[myanmar_information] The New Light of Myanmar (Friday, 18 October, 2002)

[Ok Kar <okkar66126@xxxxxxxxx>]

The New Light of Myanmar (Friday, 18 October, 2002)
------------------------
1. - Secretary-1 greets contestants to Myanma 
     Traditional Cultural Performing 
2. - Italian tourists arrive by chartered 
     flight
   - Minister receives Italian Ambassador
   - Lt-Gen Kyaw Win inspects use of electricity 
     at ministries   
3. - Transport Minister inspects Dalla Dockyard 
   - Minister inspects use of electricity at YGH 
4. - Stone inscription bearing Building Modern 
     Developed Nation with Education unvelied
   - Student guides donated to students 
     of border areas
   - Minister attends work coord meeting of GAD 
5. - Commerce Minister inspects industrial zones
   - MAPT course concludes
   - CPT Ministry holds coord meeting 
6. - Performing Arts Competitions Leading 
     Committee meets team managers 
7. - Instructor course on reproductive 
     health opens
   - Live coverage of opening ceremony of 
     Tenth Myanma Traditional Cultural
     Performing Arts Competitions 
8. - Rules of 58th Anniversary Armed Forces 
     Day painting, sculpture competitions
     announced
   - MOFA issues Press release regarding 
     report of Human Rights Watch 
9. - Raw opium, Phensedyl and marijuana seized 

---------------------

( 1 ) Secretary-1 greets contestants to Myanma
Traditional Cultural Performing


Yangon, 17 Oct - A ceremony to welcome contestants
from states and divisions who will take part in the
10th Myanma Traditional Cultural Performing Arts
Competitions was held at the National Theatre on Myoma
Kyaung Street in Dagon Township this afternoon. 

Patron for Organizing the 10th Myanma Traditional
Cultural Performing Arts Competitions Secretary-1 of
the State Peace and Development Council General Khin
Nyunt attended the ceremony and cordially greeted the
contestants. 


The Secretary-1 cordially greeted members of the Panel
of Patrons and the Leading Committee and the managers.
After the ceremony, Patron for Organizing the 10th
Myanma Traditional Cultural Performing Arts
Competitions Secretary-1 General Khin Nyunt met doyen
artistes at the parlour of the theatre and presented
medicines to them.

___________________________

( 2 ) Lt-Gen Kyaw Win inspects use of electricity at
ministries 

Yangon, 17 Oct - Chairman of Electricity and Fuel
Utilization Inspection Committee member of the State
Peace and Development Council Chief of Armed Forces
Training Lt-Gen Kyaw Win, inspected the frugal use of
electricity at the Irrigation Department of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation yesterday and
gave instructions on the switching off of unnecessary
lights, consumption of electricity as required for
security reason, repair of problem switches, and the
use of fluorescent lamps. 

Lt-Gen Kyaw Win and party also inspected the
electricity consumption at the Ministry of Agriculture
and Irrigation, the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry
of Culture and the Ministry of Construction and left
instructions. 

___________________________

Minister receives Italian Ambassador

Yangon, 17 Oct - Minister for Cooperatives Lt-Gen Tin
Ngwe received Ambassador of Italy Dr Raffaele Miniero
at his office on Bogyoke Aung San Street this
afternoon. 

___________________________

Italian tourists arrive by chartered flight

Yangon, 17 Oct - Under the supervision of the Ministry
of Hotels and Tourism with the sponsorship of the
Ministry of Transport and the Myanmar Lotus Asia Tours
Ltd, the chartered flight Lauda Air Boeing 767/300
carrying 16 tourists from the Republic of Italy
arrived here this morning. The tourists will be on
Yangon-Bagan-Popa-Mandalay-Pindaya-Inlay trip and they
will leave here on 24 October. Those who arrived here
on 10 October left here for home this morning. 

___________________________

( 3 ) Minister inspects use of electricity at YGH

Yangon, 17 Oct - Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein
arrived at Yangon General Hospital on Bogyoke Aung San
Road here this afternoon and inspected use of
electricity there. The minister visited transformer
meter and generator building and inspected
distribution of electricity to the units of the
hospital. Medical Superintendent Dr Aung Htut and
officials conducted him around there. 

