The New Light fo Myanmar (Friday, 10 May, 2002)

[Ok Kar <okkar66126@xxxxxxxxx>]

The New Light fo Myanmar (Friday, 10 May, 2002)
------------------------------------------
1. Work Committee for Development of Border Areas
   and National Races holds work coordination meeting
2. - Ambassador U Kyaw Tint Swe presents
     Credentials to Vice President of Cuba
   - L&F Minister receives guests
3. Regular press conference held
4. Regional development projects inspected in
   Ayeyawady Division
5. - First meeting of UN Regional Task Force on
     Mobility and HIV Vulnerability Reduction held
   - Thailand Exhibition "2002" opened
   - USDA Management Course opened
6. - Commander inspects development works
   - International Relations Courses conclude
7. Mayor inspects agriculture and livestock
   breeding tasks
8. Co-ord meeting for MWJA conference held
9. National race study group continues tour

---------

( 1 ) Highland cultivation project being implemented
to ensure fixed homes for "nomads" of border areas, to
improve their living standard

Work Committee for Development of Border Areas and
National Races holds work coordination meeting

Yangon, 9 May - The Work Committee for Development of
Border Areas and National Races held the work
coordination meeting No 2/2002 at the meeting hall of
the Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National
Races and Development Affairs here this afternoon.

Chairman of the Work Committee Secretary-1 of the
State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt
attended the meeting.

The Secretary-1 said that to be discussed at the
present meeting are the implementation of the guidance
and policies laid down by the Chairman of the Central
Committee Head of State Senior General Than Shwe after
the ninth and tenth meetings of the Central Committee
for Development of Border Areas and National Races.

To accelerate the tasks for progress of border areas
and national races, the ninth and tenth meetings of
the Central Committee were held in March and April
2002.

The ninth meeting of the Central Committee laid down
18 guidelines, which are now being implemented.

The ministries concerned and subcommittees are
required to speed up their efforts for progress of
border areas and national races in keeping with the 18
guidelines and for eradication of narcotic drugs.

The tenth meeting of the Central Committee laid down
ten guidelines, which focus mainly on replacement of
the shifting farming system with the highland
cultivation system at border areas and development of
education, health, livestock breeding and energy
sectors.

Therefore, the ministries and departments concerned
and subcommittees are required to cooperate with local
authorities in carrying out tasks concerning
agriculture, livestock breeding, communication, power
supply, transport, education, health and public
relations in accord with the guidance of Head of State
Senior General Than Shwe.

As the shifting cultivation is practiced, national
people from border areas have not been able to settle
in a place and their living standard is low. The
ministries concerned are to cooperate in encouraging
them to follow the practice of the highland
cultivation to ensure that national people from border
areas can settle in a place, that their socio-economic
life can improve, that there can be equitable
development among national races, that the environment
can be preserved, and that the practice of poppy
growing can be eradicated.

In accord with the guidance of Head of State Senior
General Than Shwe, 24 development zones of border
areas development project and five tasks for
development of rural areas are being implemented.
These tasks are to be implemented together with border
areas development tasks laid down at the meetings of
the Central Committee.

In conclusion, the Secretary-1 called on officials of
the ministries and departments concerned and
subcommittees to implement the development tasks as of
the present fiscal year.

Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National
Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt
explained progress in realizing the guidance laid down
by Chairman of the Central Committee for Development
of Border Areas and National Races Senior General Than
Shwe at the ninth meeting of the committee,
arrangements being made to realize the guidance give
by the Senior General at the tenth Central Committee
meeting and projects being implemented to enable the
youth of the border areas get access to the higher
education.

Chairmen of the subcommittees reported to the meeting
on progress in implementing the border areas
development projects covering the health, education,
road and bridge, construction, highland cultivation
sectors and requirements.

Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt looked into their
requirements, saying all will have to enhance their
efforts to carry out regional development, farming and
social development tasks covered by the border areas
development projects.

