The New Light of Myanmar (Friday,5 April, 2002)

[Ok Kar <okkar66126@xxxxxxxxx>]

The New Light of Myanmar (Friday,5 April, 2002)
-------------------------
1. General Maung Aye receives Chinese guests
2.-  F&R Minister receives Assistant Minister of PRC
   - F&R Minister receives Japanese guests
   - Minister receives Japanese guests
   - ASEAN Finance Ministers and Secretary-General
     arrive
3. Foreign diplomats and CCDAC hold meeting Wa region
   witnesses marked decline in poppy cultivation
4. - Mekong Subregion environmental meeting continues
   - 13th Meeting of Working Group on Greater Mekong
     Subregion held
5. - Ministry of Health honours 75 employees
   - Minister looks into development tasks in Chin
     State
6. Maj-Gen Maung Bo attends work coord meetings in
   Taninthayi Division
7. - Commander attends opening of tour guide course in

     Mawlamyine
   - Commander attends summer paddy harvesting
     ceremony in Pathein
   - Commander attends work coord meeting
   - Commander inspects regional development work
     in Mantong
   - Farm machinery operating course opened
   - Commander attends Mandalay Division GEC
     annual meeting
8. Mayor attends consecration ceremony of bronze
   image in Uto-Kya-in
9. National races study group tours Yangon

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( 1 ) General Maung Aye receives Chinese guests

Yangon, 4 April - Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the
Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General
Maung Aye received Vice Minister of Commission of
Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence,
the People's Republic of China, Mr Zhang Weimin and
party at the Ministry of Defence at 9 am today. Also
present at the call were Secretary-1 of the State
Peace and Development Council Chief of Military
Intelligence Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, senior military
officers of the Ministry of Defence and Military,
Naval and Air Attache of PRC Senior Col Xu Shulai.

___________________________


( 2 ) F&R Minister receives Assistant Minister of PRC

Yangon, 4 April - Minister for Finance and Revenue U
Khin Maung Thein received Assistant Minister for
Finance of the People's Republic of China Mr Li Yong
and party currently here to attend the Sixth ASEAN+3
Finance Ministers' Meeting, at the Traders Hotel on
Sule Pagoda Road here at 2 pm today. They discussed
matters relating to bilateral issues between the two
countries.

---------

F&R Minister receives Japanese guests

Yangon, 4 April - Minister for Finance and Revenue U
Khin Maung Thein received Deputy Director-General of
the Ministry of Finance of Japan Mr Hiroshi Watanabe
and party currently here to attend the Sixth ASEAN+3
Finance Ministers' Meeting, at the Traders Hotel on
Sule Pagoda Road here at 1 pm today. They cordially
and frankly discussed matters relating to bilateral
issues between the two countries. Vice-Governor of the
Central Bank of Myanmar U Than Lwin was also present
on the occasion.

---------

Minister receives Japanese guests

Yangon, 4 April - Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein
received Advisers Prof Kazuko Kimura and party of
Japan International Cooperation of Welfare Services
(JICWELS) at his office this morning. Also present at
the call were Deputy Minister Prof Dr Mya Oo and
officials.

---------

ASEAN Finance Ministers and Secretary-General arrive

Yangon, 4 April -Finance ministers and the
secretary-General of ASEAN arrived here today to
attend the 6th ASEAN Finance Ministers' Meeting to be
hosted by Myanmar. They were welcomed at Yangon
International Airport by Minister for Finance and
Revenue U Khin Maung Thein and officials.

___________________________

( 3 ) Foreign diplomats and CCDAC hold meeting Wa
region witnesses marked decline in poppy cultivation

Yangon, 4 April -A meeting between the diplomats of
foreign embassies who were on a study tour of Wa
region and the Central Committee for Drug Abuse
Control was held at New Kengtung hotel in Kengtung on
1 April evening. Chairman of the CCDAC Minister for
Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing and Vice-Chairman Minister
for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung briefed the diplomats
on historical facts of Wa region, cooperative efforts
with the State for development of the region, the
success already achieved and cultivation of
opium-substitute crops.

In response to the queries raised by the diplomats,
Minister Col Tin Hlaing said efforts for abandoning
cultivation of poppy have been carring out in Wa
region since 1996, and the Wa group has been making
efforts after declaring that the region will be an
opium-free zone by the year 2005 and the CCDAC has
also been fulfilling the requirements. Village level
Wa cadres have been trained in Penghseng at the end of
last year. At the course, development tasks as well as
eradication of drugs and the CCDAC's plans have been
lectured.