The minister gave necessary instructions. Afterwards,
the minister visited X-ray room and inspected uses of
ultrasound TV, MRI, Lithotriptor, CT Scanner and
Angiogram. After giving instructions to the officials,
the minister met patients and spoke words of
encouragement. 

___________________________

Transport Minister inspects Dalla Dockyard 

Yangon, 17 Oct - Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla
Myint Swe, accompanied by Deputy Minister Brig-Gen
Kyaw Myint, Managing Director of the Inland Water
Transport U Tun Aung Myint and officials, inspected
Dalla Dockyard and staff quarters here this morning.
Senior Engineer U Tun Myint reported to the minister
on construction of ships, strength of staffs, and
construction works. 

Next, U Tun Aung Myint reported on systematic and
frugal use of electricity and fuel by organizing
committees and supervising at different level. The
minister gave instructions on use of electricity at
staff quarters by using separate meter boxes. Then,
the minister and party inspected Bala Kyaw Htin vessel
repairing at the dock, conditions of dockyard and
construction of new vessels and attended to the needs.


They then inspected the staff quarters constructed
near the dockyard and shops which is being rented for
staff welfare and Nanthidar Jetty (Yangon). 

___________________________


( 4 ) Stone inscription bearing Building Modern
Developed Nation with Education unveiled

Yangon, 17 Oct - The Ministry of Education is
implementing the 30-year long term education project
in accordance with Myanma Education Goal - Emergence
of an education system which can create a constant
learning society that can face the challenge of the
present education era. 

With the aim of turning Myanma society into a modern
developed one, the opening ceremony of the stone
inscription bearing Building Modern Developed Nation
with Education was held at No 1 Basic Education High
School in Dagon Township this afternoon. 

It was attended by Minister for Education U Than Aung,
Deputy Ministers Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung and U Myo
Nyunt, directors-general of the departments under the
ministry, officials, chairmen of township Union
Solidarity and Development Associations, social
organizations, the township education officer,
principals, members of school boards of trustees,
executives of parent-teacher association, teachers,
students and guests. 

The congregation took positions at the assembly ground
of the school and saluted the National Flag. The
students sang the National Anthem. 

The students who won gold medals in the previous
Myanma Traditional Cultural Performing Arts
Competitions formally unveiled the stone inscription.
Afterwards, the first graders sang the song titled
Myanma Kyaung (Myanmar school) and the first session
ended. 

The second session followed at Dagon Thiri Hall of the
school. The minister made a speech on the occasion.
Then, Schoolmaster U Kyaw Kyaw spoke words of thanks.
Next, eighth grader Ma Han Thu Aung gave a pledge to
implement the goal. 

Later, the students sang the song titled Pyi Myanmar,
which brought the ceremony to a close. 

___________________________

Student guides donated to students of border areas

Yangon, 17 Oct - A ceremony to donate student guides
to border area youth development training schools of
the Education and Training Department of the Ministry
of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and
Development Affairs schools in border areas was held
at the meeting hall of the Development Affairs
Department in Botahtaung Township this afternoon. 

First, Minister for PBANRDA Col Thein Nyunt made a
speech. In his speech the minister said that the
development tasks of the education sector of border
areas were being implemented with added momentum in
order to promote the education standard of national
races. There were only 1,541 primary school students
and 12 middle school students in 1989. Now, 55,018
primary stage students, 23,084 middle stage students,
and 3,992 high school students were pursuing their
education at the schools in border areas. A total of
654 students who had passed the matriculation were
studying higher education. Student guides would be
delivered to the students as soon as possible. Then,
the minister thanked the wellwishers. 

Afterwards, on behalf of the wellwishers, Rector Dr
Soe Yin and U Nyunt Oo of Sanda Nyunt Publishing House
explained the purpose of donation. Then, the minister
accepted 900 books worth K 630,000 donated by Rector
Dr Soe Yin and professors of Yangon University, 3,500
books worth K 1,577,500 by U Nyunt Oo and wife Daw
Khin Win of Sanda Nyunt Publishing House, 2,220 books
worth K 827,000 by U Sein Myint Aung and wife of Shwe
Gangaw Publishing House, 700 books worth K 390,000 by
U Hla Myint and wife Daw Khin Mar Cho of Pan Wai Wai
Publishing House, and 300 books worth K 140,000 by U
Aung Thein Han and Wife Daw Khin Khin Gyi of
Sarpayhmwethu Publishing House and presented
certificates of honours to them. 

