The New Light of Myanmar (Thursday, 7 March, 2002)

[Ok Kar <okkar66126@xxxxxxxxx>]

The New Light of Myanmar (Thursday, 7 March, 2002)
---------------------------
1. Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development
   Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt delivered an address
   at the Special Meeting No 1/2002 of the Central
   Committee for Drug Abuse Control at the meeting
2. Loinanpha Dam opened in Dimawhso to irrigate over
   2,000 acres
3. - Regional development tasks inspected in
     Ayeyawady Division
   - MWVO Central Organizing Committee holds meeting
4. Regular Press conference held
5. - Deputy Ministry U Khin Maung Win leaves for
     Thailand
   - 13 Myanmar bodies found in Thailand
6. - Minister for Hotels & Tourism receives foreign
     guests
   - Maha Thingyan Festival to be held on grand scale
   - Cash donated to CCDAC
7. - Chief of Armed Forces Training inspects drills
     of military columns at Myoma Grounds
   - Commanders, minister inspect construction tasks
     of airports
   - MV Seabourn Sun arrives
8. U-20 beat U-17 2-1 in special tune-up
9. - Poppy plantation destroyed in Phakant
   - Two marijuana traffickers jailed 15 years each

---------

( 1 ) Chemicals used in producing amphetamine tablets
not available nor produced in Myanmar

DEA acknowledges poppy cultivation, opium production
decreasing in Myanmar

Yangon, 6 March- Secretary-1 of the State Peace and
Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt delivered an
address at the Special Meeting No 1/2002 of the
Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control at the
meeting hall of the Ministry of Home Affairs at 2.30
pm today.

 Also present at the meeting were ministers, the Chief
Justice, the Attorney-General, deputy ministers,
senior military officers, members of CCDAC, officials
of the State Peace and Development Council Office,
heads of department, members of the work groups and
guests. Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt said Myanmar has
been launching the anti-narcotic drugs and narcotic
drugs elimination programmes with greater momentum
since 1988. As there were armed groups in the jungles,
the previous governments were not able to effectively
and successfully wipe out the narcotic drugs despite
the operation Moe Hein they had launched to eradicate
the narcotic drugs. After 1988, the State was able to
make efforts for the armed groups to return to the
legal fold and arrangements to develop the border
areas. The State has created opportunities for the
national race armed groups to set up industrial, gems,
agricultural and livestock breeding enterprises. It
has also provided assistance and disburse bank loans
to them. As members the groups can now lay firm
economic foundation for their businesses, the border
areas they are living in are also achieving progress.
Due to the encouragement given by the colonialist
government, poppy cultivation began in Myanmar during
the colonial period.

 Drug manufacturing business such as opium production
and refining heroin grew gradually during the time.
The government laid down and implemented border area
development plans and at the same time, it has
systematically launched campaigns to root out the
narcotic drugs. For two years, the 15-year narcotic
drugs elimination plan has been systematically drawn
and implemented. As the national races residing in the
border areas have been educated and organized, they
are now actively taking part in the task to eradicate
the narcotic drugs.

Wa national race leaders have made a firm pledge to
totally wipe out the drugs from their land by the year
2005. Similarly, the Kokang national race leaders have
made a firm pledge to rid their region of the narcotic
drugs. And leaders of both national races are striving
to do so. Mongla region has been declared to the world
as an Opium Free Zone since 1997. The leaders of Wa
national race have set up agriculture and livestock
breeding enterprises with zeal and correct ideas for
progress of their people. The enterprises are now
producing import-substitute items and are also
exporting goods. Myanmar signed the ASEAN Plus China
Accord Plan in 2000. The nation is enhancing
cooperation with the ASEAN nations and the People's
Republic of China.

Myanmar and PRC signed an agreement in Yangon in
January 2001 to cooperate in eradicating the drugs.
Now the two nations are closely cooperating with each
other to wipe out the drugs. Similarly, Myanmar signed
an MoU with Thailand in June 2001 to collectively
control the narcotics. In coordination with the Thai
government, model villages have been set up at the
border areas as a project to wipe out poppy
cultivation at the border. Modern communication
facilities have been set up among the bodies of six
countries which have signed an MoU to establish
central organizations to gather information of the
drugs. Japan International Cooperation Agency is
providing assistance to cultivate buckwheat as an
opium-substitute crop. As the project is achieving
success, plans are under way to extend buckwheat
cultivation.

