The New Light of Myanmar (Monday, 1 July, 2002)

[Ok Kar <okkar66126@xxxxxxxxx>]

The New Light of Myanmar (Monday, 1 July, 2002)
------------------------------
1. State Peace and Development Council Chairman
   Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations
   to Canada
2. Secretary-1 hosts dinner in honour of literati,
   Third MWJA Conference delegates
3. Secretary-1 attends opening of school
   buildings at Hlinethaya BEPS No 20,
   Shwepyitha Day Nursery, Insein BEPS No 37
4. Rakhine nationals support mass rallies
   denouncing SURA and KNU insurgents and
   show respect for sovereignty
5. Text books and cassette tapes handed over
6. - Maj-Gen Ye Myint attends opening of
     Magway traditional Medicine Hospital (16-Bed)
   - Golden bolts and nuts fixed for iron frame
     of Ayeyawady River (Magway) Bridge
7. Maj-Gen Ye Myint addresses opening
   of multimedia teaching centre
8. - Surgical treatments performed for cleft lip
     and palate patients
   - Minister inspects bridge construction
9. - Yangon Command Commander's
     shield soccer tournament ends
   - MWJA Conference delegates visit Book Fair

---------

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

Yangon, 1 July- Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of
the State Peace and Development Council of the Union
of Myanmar, has sent a message of felicitations to the
Right Honourable Ms Adrienne Clarkson,
Governor-General of Canada, on the occasion of the
Anniversary of the National Day of Canada which falls
on 1 July 2002.

___________________________

( 2 ) Secretary-1 hosts dinner in honour of literati,
Third MWJA Conference delegates

Yangon, 30 June - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and
Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt hosted a dinner
in honour of literati and delegates to the Third
Conference of Myanmar Writers and Journalists
Association at Karaweik Palace at Kandawgyi at 6.30 pm
today.



Also present at the dinner were members of the State
Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen Soe Win and
Maj-Gen Thein Sein of the Ministry of Defence,
Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development
Council Commander Maj-Gen Myint Swe, the ministers,
the Auditor-General, the Chairman of Civil Service
Selection and Training Board, the Yangon Mayor, the
deputy ministers, the director-general of the State
Peace and Development Council Office and departmental
heads, Chairman of Myanmar Writers and Journalists
Association U Hla Myaing (Ko Hsaung) and CEC members,
members of the Central Committee for Holding the Third
Conference, members of the committee and work
committees, scholars, officials of the Ministry of
Information, chairmen, vice-chairmen and officials of
social organizations, delegates of States and
Divisions, observers, well-wishers and guests.

At the ceremony, Secretary of MWJA U Hla Tun (Hla
Tun-Twantay) acted as master of ceremonies. The
Secretary-1 delivered an address. The Secretary-1 said
discussion in unity as a consolidated national force
of literati at the national literary conference which
was held every four years is a reliable basic
foundation for raising standard of Myanmar literature
and development of knowledge of the people.

He said throughout the history, literati have been
preserving heritage of Myanmar literature and served
literary duty of development of Myanmar literature and
handing down heritage of literature. He said Myanmar
literati have historical tradition and discharged
literary duties in successive eras. He said he
believed that organizing them as a consolidated
national force would contribute toward the interest of
the nation and the people. Myanmar people are pious
and polite due to Myanmar literature and teachings.
They want justice and peace and prosperity and have
patience.

They also had tradition of citizens, he said. He said
throughout the thousands of years of literary history,
literati organized Myanmar people to be polite with
the strength of literature. He said ancient Myanmar
literati were able to make efforts to possess military
strength with high national prestige and integrity
when necessary.

He urged the present day literati to strive for
development of Myanmar literature on the right
national path preserving such a good tradition. At a
time when efforts are being made for all-round
development of the nation with added momentum, it is
necessary to carry out the tasks for uplift of IQ of
citizens through education sector and literature
sector, he added.

He said the government has been giving encouragement
to development of literature and present Doctor of
Literature and literary titles to deserving literati.
Continuing, he said, literati are to make efforts for
increase of heritage of national literature, to watch
international situations and study mass communication
technology without losing the sight and to organize
the people to have knowledge of the people, clear
national outlook and to have strong spirit.

He spoke of the need for the literature which is the
main source in preserving national culture to possess
national characters. The historical evidences showed
that the expression  if literature is lost, the race
will be lost, will be true forever to the end of the
world. Nowadays, some news agencies are spreading
false news to tarnish dignity among the people and to
break up national solidarity using advanced
information and communication technology, he said.

He urged literati to make efforts for Myanmar people
to gain knowledge, to know the true international and
Myanmar situations through literary strength. He
pointed out that a few writers responded with reports
from national point of view when the interests of the
Myanmar and her people are harmed. As safeguarding
national interest is the national concern, each and
every literati should provide support to it more
enthusiastically, he said. Literature has the power to
agitate and enhance the nationalist spirit among the
public and it has the tradition to take part actively
in the activities of national interest through
consecutive eras. Myanmar people have been excellent
in bravery as well as in literature.

