The New Light of Myanmar (Friday, 4 January, 2002)(1/2)

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The New Light of Myanmar (Friday, 4 January, 2002)(1/2)
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1. Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
   Senior General Than Shwe's message on the occasion of
   the 54th Anniversary Independence Day
2. Foreign Heads of State/Government send felicitations to
   Senior General Than Shwe
3. State Peace and Development Council issues Notifications
   on conferring titles and medals of commendation
4. Secretary-1 attends opening of Independence Day Commemorative
   Exhibition
5. Prizes presented to outstanding students for 2001-2002
   School Family Day
6. Outstanding students demonstrate skills on School Family Day
   for 2001-2002
7. Committee for Construction of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha
   Muni Image meets
8. Certificates for gallantry and certificates of honour awarded
9. Drug trafficker sentenced

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( 1 ) Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than
Shwe's message on the occasion of the 54th Anniversary Independence Day

On this significant and auspicious occasion of the 54th Anniversary of
Independence Day of the Union of Myanmar, I extend my warm greetings to all
the national peoples residing in the entire country. On this auspicious
occasion of the new year, the independence and sovereignty which has been
restored sacrificing the life, blood and sweat of many people of Myanmar is
in its 54th year. Based on Union Spirit and patriotism, the national brethren
took part in the anti-colonialist and national freedom struggles at the risk
of their lives.

The victory of the patriotic heroes of the national races such as ethnic
Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Bamar, Mon, Rakhine and Shan peoples has been
recorded in Myanmar history. So also, endeavours of the people including the
Tatmadawmen and the State service personnel who are the sons and daughters of
the national races to safeguard and protect the independence through united
strength during the present era must also be documented with honour.

The Union of Myanmar had stood as an independent and sovereign nation with
its own culture for years countable by the thousand. The nation has such fine
glory and traditions due to the efforts to preserve national prestige and
integrity and to strictly adhere to the social codes of conduct. Myanmar
society has always handed down the traditions of being mindful in words,
speech and deeds and cherishing the lineage, the character and the social and
family values to the future generations. The new generations should have the
ability to accept and preserve the good heritage and build a way of life that
is in conformity with Myanmar society. Under the leadership of the Union
Solidarity and Development Association, which is a national organization,
students are striving to serve national interests.

Moreover, the national education promotion programmes are gaining
considerable success in nurturing the students to be qualified and patriotic,
and to possess firm Union Spirit. As the State pays attention to the
capabilities of the youth and values them as investments for the future, the
youth themselves should be imbued with the belief that they are the most
basic of human resources. With this belief, they should strive to become
persons who are fully endowed with the qualities of good citizenship and are
able to take the responsibilities of the future society. In the information
technology sector, technological universities, government technological
colleges, government technological institutes, computer universities,
government computer colleges and government computer institutes are training
and producing a large number of technicians to develop the nation's human
resources to lead towards emergence of a modern and developed nation. It is
hoped that many scholars required for the future nation will emerge.

Further improvement of the living standard of the rural people is essentially
important for the realization of the Twelve National Objectives for
modernization and progress of the Union of Myanmar. Uplift of health and
education of the rural people is included in the five rural-development tasks
laid down by the State; the task is especially intended for the benefit of
the youth and students of the rural areas. The 30-year long-term national
education promotion plans have been launched both in the basic education and
higher education sectors. More basic education schools have been opened,
school admission days have been designated townshipwise to enable school age
children to attend classes, and multimedia teaching centres have been opened
with the collective participation of the parents, people and wellwishers with
a view to providing rural and border areas equal opportunity to get access to
basic education.

Due to these endeavours, over seven million students are now attending
classes at the 39,927 basic education schools. In the 2001-2002 academic
year, 92.05 percent of the school age children who have already reached five
are attending the primary classes. Programmes are being implemented for
development of qualified human resources needed for the nation as well as for
the regions. Efforts are being made to effectively launch the e-education
system with the aim of getting the opportunity to pursue education overcoming
the time and space limitations by means of information technology. Beginning
fiscal 2000-2001, 203 e-learning centres have been set up to introduce the
electronic-data broadcasting system. In fiscal 2001-2002, another 101
e-learning centres were opened in towns and large villages as well.