The project to set up highland cultivation is being
implemented with the humanitarian spirit to give fixed
homes for the nomads of border areas of Myanmar who
are conducting shifting cultivation and to improve
their living standard.

The project will help free the national races from
poverty, green the barren hills which were the results
of shifting cultivation, ensure regional food
sufficiency and wipe out poppy cultivation and opium
production.

The Secretary-1 said the Senior General after
assessing the project from all sectors gave guidance
to implement it as a national task. All the ministries
concerned are required to collectively implement the
task.

___________________________

( 2 ) Ambassador U Kyaw Tint Swe presents Credentials
to Vice President of Cuba

Yangon, 10 May - U Kyaw Tint Swe, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Union of
Myanmar to the Republic of Cuba, presented his
Credentials to His Excellency Mr Juan Almeida Bosque,
Vice President of the Republic of Cuba on 28 March
2002, in Havana.

---------

L&F Minister receives guests

Yangon, 9 May - Minister for Livestock and Fisheries
Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein received visiting Deputy
Minister of Commerce of Thailand Mr Suvarn
Valaisathien and party, to attend the Thailand
Exhibition being held at Yangon Trade Centre, at his
office this afternoon. Also present at the call were
director-general and managing directors of the
department and enterprises under the ministry, the
head of office and officials.

___________________________

( 3 ) Regular press conference held with local and
foreign journalists
Reception of Myanmars working illegally in Thailand
explained

Myanmar launching narcotics elimination and
opium-substitute crops cultivation projects
Action taken against smuggling of cars into Myanmar
from other country KNU terrorist insurgents fire at
passenger buses, blow up gas pipelines

Yangon, 9 April  - A regular press conference was held
at Tatmadaw Guest House on Inya Road here at 9 am
today.

It was attended by Vice-Chief of Military Intelligence
Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister for Information
Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs
Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, high-ranking military
officers, departmental heads, information officials, U
Sein Win of Kyodo News Agency, Patron U Hla Htwe,
President U Sao Kai Hpa and member correspondents of
Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club and guests. Lt-Col
Tin Oo of the Ministry of Defense acted as master of
ceremonies. First, Maj-Gen Kyaw Win extended
greetings.

Then, Head of Department Col Myint Zaw of the Ministry
of Defense gave an account of measures for receiving
Myanmar workers who worked illegally in Thailand. He
said: to receive illegal Myanmar workers, a reception
camp has been opened in Myawady since February through
the coordination between the two governments. The
government has systematically received Myanmar workers
who had worked illegally in Thailand like its children
in difficulty with genuine goodwill and without taking
any legal action. The returnees have been sent to
their homes. These measures are being taken by opening
a reception camp in Myawady. A total of 2,772 people
1,514 men, 1,117 women and 141 babies have been
received. Necessary arrangements have been made to
send them home; medical check-up have been conducted;
food and care have been provided before they were sent
to their homes with the assistance of local
authorities. A total of 83 returnees who are not in
good health 52 men and 31 women are being given
medical treatment. In response to the questions of
officials concerned, some returnees said they were not
illegal workers; but they were there to sell and buy
things; some were visitors. Thai police sent them back
to Myanmar after tearing official border passes. Some
were sent back to Myanmar after their Thai baht and
property were seized. Such unfair treatment will be
objected through Thai officials, he said.

Afterwards, Head of Department Col Kyaw Thein of the
Ministry of Defense gave clarification on the
fabricated concoction of some foreign media that
Myanmar opium crop threatens to rise in the 2001-2002
opium cultivation season.

He said: very recently, we read fabricated concoction
that Myanmar opium crop threatens to rise in the
2001-2002 opium cultivation season carried by some
foreign newspapers.

These are mere concocted news issued by some foreign
newspapers and media entertaining pessimism with the
intention of tarnishing the image of Myanmar.