 The CCDAC of Myanmar and DEA of the US are conducting
joint studies. It is known that the DEA has made a
remark that poppy cultivation and opium production are
decreasing in Myanmar. There were accusations from
outside the nation saying that Mongyun had drug
refineries; but when the accusers from foreign nations
were invited to visit the town, they found only the
hydel power stations and the markets at the places
which they had alleged to be drug refineries. Myanmar
has laid down and implemented the 15-year plan to wipe
out the drugs. It is not implementing the task with
short-term view. But some big western countries are
launching slanders against Myanmar, saying that
Myanmar is the largest narcotic drugs producer and
distributor; and that its efforts to wipe out the
drugs are without any effect.

 As the nation is actively conducting anti-drug
activities, it cannot accept the slanders. Some big
western countries are pointing a finger at Myanmar and
accusing her of the nation producing largest amount of
amphetamine tablets. But the accusation is not fair.

 Chemicals used in refining the amphetamine tablets
are not available nor produced in Myanmar. They
entered Myanmar via the neighbouring countries. Thus,
we trust that they should made an assessment on their
accusations from the objective point of view. These
big countries has never provided any assistance to
Myanmar to wipe out the drugs, instead they were
launching slanders against her. However, Myanmar has
made a determination to let the world know her efforts
to eliminate the narcotic drugs by her own strength,
which have been designated as a national task. The
nation destroyed poppy fields at the border areas in
the early 2002. The government is distributing
provisions to the people whose poppy fields have been
destroyed. It will also render help for them to earn
their living. The national races leaders are actively
taking part from the respective sectors to implement
the 15-year plan under the leadership of the State.

 Thus, the plan will surely achieve success. All are
required to harmoniously strive in accord with the
plan and to refute the slanders from outside the
nation. Then, Chairman of the Central Committee for
Drugs Abuse Control Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin
Hlaing reported the Secretary-1 on growing of
short-term and long-term poppy-substitute crops in Wa
and Kokang regions, cooperative effort of the local
people for drug elimination with the State, condition
on cooperation of local authorities and officials from
state/division CCDACs for the success of the 15-year
drug elimination plan, hosting of the meeting in
Myanmar on drug elimination of high ranking officials
from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thai, attendance of
Myanmar delegation at the ministerial meeting on drug
control of the four countries held at Beijing in
China, the fruits of the meeting, destroying of poppy
plantations and seizure of drugs, drug control tasks
being launched under the arrangements of the CCDAC and
the UNDCP, conducting of educative courses for
students on drug control and elimination with the help
of the WHO, future tasks for success of drug
elimination tasks of the CCDAC and Work committees in
accordance with the guidance of Head of State.

 Afterwards, Secretary of CCDAC Director-General of
MPF Col Soe Win briefed on work done for implementing
the decisions of the meeting 2/2002 of the committee.
Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National
Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt reported
the Secretary-1 on projects on drugs elimination and
region-wise tasks of the ministry for development of
border areas. Then, officials from work committees
briefed on distribution of seeds for growing of
poppy-substitute project and chicken, piglets and
fish, tasks for rehabilitation of drug-users,
conducting of educative courses for students and
public, condition on opium yield survey made at
Namkhait, Mongshu, Tangyan, Naunghlaing, Shauk-or and
Lonhtan regions in Shan State. The Secretary-1 made a
concluding speech. He said the successes of drugs
elimination tasks were known due to the reports of the
committee and work committees and a large amount of
cash used by the State in drugs elimination sector has
contributed to success of the tasks. The ministries
also took part in the tasks with their own plans.
Progress has been achieved due to the efforts of
deputy ministers who led special groups and went down
to the grassroots level for drugs elimination task and
national race leaders' active participation in the
task, he said. Now, it is learnt that production of
drug like heroin, which is based on poppy, has
decreased while that of amphetamine has increased.
This clearly shows the declination of cultivation and
production of poppy.