With a view to promoting the health standard of the people of rural areas in
the nation, priority has been given to conducting rural health care
activities and opening rural health centres. Up to 1,402 rural health centres
and 5,657 sub-centres have been opened to give special attention to the rural
health care task. As regards progress of border areas and national races,
priority has been given to building of dams to supply water to villages; and
agriculture offices and centres, tractor stations, livestock breeding centres
and veterinary centres for progress of the farming sector. In the transport
sector, more and more gravel roads, tarred roads, large and small bridges and
suspension bridges are being built year after year. Health care programmes
for the national races have been covered the villages in border areas.
National solidarity is important for Myanmar which is home to various
national races.

The main factor that forges national unity is 'Union Spirit' which is based
on patriotism. Patriotism is the spirit to preserve and protect the race, to
respect and cherish the traditions and culture, to safeguard national
interests and to oppose any insults against national prestige and integrity.
This spirit is the national character or in other words, the 'soul' of the
Myanmar people. Efforts have been made to successfully implement the national
education promotion programmes to nurture and improve the character of youth.

 Hence, the four objectives of the 54th Anniversary Independence Day have
been laid down with the firm determination for the emergence of a modern and
developed nation: The objectives are as follows:

- all the national people to collectively safeguard the national independence
and perpetuation of sovereignty;

- all the national people to be united to ensure non-disintegration of the
Union and non-disintegration of sovereignty;

- all the national people to strive for the building of a new, modern and
developed nation; and

- all the national people to strive for the emergence of an enduring State
Constitution.

On this auspicious occasion of the Independence Day, I, with love and
respect, would like to urge the entire national races of the Union to strive
to realize the four objectives with the united strength and highly qualified
skill based on Union Spirit and patriotism.
___________________________

( 2 ) Foreign Heads of State/Government send felicitations to Senior General
Than Shwe

 Yangon, 4 Jan-The following are messages of felicitations from foreign Heads
of State and Government sent to Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the
State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister of the Union of
Myanmar, on the occasion of the 54th Anniversary Independence Day of the
Union of Myanmar.

 From HE Mr Khamtay Siphandone, President of the Lao People's Democratic
Republic:

On the auspicious occasion of the 54th Anniversary of the Independence Day of
the Union of Myanmar, on behalf of the Lao people and on my own behalf, I
have a great pleasure to extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to
Your Excellency and through Your Excellency to the entire people of the Union
of Myanmar. I am extremely gratified to note that the good relations of
friendship and close cooperation existing between our two countries and
peoples have been unceasingly strengthened and flourished. May I take this
opportunity to wish Your Excellency good health and happiness and the people
of the Union of Myanmar greater progress and prosperity. Please accept, Your
Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

>From HE Mr Boungnang Vorachith, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic
Republic:

On the auspicious occasion of the 54th Anniversary of the Independence Day of
the Union of Myanmar, on behalf of the Government and people of the Lao
PeopleÕs Democratic Republic and on my own behalf, I have a great pleasure to
extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency and
through Your Excellency to the entire people of the Union of Myanmar. I am
gratified to witness that the close relations of friendship and profound
mutual understanding existing between our two countries will be further
strengthened for the benefits of our two nations and peoples and Asean's
dynamism alike. May I take this opportunity to wish Your Excellency good
health and happiness and for the prosperity of the Union of Myanmar. Please
accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

 From HE Colonel Muammar Al-Gadafi, Leader of the Great Al-Fateh Revolution,
Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya:

On the occasion of the National day of your brotherly country, it gives me
great pleasure to congratulate Your Excellency on my personal behalf and the
people of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and extend my
warmest and sincere greetings for Your Excellency's continued good health and
happiness and for the brotherly people of the Union of Myanmar progress and
prosperity.

