The New Light of Myanmar (Saturday, 2 March, 2002)(1/2)

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The New Light of Myanmar (Saturday, 2 March, 2002)(1/2)
-----------------------------
1. State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General
   Than Shwe's message on Peasants Day
2. General Maung Aye inspects Thaphanseik Multi- Purpose
   Dam Project
3. 12th Defence Services Medical Conference was held
4. - Minister receives American delegation
   - Industry-1 Minister receives guests
   - F&R Minister receives guests
5. - Maj-Gen Aung Htwe tours Mongkai and Kehsi townships
   - e-National Task Force Vice-President receives Japanese guests
   - Chairman of MICTD Co receives guests
6. - Armed Forces Day Management Committee Chairman inspects
     hostels of parade columns
   - e-ACCP 2003 Aptech Career Programme Seminar held
   - SLAMEO guests visit MICT Park
   - Seminar on VSAT Technology to be held
7. - Dhamma Thabin being held on Mindhamma Hill
   - Golden Jubilee of Myanma Insurance
8. 32 armed group members exchange arms for peace
9. - 24th Inter-State/Division Golf Team C'ship concludes
   - Six-nation basketball friendly to be held

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( 1 ) State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe's
message on Peasants Day

Yangon, 2 March - The following is a translation of the message of Chairman
of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe on the
occasion of the 2002 Peasants Day.

Esteemed peasantry,

Peasants Day is observed every year in honour of all the Myanmar peasantry on
2 March 2002. On this auspicious day, I would like to wish all the Myanmar
peasantry well-being in body and mind and success of agricultural work.

The State Peace and Development Council is implementing political, economic
and social objectives with the aim of ensuring peace and tranquillity and
modernizing and developing Myanmar. In the light of the present situation,
the economy of Myanmar is based on agriculture, on which over 70 percent of
the population of the nation has to rely. That is to say, at the present
time, development of other economic sectors of the State banks on the
strength of the agriculture sector.

 Therefore, the Government is implementing plans to tap land and marine
resources to the full with the aim of promoting the development of the
agriculture sector. Dams, reservoirs and embankments have been built with
added momentum in a short time to ensure sufficient water supply for
agricultural purposes. There are altogether 130 dams, reservoirs and
embankments built after 1988 inclusive of Paingkyon Sluice Gate inaugurated
in Kawa Township, Bago Division, in February.

 Thirty-two dams and reservoirs projects are in course of implementation, and
plans are afoot to build yet another 44 irrigation facilities. River water
pumping projects as well as dam and reservoir projects have been implemented
to utilize water from rivers and creeks provided by Nature. There are
altogether 262 river water pumping projects. Moreover, underground water has
been tapped, thereby providing drinking-water and water for agricultural
purposes for rural people. Viable ways and means have been sought in all the
regions to supply water for agricultural purposes. As a result, irrigated
acres of land grew from 2.5 million acres of land to over 4.9 million. There
were 23.8 million acres of sown acreage in 1988. The total acres have
increased up to 37.14 million.

I would like to urge all the peasants to make best use of the cultivable
lands which have emerged due to the arrangements of the Government, and to
work harder to improve socio-economic life and to meet the target of
agricultural production of the State. Esteemed peasantry, To sustain economic
development of the State, a third short-term five-year plan which runs from
2001-2002 to 2005-2006 is being implemented with the following aims:

-to establish and extend agro-based industries,

-to develop the electricity sector and the energy sector in keeping with the
extension of industries,

- to ensure local sufficiency of food in the agriculture sector and the meat
and fish sector and to promote export,

-to develop other sectors as well,

- to extend education and health tasks for development of human resources,

- to develop rural areas. In implementing one of the six aims

- to develop rural areas where the peasants live

- the Government has paid first priority to betterment of condition of
transport, water supply and improvement of education, health and economic
standards, which are fundamental necessities of the rural areas.

In response to the goodwill of the Government, all the peasants need to
cooperate with it in implementing these aims.