Myanmar literature had effectively agitate the people
in the anti-colonialist period and the national
independence struggles. He continued to say that
nowadays, the country is being built up into a
peaceful, modern and developed one and the entire
people are striving to safeguard the national
interest. In this context, national alertness and
solidarity of national strength are utmost
requirements of the nation.ÊHence, the entire national
literary force under the leadership of the MWJA should
be united constantly keeping nationalist spirit alive
and dynamic. And, the literary force is to actively
participate with the might of literature in the
endeavours for enhancing nationalist spirit among the
people and fulfilling the literary and national aims
in full, he urged. he also urged the literati to abide
by the code of conducts and make efforts for creating
literary works of high standard.

The literati are to create literature for enhancing
Union Spirit and patriotism. In addition to literary
duties, the literati are to organize the people with
the literary might to safeguard the motherland when
the national sovereignty and prestige are harmed. In
conclusion, he urged the literati to be united under
the leadership of the MWJA

- for contributing towards the successful
implementation of national policy and objectives;
- for producing literary works which are full of
Myanmar's gentle attitude and nationalist spirit;
- for enhancing national literary immunity against
infiltration of alien culture and enduring destructive
acts with the misuse of IT;
- for flourishing of those literature which enhance
national prestige and integrity and responding, with
correct stand, external literature harming the
national prestige and integrity.

Then, Vice-Chairman of Asia Wealth Bank Ltd U Aik Tun
donated K 1 million to MWJA Chairman U Hla Myaing (Ko
Hsaung) who spoke words of thanks.

Next, the Secretary-1 hosted a dinner in hour of the
scholars and the delegates. After the dinner, the
Secretary-1 cordially met with the scholars and the
delegates.

___________________________

( 3 ) Secretary-1 attends opening of school buildings
at Hlinethaya BEPS No 20, Shwepyitha Day Nursery,
Insein BEPS No 37

Yangon, 30 June - The opening ceremonies of the school
building of Basic Education Primary School No 20 in
Hlinethaya Township, the Day Nursery in Shwepyitha
Industrial Town, Shwepyitha Township, and the school
building of BEPS No 37 in Insein Township were held at
the respective venues this morning, attended by
Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 of
the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt.

Also present on the occasions were Chairman of Yangon
Division Peace and Development Council Commander
Maj-Gen Myint Swe, ministers, deputy ministers, the
vice-mayor, officials of the State Peace and
Development Council Office, departmental heads,
officials, local authorities, Division, District and
Township Education Officers, school heads, teachers,
construction entrepreneurs, members of the Union
Solidarity and Development Association and social
organizations, well-wishers, parents, students and
guests.

First, the opening ceremony of the school building of
Basic Education Primary School No 20, donated by
Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development
and FMI Garden Development Ltd, was held at the
building at the corner of Tabinshwehti and Pale Yadana
Roads in Ward 5, Hlinethaya Township, at 9 am.

The Secretary-1 was welcomed there by the students
singing the song " Myanma School " to the
accompaniment of the band of Hlinethaya BEHS No 2.
Then, Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Myint
Thein, Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win
Maung, SPA, FMI Group of Companies Chairman Mr Serge
Pun (a) U Thein Wai formally opened the school
building. Next, Deputy Director-General Col Tin Tun of
DHSHD handed over documents related to the building to
Director-General U Tin Win of No 3 Basic Education
Department. Afterwards, the Secretary-1 accepted K 1
million for the BEPS No 20 donated by U Soe Myint of
FMI Garden Development Ltd, K 1 million by U Kyaw Pe
of Myanmar ELE Steel Industries Co Ltd, K 500,000 by
Eiksitan Co Ltd, K 300,000  by U Maung Maung of
Myanmar Ngwelayaung, K 200,000 by U Aye Cho of
Shinning Moon, K 200,000 by U Soe Naing of Ward 5 and
K 100,000 by U Cho of Shwe Family Furniture Industry.
Then, the Secretary-1 and party inspected the building
and cordially met the students.

At 9.30 am, the Secretary-1 and party attended the
opening ceremony of Day Nursery in Shwepyitha
Industrial City, Shwepyitha Township. At the ceremony,
Director-General U Arnt Kyaw of DHSHD, Director U Boe
Than of Social Welfare Department and Chairperson Prof
Daw Kyu Kyu Swe of Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare
Association formally opened the nursery. The
Secretary-1 inspected the day nursery. Afterwards, the
Secretary-1 and party attended the opening ceremony of
the school building of BEPS No 37 in Insein Township.



Deputy Minister for Construction U Tint Swe and Deputy
Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung formally
opened the school building. Then, the ceremony to mark
the opening of the school building was held at the
hall. Director-General U Arnt Kyaw of DHSHD reported
on the purpose of the donation. Next, Deputy
Director-General Col Tin Tun of DHSHD handed over
documents related to the building to Director-General
U Tin Win of No 3 BED.

Afterwards, the Secretary-1, the commander and the
ministers accepted K 300,000 for the nursery donated
by Well-wishers. Headmistress Daw Baby Ohn of Insein
BEPS No 37 spoke words of thanks.