Due to the combined efforts, there has been a marked
decline in poppy cultivation. The UNDCP and the CCDAC
have implemented the project to collect data on
illegal poppy cultivation and socio-economy of people
in Shan State, and success has been achieved in
carrying out the task. The Wa group's willingness in
collecting data is obvious. Cooperative efforts
contribute to achieving success at the border with
China. Action will be taken against rich people who
have given encouragement to produce opium and
drug-traffickers.

The SURA drug trafficking group has produced stimulant
tablets and used evil ways to create conflicts at the
border area. The meeting then came to a close. Deputy
Commander of the Triangle Region Command Brig-Gen
Myint Swe hosted a dinner to the ministers and
diplomats at the hotel. After the dinner, guests were
entertained to traditional dances. Then, the ministers
and Dean of Diplomatic Corps Ambassador of Laos My Ly
Bounkham presented a banquet to the traditional dance
troupe.

__________________________

( 4 ) Mekong Subregion environmental meeting continues

Yangon, 4 April - The 8th Meeting of the Environmental
Working Group on the Mekong Subregion, held under the
arrangement of Myanmar National Commission for
Environmental Affairs and in cooperation with the Asia
Development Bank, continued for the second day at the
Sedona Hotel this morning.

It was attended by delegates from six member nations
of Mekong Subregion, ADB and UN agencies. The
officials of ADB reported on the environmental
cooperation programme for the six member nations. In
the afternoon, the Working Group met with the Travel
Association on the Subregion. They discussed matters
related to environmental strategy of GMS programmes to
be implemented from 2002 to 2005. Then, a general
round of discussions followed.

----------

13th Meeting of Working Group on Greater Mekong
Subregion held

Yangon, 4 April - The 13th Meeting of the Working
Group on the Greater Mekong Subregion, the preliminary
meeting for the 7th Mekong Tourism Forum to be hosted
by Myanmar and organized by Pacific Asia Travel
Association, took place at the Sedona Hotel on Kaba
Aye Pagoda Road here this morning.

Present were high-ranking delegates of the member
countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion  Cambodia,
the People's Republic of China, the Lao People's
Democratic Republic, the Union of Myanmar, the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Thailand, officials
of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Economic
and Social Commission of Asia and Pacific (ESCAP),
Asia Development Bank (ADB), Agency for Coordinating
Mekong Tourism Activities, UNESCO and international
airlines, officials of the Ministry for Hotels and
Tourism and private tourism agencies.

Mr Ryuji Yama Kawa of ESCAP and Director of AMTA Mr
Paisan Wangsai extended greetings. Director-General of
the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism Services
Chairman of the Meeting U Khin Maung Latt explained
the agenda of the meeting and tasks carried out. Then,
the delegates of the member countries discussed
matters related to destination marketing, sub-regional
events, training and management of natural and
cultural resources, and the morning session of the
meeting adjourned for a while. The meeting continued
at 1.30 pm and Director-General U Khin Maung Latt made
an address.

Those present discussed matters on Mekong/Lancang
River Tourism Development, Facilitation of Travel,
Village Based Tourism, Greater Mekong Subregion
Tourism Flows, International Organizations Initiatives
on Tourism Development in The Greater Mekong
Subregion, Strengthening Ownership and the date and
place to be designated for the 14th Meeting of the
Working Group on the Greater Mekong Subregion.

The meeting came to a close in the evening with
concluding remarks by Chairman of the meeting
Director-General U Khin Maung Latt. Minister for
Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin hosted a dinner in
honour of the delegates at the Sedona Hotel in the
evening.

__________________________

( 5 ) Ministry of Health honours 75 employees

Yangon, 4 April - A ceremony to honour the employees
of the Ministry of Health who had been awarded
honorary medals of the State was held at the Institute
of Nursing this afternoon, addressed by Minister for
Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein. Also present were Deputy
Minister for Health Professor Dr Mya Oo,
directors-general, deputy directors-general, rectors,
directors, deputy directors and medical
superintendents of the Ministry of Health, heads of
State/Division Health Departments and medal-winning
employees.

The minister said that the purpose of the ceremony is
to honour those worthy of honour and to inspire the
rest of the health employees to greater efforts. He
added that as is known to all, the Buddha says that
good health is a great boon. Very noble is the work of
doctors and nurses who provide services for people to
be able to enjoy the bliss of good health. Out of
various kinds of righteous livelihood, provision of
health care is endowed with such virtues as
loving-kindness, sympathy and patience.

