The New Light of Myanmar (Thursday, May 4, 2000)

Subject: The New Light of Myanmar (Thursday, May 4, 2000)
From: Okkar <okkar66129@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 02:00:17 -0700

The New Light of Myanmar (Thursay,May 4, 2000)
-----------------------------------------------
(1) USDA urged to take part with full capacity in
raising living standards and dignity of nation and
people Myanmar's environmental policy aims at
protecting, developing natural resources for future use
(2) General Maung Aye visits Thitagu World Buddhist
Missionary University on Sagaing Hill in Sagaing
Township
(3) Red Cross youths urged to be reserve force for
peace and tranquillity of State Get-together of
outstanding Red Cross Youth 2000 opens
(4) Secretary-2 attends co-ordination meeting of
Committee on Extended Breeding and Production of
Prawn
(5) Minister meets foreign guests
(6) Minister meets Chinese guests
(7) Ministers meets Chinese Minister
(8) ASEAN economic ministers, Japanese minister
Chairman of AFTA CER-FTA Task Force and ASEAN secretary
general leave
(9) Press Conference on South Summit and 13th NAM
Ministerial Conference held
(10) National Convention Convening Commission meets
(11) Minister for Information meets IPRD staff of
Kachin State
(12) 8 Bago NLD members resign of own accord

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

(1) USDA urged to take part with full capacity in
raising living standards and dignity of nation and
people Myanmar's environmental policy aims at
protecting, developing natural resources for future use

YANGON, 3 May-Union Solidarity and Development
Association Executives' Advanced Management Course No 7
and USDA Executives' Management Course No 21 concluded
with a ceremony in Pyidaungsu Hall of' Central

Public Relations Unit in Hmawby Township, Yangon
Division, at 9 am today, addressed by Patron of USDA
Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General
Than Shwe.

Speaking on the occasion, Senior General Than Shwe said
trainees already have had the opportunity to study the
subjects lectured at the course. They had studied the
aims, principles and duties of the association, Our
Three Main National Causes, the 12 objectives, the
four-point People's Desire and development endeavours
being undertaken in the respective regions .

In conclusion, the Senior General urged the trainees to
continue to uplift their qualifications; to disseminate
their knowledge to their comrades; to actively take
part in the nation-building tasks with constructive
mind; and to work with sincerity, ability, goodwill,
perseverance and courage as USDA is a national force.

The Senior General cordially greeted the trainees. He
then had lunch together with the trainees in
Bayintnaung Hall.

Excerpts from Senior General Than Shwe's address

-In accord with the association's future tasks, USDA
members should nurture themselves to improve individual
qualifications in serving the national tasks with full
conviction.

-The government is joining hands with the people of all
regions and sectors to hand down the good heritage to
the national people.

-Utilization of the nation's rich natural resources is
the main sector in striving to develop the national
socio-economic sector.

-Laying of good economic and social foundations is also
a vital task.

-Extension of the transport infrastructure helps
develop political, economic and social sectors of the
respective regions and relations between the national
races. The government is rendering assistance to
national entrepreneurs in enabling them to participate
in agricultural and industrial enterprises.

-As in the industrial sector, the government is
upgrading the working force of the national people in
agricultural and life breeding sectors.

-The momentum of the results of the joint efforts of
the government, the people and the Tatmadaw can be seen
in many sectors.

-The success achieved in implementing the nine arid
districts greening project of the dry region greening
tasks is an example.

___________________________

(2) General Maung Aye visits Thitagu World Buddhist
Missionary University on Sagaing Hill in Sagaing
Township

YANGON, 3 May-Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of
Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General
Maung Aye visited Thitagu World Buddhist Missionary
University on Sagaing Hill in Sagaing Township, Sagaing
Division, yesterday.

General Maung Aye and party were welcomed by member of
the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of
Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council
Commander of North-West Command Maj-Gen Soe Win and
officials. Then, General Maung Aye and party went to
Thitagu World Buddhist Missionary University on Sagaing
Hill and paid obeisance to Presiding Sayadaw of Thitagu
World Buddhist Missionary University Maha Dhammakathika
Bahujanahitadhara Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Agga
Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Nanissara.

General Maung Aye and party presented alms to Thitagu
Sayadaw and members of the Sangha. Thitagu Sayadaw
also explained the work of Aryudhana Sangha hospital
and Thitagu World Buddhist Missionary University to
General Maung Aye.