Esteemed peasantry,

 The State Peace and Development Council is safeguarding the national policy
of the State  non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national
solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty  and working hard day and night
for the emergence of a new, peaceful, modern and developed nation out of pure
love of the country despite internal and external interference and
difficulties and stringencies. One of the tasks being undertaken by the
Government is to ensure emergence of a new State constitution which
guarantees the modernization, development and perpetual existence of the
nation.

If there were no acts of interference from inside and outside the country
with the self-reliant efforts of the Government and the people for the
prosperity and development of the State and if there were no attempts to push
the nation into a difficult situation, the nation would make progress more
quickly and become more prosperous, and the living standard of the peasants
would be higher than it is now.

Hence, I would like to urge all the peasantry emphatically to actively and
harmoniously cooperate with the Government in striving  for the development
of the agriculture sector, which plays a crucial role in the economic growth
of the nation,  for the realization of the aims enshrined in the third
short-term five-year plan,  for the development of rural areas where the
peasantry are residing, and  for the emergence of a new enduring State
constitution with the aim of building the nation into a peaceful, modern and
developed one.

___________________________

( 2 ) General Maung Aye inspects Thaphanseik Multi- Purpose Dam Project

Yangon, 1 March - Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army)
General Maung Aye accompanied by Maj-Gen Soe Win, Maj-Gen Ye Myint and
Quartermaster-General Maj-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo of the Ministry
of Defence, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Maj-Gen Myint Swe, Chairman of Sagaing
Division Peace and Development Council Commander of North-West Command
Brig-Gen Soe Naing, Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development
Council Commander of Central Command Brig-Gen Ye Myint, ministers, deputy
ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office and
departmental heads, left Kanbalu for Thaphanseik Dam in Kyunhla Township by
helicopter at 11 am yesterday.

 At the briefing hall of Thaphanseik Multi-purpose Dam project, Minister for
Electric Power Maj-Gen Tin Htut reported to the General on implementation of
hydro-electric power project, installation of cables to link the power
generated by the station with national grid system, construction of sub-power
station and arrival of machinery for power stations. Afterwards, acting
Director-General U Win Kyaw of Hydro-electric Power Department of Ministry of
Electric Power reported on installation of three turbines and progress of
work. Later, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin
explained to the General storage capacity of the dam, the amount of water to
be released from the dam to irrigate crops and to generate power, and crop
cultivation in the irrigated areas.

 Next, Chairman of Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Commander
Brig-Gen Soe Naing reported on cultivation of pre-monsoon paddy, monsoon
paddy, summer paddy and other crops in the environs of the dam. Member of the
State Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen Soe Win gave a supplementary
report. Giving instructions, General Maung Aye said the government spent a
large amount of money to build the dam on Mu river to extend irrigated areas
and mixed-cropping and to generate power. Efforts should be made to irrigate
crops in accord with the original target.

He urged the officials to make efforts for generation of power as soon as
possible. Then, General Maung Aye and party inspected construction of
electric power station, installation of generators and progress of work. The
project manager and officials conducted them around the project. Next,
General Maung Aye presented gifts to technicians from People's Republic of
China who are performing installation work of generators together with
Myanmar Engineers. Later, General Maung Aye and party inspected the main
spillway and secondary spillway. They also inspected the dam along the
embankment by car.

 Thatphanseik Dam was commissioned into service on 17 April 2001. Storage of
water started on 27 January 2001 and 400,000 acres of monsoon paddy could be
irrigated in 2001-2002. At present, the dam is irrigated 45,000 acres of
monsoon cotton, 172,500 acres of summer paddy and 26,300 acres of summer
sesame. Ministry of Electric Power and department concerned are making
efforts for generation of electric power with the use of three ten-megawatt
generators. General Maung Aye and party in the afternoon left Thatphanseik
Dam for Mandalay Nanmyo where they were welcomed by Mayor of Mandalay
Brig-Gen Yan Thein, Deputy Commander, Brig-Gen Nay Win and officials.

