The New Light of Myanmar (Monday, 25 February, 2002)(1/2)

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The New Light of Myanmar (Monday, 25 February, 2002)(1/2)
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1. State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General
   Than Shwe sends felicitations to Kuwait
2. - "Soon" offered to members of the Sangha at Lawka Chantha
      Abhaya Labha Muni Buddha Image
   - Documentary photo book on Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni
     Image available
3. Secretary-1 addresses inauguration ceremony of Paingkyon
   Sluice Gate in Kawa Township
4. Secretary-1 attends opening ceremony of multimedia teaching
   centre of No 5 Basic Education High School in Bago
5. - Minister inspects construction of Tarwa Sluice Gate in
     Thanatpin Township
   - Cetiyangana Pariyatti Dhamma Nuggaha presentation
     ceremony held
   - USDA Secretary-General receives Chinese goodwill delegation
6. - Minister for Industry-1 inspects factories in PyinOoLwin
   - 5th National Sanitation Week launched
   - Minister inspects tasks of metal production
7. - Deputy Minister arrives back from Montreal
   - Entertainment group performs in Toungoo
8. - National races study group visits museums
   - Basic education teachers visit National Indoor Stadium-1
   - Myanmar trounces Malaysia 7-0
9. Over 102 acres of poppy fields destroyed in Kutkai

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( 1 ) State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe
sends felicitations to Kuwait

Yangon, 25 Feb- Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of
felicitations to His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Amir of the
State of Kuwait on the occasion of the National Day of the State of Kuwait
which falls on 25 February 2002.
___________________________

( 2 ) "Soon" offered to members of the Sangha at Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha
Muni Buddha Image

Yangon, 24 Feb- A ceremony to offer "soon" to 1,000 members of the Sangha in
the first Buddha Pujaniya of the Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Buddha Image
was held at the Mindhamma Hill in Insein Township here this morning.

Daw Kyaing Kyaing, wife of Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe,
attended and offered "soon" to the members of the Sangha. Also present at the
ceremony 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, Secretary-1 of the State Peace
and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and wife Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe, Daw
Khin Than Nwe, wife of Lt-Gen Tin Oo, members of the State Peace and
Development Council and their wives, the Chairman of Yangon Division Peace
and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command and wife, ministers and
their wives, the Auditor-General, deputy ministers, the vice-mayor, senior
military officers, departmental heads, technicians, the chairman of Yangon
North District Peace and Development Council and members, members of Yangon
North District Union Solidarity and Development Association, members of the
Mindhamma Hill Board of Trustees and wellwishers.

Daw Kyaing Kyaing, wife of Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, paid
homage and offered "soon", fruits, water and flowers to the Lawka Chantha
Abhaya Labha Muni Buddha Image.

At 5.40 am, "soon" was offered to members of the Sangha by Daw Kyaing Kyaing,
Daw Mya Mya San, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and wife Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe,
Lt-Gen Tin Oo's wife Daw Khin Than Nwe, members of the State Peace and
Development Council, the ministers, the Auditor-General and the deputy
ministers in front of the platform of the Gandhakuti Kyaung-dawgyi. While
"soon" was offered to the members of the Sangha, Myanma music troupe headed
by Daw Yi Yi Thant sany dhamma songs.

On the platform of the pagoda and along the northern stairways, the Ministry
of Defence, the office of the Chief of Military Intelligence, the office of
the Commander-in-Chief (Navy), the office of the Commander-in-Chief (Air),
the office of the Chief of Armed Forces Training, ministries, the office of
the Chief Justice, the office of the Attorney-General, the office of the
Auditor-General, the office of the Civil Service Selection and Training
Board, Yangon City Development Committee, townships in Yangon North District,
bus lines and wellwishers presented offertories to the members of the Sangha.
The ceremony came to an end after U San Thin Hlaing, staff officer of Yangon
Division Religious Affairs Department shared the merits gained.

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Documentary photo book on Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Image available

Yangon, 24 Feb- A documentary photo book on Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni
Image published by Information and Documentation Committee of Construction of
Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Image and all-round construction of Mindhamma
Hill Committee is now available. The historic book features all documentary
photos with the dates documented from emergence of the marble mass to the
construction of the image. It is available at K 1,100 per copy at the
bookshop of the Ministry of Information, donation centre and the office of
the Board of Trustees .