Then, the minister presented awards and certificates
of honour to five employees who won the medals (first
grade) for excellent performance in the management
field and two employees who won the medals (first
grade) for excellent performance in the social field.
The deputy minister presented awards and certificates
of honour to seven employees who won the medals
(second grade) for excellent performance in the
management field and three employees who won the
medals (second grade) for excellent performance in the
social field.

The officials also presented awards and certificates
of honour to six employees who won the medals (third
grade) for excellent performance in the management
field and 52 employees who won the medals (third
grade) for excellence performance in the social field.
Professor of Mandalay People's Hospital Dr Khun Soe
Moe spoke words of thanks. The minister hosted a
dinner in honour of the medal-winning employees on the
lawns of the Institute of Medicine-1 at night.

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Minister looks into development tasks in Chin State

Yangon, 4 April -Minister for Progress of Border Areas
and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein
Nyunt, accompanied by Director-General of the
Development Affairs Department Col Myo Myint and
officials, arrived at Pauk in Magway Division on 1
April and met with departmental employees, members of
the Union Solidarity and Development Association and
War Veterans Organization at the township hall there.

Chairman of Pauk Township Peace and Development
Council U Hla Than briefed the minister on rural and
urban development tasks, and Executive of Township
Development Affairs Department U Myo Min Tun on tasks
for rural road and water supply. Minister Col Thein
Nyunt fulfilled the requirements, proceeded to
Kyaukhtu and arrived there at 2 pm. Chairman of Gangaw
District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Htay Oo
presented a report. Then, the minister and party
arrived at Mindat in the evening and met with
district/township level departmental officials at the
district hall. Chairman of Mindat District Peace and
Development Council Lt-Col Ohn Myint and officials
reported on departmental tasks.

After attending to their needs, the minister handed
over books and periodicals published by the Ministry
for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and
Development Affairs and the Ministry of Information to
officials concerned. The minister also presented gifts
to the students of No 1 Border Areas and National
Youths Training School at the school in Mindat. He
then presented offertories to Hill Missionary Sayadaw
Thaddhamma Joti-kadhaja Bhaddanta Panasiri of
Taungpulu Monastery. The minister and party then
inspected No 2 Border Areas and National Youths
Training School in Mindat and presented gifts to the
students there.

He then presented offertories to Sayadaw U Neya-dhamma
of the Theravada Buddhist Missionary Central School.
Central Executive Committee member of the USDA Col
Thein Nyunt arrived at the office of Mindat Township
USDA and met with USDA members and WVO members at the
hall of the office. He made a speech there. After
fulfilling the needs, the minister left there. He
inspected tea plantations at 9th Mile. The minister
also inspected construction of a road by Mindat
Township Public Works at 48th mile. The minister
arrived at Matupi in the evening.

___________________________

( 6 ) Maj-Gen Maung Bo attends work coord meetings in
Taninthayi Division

Yangon, 4 April - Member of the State Peace and
Development Council Maj-Gen Maung Bo of the Ministry
of Defence met with Deputy Commander of Coastal Region
Command Brig-Gen Tin Latt, Secretary Lt-Col Khin Maung
Nyo of Taninthayi Division Peace and Development
Council, departmental officials, members of the
Division Agricultural Supervisory Committee,
division/district/township managers of Myanma
Agriculture Service at the office of Division MAS
yesterday morning and discussed extension of
cultivation.

Maj-Gen Maung Bo gave instructions on local
sufficiency of rice, dissemination of technology to
boost per-acre yield and conducting a tour of
inspection to fulfil requirements of peasants. Next,
Division Manager U Than Naing of MAS reported on the
work being carried out in the region, total sown
acreage of paddy, efforts being made to boost per-acre
yield of paddy, arrangements to distribute quality
strains and future tasks.

Maj-Gen Maung Bo fulfilled the requirements. Then,
Maj-Gen Maung Bo also attended a work coordination
meeting on regional development tasks at the office of
Taninthayi Division Peace and Development Council.
Maj-Gen Maung Bo spoke of the need for departmental
personnel and local people to cooperate in striving
for regional development. He called on them to carry
out the five rural development tasks successfully.
Later, departmental officials reported on the tasks
being implemented for regional development, future
tasks and requirements. Maj-Gen Maung Bo attended to
their needs.

___________________________

( 7 ) Commander attends opening of tour guide course
in Mawlamyine

Yangon, 4 April- A ceremony to open the tour guide
course, co-organized by the Ministry of Hotels and
Tourism and Mon State Maternal and Child Welfare
Association, was held at Yamanya Hall of Mon State
Peace and Development Council in Mawlamyine on 1 April
morning.