___________________________

( 3 ) Physical and spiritual development becomes main requirement to develop
national economy, improve living standard

It is national duty to strengthen, qualify, modernize Tatmadaw to be able to
stand as firm force ready to safeguard sovereignty


Yangon, 1 March - The 12th Defence Services Medical Conference was held at
the Defence Services Medical Academy in Mingaladon Township here this morning
with an address by Chairman of the National Health Committee Secretary-1 of
the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. Also present were
Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon
Command Brig-Gen Myint Swe, ministers, deputy ministers, the heads of the
directorates of the Ministry of Defence, senior military officers, members of
Defence Services Medical Research and Development Committee, members of NHC,
senior officials of the Directorate of Medical Services, retired medical
commandants, rectors of institutes of medicine and DSMA, pro-rectors,
professors, department heads, officials of social organizations, students of
DSMA and guests.

Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt said at present, efforts are being made to
enable the Myanmar Tatmadaw to stand perpetually as a strong, qualified and
modern one. Holding the conference annually is included in the programmes
which contribute towards emergence of a Tatmadaw formed with healthy, fit and
brilliant soldiers. The results of the conferences have enhanced the ability
of the members of the Directorate of Medical Services and the effectiveness
in giving health care services to Tatmadawmen and families and the people.

 The conference has been held twelve times since 1990 with the participation
of scholars of the DMS and physicians, who discuss their research findings
and the therapeutic and medical developments of the Tatmadaw. Zealous efforts
made by the DMS members in accord with the guidelines of the Military
Research and Technological Development Committee and under the supervision of
the Defence Services Medical Research and Development Committee have
contributed to the success of the conferences.

The Government, the Tatmadaw and the people, trying to overcome internal and
external disturbances, are harmoniously carrying out nation-building tasks
for emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed Union and striving to
enable the nation to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world nations. At a
time when concerted efforts are being made by the national force comprising
the Government, the Tatmadaw and the entire people to develop the national
economy and improve the living standard of the people, physical and spiritual
development of the people has become a main requirement.

 With the aim of uplifting the health and fitness standards of the entire
nation, the State Peace and Development Council has systematically laid down
national health plans to offer cent-per-cent health care services to the
people of the entire nation regardless of place and status. Due to the
efforts of the national health forces including the DMS, doctors, health
staff, social organizations and the personnel of the health-related fields,
the health standard of the people is improving.

 In addition to national defence duties, the duties of the Tatmadaw cover
nation-building and national economic development tasks and the task to raise
the living standard of the national people. The nation, which is home to all
the national races, is being faced with internal and external disturbances
and acts of outside instigation at present.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw is discharging its duties brilliantly in accord with its
fine traditions to further strengthen national unity, perpetuate the Union
and safeguard sovereignty. It is a national duty to strengthen, qualify and
modernize the Tatmadaw so that it can stand as a firm force always ready to
safeguard sovereignty. Thus, the scope of  the task of the DMS members to
ensure full health care services to Tatmadawmen and families at any place has
become larger. Thus DMS members are required to always strive to enhance
their ability. Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than
Shwe has acknowledged the important role and the fine traditions of the DMS
in enabling the Tatmadaw to stand firmly and brilliantly.

The Senior General has always given encouragement to enhance the skills of
the DMS members. The DMS is extending hospitals and medical units, upgrading
the existing hospitals, opening specialist hospitals, utilizing the most
advanced equipment in implementing diagnosis, treatment, education, research
and experiment programmes. Defence Services Medical Academy and Defences
Services Nursing Academy were set up to continuously bring out medical
doctors and graduate nurses in order to develop the human resources of the
medical science field.

 Moreover, doctorate and master courses are being conducted at the Defence
Services Medical Academy, and some have been sent abroad for further studies.
After 1989, ten MRCP graduates, 14 FRCS graduates, two MRCPCH graduates,
three MRCOG graduates, one FRCS (ENT) graduate, one FRCR graduate, one FRCS
(Ortho) graduate and one FRCA graduate have emerged. Altogether 24 trainees
are attending the doctorate courses. One Dr Med Sc degree holder and one Ph D
degree holder have emerged from the Directorate of Medical Services. One
trainee is doing a Ph D on dental medicine.

