secretary-1.
__________________________

( 5 ) Pre-diamond jubilee of Maha Bhodi Tahtaung Sayadaw to be held

Yangon, 23 Feb-The Pre-diamond jubilee of Agga Maha Saddhama Jotikadhaja
World Missionary Maha Bhodi Tahtaung Sayadaw Bhaddanta Narada of Maha Bhodi
Tahtaung Kyaungtaik in Khatakkantaung Village, Monywa Township, Sagaing
Division, will be held on 26 and 27 February 2002. The activities on 26
February 2002 (14th Waxing day of Tabodwe) will include offering of water,
fruits, lights and flowers to over 9,000 Bhodi pagodas and Buddha images. The
activities on 27 February (Fullmoon Day of Tabodwe) will include Buddha
Pujaniya, consecration, provisions offering to over 200 members of the Sangha
and reordination of the Sayadaw. During the festivities meals will be served
and entertainment will be presented at night.

---------

Korean delegation concludes visit

Yangon, 23 Feb - Minister of Trade of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade of the Republic of Korea Mr Hwang Doo-Yun and party this morning
visited Shwedagon Pagoda, where they were welcomed by the officials. First,
they went round the pagoda and donated cash. Then, they left Yangon for home
by air in the afternoon. Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone and
officials, departmental officials of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to
the Union of Myanmar saw them off at the airport.
___________________________

to be continued ...