Our country does not produce chemicals used in
producing amphetamine tablets and they come in through
the neighbouring countries. So prohibition of these
chemicals are to be proposed, he added. Prevent the
chemicals from entering our country must be done
because amphetamine cannot be produced without having
raw chemicals. Tasks for penalizing drug criminals
have been carried out in the country and these tasks
are to be made known to the world. Success has been
achieved in training the drug-addicted youths to be
good ones and giving them vocational education, and
efforts are to be made for more success, he pointed
out. Nationals grew poppy for their living not for
economy. Rice, oil and others are to be supported to
them in destroying poppy plantation. Earnest efforts
are to be made for the success of the 15-year drug
elimination project, he added. In conclusion, the
Secretary-1 urged officials to make organizing tasks
for the success of drug elimination task within the
set period. Then, the meeting came to a close.
___________________________

( 2 ) Loinanpha Dam opened in Dimawhso to irrigate
over 2,000 acres

Yangon, 6 March- A ceremony to inaugurate Loinanpha
Dam, built by Irrigation Department of the Ministry of
Agriculture and Irrigation, was held at the pandal
near the dam in Loinanpha Village, Dima-whso Township,
Kayah State, yesterday. Present on the occasion were
Chairman of Kayah State Peace and Development Council
Brig-Gen Nyunt Hlaing, Deputy Minister for Agriculture
and Irrigation U Ohn Myint, the Secretary of Kayah
State Peace and Development Council and officials, the
deputy director-general of ID and officials, members
of the Union Solidarity and Development Association,
Auxiliary Fire Brigade and Red Cross, Working
Committee for Women's Affairs, Maternal and Child
Welfare Association, teachers, students, dance troupes
and local people from Dimawhso and Phruso townships
totalling over 6,000.

 First, Chairman of Kayah State Peace and Development
Council Brig-Gen Nyunt Hlaing gave an opening address.
He said that the Government has been laying down and
implementing plans for bringing about all-round
development in the whole country. For extension of
agricultural tasks, the Government has been building
dams and reservoirs spending huge sums of funds, he
said. He continued to say that by opening the
Loinanpha Dam, agricultural works can now be extended
further in Kayah State.

 Loinanpha Dam will irrigate 2,150 acres of land, he
said. He also said that dams, reservoirs and
irrigation facilities in Kayah State including the
Loinanpha Dam will supply water to over 36,000 acres
of cultivated land. He pointed out that serious
attention be paid for boosting agricultural produces
while water is supplied sufficiently. He also urged
the local populace to actively participate in regional
development works of the Government. He called on the
local people to collectively strive for durability of
the new dam.

Next, Deputy Minister U Ohn Myint explained the
opening of the Loinanpha Dam with the aim of ensuring
extended cultivation of crops in the region. Kayah
State USDA Secretary U Kyaw Swe spoke words of thanks.
Next, Deputy Minister U Ohn Myint presented gifts to
national race leader U Tun Kyaw of Kayah State Special
Region-2 for their contribution to the construction of
the dam. Afterwards, Brig-Gen Nyunt Hlaing unveiled
the stone inscription of the dam. Then, Brig-Gen Nyunt
Hlaing and Deputy Minister U Ohn Myint formally opened
the dam. They cordially met with those present and
visited the dam. Loinanpha Dam was built on Tikellya
Creek near Loinanpha village, Demawhso Township, Kayah
State. The earthen dam, 60 feet high and 1,690 feet
long, has 1,300 acre-feet of water capacity. The dam
has one main canal, 10 feeder canals and 172 small
canals.

The construction tasks of the dam in 1999-2000 and it
was constructed at a cost of K 209.875 million. The
dam will irrigate 2,150 acres of land. Moreover, a
lake was built in the village with siphon method for
ensuring supply of drinking water in the rural area.
As the Government builds and opens dams and reservoirs
annually after 1988, the newly-opened Loinanpha Dam is
the 131st dam of the nation.
___________________________

( 3 )  Regional development tasks inspected in
Ayeyawady Division

Yangon, 6 March - Members of the State Peace and
Development Council Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and
Maj-Gen Maung Bo of the Ministry of Defence,
accompanied by Minister for Livestock and Fisheries
Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein, officials of the State
Peace and Development Council Office, departmental
heads, fishery entrepreneurs and officials, arrived at
Pathein on 4 March morning.