Deputy Minister U Kyaw Tin accepted 300 books worth
130,000 donated by U Ye Wai (Myanmarsar), and Deputy
Minister Brig-Gen Than Tun, 900 books worth K 415,000
donated by U Kyaw Thu of Versity Publishing House. The
deputy ministers also presented certificates of honour
to the wellwishers. Then, Director-General Col Than
Win of the Education and Training Department spoke
words of thanks. Departments of Yangon University and
seven wellwishers donated 8,270 books worth K
4,110,500 today. 

___________________________

Minister attends work coord meeting of GAD


Yangon, 17 Oct - The second four-monthly work
coordination meeting for 2002 of the General
Administration Department of the Ministry of Home
Affairs was held at the head office of the department
this morning, with an address by Minister for Home
Affairs Col Tin Hlaing. 

In his address, the minister urged state and division
commissioners to implement the policies and guidance
of the State, to practise thrifty on use of fuel oil
and electricity, and to strive together with
departments concerned and social organizations in
implementation of five rural development tasks,
eradication of narcotic drug, and prevention of human
trafficking and transnational crimes. Then, the deputy
minister made a speech. The meeting continues
tomorrow. 

___________________________


( 5 ) Commerce Minister inspects industrial zones

Yangon, 17 Oct - Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi
Sone in-charge of South Okkalapa and Thakayta
Industrial Zones this afternoon inspected production
of three-ton trucks and Jeep cars being undertaken by
industrialists in South Okkalapa Industrial Zone. 

At the office of the Industrial Zone Management
Committee, the minister met with the industrialists.
After that, he went to Thakayta Industrial Zone and
met with the industrialists at the Industrial Zone
Management Committee office. In meeting with the
industrialists, the minister said that there is full
supply of electricity for speedy development of the
industrial zones. 

He called on the industrialists to make efforts to be
able to reduce the production expenses, to sell their
products at reasonable prices, to use electricity
efficiently and to boost production. Then, the
minister fulfilled their requirements. 

___________________________

MAPT course concludes

Yangon, 17 Oct - The conclusion ceremony of the
management course No 1/2002 for factory managers and
the opening of refresher course No 2/2002 for the
managers (management) of the Myanma Agricultural
Produce Trading was held at the MAPT head office on
Bogyoke Aung San Road here today. 

Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone made a speech
and presented first, second and third prizes to the
outstanding trainees and gifts to the instructors.
Later, a representative trainee spoke words of thanks
which brought the ceremony to an end. 

___________________________

CPT Ministry holds coord meeting 

Yangon, 17 Oct - The second four-monthly work
coordination meeting 2002 of the Ministry of
Communications, Posts and Telegraphs was held at the
meeting hall of the ministry in Ahlon Township this
morning. 

It was attended by Minister for CPT Brig-Gen Thein
Zaw, the managing director, the general manager and
senior heads of departments of the Myanma Posts and
Telecommunications, the director-general and directors
of the Directorate of Telecommunications and managers
from states and divisions. The minister made a speech
on the occasion. 

Then, the MPT and states and divisions managers
reported on works carried out up to second
four-monthly and tasks to be carried out. Then,
officials presented supplementary reports. The
minister gave necessary instructions on their reports.
Later, the minister made a concluding remarks and the
meeting ended in the afternoon.

___________________________


( 6 ) Performing Arts Competitions Leading Committee
meets team managers

Yangon, 17 Oct - Chairman of the Leading Committee for
Organizing Tenth Myanma Traditional Cultural
Performing Arts Competitions met with managers of
teams from states and divisions at No 1 Transit Centre
in Bayintnaung yesterday evening. 

Chairman of the Leading Committee Chairman of Yangon
Division Peace and Development Council Commander of
Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myint Swe attended the meeting
and delivered a speech. 

The managers of teams from states and divisions
reported on matters concerning the competitions. After
hearing the reports, Chairman of the Leading Committee
Maj-Gen Myint Swe said that the Myanma Traditional
Cultural Performing Arts Competitions preserving the
national culture and characteristics which has been in
existence for thousands of years is the one to be
proud of and it is yearly held in accord with the
guidance of the Head of State. 