>From HE Mr Kofi A Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations

 It gives me great pleasure to extend to you and to the Government and people
of Myanmar my warmest congratulations on the occasion of the Independence
Day. Our era of global challenges demands cooperation at the global level.
The United Nations offers a forum where the interests of all states, and all
peoples, can be addressed. It is a universal instrument of human progress
where all can work together to strengthen the rule of law, restrain man's
brutality and greed, conserve the earth's precious resources, sustain the
equal rights of men and women, and alleviate the suffering of the poor and
vulnerable. We have the political, scientific and technological power to
achieve these goals. Our challenge is to recognize our common interests, join
forces and take international cooperation to a new level. I very much look
forward to the contributions that the Government and people of Myanmar will
make to this vital endeavour, and it is in that spirit of partnership that I
extend to you my best wishes on this important national observance. Please
accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

 From HE Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the Republic of Maldives

On the occasion of Myanmar's Independence Day, I wish to extend, on behalf of
the Government and people's of the Maldives, and on my own behalf, warm
felicitations and sincere good wishes to Your Excellency the Government and
people of Myanmar. May I also extend my personal best wishes for Your
Excellency's good health and well-being, and for the continued progress and
welfare of the people of Myanmar.

>From HE Khaleda Zia, Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh,
Dhaka.

 The Government and the people of Bangladesh join me in conveying to you and
through you to the Government and the people of Myanmar our warmest greetings
on the happy occasion of the National Day of the Union of Myanmar. I am
confident that the excellent relations existing between Myanmar and
Bangladesh will be further strengthened and consolidated in the days ahead.
Please accept, Your Excellency, my best wishes for your good health and
personal well-being and for the continued peace, progress and prosperity of
the people of Myanmar.

>From HE Prof. A Q M Badruddoza Chowdhury, President of the People's Republic
of Bangladesh

 I take the great privilege in conveying to Your Excellency my heartiest
greetings on the auspicious occasion of the National Day of the Union of
Myanmar. It is my firm conviction that the relations existing between our two
friendly countries will gain further momentum in depth and dimension to the
mutual benefit of our two peoples in future. Please accept, Your Excellency,
my best wishes for your good health, happiness and long life and for the
continued peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Myanmar.

 From HE Dr Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Council of State and of the
Government of the Republic of Cuba

On the occasion of commemorating the 54th Anniversary of the Proclamation of
Independence, it gives me pleasure to extend to Your Excellency and to the
people and Government of the Union of Myanmar, on behalf of the Cuban people
and government, warmest congratulations, along with our best wishes for the
continued enhancement of the friendly relations and cooperation between our
two peoples and countries, for the prosperity of this friendly nation and for
your personal happiness. Please receive, Your Excellency, the assurances of
my highest consideration.

>From HE Mr Saddam Hussein, President of the Republic of Iraq

It is our pleasure to extend to Your Excellency our warmest congratulations
on the occasion of the National Day of your country, wishing you further
health and happiness and to the friendly people of Myanmar progress and
prosperity. With our utmost consideration.

 From HE Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of the Republic of the
Philippines

I wish to extend my deeply felt and most sincere felicitations to Your
Excellency and to the Myanmar nation on the auspicious occasion of the
celebration of the 54th Anniversary of the Independence of the Union of
Myanmar. I believed that our warm and cordial meeting in Brunei Darussalam on
4 November 2001 during the ASEAN Summit has given us the impetus to work for
a stronger and more vigorous bilateral relationship. I wish to affirm, Your
Excellency, the commitment of my Government to strengthen our bilateral
relations with the ASEAN countries and, in particular, with the Union of
Myanmar in all fields of mutual interest, such as the enhancement of our
cultural affinity, bilateral trade and investments, and our common desire to
find peace, stability and prosperity in our region and in the world.
Excellency, I look forward to more opportunities in the future for us to
cement the close personal rapport we have established in Brunei. Accept,
Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