They were welcomed there by Chairman of Ayeyawady
Division Peace and Development Council Commander of
South-West Command Brig-Gen Htay Oo, Chairman of
Pathein District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col
Maung Pyone and officials. Then, Maj-Gen Khin Maung
Than, Maj-Gen Maung Bo and party, together with
Brig-Gen Htay Oo, went to the Myat-mawtinsun
Hsan-dawshin Pagoda in Ngapu-daw Township, Pathein
District, where they were welcomed by Staff Officer
(Grade I) Cmdr Tun Tun of local Naval Regional
Command, members of the Union Solidarity and
Development Association, Maternal and Child Welfare
Association, Red Cross Society and Auxiliary Fire
Brigade and local residents.

The fishery entrepreneurs donated cash for renovation
of the pagoda. Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Maj-Gen Maung
Bo and party paid homage and offered provisions to
Mawtintawya Kyaungtaik Sayadaw Bhad-danta ?anobhasa. U
Htay Myint of Yuzana Co donated K 600,000 to the
Kyaungtaik; U Zaw Zaw of Max Myanmar Co K 500,000; U
Hla Than of Pyi Phyo Tun Co and U Than Win Aung of
Pale Nadi Co K 200,000 each; and U Tun Hla Baw of
Myanmar Dairy Industries Ltd, U Kyee Sein of Shwekhayu
Co, U Hla Maung Shwe of Golden Family Co, U Mya Han of
Fortune International Co and U Thet Aung of Winner
Brother Co K 100,000 each through the commander and
officials. Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Maj-Gen Maung Bo
and party proceeded to Haingyi Island in Ngapudaw
Township. They were welcomed there by Captain Aye Pe
of local Naval Regional  Command, departmental
personnel and others.

They inspected the sea prawn breeding station being
undertaken by Annawa Aungmye Co Ltd at the island.
They also inspected Haigyi Police Station and its
vegetable plantations and Haigyi PeopleÕs Hospital. At
Ngayokegaung Village in Ngapudaw Township, they met
with local authorities, members of USDA, MCWA and Red
Cross Society and Auxiliary Fire Brigade and gave
instructions on implementation of the five rural
development tasks, construction of rural roads,
agriculture and breeding of fish and prawn for the
development of the village. They headed for the
Chaungtha Beach Hotel and met with local authorities,
departmental officials and prawn breeders and
discussed extended breeding of sea prawn.

 Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than spoke of the need for placing
emphasis on extended breeding of fresh water prawn,
sea prawn and fresh water fish. He urged national
fishery entrepreneurs to extend modern and scientific
breeding of prawn and fish, and to disseminate and
discuss scientific breeding methods. He elaborated on
paying serious attention to carrying out tasks for
extended breeding of prawn and fish without damaging
farm lands and gardens which are thriving. Local
authorities and departments concerned are to render
assistance and national fishery entrepreneurs are to
strive for extended prawn and fish breeding, he
pointed out. The State will attend to the
requirements, he added.

Then, Commander Brig-Gen Htay Oo reported on economic
development of the Division; Minister Brig-Gen Maung
Maung Thein on aims and functions of the Ministry of
Livestock and Fisheries, prawn sector and meat and
fish sector; and prawn breeders on breeding and
production of sea prawn and future tasks. Maj-Gen Khin
Maung Than and Maj-Gen Maung Bo gave necessary
instructions. They inspected the shrimp fry hatchery
station of the Universal Concord Co Ltd in Chaungtha,
Pathein Township, and Mayflower Fish and Prawn
Breeding Station and gave instructions. Yesterday
morning, Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Maj-Gen Maung Bo and
party inspected progress of construction of
international standard Hotel Max in the Chaungtha
Beach Resort.