Then, the Secretary-1 and party inspected the school
building. The school buildings of Hlinethaya BEPS No
20 and Insein BEPS No 37 were built with the designs
to be upgraded into the basic education high schools.
The two schools, with 24 feet by 30 feet classrooms,
are of RC three-storey buildings. The schools have 22
classrooms, assembly halls, altar halls and computer
rooms. In addition, houses for watchmen, canteens and
toilets were built at the school buildings separately.
The school have the reserved areas in the compound
where two similar buildings can be built.



FMI Garden Development Ltd sponsored for construction
of the Hlinethaya BEPS No 20 with K 20 million in
cooperation with DHSHD. Shwepyitha Day Nursery and
Insein BEPS No 37 were donated by DHSHD. Shwepyitha
Day Nursery was opened with the aim of taking care
babies of women workers from Shwepyitha Industrial
City.

There are about 100 children being taken care of at
the nursery from 7 am to 5 pm daily. The children were
served with breakfast and lunch. Arrangements are
being made to accept 100 more children. DHSHD has been
building school buildings near housing estates and
industrial towns. The department has built 30 school
buildings valued at K 764 million from 1988 to date;
25 school buildings worth K 602 million in cooperation
with construction entrepreneurs, totalling 55
buildings worth K 1,366 million.

After the ceremony, the Secretary-1 and party
inspected MB Biscuit Factory of Super Five
International Co Ltd in Region 3 of Shwepyitha
Industrial Town. Managing Director U Kyi Myint
reported on completion of installation of machines and
test-running of the factory. The Secretary-1 gave
necessary instructions.

Then, the Secretary-1 and party proceeded to the
Fluorescent Lamps Factory of Myanmar Lighting
Manufacturing Co Ltd. They inspected machines, raw
materials and products. Chairman of the company U Sein
Wan conducted the Secretary-1 and party round the
factory. Next, the Secretary-1 inspected development
of Shwepyitha Industrial City.
__________________________


( 4 ) There will be similar incidents in the future
Every citizen must keep watch on Yodaya that is not a
good neighbour and their minions with national
awareness
 Let's safeguard sovereignty effectively with
necessary response
Rakhine nationals support mass rallies denouncing SURA
and KNU insurgents and show respect for sovereignty

Yangon, 30 June-The ceremony to support the national
people's mass rallies denouncing SURA and KNU
insurgents, who are undermining security and peace of
border areas, and to show respect for sovereignty of
the Union of Myanmar took place in the Danyawady
Sports Ground in Sittway, Rakhine State yesterday
morning.

Present on the occasion were local people from Sittway
and townships, members of the Union Solidarity and
Development Association, Red Cross Brigade, Fire
Brigade, War Veterans Organization, Women's Affairs
Committee, Maternal and Child Welfare Association,
social associations, and teachers, students, the State
Flag bearing troupes, band troupes and cultural
troupes.

People of Anawrahta column from Lawka Nanda Pagoda
gathering point, Bayintnaung column from the Pyidawtha
Ward gathering point, Alaungphaya column from No 4
Basic Education High School gathering point and
Hsinbyushin column from city hall gathering point
marched to the sports ground and took positions there.


The columns led by the State Flag bearing troupes and
band troupes marched to the sports ground in the rain,
chanting slogans denouncing SURA drug-trafficking
destructionists and KNU insurgents.

Executive of Sittway District USDA U Aung Myo Than
acted as master of ceremonies. First, those present on
the occasion saluted the Flag of the Union of Myanmar.


Next, executive of Rathedaung Township USDA Daw Khin
Moe Win explained about the cere-mony to support the
rallies denouncing SURA and KNU insurgents, who are
encroaching on security and peace of border areas and
to show respect for sovereignty. She said: Local
people held the mass rallies and denounced SURA and
KNU insurgents who are encroaching on security and
peace of border areas and they support the rallies.
She explained why the entire people in Rakhine State
salute the State Flag and hoist the State Flag in
Sittway.

The entire people gather here and salute the State
Flag to show respect for sovereignty of the State. The
reason why the State Flag is hoisted in Sittway is
that the State Flag is the symbol of sovereignty.
Hoisting of the State Flag shows the attitude of the
people that they will not let anyone encroach on
sovereignty. The colour of the State Flag is red and
so is the Myanma blood. We declare that we will never
accept encroachment on motherland by intruders and
SURA and KNU insurgents. It serves as a proof that the
national people will never let anyone encroach on
sovereignty of the State. Myanma blood and courage
have been seen on the pages of history since our
ancestors of Bayintnaung, Alaungphaya and Hsinbyu-shin
periods.

Beginning on 20 May, national traitor drug-trafficker
Ywet Sit and SURA terrorist insurgents in
collaboration with Yodaya that lacks good-neighbourly
practices, attacked our territory. The national people
were rankled with the insurgents for their
encroachment on our sovereignty. The people held the
mass rallies denouncing the insurgents in Kengtung on
1 June and in Taunggyi on 2 June.

