The New Light of Myanmar (Wednesday, 30 January, 2002)(1/2)

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The New Light of Myanmar (Wednesday, 30 January, 2002)(1/2)
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1. Senior General Than Shwe meets UDNR students
2. Secretary-1 attends coord meeting on development of
   air transport
3. Merits shared for Gandakuti Kyaungdaw of Maha Muni
   Pagoda of Mong Phon Tawya in Tachilek Township
4. - Minister U Soe Tha receives Chinese Ambassador
   - Commerce Minister receives guests
   - Minister receives Thai Senate Committee Chairman
5. - UMFCCI President receives Ambassador of Butan
   - Minister receives Ambassador
6. - Gifts for Early Childhood Devt Centre
   - UNDR trainees continue excursion in Yangon
   - Central Committee for Scrutinizing Video Services meets
7. - Surgical operations performed by French and Myanmar
     specialists
   - TB control measures co-ordinated
8. - Minister inspects construction of factories in Mandalay
     Division
   - Minister inspects hospitals in Magway
   - Minister inspects tasks for water supply
9. - Financial Management Course concludes
   - USDA trainees visit UDNR, Ayeyawady Bridge (Mandalay)
   - Myanmar beat Indonesia 2-0 in ASEAN soccer

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( 1 ) Improvement of education basic need to nurture youth of border areas

Increase in number of educated persons helps widen knowledge scope, uplift
qualification and morale Success achieved in implementing five rural
development tasks contributes to accelerating national progress

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Senior General Than Shwe meets UDNR students

Yangon, 29 Jan - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe gave guidance
to the trainees of primary teachership course No 34 of the University for
Development of National Races at Pyuthu Luttaw at 9 am today.

Present on the occasion were Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief
(Army) General Maung Aye, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, members of the State Peace and Development
Council, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy), the Commander-in-Chief (Air), the
Chairman of the Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of
Yangon Command, ministers, the Attorney-General, the Auditor-General, the
Chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board, the director-general
of the State Peace and Development Council Office and departmental heads, the
trainees, rector and supervisor teachers.

Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office Lt-Col Pe
Nyein acted as master of ceremonies. First, Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General
Than Shwe gave guidance to the trainees. Senior General Than Shwe said: You
have come to the university with the aim of becoming an intellectual and to
serve as an education staff in your own region.

You should not forget your original aim when you have completed your studies
and begin discharging duties as an education staff in your region. With the
education you have gained at the university, you should strive for progress
of your region and to promote the education standard of the children.
Globalization is in progress due to the rapid advancement of science and
technology. If we fail to acquire the advancing science and technologies to
apply them for progress of the nation and the people, we will be left behind
in the process of globalization.


At a time when the science and technologies are the dominant factor and the
globalization is in progress, the persons who are to play a key role in
developing the nation and serve the national interests should be
intellectuals equipped with advanced educations. The government is launching
the education reform programmes covering the entire nation including the
remote border areas to uplift the nation's education standard and narrow the
education gap between the rural and urban areas. Improvement in the education
is the basic need in nurturing youth of border regions to be in accord with
the national requirement.

Increase in the number of educated persons will contribute to widen the scope
of knowledge and uplift the qualification and spirit to strive for progress
of the respective communities and regions. You will have to educate the
children of the border areas and at the same time you are required to lead
and organize the local people to help them successfully implement the
government's national education promotion programmes and produce
intellectuals. Only then will the education gap between urban and rural
areas, border areas and other regions can be eliminated. The Union will also
gain harmonious progress. As we are a developing country, we, the entire
nation, should strive harmoniously with zeal, perseverance, strenuous efforts
and effective programmes to enable the nation to stand shoulder to shoulder
with the world nations.

Thus, the government is striving from all sectors for rapid progress of the
Union of Myanmar. Peace and stability of the State is the most basic factor
for national development. Hence, the government is making strenuous efforts
to consolidate national solidarity for prevalence of peace and stability. We
are a Union which is home to over 100 national races. Throughout history
which is countable by years in the thousand, the national races have lived in
weal or woe, depending on each other in the territory of the nation. Till
today, they have lived together most closely in all parts of the Union.
Thanks to unity and farsightedness of our forefathers, our country has
existed as a united and firm Union and not as separate small nations for over
2000 years.