One Ph D (Nursing) degree holder has emerged from the Directorate of Medical
Services. Two persons have been sent abroad to do Ph D (Nursing), and one
person is attending Doctorate of Nursing course. Due to all-round
encouragement, the quality of the Directorate of Medical Services has
improved and can perform tasks in accord with the international standard. For
instance, Pace Marker implantation has been able to be conducted since 1991,
and Bicor can be used for Coronary Angiogram and angioplasty at the Defence
Services General Hospital. Since 1994, Coronary Artery By-pass Graft (CABG)
has been able to be performed without foreign help.

Kidney transplant has been conducted three times at Defence Services General
Hospital: operation was performed on five patients first time in 1995, on two
patients second time in 1997, and on three patients third time in 1999.
Similarly, total knee replacement and total hip replacement have been able to
be conducted since 1998 at Defence Services Orthopaedic Hospital.

 In cooperation with 24 medical teams from England, France, Japan, Belgium,
Singapore and Thailand, surgeons of the Directorate of Medical Services have
operated on 300 patients. In 2001, medical experts from England, Germany,
Australia, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and China gave
lectures and conducted studies in Myanmar. Moreover, it is found that the
Directorate of Medical Services can undertake tasks related to health
education and prevention of infectious diseases. Special medical teams have
been sent to stations and operation areas to prevent outbreak of infectious
diseases.

In addition, they managed to do research. Defence Services Rehabilitation
Hospital has produced Prosthesis and Orthoses and is carrying out
rehabilitation work. The conducting of research for the improvement of health
care provided by the Directorate of Medical Services contributes greatly to
turning the Tatmadaw into an efficient and dynamic one. As things are
changing and improving rapidly in the world today, the scope of requirements
for health care have become wider. So more and more health research needs to
be conducted, and the field of research needs to be extended. At the present
research-paper reading session, 54 academic research papers will be read, and
there will be 12 research posters and four seminars. Six resource persons
from England, Singapore, Indonesia and China will participate in the paper
reading session.

The significant feature of the conference is two research papers on lung
cancer and hypertension compiled by traditional medicine practitioners. At
the conference, there are not only booths on western medicines but also
booths on traditional medicines. After the conference, Endourology Workshop
and Symposium on Invitro Fertilization will be held as Post Conference
Workshops. Researchers and specialists need to work in unity so that the
Defence Services Medical Conference can bring forth good results not only for
the Myanma Tatmadaw but also for the State and the people. First priority
needs to be given to different kinds of research which are appropriate to the
topography and social condition of Myanmar and which can fulfil needs related
to health care.

The research findings are also to be used for the benefits of all the entire
people including the Tatmadaw members. In conclusion, the Secretary-1 urged
all the members of the Directorate of Medical Services and researchers to
contribute to building the Tatmadaw into a strong, capable, efficient,
dynamic and modern one from the health sector, to contribute to development
of the nation and improvement of national economy and living standard of the
people and strive to ensure that all the national people including the
Tatmadaw members are healthy and strong and can perform national defence
duty, and to work in harmony and unity to promote the efficiency of the
Directorate of Medical Services and to uplift the health standard of the
people.

Then, Chairman of Defence Services Medical Research and Development Committee
Director of Medical Services Brig-Gen Mya Thein Han said that the 12th
Medical Conference is held with the aim of improving the standard of medical
science of Defence Services, bringing about different kinds of research which
contribute to treatment and diagnosis, conducting disease prevention
research, turning out researchers of new generation and upgrading
inter-departmental research to international research. Then, the Secretary-1
formally opened the 12th Medicine and Medical Equipment Exhibition.
Afterwards, the guests looked round the exhibition.
__________________________

( 4 )  Minister receives American delegation

Yangon, 1 March - Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein received Associate
Director Mr Carmine J Bozzi of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, United State of America, and party at his office this morning.
Also present at the call were officials of the ministry.

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Industry-1 Minister receives guests

Yangon, 1 March - Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung, received General
Manager Mr Huang Yuanbin of China Textile Machinery (Group) Co Ltd and party
of the People's Republic of China and Additional Secretary Mr P Rath of the
Ministry of External Affairs and party of the Republic of India separately at
his office at 2 pm and 3 pm today. Also present on the occasions were Deputy
Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Win, the director-general and managing directors of
the department and industries under the ministry.