They then arrived at the Yuzana prawn breeding group
(Po Maung Gyaing Station) in Ngwehsaung region,
Pathein Township. Chairman of the station U Htay Myint
conducted them round the station and reported on work
being done. Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than left instructions.
Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Maj-Gen Maung Bo and party
inspected the sea prawn breeding at Bawdigon station
and Alechaung station of the group. Later, they
visited sea prawn breeding stations of the Golden
Family Co Ltd and Shwekhayu Co Ltd near Thazin Village
and the sea prawn breeding station of May Myanmar Co
Ltd near Thazin Creek. They inspected conditions of
the development of Ngwehsaung region from the
Ngwehsaung Beach Hotel. Then, they inspected progress
in constructing Darka bridge on Darka River, which
links Paikthaung Village in Kangyidaunt Township and
Yathechaung Village in Kyaunggon Township. Maj-Gen
Khin Maung Than gave necessary instructions to the
officials concerned. They arrived back here in the
evening.

---------

MWVO Central Organizing Committee holds meeting

Yangon, 6 March- The Myanmar War Veterans Organization
Central Organizing Committee held Meeting No 2/2002 at
the meeting hall of the headquarters of Myanmar War
Veterans Organization at 8th mile on Pyay Road in
Mayangon Township at 2 pm today, attended by member of
the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of
MWVO Central Organizing Committee Adjutant-General
Maj-Gen Thein Sein.

Also present at the meeting were ministers, deputy
ministers, the vice-chairman of Yangon City
Development Committee vice-mayor, members of the
MWVOCOC, departmental heads and officials. First,
Central Organizing Committee Chairman Adjutant-General
Maj-Gen Thein Sein gave an opening address. Then,
Secretary Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen
Thura Myint Maung reported on the minutes of the
previous meeting and completion of tasks.

 COC members Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung,
Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Minister for
Science and Technology U Thaung, Minister for
Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein and
Deputy Minister for Labour Brig-Gen Win Sein reported
on organization, finance, economic and health sectors
related to the five tasks of the Committee. Next,
organization group leaders reported on tasks being
carried out in the respective sectors and those
present took part in the discussions. COC Chairman
Maj-Gen Thein Sein gave necessary instructions and the
meeting came to an end. After the meeting,
Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Thein Sein inspected the
specialist clinic of Myanmar War Veterans Organization
(Central) and left necessary instructions.

__________________________

( 4 ) Regular Press conference held

Yangon, 6 March - A regular Press conference with
local and foreign journalists took place at the
Tatmadaw guest house on Inya Road here this morning.
Present at the meeting were Minister for Labour U Tin
Winn, Vice-Chief of Military Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw
Win, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung
Win, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung
Thein, Brig-Gen Khin Aung Myint and senior military
officers of the Ministry of Defence, departmental
heads, officers of the Ministry of Information,
Correspondent U Sein Win of Kyodo News Agency, Myanmar
Foreign Correspondents Club Patron U Hla Htwe and
President U Sao Kai Hpa, foreign correspondents, and
guests. On the occasion, Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, U Khin
Maung Win and officials replied to the queries of
journalists.

 In his replies, Maj-Gen Kyaw Win said with respect to
receiving Myanmar citizens working in Thailand
illegally, the two governments are coordinating in
view of maintaining mutual friendship; and the date to
accept them has already been fixed; however, some of
them are returning home before the scheduled date, and
hence, a reception camp has been opened in Myawady
beginning 5 February 2002. So far, over 800 Myanmar
citizens have returned and medical check-up and cash
assistance were provided to them; those who have come
back have been sent back home safe and sound.

 Some Thai newspapers carried the news that some
Myanmar families were killed in Thai border area. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested the Thai
Government to make an effective investigation into the
issue as it is a criminal case, he said. He also
disclosed that recently, some fake K 1,000 currency
notes, which were smuggled into Myanmar through the
border area where Kayin insurgents resided, were
seized; action is being taken to expose those who are
guilty; there is no need to worry as all of the fake
currency notes have been seized; moreover, the rumour
to the effect that the Government will circulate K
5,000 and K 10,000 currency notes is untrue; the
rumour to the effect that some of the currency notes
will be demonetized is also untrue; as it has been
already announced time and again, the State Peace and
Development Council Government will not demonetize
currency notes in any way, he said.