We have accepted this historical heritage and consolidated national
solidarity to protect and safeguard the nation for its perpetuity. Only when
there is perpetual flourishing of national unity, will the entire nation be
able to join hands to strive for national progress. Thus, you are required to
strive for further strengthening of national unity and vitalization of Union
spirit for prevalence of peace and stability in the Union. The nation will
gain gradual progress as long as all the brethren are joining hands and
working together in amity and unity for national development.


The government has built and is building a network of infrastructures
including roads, bridges aross rivers, dams, and modern communication
facilities in the entire nation. The infrastructures which are also being
built in the border areas are the foundation for national progress. Moreover,
it is laying the foundation, disseminating modern techniques and providing
modern equipment for development of agricultural, livestock breeding and
manufacturing sectors with a view to further developing the national economy.
Hence, we have become a consolidated nation, and the national economy is
achieving progress. At this opportune time, the government is exerting more
efforts for progress of the foundations in the health, education and social
sectors.

As such, the socio-economic standard is further improving. The five rural
development tasks covering the border areas have been laid down and
implemented to further enhance the development momentum of the nation. The
five tasks are: development of rural transport; rural water supply;
improvement of rural education standard; ensuring adequate rural health care
services; development of agriculture and livestock breeding and economy of
the rural areas. Success achieved in implementing the tasks has further
enhance the national progress.

Therefore, I would like to urge you to actively take part in rural
development measures in addition to performing your main duty of teaching. It
is also necessary for you to organize not only the children but also the
parents in trying to make sure that children in rural areas are literate,
that all the children of school-going age go to school and that they complete
their basic education. Moreover, you are required to make constant efforts
for enabling young students to pursue higher education and for raising the
education level of local people. As you all have been taught educational
subjects as well as the fundamentals of economics and social sciences, you
are now able to make an effective contribution to the development of
agricultural, economic and livestock breeding work of rural people.
Therefore, you will have to try and lend yourselves to the task of raising
the economic life and living standard of the people in the regions where you
are assigned duties. The national races of Myanmar have their own customs and
traditional cultures. These customs and traditional cultures are basically
similar to one another but they also have their own characteristics according
to their ethnic groups as well as their regions.


 This being so, it is the duty of all the national races to make the
traditions and cultures of various national races flourish harmoniously and
to preserve them as the cultural heritage of the Union. As you all are going
to be posted in the border areas, you have a moral obligation to promote and
preserve the traditions and cultures of our national races and to ward off
the penetration of alien cultures.

To sum up, as the graduates of the University for Development of National
Races, you will have to organize and lead the local people in performing your
educational duties as well as in working for rural development and
perpetuation of the Union. In conlcusion, I would like to urge you all to
carry out your duties well so as to be able to raise the educational standard
of the children of the local national people and that of the whole region; to
take an active part in regional development measures for the development of
regional economy and the improvement of living standard of the local people,
widening their scope of knowledge; for the perpetuation, peace and stability
of the Union, to organize and lead the local people so that their national
unity spirit and Union Spirit may be flourishing forever; to cherish and
preserve the traditions and cultures of all the national races and try to
ward off alien cultures and norms.

Then, on behalf of trainees, Maw Shan national Sai Aung Tun Latt of Leikha
Township, Shan State (South) spoke. He said that the Government established
the UDNR with the aim of promoting education standard and knowledge of the
national races in border areas to enable them to participate in regional
development tasks. The national races in different parts of the nation,
imbued with the spirit to carry out those tasks, arrived at the university
and pursued education in unison and in amity. Now, they will soon complete
their courses and will shoulder the duties assigned by the State. It is a
great pleasure for all of them since they are going to have the opportunities
to engage in the tasks of promoting the social-economic life of local
national races and to enable the national races of remote regions to pursue
education like them.

 Their duties are not only important for promoting the living standard of the
national races but also worthy of honour for them, he said. He assured that
they are going to discharge the duties assigned with full goodwill in the
interests of the State and national races as they are good sons and daughters
being nurtured and trained by the State, he added. Myanmar is rich in natural
resources. Though she is rich in natural resources she lagged behind in
development till over a decade ago due to internal strife and insurgency occu
rred for various reasons after regaining independence. The national races
also witnessed all kinds of troubles in the absence of peace in the past.