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F&R Minister receives guests

Yangon, 1 March - Minister for Finance and Revenue U Khin Maung Thein
received Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Union of Myanmar Dr
Farouk Mabrouk and Vice-Chairperson of Chinese People's Institute of Foreign
Affairs of the People's Republic of China Mme Chen Baoliu and party at his
office at 2 pm and 3 pm today respectively. Also present on the occasions at
the calls was Governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar U Kyaw Kyaw Maung.

__________________________


( 5 ) Maj-Gen Aung Htwe tours Mongkai and Kehsi townships

Yangon, 1 March Ñ Member of the State Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen
Aung Htwe of the Ministry of Defence, accompanied by Chairman of Shan State
Peace and Development Council Commander of Eastern Command Brig-Gen Khin
Maung Myint and Shan State-level departmental officials inspected Mongkai
People's Hospital, gave instructions and cordially had a conversation with
the patients on 24 February morning.

 Then, Maj-Gen Aung Htwe met with township-level departmental officials at
the local regiment in Mongkai and discussed regional development. After
hearing reports presented by officials, Maj-Gen Aung Htwe attended to their
requirements. In the afternoon, Maj-Gen Aung Htwe visited affiliated Basic
Education High School in Hanngaing Village, Kehsi Township, Kehsi BEHS and
Kehsi People's Hospital and attended to the needs. He next met with the
trainees of the midwifery training course at the hospital.

At the office of Kehsi Township Peace and Development Council, Maj-Gen Aung
Htwe met with the chairman and members of the council, township-level
departmental officials, members of the Union Solidarity and Development
Association, Red Cross Society and Auxiliary Fire Brigade, War Veterans
Organization, Maternal and Child Welfare Association, Committee for Women's
Affairs and the midwifery training course and townselders and elaborated on
tasks being implemented for regional development.

Then, Maj-Gen Aung Htwe urged departmental personnel and social organizations
to make concerted efforts in cooperation with local people at a time when the
State is striving for the regional development. He spoke of the need of
ensuring smooth and secure transport, extension of agricultural and livestock
breeding work and provision of education and health care services. Maj-Gen
Aung Htwe and the commander presented a set of computer each for the school
through the township education officer and the headmistress. Afterwards,
Maj-Gen Aung Htwe presented K 10,000 and the commander five bags of rice for
the trainees of the midwifery training course to the officials. On 25
February morning, Maj-Gen Aung Htwe and the commander attended the opening of
the branch of the Myanma Economic Bank in Kehsi. Maj-Gen Aung Htwe spoke on
the occasion.

Then, the manager of Shan State (South) MEB explained the purpose of opening
the branch. Maj-Gen Aung Htwe and the commander formally opened the branch
and looked round it. Next, Maj-Gen Aung Htwe, the commander and party visited
Wutpaung-kyaung at 2nd mile, Kehsi and offered provisions to Sayadaw Agga
Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Bhaddanta Javana and members of the Sangha.

 The chairman Sayadaw of Township Sangha Nayaka Committee invested the
congregation with the Five Precepts. Maj-Gen Aung Htwe, the commander and
officials presented offertories to members of the Sangha. The chairman
Sayadaw delivered a sermon, followed by the sharing of merits gained.

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e-National Task Force Vice-President receives Japanese guests

Yangon, 1 March - Vice-President of e-National Task Force Deputy Minister for
Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Hlaing Win received Executive
Managing Director Mr Sumio Horiuchi of the Institution of Professional
Engineers, Japan, and party at the MICT Park in Hline Township here yesterday
afternoon. Also present were members of working committees of e-National Task
Force. They discussed matters related to IT development of Myanmar and
bilateral recognition between Myanmar and Japan engineers.

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Chairman of MICTD Co receives guests

Yangon, 1 March - Chairman of Board of Directors of Myanmar Information and
Communication Technology Development Co Ltd Col Thein Swe received Chairman
of Korea Computer Communications Ltd of the Republic of Korea Mr T H Kang and
party at MICT Park in Hline Township yesterday morning. They discussed
matters related to performance of e-Government tasks. Also present together
with MICTD Co Ltd Chairman Col Thein Swe were members of the board of
directors.

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to be continued ...