___________________________

( 3 ) Secretary-1 addresses inauguration ceremony of Paingkyon Sluice Gate in
Kawa Township

Yangon, 24 Feb- Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen
Khin Nyunt, accompanied by members of the State Peace and Development Council
Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and Maj-Gen Tin Aye of the Ministry of Defence,
ministers, deputy ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development
Council Office, departmental heads and officials, left here by Tatmadaw
aircraft this morning and arrived at Paingkyon Sluice Gate in Kawa Township,
Bago Division, at 8.25 am.

The Secretary-1 and party were welcomed there by Chairman of Bago Division
Peace and Development Council Commander Brig-Gen Aung Min and officials. A
ceremony to inaugurate Paingkyon Sluice Gate, built by the Irrigation
Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, was held at the
pandal near the sluice gate at 8.30 am, with an address by the Secretary-1.
Present on the occasion were the Secretary-1 and party, the commander, local
authorities, departmental personnel, the director-general of ID and workers
of Construction Group-6, members of the Union Solidarity and Development
Association, Red Cross and Auxiliary Fire Brigades, Maternal and Child
Welfare Association, teachers, students, the traditional drum troupe, the
dance troupe, the band, the pom-pom dance troupe, farmers of Thanatpin, Kawa
and Bago townships and local people totalling over 7,500. At the ceremony,
the Secretary-1 delivered an address.

The Secretary-1 said as is known to all, the State Peace and Development
Council, while trying to overcome external and internal hindrances, has laid
down better foundations for national development in order to enable the
nation to keep abreast with other nations. He said the government is striving
for the improvement of the socio-economic life of the people with added
momentum and for emergence of a peaceful, modern, developed nation while
further consolidating the united forces of all national races living in the
Union. In doing so, officials concerned are making endeavours for development
of economic infrastructures such as production based on agriculture,
forestry, meat and fish, mineral and energy resources, small- and me
dium-sized industrial production and trading activities and for the
harmonious and gradual development of education, health, culture and social
basis of the people. He said the government is working hard to ensure equal
progress for all regions after fulfilling the requirements of each region,
and also striving for harmonious and equal development of all parts of the
country in order to uplift the socio-economic life of local people.

He said major roads and bridges, irrigation networks and sluice gates which
are infrastructures for the development of economy of the State and
economically and socially necessary for the people, are being built
nationwide as priority projects in the time of the present government. In
building dams, reservoirs and sluice gates, various arrangements for
availability of water which are suitable for the respective regions, are
being made so as to exploit water and land resources, the basic strength of
the agriculture sector, in the the most beneficial way, he added. Secretary-1
addresses inauguration ceremony of Paingkyon Sluice Gate. Therefore, he said,
dam projects, water pumping projects and under-ground water projects are
being implemented in the regions where there is insufficient water. Sluice
gate projects are also being undertaken in low-lying areas and inundated
areas, he said. He said farmlands along the Bago-Sittaung canal became
difficult to cultivate due to the silt from Sittaung and Bago Rivers and
floods during the rainy seasons.

The Head of State gave guidance on building of sluice gates to prevent salty
water from flowing into the regions during the monsoon and to supply water in
summer, he said. Therefore Shankaing sluice gates in Waw Township was
inaugurated in March 2001 and later Paingkyon sluice gate in Kawa Township
was also opened, he said. He said Tawa sluice gate in Thanatpin Township is
under construction and arrangements have been made for construction of Kokko
sluice gate in Thanatpin Township and Zwebat sluice gate in Waw Township. The
Paingkyon sluice gate makes the local people free from social troubles caused
by floods and can supply water to 30,000 acres of farmlands all year round
and benefits will be gained for local farmers as it prevents salty water from
flowing into the farmlands, he added. He said the government built 29 dams
and sluice gates in Bago Division including the present one at a cost of K
21871.82 million and they are beneficial to 201,569 acres of farmlands. There
are 130 dams including the present one and benefited acres are over 1.8
million and the government spent K 51,453.03 million for these dams, he said.
Building a great number of dams is not the interest of the government but for
uplift of socio-economic life of farmers in rural areas. Due to the concerted
efforts of the entire people, national development is gaining momentum.
Infrastructures such as major roads, bridges across the rivers and dams have
emerged the length and breath of the nation. Many roads, bridges across the
rivers and streams and dams are under construction and under arrangement.