>From HE General Pervez Musharraf, President of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan

It gives me great pleasure to convey to Your Excellency and to the Government
and the people of the Union of Myanmar our warmest felicitations on the
auspicious occasion of the National Day of the Union of Myanmar. Pakistan and
Myanmar have historically enjoyed cordial and cooperative relations. I am
confident that these relations will be further strengthened and enlarged in
the years ahead. I avail myself of this opportunity to express my best wishes
for Your Excellency's personal health and happiness and for the continued
progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Myanmar. Please accept,
Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

 From HE Chandirka Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, President of the Democratic
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

The Government and people of Sri Lanka join me in conveying to Your
Excellency, the Government and people of the Union of Myanmar, warm greetings
and sincere congratulations on the auspicious occasion of the Independence
Day of the Union of Myanmar. I am confident that the traditional ties of
friendship and close cultural and religious exchanges between our two
countries will continue to flourish for the mutual benefit of our two
peoples. Please accept, Your Excellency, my warm good wishes for Your
Excellency's continued good health, happiness and personal well-being and as
well as for the continued progress and prosperity of the people of the Union
of Myanmar.
___________________________

( 3 ) State Peace and Development Council issues Notifications on conferring
titles and medals of commendation

 Yangon, 4 Jan - The State Peace and Development Council issued today,
Independence Day Notification Nos 1/2002, 2/2002, 3/2002, 4/2002, 5/2002,
6/2002, 7/2002 and 8/2002. Under the Notification No 1/2002, religious titles
have been conferred on Sayadaws, nuns and laity.

 Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Titles have been conferred on three Sayadaws,
Agga Maha Pandita Titles on 22 Sayadaws, Dhammaka-thika Bahujanahitadhara
Titles on three Sayadaws, Agga Maha Ganthavacaka Pandita Titles on 22
Sayadaws and two nuns, Maha Gantha-vacaka Pandita Titles on 66 Sayadaws and
11 nuns, Ganthavacaka Pandita Titles on four Sayadaws and one nun, Agga Maha
Kammatha-nacariya Titles on five Sayadaws, Maha Kammathana-cariya titles on
nine Saya-daws, Kammathanacariya Title on one Sayadaw, Abhi-dhaja Agga Maha
Saddham-majotikadhaja Title on one Sayadaw, Agga Maha Saddhammajotikadhaja
Titles on 37 Sayadaws in the nation and five from abroad, Maha
Saddhammajotikadhaja Titles on 26 Sayadaws and one of laity,
Saddhammajotikadhaja Titles on 19 Sayadaws in the nation, one from abroad,
one nun and one of laity, Agga Maha Thiri Sudhamma Manijota-dhara Title on
one laity, Thiri Sudhamma Manijotadhara Titles on two of laity from local and
one of laity from abroad, Thiha Sudhamma Manijotadhara Titles on three of
laity, Sudhamma Manijotadhara Titles on four of laity, Agga Maha Thiri
Sudhamma Theingi Title on one of laity, Thiri Sudhamma Theingi Titles on four
of laity, Thiha Sudhamma Theingi Titles on five of laity and Sudhamma Theingi
Titles on four of laity totalling 224 Sayadaws, 15 nuns and 27 of laity.
Under the Notification No 2/2002, Thura Titles are presented to six
Tatmadawmen, Gallantry Medals to 24 persons, Medal for Excellent Performance
in Arts (First Class) to seven persons, Medal for Excellent Performance in
Medicine (First Class) to one person, Medal for Excellent Performance in
Agricultural Field (First Class) to one person, Medal for Excellent
Performance in Agricultural Field (Third Class) to 11 persons, Medal for
Excellent Performance in Industrial Field of Economy (First Class) to three
persons, Medal for Excellent Performance in Industrial Field of Economy
(Second Class) to 24 persons, Medal for Excellent Performance in Industrial
Field of Economy (Third Class) to 75 persons, Medal for Excellent Performance
in Administrative Field (First Class) to 42 persons, Medal for Excellent
Performance in Administrative Field (Second Class) to 65 persons, Medal for
Excellent Performance in Administrative Field (Third Class) to 85 persons,
Medal for Excellent Performance in Social Field (First Class) to 40 persons,
Medal for Excellent Performance in Social Field (Second Class) to 59 persons,
Medal for Excellent Performance in Social Field (Third Class) to 261 persons,
Yebala Medal to five persons, Yethurein Medal to 10 persons and Yekyawswa
Medal to four persons totalling 723 persons.