Then, Thitagu Sayadaw presented Dhammadana books to
General Maung Aye and party. General Maung Aye and
party signed in the visitors' book. Thitagu Sayadaw
Bhaddanta Nanissara conducted General Maung Aye and
party round the construction site of Migadawana
lecturer hall, Magada reading hall, Uyuwaila library,
Gaya Kyaungsaung, Adipati Kyaungsaung and missionary
hall. General Maung Aye and party observed use of
computer by members of the Sangha at Lunbani Computer
Hall. Thitagu World Buddhist Missionary University was
built in 1356 ME.

Altogether 12 main buildings have been constructed.
Members of the Sangha and nuns who passed the
Pahtamagyi or Dhammacariya Course, will attend the
Thitagu World Buddhist Missionary University as first
year students. The Thitagu World Buddhist Missionary
University will give lecture to the trainees to turn
out missionary Sanghas and nuns with BA, MA and PhD.
_________________________

(3) Red Cross youths urged to be reserve force for
peace and tranquillity of State Get-together of
outstanding Red Cross Youth 2000 opens

YANGON, 3 May-The opening ceremony of outstanding Red
Cross Youth Get-together 2000 of Myanmar Red Cross
Society was held at Mya Nyi La Hall of Basic Education
High !School No 2 in Latha Township this afternoon,
with an address by Chairman of National Health
Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and
Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

Also present were member of the ministers, the deputy
ministers, senior military officers, officials of the
State Peace and Development Council Office,
departmental officials, the chairmen of social
organizations and officials, Resident Representative of
International Committee of the Red Cross Mr Leon de
Riedmatten, Resident Representative of Federation of
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Association Mr
Yukata Oiwa, members of MRCS, President of MRCS Dr Kyaw
Win and CEC members, members of Yangon Division Red
Cross Supervisory Committee, outstanding Red Cross
youths from States and Divisions and donors.

The Secretary-1 said a time when the government is
laying emphasis on turning out outstanding and dynamic
new generation youths who will build and defend the
nation in enabling it to stand tall in the world
community,get-together of outstanding new generation
Red Cross youths shows the practical achievements of
the objectives of the State.

In conclusion, the Secretary-1 urged Red Cross members
to understand the noble aims of arranging the
get-together in striving in accord with the national
objectives, to participate actively in the respective
sectors in making MRCS a reserve force for national
peace and tranquillity; to promote the spirit of
national solidarity and Union Spirit and to participate
in construction, production and agriculture projects.

Managing Director U Soe Hlaing (a) U Akway and wife OI
Taunggyi Gem Master Ltd presented K 268,000 for Get-
together of outstanding Red Cross Youth, U Soe Thein K
200,000, CEC member of MRSC retired Col Dr Tun Sein and
wife Daw Phyu Phyu Aung K 100,000, Myanmar Music
Asiayon K 20,000 and U Nyi Nyi K 30000.

The Secretary-1 accepted the donations and presented
certificates of honour to the donors. President of
MRCS Dr Kyaw Win spoke. The Secretary-1 then greeted
the Red Cross Youths.

___________________________

(4) Secretary-2 attends co-ordination meeting of
Committee on Extended Breeding and Production of
Prawn

YANGON, 3 May-Committee on Extended Breeding and
Production of Prawn held its co-ordination meeting at
Fisheries Department this evening, attended by
Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council
Lt-Gen Tin Oo.

Making a speech on the occasion, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin
Oo said the State Peace and Development Council is
implementing projects for the development of national
economy as well as for the progress of the State and
living standard of the national people. He urged the
committee members to select the site, conduct, survey
of land, to allot farm plot for the entrepreneurs, to
ensure smooth transportation, supply of spawns and
prawn feed-stuff and to construct research laboratory.
The meeting ended with concluding remarks by
Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo.

___________________________

(5) Minister meets foreign guests

YANGON, 3 May-Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation
Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin met Director Dr Ruben L Villareai and
Deputy Director Dr Sockartawi of Agricultural Research
Post Graduate Course on regional agricultural research
of South-East Asian Education and Agriculture Ministers
Board at his office at 4 pm today. Also present were
heads of departments and enterprises under the
ministry.

___________________________

(6) Minister meets Chinese guests

YANGON, 3 May-Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung met
President of Yunan Provincial Imp & Exp ,Corp of
People's Republic of China Mr Cao Li Ge and party at
his office at 11 am today. Also present were
Director-General U Tin Hlaing and officials.

___________________________

(7) Ministers meets Chinese Minister

YANGON, 3 May-Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone
met a delegation led by Minister of Foreign Trade and
Economic Cooperation of the People's Republic of China
Mr Shi Guangsheng, accompa- nied by Chinese Ambassador,
at his office at 10 am today.