The commander expressed pleasure to see more
candidates for this year's competitions. Finally, the
commander urged the competitors to take part in the
competitions with great effort. The ceremony then came
to a close at 9 pm.

___________________________

( 7 ) Instructor course on reproductive health opens

Yangon, 17 Oct - Jointly-organized by Myanmar Maternal
and Child Welfare Association and UN Population's
Fund, a ceremony to open an instructor course on the
reproductive health for Bago, Waw, Yedashe,
Nyaunglaybin and DaikU townships under the
reproductive health programme in Bago Division took
place at Thiri Oktha Hall in Bago this morning. 

Vice-Chairperson of Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare
Association Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe, CEC members, Patron
of the Supervisory Committee for Bago Division MCWA
wife of the Commander of Southern Command Dr Wai Wai
Tha and members of the panel of the patrons, members
of Bago Division Peace and Development Council, the
assistant resident representative of UNPF,
division-level departmental heads, officials, members
of townships' MCWAs, Women's Affairs Committee
members, Union Solidarity and Development Association
and trainees. 

Vice-Chairperson of MMCWA Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe gave an
opening speech on the occasion. Then, Daw Khin Ma Ma
Aye, assistant resident representative of UNPF,
delivered an address. Altogether 75 trainees are
attending the course that will last from today to 20
October. Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and
party also went to the Youth Education Training Camp
conducted by the Supervisory Committee for Bago
Division MCWA and encouraged the youths at the camp. 

___________________________

Live coverage of opening ceremony of Tenth Myanma
Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions

Yangon, 17 Oct - The opening ceremony of the Tenth
Myanma Traditional Cultural Performing Arts
Competitions will be held at the National Theatre on
Myoma Kyaung Street in Dagon Township on 18 October.
TV Myanmar will telecast the ceremony live beginning
6.30 am. 

___________________________

( 8 ) Rules of 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day
painting, sculpture competitions announced

Yangon, 17 Oct - As a gesture of hailing the 58th
Anniversary Armed Forces Day, which falls on 27 March
2003, the subcommittee for the holding of painting and
sculpture competition and exhibition of the work
committee for the organizing of poem and arts
competition led by Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe
Nyunt (Htila Sitthu) as chairman announced that the
painting and sculpture competition will be held with
the following rules. 

The painting competition will be divided into six
categories - the first for pre-primary school level,
the second for junior primary school level
(kindergarten to second grade), the third for senior
primary school level (third grade and fourth grade),
the fourth for middle school level (fifth grade to
eighth grade), the fifth for high school level (ninth
grade to technological and agricultural high schools)
and the sixth for professional level. There will be
only one category in the sculpture competition, the
wood sculpture and the plaster sculpture at
professional level. Anyone may take part in both. 

In the painting competition from kindergarten to high
school levels, the size of the entry must be 15" x
20", and 20" x 30" for professional level. Name, NRC
No, class, school, township, date of birth, father's
name, address must be expressed on the back of the
painting, with three 1.5" x 2"-size photos attached. 

For students, the endorsement of the schoolhead is
needed. For the sculpture competition, the height of
the entry must not be over 36" and its circumference
not longer than 24". At the foot of the sculpture,
name, NRC No, date of birth, father's name, address
must be shown, with three 1.5" x 2"-size photos
attached and send the entry right to Tatmadaw
Convention Centre, U Wisaya Road, between 1 and 3
March 2003. 

All the entries, painting or sculpture, must reflect
the twelve objectives of the State, the objectives of
58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day and the twelve fine
traditions of the Tatmadaw. Entries of both
professional levels should be sent to Secretary,
Myanmar Traditional Artists and Artisans Asiayon
(Central), Pabedan Township, Yangon, not later than 1
March 2003 or to Secretary, Subcommittee for the
Holding of Painting and Sculpture Competition and
Exhibition, U Wisaya Road, Tatmadaw Convention Centre,
Yangon, between 1 and 3 March 2003. Entries of
students all over Myanmar should be sent to
Development Division, Education Planning and Training
Department, Natmauk Street, Bahan Township, Yangon,
not later than 15th February 2003. 