It is true that we are united though our national
people live at a distance. As a saying goes " If one
There will be similar incidents  pinches with the
nail, his own finger-head will be hurt." Rakhine
nationals cannot remain indifferent when insurgents
harm our national people in border areas. Like other
local people, we denounce drug-trafficker destructive
insurgents. We support the mass rallies held in
Kengtung and Taunggyi.All Rakhine nationals
emphatically honour and support the mass rallies
denouncing the insurgents who encroach on sovereignty
of Myanmar held in 16 different places.

The entire people must crush all the dangers posed
against the disintegration of the Union and
encroachments on security and sovereignty of the Union
of Myanmar. It is a historical inborn national duty of
all the people.

Myanmar people are proud of national prestige and
integrity and value the motherland like their
lifeblood.They will not encroach on other's territory
and will not let anyone occupy an inch of our
territory.

Myanmar maintains the five principles of peaceful
coexistence in international relations with her
good-neighbourly practices. However, pretending to be
a friend, Yodaya does not observe neighbourly
practices and codes of conduct of ASEAN nations.
Yodaya is trying to expand the territory and dominate
our nation using drug-trafficker SURA and KNU
insurgents as a decoy. We unitedly and actively have
to safeguard sovereignty of the State. Now the
outposts along Yodaya-Myanmar border which were lost
to the insurgents have been recaptured by Myanma
Tatmadaw sacrificing their lives, blood and sweat. We
honour the Tatmadawmen and members of people's militia
who safeguard sovereignty of the State sacrificing
their lives.

In conclusion, we have to show that Myanmar blood is
red if one harms our sovereignty. Let's crush those
who help harm our nation with strong spirit and all
national races have to safeguard sovereignty as our
lifeblood.

Next, joint secretary of Rakhine State Chambers of
Commerce and Industry U Soe Khant explained
encroachments on peace and development of border areas
by SURA and KNU insurgents with the footholds in
Yodaya. He said: national people held the mass rallies
denouncing encroachments on sovereignty of Myanmar in
Kengtung and Taunggyi. We people in Rakhine State
heartily support the rallies. Hoisting of the State
Flags in Sittway shows respect for sovereignty of the
State and we will not accept the encroachment on
sovereignty and it also shows solidarity of the
people.

We are building a peaceful, modern developed nation
and have gained progress to some extent. At that time
drug-trafficker Ywet Sit and SURA and destructive
elements KNU go to Yodaya and live there. The
insurgents committed destructive acts in Myanmar
border areas as Yodaya dictates.

Yodaya receives not only drug-trafficking SURA and KNU
insurgents but also any organizations or any
insurgents that will oppose Myanmar. It raised them
opening camps along the border and provides with arms,
ration and training. These are acts that lack
good-neighbourly practices.

Moreover, Yodaya conducted military exercise with a
large number of soldiers along the Myanmar border.It
is a hostile act. Yodaya is dreaming of establishing
greater Thailand with old thoughts of Ayudhaya era.
So, Yodaya raises SURA and KNU insurgents and makes
them destroy the fence of neighbouring country.

Therefore, we oppose encroachment on sovereignty and
denounce drug-trafficking SURA and KNU insurgents.
Rakhine nationals show solidarity of national races.

As the world knows that Myanma blood is red,
international community knows the sharpness of Myanma
sword. Myanmar is a sovereign nation. In times of
emergency, blood inspires unity and all the national
people are united. Now the Tatmadaw and the entire
people are crushing the insurgents with the
sacrificing spirit.

It is obvious that in the heart of all national
people, the spirit of non-disintegration of the Union,
non-disintegration of national solidarity and
perpetuation of sovereignty, spirit of unity, spirit
of not being a slave and Union spirit are very strong
and dynamic.

After regaining independence, drug-trafficking SURA
and KNU insurgents with the assistance of Yodaya that
lacks true attitude encroached on sovereignty of the
Union of Myanmar, disrupted stability and broke up
national solidarity throughout the history. At
present, this incidents continue to occur.

There will be similar incidents in the future.
Therefore, every citizen must watch Yodaya that is not
a good-neighbour and their minions with national
awareness and let's safeguard sovereignty effectively
with the necessary response.

Then, led by master of ceremonies, those present
collectively shouted the slogans " Non-disintegration
of the Union our cause, -our cause" , "
Non-disintegration of the national solidarity - our
cause, our cause", " Perpetuation of sovereignty - our
cause, our cause", which brought the rally to an end.

As a gesture showing respect for the sovereignty of
the Union of Myanmar, the State flags were proudly
hoisted at the government offices, houses and
buildings on that day.

__________________________


( 5 ) Text books and cassette tapes handed over

Yangon, 30 June- Under the directive of Chairman of
the Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 of the
State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt,
a ceremony to hand over 3,665 text books of 27
subjects and 170 teaching aid cassette tapes worth US
$ 50,000 donated by Cambridge University Press, East
Asia Branch, Singapore, through the International
Affairs and Research Department, to the respective
ministries was held at Tatmadaw Guest House on Inya
Road here this morning.