Minister at the State Peace and Development Council
Chairman's Offfice Brig-Gen Abel and Minister Mr Shi
Guangsheng signed notes on production of power tillers
and harvesters. Then, the Myanmar del- egation led by
Minister Brig- Gen Pyi Sone and Minister Brig-Gcn Abel
and the Chinese delegation led by Mr Shi Guangsheng
discussed eco- nomic, trade and investment sectors.

___________________________

(8) ASEAN economic ministers, Japanese minister
Chairman of AFTA CER-FTA Task Force and ASEAN secretary
general leave

YANGON, 3 May-Minister of Trade of Republic of Korea Mr
Han Duck Soo, Minister of Commerce of Cambodia Mr Cham
Prasidh and party, Minister at the Prime Minister's
Office of Laos Prof Dr Bountiem Phissamay and party,
Chairman of AFTA-CER FTA Task Force Mr CE Sar E A
Virata, delegates from Thailand and the Philippines,
Minister of Industry and Basic Resources of Brunei
Darussalam Pehin Dato Abul Rahman Taib and party,
Minister of Trade and Industry of Singapore B G (NS)
Geore Yeo and party, Secretary- General of ASEAN
Secretariat Office Dr Rodolfa Severino JR and party,
Minister of International Trade and Industry of Japan
Mr Takashi Fukaya, Special Envoy of the Minister of
Industry and Trade of Indonesia Mr Hatanto
Reksodipoetro and party and Minister of Trade of
Vietnam Mr Vu Khoan and party left here by air today.

They were seen off at the airport by Minister at the
State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office
Brig-Gen Abel, the deputy ministers, Ambassadors and
officials of respective Embassies and officials of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

___________________________

(9) Press Conference on South Summit and 13th NAM
Ministerial Conference held

YANGON, 3 May-Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung
held a Press Conference on experiences of the 13th
Ministerial Conference of Non-Aligned Movements held in
Cartagena, Colombia from 7 to 9 April and South Summit
of the Group of 77 held in Havana, Cuba from 10 to 14
April and development of Myanmar at Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on Pyay Road at 8 am today.

Also present were Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U
Khin Maung Win, Directors-General of the ministry,
Director-General of Myanma Radio and Television U Khin
Maung Htay, the Patron U Sein Win, President U Sao Kai
Hpa and members of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club,
Director (News) U Hla Tun of News and Periodicals
Enterprise, Chief Editor U Zaw Min Thein of Myanma News
Agency (Internal), correspondents, local and foreign
newsmen and reporters of Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi
Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun, Ji Ji Press, Nihon Keizai
Shimbun, Kyodo News, AP, ABC, NHK and AFP.

U Win Aung said:

I was back from Cartazena, Colombia and Havana not a
long time ago. There, I attended the summit of the
South nations at which we made a point that we
developing countries need to cooperate, to unite among
us more and then to cooperate among south nations.
Because we need to face up the North. Because now we
are in the world of Globalization that's the main theme
of every discussion taking place. Globalization, What
is the threat of globalization? Globalization of
course brings together all those capital and know-how.
The globalization should not be marginalization of
developing countries. And the southern countries are
becoming more and more poor. Effects of globalization
or benefits of globalization are not yet globalizes.
During the meeting in Havana, Malaysian Prime Minister
Mahathir put up a proposal that we G-77 + China should
send its president and delegation and the people
composed from and representing developing countries
such as OAU, NAM, ASEAN and other regional groups
should send together a team to G-7 or G-8 meeting.

On 2 May , the meeting successfully concluded between
our 10 ASEAN economic ministers and three economic
ministers of China, Japan and Korea. Ways and means
can be sough among ASEAN and those three nations. We
are now on the right track. We are now on the path
towards more enhanced cooperation with ASEAN+3
countries. To institutionalize ASEAN+3 is still a
little far away. We cannot expect emergence of
something like EAU (East Asian Union) in the very near
future.

He replied to the questions. National Convention is
meeting three times a week and sometimes the whole
week. And the Commission has experts because our
constitution is very complicated. For we are trying to
have a constitution in which states will have their own
parliament and their own government. And also in the
state the people are asking autonomous state-the
self-administered area.

And these people are now considered to be eligible to
have self-administered jurisdiction. And there will be
what we called Hluttaw, the parliament. We have a
unitary government since independence and we don't have
this sort of structure before. To solve all political
problems of our country which we inherited from the
British colonial masters' "Divide-and-rule" policy when
we were so divided.

And then, there were some people who would like to have
a separate own land. That's the major cause of the
conflict and we have been fighting against each other
for that cause. And we have come to this structure of
the constitution for the people living in the state and
in those self administered areas.