 Under the Notification No 3/2002, Military Service Thingaha Medal is
presented to 912 personnel. Under the Notification No 4/2002, Military Good
Service Medal is presented to 3,677 personnel  35 retired personnel and 3,642
personnel. Under the Notification No 5/2002, Public Service Medal is
presented to 8,873 personnel  558 retired personnel and 8,315 personnel.
Under the Notification No 6/2002, Good MPF Service Medal is presented to 31
personnel. Under the Notification No 7/2002, MPF Service Medal is presented
to 148 personnel. Under the Notification No 8/2002, Public Service Medal is
presented to 16,146 personnel  145 retired personnel and 16,001 personnel,
and State Peace and Development Council Medal is presented to 26,698 Ñ 141
retired personnel and 26,557 personnel.

__________________________


( 4 ) Secretary-1 attends opening of Independence Day Commemorative
Exhibition

Yangon, 3 Jan - Under the organization of the 54th Anniversary Independence
Day Exhibition Work Subcommittee, the opening ceremony of year 2002 54th
Anniversary Independence Day Commemorative Exhibition was held at the
Tatmadaw Convention Hall on U Wisara Road, Dagon Township, this morning,
attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen
Khin Nyunt. The exhibition was held with the objectives of the 54th
Anniversary Independence DayÑall the national people to collectively
safeguard the national independence and perpetuation of sovereignty; all the
national people to be united to ensure non-disintegration of the Union and
non-disintegration of national solidarity; all the national people to strive
for the building of a new, modern and developed nation; and all the national
people to strive for the emergence of an enduring State Constitution.

Also present were members of the State Peace and Development Council
Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Thein Sein and Quartermaster-General Maj-Gen Thiha
Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development
Council Commander of Yangon Command Brig-Gen Myint Swe, ministers, the Yangon
Mayor, deputy ministers, senior military officers, the chairman of the
subcommittee and members, officials of the State Peace and Development
Council Office, departmental heads, service personnel, members of the Union
Solidarity and Development Association, students, chairpersons of the Myanmar
Writers and Journalists Association and Women Entrepreneurs' Association and
officials, and guests.

 U Hla Win of the Myanma Radio and Television acted as master of ceremonies.
Chairman of the committee Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein
formally opened the exhibition. The Secretary-1 and party then viewed the
central booth. Afterwards, they viewed the booth MyanmarÑwhere human beings
originated of the Ministry of Culture, ancient Pyu civilization nations, the
first Myanmar empire, the second Myanmar empire and the third Myanmar empire
booth, making Independence efforts and regaining Independence booth of the
Information and Public Relations Department, Queen Star Computer Centre's
booth, World Peace IT Co Ltd's booth, love-inspiring Myanma cultural arts
booth, and the State's development perspectives booth.

The Secretary-1 and party observed the booths of the Ministry for Progress of
Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs, the Ministry of
Industry-1, the Ministry of Industry-2, the Ministry of Agriculture and
Irrigation, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of
Health, the drug elimination booth of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse
Control, the towards the new nation booth of the News and Periodicals
Enterprise, and Soft Guide computer booth, and left the Tatmadaw Convention
Hall. At the exhibition, bookshops of NPE, the Sarpay Beikman, Inwa, and
Today are being opened. The exhibition is opened from 3 to 11 January from 9
am until 5 pm. Admission is free.

__________________________

to be continued...