It was attended by Vice-Chief of Military Intelligence
Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, the deputy ministers, senior
military officers, rectors and professors of Yangon
University, Yangon Technology University, Yangon
Institute of Computer Science, and Yangon University
of Foreign Languages and department heads. At the
ceremony, Maj-Gen Kyaw Win made an address. Then, he
handed over 1,731books and 70 tapes for the Ministry
of Education to Deputy Minister U Myo Nyunt, 232 books
for the Ministry of Health to Deputy Minister
Professor Dr Mya Oo, 550 books and 20 tapes for the
Ministry of Science and Technology to Deputy Minister
Dr Chan Nyein, 270 books and 35 tapes for the Ministry
of Culture to Deputy Minister U Soe Nyunt, 235 books
and 17 tapes for the Ministry of Transport to Deputy
Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Myint, 61 books for the
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation to Deputy
Minister U Ohn Myint, 586 books and 28 tapes for the
Office of the Chief of Military Intelligence to Head
of Department Col Hla Aung and the ceremony came to a
close. Afterwards, Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, the deputy
ministers and those present viewed round the books and
tapes.
___________________________

( 6 ) Maj-Gen Ye Myint attends opening of Magway
traditional Medicine Hospital (16-Bed)

Yangon, 30 June-Member of the State Peace and
Development Council Maj-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry
of Defence attended the opening of the new Magway
traditional Medicine Hospital (16-Bed) and formally
opened the hospital on 28 June afternoon.

Also present on the occasion were Chairman of Mandalay
Division Peace and Development Council Commander of
Central Command Brig-Gen Ye Myint, Deputy Minister for
Health Prof Dr Kyaw Myint, Chairman of Magway Division
Peace and Development Council Col Zaw Min,
Director-General of Indigenous Medicine Department
Prof Dr Thein Swe and officials from the Ministry of
Health, the Magway division health officer and staff,
departmental staff, members of
division/district/township Women's Affairs Committees
and Maternal and Child Welfare Association and band
troupe and others. Maj-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry of
Defence formally unveiled the signboard of the new
Magway traditional Medicine Hospital (16-Bed).
Director-General Prof Dr Thein Swe of Indigenous
Medicine Department of the ministry presented the
commemorative pennant to him.

Then, member-1 of Magway Division Peace and
Development Council U Aung Win handed over documents
relating to the hospital buildings to Director-General
Prof Dr Thein Swe. Next, Chairman of Magway Division
Peace and Development Council Col Zaw Min and Deputy
Minister Prof Dr Kyaw Myint formally opened the new
hospital. Afterwards, Maj-Gen Ye Myint, the commander,
the deputy minister and guests looked around the
indigenous medicines on display and the ward for men.
They also viewed 108 kinds of various herbal plants,
herbal nursery with 1,521 herbal plants and the ward
for women. Under the guidance of the Head of State,
the hospital was built on 26 August, 2001. The State
spent K 7.4 million for construction.

The Magway Division Peace and Development Council and
wellwishers also donated over K 7.6 million. The
hospital was built at a cost of K 12 million and K 3
million will be used in other tasks. The construction
of the hospital was completed on 16 June 2002.

After that, Maj-Gen Ye Myint and party visited the
construction site of the new runway at Magway Airport
of Asia World Co Ltd. They inspected construction of
the runway using heavy machinery and earthen works. At
the briefing hall of the site, Project Engineers U
Chan Sein and U Hla Myint reported to Maj-Gen Ye Myint
on matters relating to construction tasks.

Then, Maj-Gen Ye Myint gave necessary instructions and
attended to the needs. The 3,300-ft section of the
runway has already been paved with concrete for the
first layer. Paving the first layer of another
2,000-ft section has been completed up to 40 per cent,
and earthen works for paving of 1,500-ft section has
been completed up to 90 per cent. Efforts are being
made for timely completion of the tasks.

---------

Golden bolts and nuts fixed for iron frame of
Ayeyawady River (Magway) Bridge

Yangon, 30 June - A ceremony to fix golden bolts and
nuts at final link of the main iron frame of the
Ayeyawady River (Magway) Bridge was held at the pandal
on the bridge at 8.30 am today. Member of the State
Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen Ye Myint of the
Ministry of Defence delivered an address and fixed the
golden bolts and nuts.

Also present on the occasion were Mandalay Division
Peace and Development Council Chairman Central Command
Commander Brig-Gen Ye Myint, Minister for Construction
Maj-Gen Saw Tun, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Myint Thein,
Magway Division Peace and Development Council Chairman
Col Zaw Min, local authorities, departmental
personnel, technical group leader Mr Shen Qing Long
and party of China Agriculture Machinery Co Ltd,
members of the Union Solidarity and Development
Association, Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare
Association, Red Cross Brigade, Auxiliary Fire
Brigade, band troupes, pom-pom troupes, dance troupes,
students and local people.

First, Maj-Gen Ye Myint delivered an address. He said:
Of the bridges across River Ayeyawady, the Magway
Bridge is the longest one as well as the sturdiest and
most beautiful one. As all have known, the Government
has been making earnest efforts by laying down and
implementing the Twelve Objectives in order to turn
the nation into a peaceful, modern and developed one.
With active participation of the public, the
Government has been carrying out development works all
over the country with the noble aims of enabling the
country to keep abreast with world's nations;
enhancing the national economic life; and raising the
living standard of the people.