We have come up with many matters where we have
particulars groups of areas and townships and divisions
or the districts things like that very complicated.

And experts of the committee are meeting three times a
week and there are a lot of arguments and the experts
sometimes could not have the consensus. Sometimes a
word takes a long time to be agreed. I would like to
inform you that this process is going on smoothly and
really maybe sometime later we cannot say when. But it
will come up. When I ask some members of the
Commission they said that the process is going on well.

We are now overcoming many, many things of which we
could not reach consensus in the past because this is
the first time in our country which we are trying to
have this sort of the government system or the
parliamentary system and that's why it's taking a long,
long time.

We are making sure that this constitution should be
long-standing. In the past we had two constitutions
the 1947 constitution which allowed the states to
secede away from the union after ten years. This
constitution was and is really a fundamental problem
for us. We have people fighting for their own land.
Now we are trying to solve this problem by political
means.

We have fought each other for many, many years. A lot
of bloodshed has been seen and we should stop these
meaningless fightings. That's the point which we are
trying to make sure that all those fighting's cease.

We are trying to reach to the political solution which
means all people in the Union live happily. To live
happily we need very, very strong constitution which is
to be agreed upon by all the people in the country.

If someone doesn't agree, then it will make trouble and
we will go back to fighting again. That's why the
process is going on and we are waiting and hoping that
the constitution will come up; let's them solve all the
problems first.

Appointment of Mr Razali has been informed to us and we
are now planning you may call negotiating a date when
he will visit our country. He has proposed for those
for us and we have again counter-proposed something and
then if it was agreed on the date he said he will not
be free on the date we proposed.

Then, we have counter proposed some other date. And
then you will see the process is going on and the
schedule and the itinerary of Mr Razali and the purpose
of his visit is to learn about our country's situation.

And he will have the chance to meet with the
responsible members of our government and talk with us
and then we will explain to him of our situation and
other itineraries according to his plans. We don't
know his plan yet.

We hope that Mr Razali coming from the same region and
from Asia has the opportunity to understand more; the
problems and the mentality of our people.

I hope that we can have better understanding and
communication between us and we are hoping that we can
meet eye to eye and also we can discuss more frankly
and we can tell him about our concept and also our view
about the role of the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General.

In the past decade, the greatest achievement of this
government is bringing peace and stability to the
country that's the number one achievement beginning
1988.

Let me say one thing- you know the Ayeyawady river, the
most important river in our country. It flows inside
our country down to the sea and at the middle of the
country and it is the main river flowing down from
north to south. We had only one bridge across the
river in the past for so many years and no other
governments had been able to build any bridge. So many
rivers are flowing down from north to south and it is
so difficult to travel from east to west or west to
east. If we were not able to build a bridge in the
past how can we expect the economic development and the
infrastructure all previous governments were not able
to build another bridge on this river.

Because we are building the nation and when we are
building the nation and take the responsibility of the
State the first thing we have to do is to work for
emergence of the democratic state that's the aspiration
of the people and also the Government's aspiration. We
would like to see the emergence of the democratic
country.

Democracy comes with responsibility and together with
respect for rule of law; that's one thing. When we
took the state responsibility there was no other
alternative goal. We set the democratic' real
democratic nation.

Lack of national unity made us fight against each
other. First, we must build national unity. That's
our first priority. That's why we tried to reach peace
agreements with armed groups we talked with them
rationally with mutual respect and understanding.

This government alone succeeded to have such sort of
agreements with the armed groups. Previous governments
failed again and again. The peace lasted not long.
Now peace is prevailing in the whole country. The
structure of our capital Yangon ten years ago was not
the same as now. We had narrow roads and when we were
young Yangon was full of slums that's in our
parliamentary time. Now these were all in the past.

Now we are laying down ground works sound foundation
for the economic development?we will not be able to
take off economically if our infrastructure is not
built.

Now there are eight or nine bridges across the
Ayeyawady river, and across other rivers Thanlwin river
or other rivers we have built many bridges. Now for
the first time we could travel by road from the western
major cities like Sittway to Yangon without necessarily
to cross by boat.

The people from one place to another can travel easily;
then, we will become closer and closer to each other;
otherwise, we will be separated for a long, long time.

In the past, the economy was centralized, planning
economic system. The people who would like to be
traders could not trade legally in the past. This era,
that system has been left behind.

Now whoever wants to make a living by trading or by
business, there's no problem. We have a lot of private
enterprises. And private sector is growing. These are
the achievements which we are setting the ground for
the smooth functioning of any democratic government
which will emerge after the constitution.