He pointed out that people should not be content with the progress achieved.
In order to speed up the development, officials concerned are making
concerted efforts for implementation of five rural development tasks of
development of transport in rural areas, water supply, uplift of health and
education standard of rural people and development of rural areas in accord
with the guidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe, he said. The
Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development
Affairs is building roads linking villages and roads joining villages and
towns with the aim of bettering the condition of transport in rural areas. In
the time of the present government, over 295 miles of tarred roads, over
1,900 miles of gravel roads, over 300 miles of laterite roads and over 13,000
miles of earth roads have been built in rural areas. To provide health care
to the people in rural areas, rural health centres and branches and station
hospitals have been opened. In 1988-89, there were only 1,337 rural health
centres; in 2000-2001, the number increased up to 1,402 by 65. The number of
rural health branches grew from 5,348 to 5,657 by over 300. In 1988-89, there
were 303 station hospitals; in 2000-2001, the number increased up to 395. To
upgrade the education standard of rural people, new basic education schools
have been opened and measures taken to improve pedagogical skills.

Only when the offspring of rural people become educated persons and
technicians, can efforts be made for the socio-economic development of local
people. So, education promotion programmes are being implemented in rural
areas. In 1988-89, there were 31,329 basic education primary schools; in
2000-2001, the number grew to 35,159 by 3,830. In 1988-89, there were 1,696
basic education middle schools; in 2000-2001, the number increased up to
3,099 by 1,403. Those who will have to enjoy the development of rural areas
are only farmers and the people in rural areas. The more schools are opened,
the more educated the children of the people become. Special emphasis has
been laid on the development of human resources. As the entire national
people have worked in unity and on self-reliance under the leadership of Head
of State Senior General Than Shwe, the foundations of development including
rural development have been achieved.

The State Peace and Development Council is working day and night with the aim
of developing the nation, improving national economy and raising the living
standard of the people. Due to genuine goodwill and love of the nation and
the people, the Government has managed to enlist public participation and
build the foundations of development for the nation. The cooperation between
the Government and the people is of great significance. With perfunctory
efforts, the foundations of development cannot be built. As the Government
has worked hard day and night, these good results have been achieved. If
there were no internal and external disturbances, more progress could be made
in building the foundations of development for the nation, and it is sure
that the national goal  emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed nation
will emerge soon.

Therefore, local farmers and people need to realize the goodwill and lofty
aims of the Government, to use the foundations of development effectively and
to continue to join hand with the Government in striving to enable the nation
to stand tall in the world, to strengthen national economy and to achieve
further development in such fields as education, health and culture. In
conclusion, the Secretary-1 urged the local people to work hard for the
improvement of their socio-economic life by effectively using the
agricultural development resulting from the opening of Paingkyone Sluice
Gate, to cooperate with local authorities and departmental personnel in
striving for the rapid development of rural areas and improvement of living
standard of local people in response to the goodwill of the Head of State, to
cooperate with the Government in working for the development of the nation
and improvement of national economy and to strive to overcome hindrances and
stringencies in building a prosperous nation. Then, Minister for Agriculture
and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin said.

Today, the State has erected a historic milestone for rural area development
because Paingkyon sluice gate could be commissioned into service as an
infrastructure for Bago Division, reliable one for economic development of
the State. In carrying out tasks for economic development of the State
placing priority on agriculture sector, as development of agro-based economy
has gained momentum, other related economy and social sectors will also
become developed in balance. Fruitful outcome has emerged through the
guidance for irrigation and flood prevention tasks which play a key role in
development of agriculture sector given by the Head of State who knows this
fact. In upper and central Myanmar, and dry zone, large, medium and small
irrigation projects, river water pumping projects are being implemented all
over the region. In lower Myanmar, tasks are being carried out with various
ways and means for utilisation of fallow and vacant land where agriculture
works could not be done due to unfavourable natural conditions  floods and
salty water.