In accordance with the guidance of Head of State
Senior General Than Shwe, the Government is laying
emphasis on ensuring smooth and secure transportation
for Magway. New airports, Institute of Medicine,
Institute of Community Health, Technical College,
Computer College, Education College, mills and
factories, dams and reservoirs, etc are built in
Magway Division for enabling it to possess
characteristics of a divisional capital. In
constructing river-crossing bridges, the Government
has to spend huge sums of funds including foreign
exchange.

However, these endeavours are aimed at balanced
development of States and Divisions, and promoting the
socio-economic lives of the people. After completion
of the bridge, the passengers and goods of the eastern
bank of Ayeyawady River can be transported
conveniently to the western bank. Regional products of
Chin State, Rakhine State, Ayeyawady Division and
Sagaing Division can easily be transported to various
places on the eastern bank of Ayeyawady River. Next to
Anawrahta Bridge, the Magway Bridge will surely
benefit the local people of eastern and western banks
of Ayeyawady River. At present, the western bank is
less developed in comparison with the eastern bank.

The Magway Bridge will contribute towards the regional
development on both banks. With better transportation
among States and Divisions including border areas,
trade as well as socio-economic life of the regional
people will be promoted. Better transportation will
also lead to increasing  contacts and dealings among
the national peoples so that the national unity will
further be strengthened. The Head of State has keen
interest in the bridge construction and he himself
visited the project site and provided necessary
guidance and instructions.

The Head of State also urged officials concerned to
complete the bridge construction earlier than the
target date and to ensure the bridge to be of high
quality. He also stressed to pay attention for
preventing occupational hazards. Accordingly, local
authorities and departmental officials concerned
together with the workers are striving to complete the
bridge soon. The Ayeyawady River (Magway) Bridge which
will be very beneficial to the regional development as
well as for the national development will soon emerge,
he said.

Then, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun gave a
speech. He said that nowadays is in the period of the
third five-year plan after implementing the first
four-year plan and the second five-year plan by the
Government beginning 1992. It can be seen that success
have been achieved in carrying out the tasks in 24
development regions. The Ministry of Construction is
striving for development of transportation which is a
fundamental tasks in building a modern and developed
nation. Head of State Senior General Than Shwe gave a
guidance that it is necessary to make arrangements for
improvement of transportation to equally develop the
border areas like other developing regions of the
Union and to improve relationships among the border
areas and other regions.

Therefore, bridges and roads which are of importance
in the transportation sector are being built in time.
For emergence of Ayeyawady Bridge (Magway),
technicians of Public Works searched the axis road in
Magway on 10-3-2002 in accord with the guidance of the
Head of State Senior General Than Shwe. They viewed
conditions of the river bank, the approach road,
buildings in the area of the approach road, the water
way and flow of the river water and submitted facts
about Mingala-Phayakoehsukon route which has the
stable river bank and suitable soil condition.

Then, Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council Senior General Than Shwe approved the route
submitted at the opening ceremony of Ngamin Dam on
18-4-2002. According to the decision of the Meeting No
1/99 of the Special Projects Implementation Central
Committee held on 2 June 1999, Ayeyawady River
(Magway) Project linking Magway and Minbu is being
implemented. The bridge has the 6,969 feet long main
bridge and the 2,020 feet long approach bridge,
totalling 8,989. After the stake-driving ceremony on
20 January 2000, construction tasks of the bridge are
being carried out with momentum by two working groups
on Magway and Minbu banks.

Installation of iron beams at the bridge started on
Minbu bank on 15 July 2001 and completed cent per cent
on 5 June 2002. Similarly, installation of the iron
beams began on 25 July 2001 and completed cent per
cent on 18 June 2002. A total of 9,191.691 tons of
iron beams were installed at the bridge. At present,
floor tiles have been placed at the main bridge and
construction of the bridge will soon be completed in
coming some months.

The Ministry of Construction has built roads and
bridges all over the country for serving interests of
the people in accord with the guidance of the Head of
State. In the entire nation, there were 13,635 miles
long roads in the past and there are 17,873 miles long
roads now increasing 4,238 miles. In Magway Division,
there were 1,307 miles long roads in the past and
there are 1,642 miles now and the roads are being
repaired in the division.

At present, 144 180-feet-long bridges have been opened
in the country. In conclusion, Minister for
Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun thanked the Head of State
and authorities together with workers for their
contribution to construction of the bridge with work
site safety in time. Mandalay Division Peace and
Development Council Chairman Central Command Commander
Brig-Gen Ye Myint delivered a speech at the ceremony.
He said: since taking over the State responsibilities,
the Government has been carrying out nation building
tasks and regional development tasks with
participation of the people.

As a result, new factories and mills, dams and
reservoirs, roads and bridges, etc have emerged one
after another in the central part of Myanmar. Better
transportation will lead to economic development and
strengthening of the unity among the national people.