 Now, they gained favourable conditions to peacefully promote their living
standard at will due to prevalence of peace owing to the endeavours and the
goodwill of the State. They are to cherish and seriously safeguard peace
resulting from the Government's loyalty to the State and the people.
Realizing the goodwill and generosity of the State towards the national races
they are to live in harmony and unity in the motherland and that can effect
security and prosperity. At the same time, they, joining hands firmly, will
be able to live together in the mother- land.

The Government, after laying down national objectives, has been making
all-out efforts with the help of the national people to ensure emergence of a
modern, peaceful and developed nation, he said. They realized the value of
unity and the might of unity as success has been achieved in various sectors
due to cooperation of national races. As much as political, economic and
social objectives laid down by the State could be fully implemented there
would surely emerge a modern peaceful and developed nation, and they will
organize the people to actively take part in implementing those objectives.
In the history of Myanmar, the national races grew up in the same land and
drank water from the same source and lived in harmony with Union Spirit.

They fought back the danger posed to the nation unitedly and built the strong
nation in unison. The nation fell under colonial servitude when the entire
people did not pay serious attention to consolidation the national unity and
they were not aware of the importance of proper preparations for national
defence to be made. All have come to know that national unity plays a
decisive role in the national affairs. In rebuilding the nation, the
Government is taking measures for reducing the development gap among national
races, strengthening the Union Spirit and national unity.

Taking the lesson of falling under colonial servitude the Government, holding
the fact that the strength of the nation lies within, is making efforts for
building a strong nation which could guard against the danger posed. Some big
nations wishing our nation to be their subordinate are plotting with various
means to disintegrate the Union by breaking national unity, he said. We all
realized that we need to be united when they are trying so. We believed that
all national races could guard against the danger of our nation through
unity.

 The fine tradition of national unity essential for our nation to be
perpetual among the nations of the world is to be handed over to the youths
who will shoulder the State's duties in future. In conclusion, he said UDNR
students were systematically nurtured and trained by the State. The
university trained them to become qualified education personnel to be able to
successfully perform the education tasks. They were taught practically
develop- ment and special develop- ment subjects with a view to enabling them
to become junior leaders of regional development. When they are shouldering
duties, they will make efforts by systematic use of the subjects taught at
the university in building the future nation and will try their best to be
ones on whom the State can rely.

 Next, on behalf of the trainees, Kayah national Ma Devi Ri Moe of Pruhso
Township, Kayah State, spoke. She expressed her pleasure for the opportunity
to pay respects to the Head of State and high-ranking officials and for their
serious guidance and all of them are to follow the guidelines with
seriousness. She said the government is striving for equal development in the
country while making efforts for emergence of a peaceful, modern developed
nation. Border areas have now developed with greater momentum and living
standard of the people has also improved.

 To raise the momentum, the strength of local educated youths was to be
utilized. Reforms were made in education sector in order to produce educated
persons in the whole country. Training and teaching at the UDNR were revised
and we were nurtured to become good education staff within three years.
Arrangements were made for pursuit of higher education by conducting the
education diploma one year course and B.Ed two-year course. B.Ed four-year
course was conducted beginning this academic year. At the end of the course
the trainees would be B.Ed degree holders. They would teach national youths
in far-flung areas who completed primary education and were unable to
continue their studies in their middle schools.

The State's arrangements are meant for speedy development of border areas and
national races and these arrangements are goodwill of the government for the
trainees who will be participating in border areas development tasks. She
said that all of them would nurture the national youths to become good and
able educated persons who will be actively participating in border areas and
national races development tasks while discharging duties with full cetena.
She said education plays a vital role for development of a race. With high
qualifications and correct thought, every citizen is to be able to undertake
the tasks for development of the country and the people. With the intention
of uplift of education of the entire people, an education system is now being
implemented. Under the education promotion programmes, new generation youths
are learning advanced science and technology to be intellectuals and
intelligentsia with full patriotism.

 The government is making arrangements for turning out highly-qualified
youths in the knowledge age to catch up with international community under
the national education promotion special four-year plan. It is encouraging to
note that there have been favourable conditions and the long-term national
education plan is being implemented for progress of the education sector. Our
national races are brilliant. The government fully believed that brilliant
new generation youths with advanced science and technology and strength are
able to establish a new modern nation. At a time when the government is
making concerted efforts for all-round development of the education sector,
the trainees are to participate in the sector as education staff and
discharge the national duties, she said.