Present were Chairman of Mon State Peace and
Development Council Commander of South-East Command
Brig-Gen Thura Myint Aung, Deputy Commander Brig-Gen
Myo Hla, senior military officers, patron of Mon State
MCWA Supervisory Committee Daw Than Than Nwe and
members, Secretary of Mon State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Col Aung Maw Maw and members, departmental
officials, course supervisory committee members,
social organizations and trainees. The commander gave
a speech.

Principal U Ohn Kyaw of the basic tour guide training
school of the ministry reported on matters related to
the course. A total of 60 trainees are attending the
six-week course. Next, the commander attended the rice
offering cere-mony for 1,112 members of the Sangha who
took the 29th Pahtamapyan examination at Minkyaung
Pariyatti Sarthintaik in Mawlamyine. First, the
commander and the congregation took the Five Precepts
from Administrator Sayadaw of the Sarthintaik
Bhaddanta Naginda.

Then, the commander and party offered provisions to
invited members of the Sangha. Afterwards, the
commander presented K 150,000 donated by Mon State
Peace and Development Council to member of Mon State
Peace and Development Council U Kyin Pe. The commander
then accepted K 1,568,000 donated by Mawlamyine
District and Township Peace and Development Councils,
USDA, shopkeepers, Township Bus-line Association and
Powered Schooner Owners Association. Then, the
Administrator Sayadaw delivered a sermon, followed by
sharing of merits.

---------

Commander attends summer paddy harvesting ceremony in
Pathein

Yangon, 4 April - A summer paddy model plot harvesting
ceremony for year 2001-2002 of Ayeyawady Division was
held at the plot of farmer U Hnan Kyi of Phayagyigon
Village on 2 April.

Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development
Council Commander of South-West Command Brig-Gen Htay
Oo, Deputy Commander Brig-Gen Tint Swe and senior
military officers, Secretary of Ayeyawady Division
Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Sein Maung and
members, departmental officials, Pathein district and
township Peace and Development Council chairmen,
members of Union Solidarity and Development
Association and local farmers attended the ceremony.

The commander and those present viewed the harvesting
and threshing of summer paddy at the model plot. The
commander cordially met with the local farmers and
discussed matters related to boosting sown acreage,
minimizing loss and wastage, raising per acre yield
and utilizing mixture of EM Bokashi fertilizer,
bio-fertilizer and spray fertilizer for reducing the
cost of cultivation. Then, the commander attended to
the needs.

The summer paddy model plot produces 81.48 baskets of
paddy per acre. Up to 31 March, the entire Ayeyawady
Division has harvested 387,109 acres and produced
72.91 baskets of paddy per acre. Then, the commander
visited Tharoung Maha Pagoda in Phayagyigon Village
and paid reverence to the pagoda. Later, he inspected
the all-round renovation of the pagoda and left
necessary instructions and attended to the needs.

---------

Commander attends work coord meeting

 Yangon, 4 April - Chairman of Ayeyawady Division
Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West
Command Brig-Gen Htay Oo, accompanied by Deputy
Commander Brig-Gen Tint Swe and officials, inspected
tube-well sinking site being implemented as a rural
water supply task by the Union Solidarity and
Development Association in Pathein University campus
yesterday morning and fulfilled the requirements
reported by officials of the site. In the afternoon,
the commander attended work coordination meeting on
boosting of agricultural production at the office of
Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council and
made a speech. After hearing the reports by officials,
the commander attended to the needs.

---------

Commander inspects regional development work in
Mantong

Yangon, 4 April- Chairman of Shan State (North) Peace
and Development Council Commander of North-East
Command Brig-Gen Myint Hlaing and officials inspected
a smelting plant of Namtu Mine of No 1 Mining
Enterprise in Namtu on 28 March. General Manager U
Aung Win and Chief Engineer U Nay Myo reported on the
work undertaken. The commander fulfilled the
requirements.

The commander inspected the paving of road on 37-mile
Namtu-Mantong Road and construction of 57-mile
Mantong-Momeik Road. Assistant Engineer of
Construction Project Special Group-1 U Aung Kyaw Naing
reported on progress of work. On 29 March, the
commander presented offertories to Sayadaw Bhaddanta
Kosara of Aungmingala Myole Kyaungtaik in Mantong.