Hence, the Government has been implementing road and
bridge construction projects. In accordance with the
guidance provided by Head of State Senior General Than
Shwe major bridges needed for travelling from one
place to another as well as for ensuring smooth and
secure transportation and speedy flow of commodities
are built here and there. The Ayeyawady River (Magway)
Bridge is one of those projects. The Ayeyawady river
is dividing the eastern and western banks and due to
difficult transportation, the regions had less
development.

The regional people in the past had to rely on
waterways which is dangerous and inconvenient. Now the
main iron frame of the Ayeyawady River (Magway) Bridge
has been installed and the bridge construction will
soon be completed. The bridge will surely be
beneficial to the regional people as well as the
entire national people. The completion of the bridge
will bring about the network of transportation among
States and Divisions and thus the bridge can be called
as the Union Bridge. It will also be an important
infrastructure for socio-economic development of the
people of Central Myanmar.

Next, Maj-Gen Ye Myint, Minister for Construction
Maj-Gen Saw Tun, Commander Brig-Gen Ye Myint and
Divisional Peace and Development Council Chairman Col
Zaw Min took designated places and fixed golden bolts
and nuts of the bridge at the auspicious time of 9.11
am. Then the bolts and nuts were sprinkled with
scented water. Later, they strolled along the bridge
and inspected round it.
___________________________

( 7 ) Maj-Gen Ye Myint addresses opening of multimedia
teaching centre

Yangon, 30 June-Member of the State Peace and
Development Council Maj-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry
of Defence attended the opening of multimedia
classrooms held at No 1 Basic Education High School,
Minbu, on 28 June morning.

Also present on the occasion were Chairman of Mandalay
Division Peace and Development Council Commander of
Central Command Brig-Gen Ye Myint, Chairman of Magway
Division Peace and Development Council Col Zaw Min,
Deputy Director-General of No 2 Basic Education
Department (Upper Myanmar) U Thaung Khaing, members of
division/district/township Peace and Development
Councils, Parent-Teacher Association, the school board
of trustees, WomenÕs Affairs Committees and Maternal
and Child Welfare Association and the Union Solidarity
and Development Association, Auxiliary Fire Brigade
and students.

Headmaster U Hla Myint and Secretary of the School
Board of Trustees U Kyaw Win Myint released gas
balloons and formally opened the ceremony. Maj-Gen Ye
Myint of the Ministry of Defence formally unveiled the
signboard of the multimedia teaching centre.

Then, Maj-Gen Ye Myint, the commander, the chairman of
Division Peace and Development Council and guests
looked around the altar, the computer application and
E-mail room, the computer aided instruction room, the
reading corner and the language lab and inspected
learning of the students. They also inspected the
students learning at the domestic science room, the
audio visual room, the painting room and the
handicraft room. Maj-Gen Ye Myint and party were
entertained with music and dance by the students.
Then, the opening cere-mony of the multimedia teaching
centre was held at U Awbasa Hall of the school. Tenth
grader Ma Yi Mon Nyein extended greetings and spoke
words of thanks. Afterwards, Headmaster U Hla Myint
and Secretary of the School Board of Trustees U Kyaw
Win Myint briefed Maj-Gen Ye Myint on tasks for the
multimedia class rooms. Maj-Gen Ye Myint then
presented video tapes to the headmaster and made a
speech.

He said there are altogether 70 high schools in Magway
Division and the multimedia classrooms have been
opened at 14 schools. Measures have been undertaken
for opening of multimedia classrooms at the rest
schools during the 2002-2003 academic year. Due to
collective efforts of local authorities, school
trustees, parents and wellwishers, multimedia
classrooms have been emerging one after another day by
day. National education plays a pivotal role for
development of a nation and its people. Multimedia
classrooms of the basic education schools are to be
facilitated well as future oriented classrooms in view
of ensuring them to be in line with IT development of
21st century.

Universities of Distant Education are upgraded to Open
Universities by using the multimedia classrooms. The
world is becoming the global village due to the rapid
development of IT which narrows down time and space.
While IT is effecting conventional teaching and
learning field, Myanmar should be able to obtain the
advanced technology for keeping abreast with the
developed nations. State Peace and Development Council
Chairman Senior General Than Shwe has given the
guidance to draw up long-term educational plan in line
with the 30-year Plans and to lay emphasis on
education sector for ensuring national human resource
development.

In order to enable the students to achieve all-round
development, necessary teaching and learning aids
should be provided in full for doing practical
exercises, carrying out sports and school health
activities, and learning domestic science,
agricultural and livestock breeding lessons and arts
and craft lessons at vocational training schools.
Nowadays, educational gap between rural and urban
areas has become narrow gradually.

In conclusion, Maj-Gen Ye Myint urged teachers and
students to effectively utilize modern electronic
facilities of the multimedia classrooms. Afterwards,
Maj-Gen Ye Myint, Commander Brig-Gen Ye Myint and
Division Peace and Development Council Chairman Col
Zaw Min posed for a documentary photo together with
PTA members, school trustees and outstanding students.