Without these things, without peace and stability,
with-out good infrastructure, which is a requisite for
economic development without economic reforms leading
market oriented or capitalist economy that is the trend
which we have achieved in the past ten years. It's not
an easy task. When this government took the
responsibility in 1988 there was no money this
government started from minus because many, many
factories had been destroyed. And no money in the
banks.

This government had to build up the country from
scratch to the stage what you are seeing the emergence
of middle class or business people.

If you know the real situation from where we came up
you will understand what we have achieved.

I wonder what would happen if I go to Northern Ireland
and meet with some of the Republicans and say something
about the necessity for the British Government and to
bring peace to Northern Ireland. That's the one
question whether they would like it or not.

Of course Mr Robin Cook visited our region at the
invitation of our neighbor Thailand. They invited him
to visit so-called refugee camps and invited his
remarks -we are sorry for that.

Let me say assuring one thing Kayin problem is our
internal problem. Kayins are our brothers and sisters
our nationals; they are not aliens. Between us we need
to solve outstanding problems. That's what we have
been trying.

We are now building up the nation not to exclude the
Kayins from the process. we would like to build the
nation including all groups all major national groups.

So the Kayin problem is our problem. In the past we
have nearly reached the agreement with them to come to
the legal fold but those forces saying from the west
urged the Kayins not to go to Myanmar not to go back to
our country. These are the forces which would like to
see more and more flames in our country. They would
like to see our country in flame. That's their
mentality.

North Korea is a nation in our part and of course the
participation of North Korea in ARF for the peace and
stability of the whole area Asia Pacific. North
Korea's participation in the ARF is important and it
will contribute to peace and stability of the region.
We would like to welcome them. We do not object no
objection to inclusion of North Korea into ARF.

I have already made this known to Mr Surin, the
chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee when he asked
me of my opinion. Now he has invited North Korea. We
have agreed to that.

Regarding the meeting between ASEAN and EU Ministerial
Meeting, you will remember, last year that there was
scheduled to meet in Berlin between EU and ASEAN-EU and
ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. EU and ASEAN have to meet
and talk to each other.

If ASEAN has important things to sort out things
between EU and ASEAN if there is a meeting to be
planned, then we will consider between us; we have one
thing in common for our ASEAN nations.

A member of the ASEAN or a group should not be
discriminated or treated with discrimination. Right
now we have visa restrictions and so on. So we should
have a principle whether we can allow this sort of
discrimination.

There could be a meeting in Lisbon between EU and ASEAN
senior officials. It could happen that there could be
a meeting in one of the European capitals?the meeting
which has been postponed for some years. On the first
day of the AEM Retreat someone asked me whether I could
go there: I said If I didn't get a visa, there w ill
be no attendance from me to that meeting; then ASEAN
will not go without one. Not only me, anybody or any
country. We will not accept ASEAN minus one or ASEAN
minus two.

The principle is ASEAN as a whole should he treated as
ASEAN. The Press Conference ended at 9:15 am.

___________________________

(10) National Convention Convening Commission meets

YANGON, 3 May-National Convention Convening Commission
held a meeting at the meeting hall of NCCC Office at 2
pm today. Present on the occasion were Chairman of
NCCC Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Chairman Mai-Gen Sein Htwa and
commission members. Chairman Maj-Gen Saw Lwin made a
speech at the meeting. National Convention Convening
Work Committee and National Convention Convening
Management Committee reported on matters related to
National Convention, and members of National Convention
Convening Commission took part in the discussion.
Then, the chairman discussed the reports.and the
meeting ended with the concluding remarks by the
chairman.

___________________________

(11) Minister for Information meets IPRD staff of
Kachin State

YANGON, 2 May-U Chaw Pha Wu and seven staff of
Information and Public Relation Department in Putao,
Sumprabum and Khaunglanphu Townships in Kachin State
left for home today after visiting Yangon and other
cities from 27 April to 3 May at the invitation of
Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung.

Before their departure, U Chaw Pha Wu and seven Lisu,
Rawan and Jinphaw nationals met Minister for
Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung at Myanma Radio and
Television this afternoon.

___________________________

(12) 8 Bago NLD members resign of own accord

YANGON, 3 May-Eight members resigned from the National
League for Democracy of Bago Township, Bago Division.
Eight members of Bago Township NLD, Bago Division, of
their own accord, resigned by sending letters of
resignation to Bago Township Multiparty Democracy
General Election Sub-commission and the party concerned
on 13 December 1999 as they no longer wished to
participate in party politics of NLD.

___________________________

WEATHER

Maximum temperature on 2-5-2000 was 30.0C (90F)
Minimum temperature on 3-5-2000 was 23.5C (74F)
___________________________

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