 Next, Lt-Col Hla Min of the Ministry of Defence gave
replies to queries concerning the annual report on
international human right released on 4 March by the
government of USA. Then, the regular Press conference
came to an end. Afterwards, local and foreign
journalists viewed the documentary photos on reception
of Myanmar workers in Myawady who returned from
Thailand.
__________________________

( 5 ) Deputy Ministry U Khin Maung Win leaves for
Thailand

Yangon, 6 March - Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
U Khin Maung Win left here for Thailand by air this
evening to attend the Fifth Meeting of
Myanmar-Thailand Joint Boundary Committee to be held
in Bangkok, Thailand. He was seen off at the Yangon
International Airport by officials from the ministry
and officials from the Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon.
The advance team of Myanmar delegation comprising
officials from the ministry, the Ministry of Defence
and departments concerned left here for Thailand
yesterday to attend the Senior Officers Meeting of
Joint Boundary Committee. The Myanmar delegation will
hold discussions with Thai counterpart on matters
related to boundary between the two countries.

 ---------

13 Myanmar bodies found in Thailand

Yangon, 6 March -Today's issue of the Nation expressed
in its headlines that 13 bodies of Myanmar were found
in Thailand and police suspected that the victims were
beaten and drowned. Children were among the dead.

 The paper said Thai Police launched an investigation
into the brutal killings of 13 people including five
children and some with heavily bruised bodies who are
found in rice sacks on a waste site in Muang District.
Police rushed to the scene after being alerted by a
local villager. Provincial Deputy Police Commander Pol
Col Pinit Satcharoen said that some of the victims had
broken necks and severe bruises, while others appeared
to have drowned.

 Their clothes were still wet and their bodies bore no
trace of gunshot or knife wounds, Pinit said, adding
that some were also suspected of having been poisoned.
The victims were a man, seven women, three boys and
two girls. They were believed to have been dead for at
least eight hours but less than 24 hours before being
discovered, Pinit said. The rice sacks containing the
bodies were dumped under sacks of fertilizer and
animal waste. We are still looking for more evidence
at the scene," Pinit said. Police found tyre track
traces near the scene, leading them to believe the
victims were murdered elsewhere and moved to the site
by truck before being dumped. Police suspect those
killed were Myanmar immigrants as they wore longyi,

 Myanmar sarongs. A note written in Myanmar and
Myanmar bank notes were found among the bodies.
Several local villagers told police that the dead were
possibly workers from a nearby construction site.
Police said they were transporting the bodies to the
Police Hospital in Bangkok for autopsies. Prachin Buri
Governor, Chaijit Rattakajorn, said the sacks were
produced in Samut Prakan and were imprinted with a
logo from the Krungthep Animal Food Co.

 The murders come at a time when the government is
trying to encourage employers of Myanmar workers to
join a registration programme, allowing the government
to better ascertain the number of Myanmar workers in
Thailand. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said he believed the victims
were Myanmar nationals working illegally in Thailand.
Last month, 20 corpses, believed to be ethnic Myanmar,
were found floating downstream in a river along the
Thai-Myanmar border in Tak's Mae Sot District. Last
October, the labour Ministry registered around 560,000
of an estimated two million illegal workers in an
effort to control the flow.
___________________________

( 6 ) Minister for Hotels & Tourism receives foreign
guests


Yangon, 6 March - Minister for Hotels and Tourism
Maj-Gen Saw Lwin received Chairman of Yangon
International Hotel Mr Koki Onodera and President/CEO
of L & M International Co (Korea) Mr Lee Jong Man at
his office at 10 am and 11 am today respectively.

Also present at the call were Deputy Minister for
Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu, Managing
Director of the Myanma Hotels and Tourism Services U
Kyi Tun and officials.

---------

Maha Thingyan Festival to be held on grand scale

Yangon, 6 March -Myanma traditional Ozi, Dobat, Yein
and dance contests will be held at Yangon Mayor's Maha
Thingyan pandal (1363 ME) in the Thingyan Festival and
handsome prizes will be awarded. The contests are
12-member Yein troupe for nursery schools and
12-member troupe, 16-member troupe, 20-member troupe
and 24-member troupe for offices, schools and other
organizations. Application forms for the contests are
available on the fourth floor (Inspection Department
Office) of the nine-storey building on 38th Street in
Kyauktada Township from 8 to 18 March during office
hours. Pre-contests will be held at the sports stadium
in Maugon. For further information, contact the head
of department (Tel: 286612, 09-9926931) and the deputy
head of department (Tel: 278003) of the inspection
department on 38th street and the office of temporary
assessment work committee in Maugon (Tel: 292715,
299401), assistant heads of department of the
inspection department (Tel: 289508, 276715) and the
office (Tel: 274822).