___________________________

( 8 ) Surgical treatments performed for cleft lip and
palate patients

Yangon, 30 June - Under the arrangement to give
surgical treatment free of charge to cleft lip and
palate patients cooperated by the Ministry of Health
and Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association,
surgical operations were performed at Thanlyin
Township People's Hospital this morning.
Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and executives
of MMCWA, Patron Daw Khin Thet Htay and committee
members of Yangon Division Maternal and Child Welfare
Supervisory Committee, Commander of No 2 Military
Region Col Tin Oo Lwin, Deputy Director-General Dr Hla
Pe and officials of the Health Department, chairmen of
District and Township Peace and Development Councils
in Yangon South District and members of MCWA of the
nine townships in the district viewed the treatments
of the surgical operations.

First, Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and party
viewed the operations and provided cash assistance to
the patients. Then, Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win
Shwe explained the arrangement to give surgical
treatments free of charge to cleft lip and palate
patients by MMCWA and presented honorary gifts to the
physicians who helped perform the surgical operations.
Under the arrangement, altogether 58 cleft lip and
palate patients in Yangon South District were to be
given surgical treatment free of charge. MMCWA
conducted the gathering of patients, coordination with
the specialists group led by Prof Dr Khin Maung Lwin
of the Face, Jaw and Oral Surgery Unit of Yangon
General Hospital and medical group led by the medical
superintendent of Thanlyin People's Hospital to
jointly perform surgical operations to the patients,
coordination with local authorities and providing cash
assistance to the patients.

A 28-member surgical team led by Prof Dr Khin Maung
Lwin of the Face, Jaw and Oral Surgery Unit of Yangon
General Hospital, lecturer Dr Htay Htay Yi,
Anaesthetist Dr Kyaw Kyaw Soe and Matron Daw Khin Khin
Kyu and another 20-member surgical team led by
Surgical Specialist Dr Than Lwin, Anaesthetist Dr Mar
Mar Oo of Thanlyin People's Hospital jointly performed
the surgical operations free of charge. Charges for
the operations were spent out of the donation to the
Chairman of the National Health Committee. Afterwards,
Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and party
proceeded to the delivery room of Thanlyin Township
MCWA and donated required materials for the family
income promotion measures of Myaingthaya Advanced
Model Village in Kyauktan Township being implemented
under the rural development programme by MMCWA. Dr Daw
Khin Win Shwe and party viewed the functions of the
delivery room and fulfilled the requirements.

---------

Minister inspects bridge construction

Yangon, 30 June - Minister for Construction Maj-Gen
Saw Tun, accompanied by officials, inspected Ayeyawady
Bridge (Dedaye) construction site in Dedaye this
morning. The superintending engineer reported on
progress of work. Ayeyawady Bridge (Dedaye) is
situated on
Yangon-Dalla-Kanbe-Kawhmu-Kungyangon-Dedaye-Pyapon
Road crossing Ayeyawady River. It is 4,008 feet long
and has 28 feet wide motorway and six feet wide
pedestrian lanes on each side. The clearance is 39
feet wide and 36 feet high and it can withstand 60-ton
loads.
___________________________

( 9 ) Yangon Command Commander's shield soccer
tournament ends

Yangon, 30 June -The final match and prize
presentation ceremony of Yangon Command Commander's
shield soccer tournament for 2002 was held at Yangon
Command Sports Grounds, Mingaladon, here yesterday
evening. Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myint Swe
attended the ceremony and presented the prizes and
shield. Also present were No 4 Military Region
Commander Brig-Gen Myo Myint and the military region
commanders, the station commanders, senior military
officers and fans. At the final match, Central
Ordnance Depot team beat No 323 Supply and Transport
Battalion team 7-6. Then, a prize-presentation
ceremony followed.

No 1 Military Region Commander Col Khin Maung Soe
presented individual prizes to No 323 Supply and
Transport Battalion team which stood second and No 2
Military Region Commander Col Tin Oo Lwin presented
individual prizes to Central Ordnance Depot team which
stood first. No 3 Military Region Commander Col Yan
Naing Oo and No 4 Region Commander Brig-Gen Myo Myint
presented the best player awards. Commander Maj-Gen
Myint Swe presented championship shield to Central
Ordnance Depot team.

---------

MWJA Conference delegates visit Book Fair

Yangon, 30 June-Book Fair being held in commemoration
of the Third Conference of Myanmar Writers and
Journalists Association in Sarpay Beikman Press
compound on Pyay Road continued at 9 am today. In the
afternoon, dele-gates of the Third Conference of MWJA
visited the Book Fair. Members of the committee for
holding the Book Fair welcomed the delegates, and on
behalf of the committee Joint-Secretary 1 of MWJA U
Myint Kywe (Maung Myint Kywe) extended greetings to
them. Then, the delegates together with the visiting
book lovers including monks and laity viewed the book
stalls of News and Periodicals Enterprise, Sarpay
Beikman of Printing and Publishing Enterprise and
others. A shop selling VCDs and cassette tapes on
Buddha Mahavamsa (Part-1) composed by Aenda Swe was
also opened at the Book Fair. The Book Fair continues
till 2 July from 9 am to 5 pm daily.

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