Apart from the entries for both competitions, other
paintings and sculptures may be sent to be displayed
at the exhibition to be opened in honour of the 58th
Anniversary Armed Forces Day. Those paintings and
sculptures must also feature the twelve objectives of
the State, the objectives of 58th Anniversary Armed
Forces Day and the twelve fine traditions of the
Tatmadaw and should be sent directly to Tatmadaw
Convention Centre, U Wisaya Road, between 1 and 5
March 2003. 

___________________________

MOFA issues Press release regarding report of Human
Rights Watch
As report appears to be based on testimony of
so-called deserters in Thailand, their statements are
indeed very questionable

Yangon, 17 Oct - The following is the text of the
Press Release issued by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs today. 

The New York based Human Rights Watch in its recent
report has claimed that Myanmar Armed Forces have
recruited large number of children as soldiers and
that child soldiers constitute as much as 20 per cent
of the total force. 

It is an allegation that has no basis whatever and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs completely rejects the
assertion. The report is just another example of the
attempts to tarnish the image of Myanmar and the
Myanmar Tatmadaw in the eyes of the international
community. It is no accident that the report appeared
on the eve of an important visit by a high ranking UN
official and at a time the United Nations General
Assembly is starting to consider human rights
questions. As such, the report is nothing but an
attempt to put pressure on Myanmar and to interfere in
the internal affairs of the country. 

Moreover, as the report appears to be based on the
testimony of so-called deserters in Thailand, their
statements are indeed very questionable. People in
Myanmar are already very familiar with the practice of
the anti-government elements based in Thailand and
other countries to trot out so-called "witnesses" to
make all sorts of statements. 

Indeed, many of these witnesses are none other than
members and families of the insurgents and
anti-government elements. It is regrettable that some
organizations, in their prejudice against Myanmar,
sought to give credence to such machinations. 

The Ministry would like to reiterate the fact that
under the Defence Services Act of April 1974 and War
Office Regulation 13/73 a person cannot be enlisted
into the armed forces unless he has attained the age
of 18. This regulation is strictly enforced. Moreover,
the Myanmar Armed Forces is a purely voluntary army
and those entering the military service to do so at
their own free will. There is neither a draft system
nor forced conscription in the country. 

On the other hand, the use of child soldiers by the
armed insurgent groups is well documented. To site but
one example, the Kayin armed terrorist group known as
"God's Army" which operated on the Myanmar-Thailand
border was led by twin child

___________________________

( 9 ) Raw opium, Phensedyl and marijuana seized

Yangon, 17 Oct - A combined team comprising members of
the local battalion, local intelligence unit and
Myanmar Police Force, made a thorough body search on
Daw Nan, daughter of U La Mar Gan of Ward 4, Seikmu
Village, Hpakant Township, and Ma Kyi Kyi Win Shein,
daughter of U Win Shein in the compound of Naba
Railway Station, Indaw, while they were walking near
the exit of Tarmakhan Village, Phakant on 15 September
and seized 2.449 grams of raw opium on them. 

A similar team, acting on information, searched the
house of Kyin Khant Lan, son of U Gin Khant Lan of
Region-13, Panglong Ward, Kalay on 5 October and
seized a total of five bottles with 0.5 liters of
Phensedyl in his house. On further investigation, they
searched the house of Khan Shin Kam of Layeinhsu
Village and altogether 40 bottles with 4 liters of
Phensedyl were seized from Ma Man Lun Kyein, sister of
the householder. 

Members of local intelligence unit, acting on a
tip-off, stopped a passenger bus with number plates 5
Kha/ 2412, en route from Kyaukgyi to Yangon, at the
toll-gate in Mingaladon Township on 8 October and
seized a total of 16.3 kilos of marijuana from
passengers namely Zaw Win Tun, son of U Hla Win
Zaykalay Ward, of Kyeemyindaing, and Thant Zin, son of
U Sein Shwe of Zaykalay Ward. Further investigation
led to the arrest of marijuana owner Hlaing Win Oo,
son of U Pwa of Hlaingthaya. 

Action is being taken against them under the Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law.

------------------------------

http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/
 


__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More
http://faith.yahoo.com

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Sell a Home with Ease!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/SrPZMC/kTmEAA/jd3IAA/lOHolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
myanmar_information-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/