---------

Cash donated to CCDAC

Yangon, 6 March - A ceremony to donate cash to the
Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control was held at
the reception hall of the Narcotic Drug Elimination
Museum this evening. Present on the occasion were
Chairman of CCDAC Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin
Hlaing, Chairman of CCDAC Supervisory Committee Deputy
Minister Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Secretary of
CCDAC Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Police
Maj-Gen Soe Win and officials. On the occasion,
Chairman & Managing Director of Pinya Manufacturing Co
Ltd U Kyi Lwin and Managing Director of Penisula
Enterprise U Than Lwin explained the purpose of the
donation. Afterwards, Chairman & Managing Director U
Kyi Lwin presented K 3,000,000 and Managing Director U
Than Lwin K 500,000 to Minister Col Tin Hlaing who
spoke words of thanks.
___________________________

( 7 ) Chief of Armed Forces Training inspects drills
of military columns at Myoma Grounds

Yangon, 6 March- Chairman of the Leading Committee for
Observance of the 57th Anniversary Armed Forces Day
member of the State Peace and Development Council
Chief of Armed Forces Training Maj-Gen Kyaw Win
inspected parade drills of military columns at Myoma
Grounds this morning. At 6.30 am, Chairman of the
Leading Committee member of the State Peace and
Development Council Chief of Armed Forces Training
Maj-Gen Kyaw Win arrived at Myoma Grounds where he was
welcomed by Vice-Chiefs of Armed Forces Training
Maj-Gen Win Myint, Brig-Gen Aung Kyi and Brig-Gen
Thein Swe, Best Cadet Selection and Prize Presentation
Committee Chairman Vice-Adjutant-General Brig-Gen
Maung Nyo, Chairman of Security Committee Deputy
Commander of Yangon Command Brig-Gen Hsan Hsint,
senior military officers and officials. First, Maj-Gen
Kyaw Win inspected parade drills of the columns.

 Under the command of Parade Commander Brig-Gen Hla
Tun and Reserve Parade Commander Col Than Htay,
Anawrahta Column led by Col Thaung Shwe, Kyansittha
Column led by Col Tin Hla, Bayintnaung Column led by
Col Khin Maung Win, Nawade Column led by Col Han Sein,
Aungzeya Column led by Col Khin Maung Latt,
Hsinbyushin Column led by Col Myo Thant, Bandoola
Column led by Col Aung Min, Myawady Column led by Col
Hla Moe and Aung San Column led by Col Thoung Zin and
members of Myanmar Police Force, Fire Services
Department and Red Cross Society participated in the
parade drills. Then, the Leading Committee Chairman
gave necessary instruction and left Myoma Grounds at
10 am.

Next, Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, accompanied by Commander of
Yangon Command Brig-Gen Myint Swe, Vice-Chiefs of
Armed Forces Training Maj-Gen Win Myint, Brig-Gen Aung
Kyi and Brig-Gen Thein Swe, Vice-Quartermaster-General
Brig-Gen Htin Aung Kyaw and officials went to
Maintenance Base in Mingaladon Township at 3.30 pm and
inspected hostels of Hsinbyushin Column. Hsinbyushin
Column Commander Col Myo Thant reported on
accommodation of companies of the column and welfare
tasks. Afterwards, the Leading Committee Chairman
inspected dining halls, hostels, welfare shops and the
information unit for respective companies and gave
necessary instructions. Then, Maj-Gen Kyaw Win
proceeded to Defence Services Orthopaedic Hospital
(500-bed) where Bandoola Column Commander Col Aung Min
reported on accommodation of companies of the column
and welfare tasks. Later, Maj-Gen Kyaw Win inspected
dining halls, hostels, welfare shops and the
information unit for respective companies and attended
to their needs. He left the hospital at 5 pm.