The commander inspected construction of a two-storey
building of Basic Education High School and
preparations for the opening of a multimedia teaching
centre. The commander attended a ceremony to present
cash for Mantong region development work by Asia World
Co. The commander presented two tractors for use in
agricultural work in Mantong to local national race
leader U Aik Mone. Director U Kye of Asia World
presented 300 CI sheets and K 500,000 for Mantong
region development to Chairman of Kyaukme District
Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Maung Maung Kyi
and officials. National race leader U Aik Mone thanked
the donor.

---------

Farm machinery operating course opened

Yangon, 4 April - The opening of the Farm Machinery
Operating Course No 2/2002 of Myanma Agriculture
Service was held at the Htoo Mon quality strain
production research farm of MAS in Lashio on 30 March.
Present were Shan State (North) Peace and Development
Council Chairman North-East Command Commander Brig-Gen
Myint Hlaing, Col Soe Oo of Hsenwi Station and senior
Tatmadaw officers, local authorities, departmental
officials and trainees.

The commander first delivered an address. Next, he
cordially met with local farmers at the ceremony and
fulfilled their requirements. Afterwards, the
commander and party attended the demonstration of
power tillers, farm machinery and implements held on
the lawn in front of the training hall. The six-day
course is being attended by 53 local farmers. At 11
am, the commander inspected the Htoo Mon reservoir and
supply of water. The earthen reservoir is 710 feet
long and 80 feet high. It supplies cultivation water
to 1,850 acres of crop land and 500,000 gallons of
water for domestic use daily to Lashio. At noon, he
inspected the construction of a modern stadium by Asia
World Co in Lashio. He fulfilled the requirements and
gave instructions.

---------

Commander attends Mandalay Division GEC annual meeting


Yangon, 4 April - The annual general meeting of
Mandalay Division Government Employee Cooperatives Ltd
took place at the grand hall of the Upgraded Zay Cho
Taw Market in Mandalay on 2 April morning. It was
attended by Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and
Development Council Commander of Central Command
Brig-Gen Ye Myint, Chairman of Mandalay City
Development Committee Mayor Brig-Gen Yan Thein,
Secretary of the division Lt-Col Tin Ohn and division
level departmental officials, officials and members of
the GEC Ltd and guests.

 Commander Brig-Gen Ye Myint and Chairman of the GEC
Ltd Director of Mandalay Division Cooperatives
Department U Aung Phyu made speeches. Reports and
financial statements of the GEC were read out by
respective executives. Then, Chairman U Aung Phyu
presented K 50,000 for the Mandalay Division Union
Solidarity and Development Association donated by the
GEC to Secretary of the association U Tin Maung Oo.
Later, the meeting continued according to the agenda.

___________________________

( 8 ) Mayor attends consecration ceremony of bronze
image in Uto-Kya-in

Yangon, 4 April - Chairman of Yangon City Development
Committee Mayor U Ko Lay, accompanied by officials,
attended consecration of the bronze image and merit
sharing ceremony of religious edifices of Ayechansipin
Pagoda in Uto-Kya-in region, Taikkyi Township, this
morning. First, members of the Sangha led by
Zeyathukha Kyaungtaik Sayadaw of the Aukalabot Village
consecrated the image.

The congregation received the Nine Precepts from the
members of the Sangha and presented offertories to the
Sangha. Then, members of the Sangha delivered a sermon
and the congregation shared the merits gained.
Afterwards, Soon was offered to the Sangha. Later, the
mayor proceeded to the agriculture farm and inspected
cultivation of pepper, onion and other vegetables in
the greenhouse plantation. The mayor also inspected
fresh water prawn breeding ponds, production of edible
oil, extension of briquette factory, milling of paddy
and poultry farms and left necessary instructions.

___________________________

( 9 ) National races study group tours Yangon

Yangon, 4 April - The 150-member study group - 25 Naga
nationals from Lashei Township, Sagaing Division, 34
Chin nationals from Kyikha region in Tonzang Township,
Chin State, 45 national race members from Mongsit and
Narai regions in Shan State (South) and 46 national
race members from Aungthabye Village in Maungtaw
Township, Rakhine State, currently on a study tour
here at the invitation of Border Areas and National
Races Development Work Committee Chairman State Peace
and Development Council Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt,
toured Yangon South District this morning. The group
first visited Kyaikkhauk Pagoda in Thanlyin Township
at 7 am. Then, they visited Kyaikhmawwun Yayle Pagoda
in Kyauktan Township. The group also visited the
National Race Village and Shukhintha Amusement Park in
Thakayta Township.

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