Due to endeavours made by the State for irrigation and flood prevention in
short period, a total of 130 projects all over the country including fifteen
clusters of dam in eastern part of Bago Yoma, eight in western part of Bago
Yoma, ten in eastern part of Magway, two in western part of Magway, twelve in
Myingyan and Meikhtila, three in Shwebo and Monywa and four in western part
of Ayeyawady River have emerged as prominent buildings in the history of
irrigation in Myanmar. The ratio of irrigated farmland has increased to 19
per cent of net sown acreage all across the country; 25 million acres
compared with 2.5 million in 1988. Today, the State is making endeavours for
building industrialised country based on agriculture. In doing so,
preparatory work are to be made for implementing scheduled tasks for
2002-2003 which is the second year of five-year short term project
implemented since 2001-2002 to 2005-2006. In forthcoming 2002-2003, a total
of 16.4 million acres of paddy  monsoon paddy 13.4 million acres and summer
paddy 3 million acres, 7.7 million acres of purses and beans, 6.6 million
acres of oil crops, 890,000 acres of cotton, 500,000 acres of sugar cane and
760,000 acres of corn are scheduled to be grown.

He urged the attendance to make efforts for boosting of regional agricultural
production and successful implementation of objectives of the State. Because
of silt in the drainages taking out water from Bago and Sittaung rivers,
fields along Bago-Sittaung canal in the south of Pagaita region in Bago
Division, water flow in rainy season was difficult for a long time. The
region became an inundated area and it caused difficulties in cultivating.
So, arrangements for re-digging main drainages in this region and
constructing of sluice gates have been made. Now, Shankai and Paigkyon sluice
gates are in existence and Tawa and Zwebat sluice gates are under
construction. Winkadat, Kanpyo, Kokko and Sema sluice gates will be built.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation would like to record the effort of
local authorities in Bago Division and staff from Irrigation Department who
actively took part in building this sluice gate.

Local farmers and people are to maintain the sluice gate that is the proof of
the goodwill of the State for the progress of socio-economic life of local
people and to strive for the progress of industrial agriculture. Then,
Chairman of Bago Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Southern
Command Brig-Gen Aung Thein made a speech. He said local people had witnessed
that fields along Bago-Sittoung canal were inundated area because of silt in
the drainages that make water flow difficult. Recently built Paikkyon sluice
gate can take out water in Paikkyon Creek into the Bago River. Closing the
sluice gate will contribute to preventing of sea water entering the river
when river water rises. The sluice gate can prevent 30,000 acres of land in
the division from flood, and it can retain fresh water and prevent sea water
from entering the fields. So, paddy and other crops can be grown well and
income and living standard of local farmers and will rise.

He said he would like to thank leaders of the State and the Ministry of
Agriculture and Irrigation for building the sluice gate. It is needed to
maintain the sluice gate that was built at a cost of a large amount of money,
and officials from Bago Division Peace and Development Council, Kawa Township
Peace and Development Council and village Peace and Development Council in
Bago Division and farmers are to maintain the sluice gate. The officials in
the division and people will actively maintain it, he said. Then, Kawa
Township USDA Secretary U Aye Naing spoke words of thanks for building the
sluice gate. Next, the Secretary-1 presented prizes of honour for service
personnel who participated in the construction of the sluice gate to Director
U Maung Maung Myint of Construction Group-6 and mechanical technicians for
Assistant Director U Hla Myint of ID. Afterwards, the inauguration ceremony
was held at the archway of the sluice gate. The Secretary-1 unveiled the
stone inscriptions of the sluice gate. Then, Minister for Agriculture and
Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin and Commander Brig-Gen Aung Min opened the
sluice gate. After the opening ceremony, the Secretary-1 and party posed for
documentary photo together with local people in front of the archway.

Next, the Secretary-1 cordially met the local people and inspected the sluice
gate. At the briefing hall, the Secretary-1 gave instructions on upgrading of
local roads to the officials. Afterwards, Minister Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin reported
on drainage of wetland areas, south of Pagaing embankment in Bago District
and tasks being carried out for water supply of agricultural tasks in summer.
Then, Director-General U Kyaw San Win of ID reported on facts related to
Paingkyon Sluice Gate, construction tasks and benefited area of the sluice
gate. Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and Maj-Gen Tin Aye of the Ministry of Defence
and Commander Brig-Gen Aung Min gave supplementary reports. The Secretary-1
left necessary instructions. Paingkyon Sluice Gate was built near the
confluence of Paingkyon Creek and Bago River in Kawa Township. The concrete
sluice gate has 37 6-ft by 12-ft-wide valves. The sluice gate will benefit
30,000 acres of land. The sluice gate was built with the aims of draining the
wetland areas in Kawa Township in rainy season and ensuring to prevent the
flood water of Bago River, storing the fresh water in summer season and
preventing salty water and silt.

__________________________

to be continued ...