She said progress has been made in efforts for emergence of a peaceful,
modern developed nation in cooperation with all national races under the
leadership of the government. Endeavours are being made for more progress in
the country in cooperation with a consolidated national organization, the
Union Solidarity and Development Association. The USDA trained about ten
million new generation youths to possess skill, qualifications, high morale
and character and spirit of safeguarding national prestige and integrity.
Members of the association with high quality will stand as a basic force on
which the State relies. The USDA is an association that serves the national
interest. We are members of USDA.

 Being members of the USDA, we are to take active part in the tasks of the
association and to organize local national races and students to join the
activities of the USDA. In conclusion, she said it is the duty of all
national races to build and safeguard the nation. Our Three Main National
Causes are essential for perpetuation of the nation among the nations of the
world. It is accepted that all national races are to safeguard Our Three Main
National Causes with strong Union Spirit. Every morning we recite the oaths,
"We pledged to make concerted efforts for non-disintegration of the Union, we
pledge to make concerted efforts for non-disintegration of national
solidarity and we pledge to make concerted efforts for perpetuation of
sovereignty.' She said she pledged to repay the gratitude of the State in the
presence of the Head of State and high-ranking officials as good education
personnel while safeguarding Our Three Main National Causes.

 Then, the ceremony came to a close at 9.45 am. After the ceremony, Chairman
of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence
Services Senior General Than Shwe and party cordially greeted trainees and
supervisor teachers.



Excerpts from Senior General Than Shwe's address

* At a time when the science and technologies are the dominant factor and the
globalization is in progress, the persons who are to play a key role in
developing the nation and serve the national interests should be
intellectuals.

* As we are a developing country, we, the entire nation, should strive
harmoniously with zeal, perseverance, strenuous efforts and effective
programmes to enable the nation to stand shoulder to shoulder with world
nations.

* Peace and stability of the State is the most basic factor for national
development.

* Thanks to unity and farsightedness of our forefathers, our country has
existed as a united and firm Union and not as separate small nations for over
2000 years.

* The government has built and is building a network of infrastructures
including roads, bridges on rivers, dams, and modern communication facilities
in the entire nation.

* It is laying the foundation, disseminating modern techniques and providing
modern equipment for development of agricultural, livestock breeding and
manufacturing sectors with a view to further developing the national economy.

 * The five rural development tasks covering the border areas have been laid
down and implemented to further enhance the development momentum of the
nation.

* As you all have been taught educational subjects as well as the
fundamentals of economics and social sciences, you are now able to make an
effective contribution to the development of agricultural, economic and
livestock breeding work of rural people.

* It is the duty of all the national races to make the traditions and
cultures of various national races flourish harmoniously and to preserve them
as the cultural heritage of the Union.

 * As the graduates of the University for Development of National Races, you
will have to organize and lead the local people in performing your
educational duties as well as in working for rural development and
perpetuation of the Union.

___________________________


( 2 ) Secretary-1 attends coord meeting on development of air transport


 Yangon, 29 Jan- A coordination meeting on development of air passenger
transport of the Ministry of Transport was held at the meeting hall of the
ministry at 2 pm today, with an address by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and
Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. Also present on the occasion were the
ministers, the deputy ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development
Council Office and departmental heads. Speaking on the occasion, the
Secretary-1 said that Myanmar is making arrangements for promotion of tourism
industry and ensuring smooth air transport for tourists in cooperation with
the nations in the region.

 Arrangements are being made for direct flights of international airlines not
only to Yangon International Airport but also to Mandalay International
Airport and Bagan-NyaungU Airport. In addition, separate plans are to be
carried out under bilateral arrangements for development of the tourism
industry. The Secretary-1 urged departments and organizations including the
Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism to coordinate
the tasks for development of the tourism industry and to implement the plan
with a view to achieving success for smooth air transport for tourists. In
this tourism season, it can be seen that tourist arrivals have increased. The
Secretary-1 called for cooperation for development of the tourism industry.

Then, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung reported on prospects of t
ourist arrivals in Myanmar and assistance to be provided by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs for development of the tourism industry. Next, Minister for
Finance and Revenue U Khin Maung Thein reported on financial matters.
Afterwards, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin reported on
arrival of tourists. Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe reported on
arrangements being made for the convenience of tourists in Myanmar, flights
of Myanmar Airways International carrying the tourists and coordination work
being carried out with foreign airlines.