---------

Commanders, minister inspect construction tasks of
airports

Yangon, 6 March -Commander of North-East Command
Brig-Gen Myint Hlaing and Minister for Transport
Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe, accompanied by officials,
inspected sites for extended runway of the airport in
Lashio and stone grinding tasks yesterday morning.
Managing Director of Asia World Co U Tun Myint Naing
and officials explained extension of the runway with
the use of the charts and the commander and the
minister gave necessary instructions.

Commander of North-West Command Brig-Gen Soe Naing and
the minister in the evening arrived at Monywa airport
where Director-General of the Department for Civil
Aviation U Win Maung reported on current condition of
the runway of the airport and extension of the runway
to the south and north. Next, the commander and the
minister viewed along the runway by car.

Then, they inspected the sites to extend the runway
and officials reported to them on the condition of
earth and environs. The commander and the minister met
with divisional officials at the hall of North-West
Command Office this morning. They then discussed
matters pertaining to the dried-up U-ru Creek.
Officials of Directorate of Water Resources and
Improvement of River Systems also reported on
condition of Myintha-Yepawmee-Shwedwin Road with the
use of the map. Then, the commander and the minister
gave necessary instructions. Afterwards, they
inspected the grinder in Shapyay Village from which
stones can be obtained.

Then, together with Deputy Commander Brig-Gen Soe
Myint, the minister paid homage to Bawditithtaung
Sayadaw and made cash donations. He also inspected
construction of the standing Buddha image and
fulfilled the needs. This evening, the minister,
accompanied by Director-General U Win Maung, inspected
the construction of the building, where machinery is
to be stored, at Mandalay International Airport and
construction of the head office.

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MV Seabourn Sun arrives

 Yangon, 6 March - Under the supervision of the
Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, the Ministry of
Transport and the Myanmar International Thilawa
Terminal and with the arrangement of the Insight
Myanmar Tourism Co Ltd, MV Seabourn Sun with 530
passengers and 451 crew arrived at MITT in Thanlyin
this morning. Officials concerned from the ministries
and the company welcomed the crew and visitors there.
The visitors toured around Yangon today. They will
visit Bagan tomorrow and leave Myanmar on 8 March.
___________________________

( 8 )  U-20 beat U-17 2-1 in special tune-up

Yangon, 6 MarchÑÊUnder the arrangement of Myanmar
Olympic Committee, the Myanmar youth team which won
the silver medal and the fair play award in the ASEAN
U-20 Football Tournament met against another Myanmar
youth team which won the gold medal and the fair play
award in the ASEAN U-17 Football Tournament at the
Youth Training Centre in Thuwunna at 4 pm today. The
U-20 team beat the U-17 team 2-1. Tint Naing Tun Thein
of the U-20 opened the scoring in the 25th minute in
the first-half and Soe Lin Tun of the same team scored
the second in the 10th minute in the second-half. The
lone goal of the U-17 was scored by Kyaw Swa Win in
the 28th minute. The two teams will take part in the
Asian Youth's Cup qualifiers soon.
___________________________

( 9 ) Poppy plantation destroyed in Phakant

Yangon, 6 March - A combined team comprising local
Tatmadawmen, members of intelligence unit, Myanmar
Police Force, Kachin State Special Region (2),
departmental personne and local people, acting on a
tip-off, destroyed 8.50 acres of poppy plantation
cultivated along the Dunbon creek, north of Donbomekha
Village, Phakant Township, Kachin State, on 25
February.

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Two marijuana traffickers jailed 15 years each

 Yangon, 6 March- A combined team comprising members
of local intelligence unit and Bago Special Anti-Drug
Squad, acting on information, searched a bus with
number plates 3Kha/6544 at Polan check-point in Bago
at 3.30 am on 23 November 2000. They seized 12 kilos
of marijuana in the bag of passengers Kyi Soe and Zaw
Win. The Bago Township Police Station No 1 filed Kyi
Soe, 33, son of U Pauk Sa of Kyuntan village, Yedashe
Township and Zaw Win, 37, son of U Pho Cho, under
Sections 15/ 19(A)/ 21 of Narcotic Drugs and
Phychotropic Substances Law. On 23 January 2002, Bago
District Court sentenced Kyi Soe and Zaw Win to 15
years' imprisonment each under Section 19 (A) of
Narcotic Drugs and Phychotropic Substances Law.

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

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