 Then, Director-General Col Maung Htay of Immigration and National
Registration Department and Director-General Col Khin Maung Lin of Customs
Department reported on functions of departments at the airports. Next,
Chairman of MAI U Maung Maung Ohn reported on tasks of MAI and its
accomplishments. Later, the Secretary-1 gave necessary instructions and the
meeting came to an end.

___________________________


( 3 ) Merits shared for Gandakuti Kyaungdaw of Maha Muni Pagoda of Mong Phon
Tawya in Tachilek Township

Yangon, 29 Jan-Under the patronage of Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San and
family, a ceremony to share merits for Gandakuti Kyaungdaw of Hsutaungpyi
Pagoda, which is located in the Golden Triangle region and donated by
wellwishers of Mong Phon Tawya in Tachilek Township, Shan State (East), was
held at the Gandakuti Kyaungdaw yesterday morning.

Present on the occasion were the State Ovadacariya Nagahnakaung Sayadaw Agga
Maha Pandita Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika-dhaja Bhaddanta Dhamma Siri and
Sayadaws, Chairman of Shan State (East) Peace and Development Council
Commander of Triangle Region Command Brig-Gen Chit Than, Minister for
Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, President of Myanmar-Thai Cultural and Economic
Cooperation Association Lt-Gen Kyaw Than (Retd), local Tactical Operations
Commander Col Than Shein, senior military officers, departmental officials,
members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees, wellwishers and local residents.

 The Nagahnakaung Sayadaw invested the congregation with the Five Precepts.
Then, the Sayadaws recited Metta Sutta. The commander, the minister and
officials presented offertories to members of the Sangha. Next, the Sayadaw
delivered a sermon, followed by the sharing of merits gained. After the
ceremony, the Sayadaw presented Buddha images to the commander, the minister
and officials as religious gifts. The Gandakuti Kyaung-daw where the replica
of Mandalay Maha Myat Muni Image is to be kept for public homage, is
constructed with the contributions of well-wishers.

__________________________


( 4 ) Minister U Soe Tha receives Chinese Ambassador

Yangon, 29 Jan -Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe
Tha received Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Li Jinjun at his office this
afternoon. They discussed matters related to economic and technological
cooperation between the two countries. Also present at the call were Deputy
Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo and officials of the Ministry of National
Planning and Economic Development.

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Commerce Minister receives guests

Yangon, 29 Jan-Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone received Ambassador of
the Russian Federation to Myanmar Mr Oleg V Kabanov and Chief Operating
Officer Mr Pankaj Pandit of UE Trade Corporation Pte Ltd based in Myanmar at
his office at 1 pm and 2 pm today respectively.

 Also present at the calls were Deputy Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Kyaw
Hsan, Director-General of Directorate of Trade U Nyunt Aye, Director-General
of Border Trade Department U Nay Win, Managing Director U Min Hla Aung of
Myanma Agricultural Produce Trading and officials.

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Minister receives Thai Senate Committee Chairman

 Yangon, 29 Jan - Minister for Labour U Tin Winn received Chairman of Senate
Committee of Thailand Mr Wallop Tangkananurak and party at his office of
Pyithu Hluttaw Building at 11 am today. Also present at the call were
Director-General of the Labour Department U Soe Nyunt and officials.
__________________________

( 5 )  UMFCCI President receives Ambassador of Butan

Yangon, 29 Jan - President of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of
Commerce and Industry U Win Myint and Joint General Secretary-2 Dr Maung
Maung Lay received Ambassador of Bhutan, with the residence in Bangkok, Mr
Lyonpo C Dorji at the federation this morning. They cordially discussed
matters related to trade and investment, export and import and exchange of
business delegations between the two countries.

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Minister receives Ambassador

Yangon, 29 Jan - Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung received Ambassador of
Bhutan to Myanmar, Mr Lyonpo C Dorji at his office on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road
this afternoon. Also present at the call were Deputy Ministers Brig-Gen Thein
Tun and Brig-Gen Kyaw Win, the directors-general and the managing directors
of the departments and enterprises under the ministry.

__________________________

to be continued ...