Myanmar suffer pessimism. The government of Myanmar
has been undertaking opium yield surveys in
cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration
of the United States since 1993 and the last survey
took place from 25 February to 2 March 2002. As a
result, since 1997, the opium production has been
declining steadily. The tonnage of opium production
has declined from 2,365 in 1997 to 865 in 2001,
representing a decrease of 64 percent. Acreage under
poppy cultivation has also decreased. 151,201 acres
under opium in 1997 has declined to 61,824 in 2001,
representing a decrease of almost 60 per cent.

During the joint team trips with DEA of the United
States, only other crops like buck wheat were found to
be grown in Lonhtan, Shaukhaw and Tamoenye regions in
Kyutkhine township where there were opium cultivation
in past years. Moreover, local Tatmadaw members,
members of Police Force, departmental organizations,
social organizations and local people, as a national
task, have been destroying opium fields illegally
cultivated in far flung valleys and hillsides. About
26,000 acres of poppy have been destroyed all over
Myanmar during this year opium cultivation season.
Therefore, it is totally impossible that opium
production in Myanmar will increase as some foreign
newspapers and media wrote. Opium production will
remain only 40 per cent and it is most likely that
opium production would rather drop than rise. Drug
control measures have been taken with various ways and
means in all sectors for drug elimination. Some
doubtful companies from some towns in border areas
were liquidated in order to prevent from drug related
crimes and cut off the paths related to drugs.

Opium growers have been given educative talks and
organized not to grow opium during reclamation period
and seeds of other crops have been distributed to
them. I would like to present a good news that a seed
bank has been set up with initial fund K 50 millions
and seeds have been distributed free of charge to them
at present. So it is a practical and true condition
that opium production will decrease in Myanmar despite
rise.

Then, Head of Department Col Kyaw Thein of the
Ministry of Defense gave clarification on action taken
against illegal import of motor cars from other side.

The Government has permitted doing local and foreign
trade freely in accord with the law to ensure the
systematic practice of a market-oriented economic
system. However, some people imported vehicles through
the border entrances and exits and illegal routes,
kept them at border towns and sold them to
neighbouring nations. According to the information
received, a combined team comprising members of the
local intelligence unit and Myanmar Police Force
raided and searched some warehouses and houses in
Tachilek at 8 pm on 1 April 2002. Altogether 45
vehicles without licenses were seized  28 owned by U
Lauk Kyan (a) Kyan Kya Chee, aged 73, of Makahokham
Ward of Tachilek and his son U Than Tun of Maisai of
Thailand, 5 by U Tun Yin, aged 41, son of U Lauk Kyan
of the same block, and 12 by U Khin Aung (a) Kyin Sin,
aged 31, of Hsan Hsaing Oauk Ward of Tachilek.

Owners of the vehicles U Lauk Kyan, U Tun Yin and U
Khin Aung (a) Kyin Sin were arrested. So were Aik Non,
aged 31, son of U Kyin Shwe, and U Aik Ton, aged 45,
son of U Aik Shen, who helped carry and keep the
vehicles.

U Than Tun of Maisai of Thailand, aged 38, son of U
Lauk Kyan, is running away.

According to the information obtained from those under
arrest, they contacted Thai companies which buy and
sell used cars imported from Japan and kept in the
customs compound of Maisai in the neighbouring nation,
and carried these vehicles to Tachilek through various
illegal ways and means. Then, they sold these cars to
those from the country and China.

The seized 45 cars include 12 Land Cruisers, 4 Land
Cruiser Prados, 5 Pajeros, 4 Surfs, 2 4x4 Stradas, 1
Corolla Van, 3 Vistas, 1 Chaser, 1 Cherokee (Jeep), 1
Celsior (Saloon), 1 Grandhiace, 3 harriers, 1
Vx-Limited, 1 Laurel, 1 Cresta (Saloon), 1 Mark-II
(Saloon), 1 Corolla Saloon and 2 Toyota Coronas. Their
total prevailing price is about K 418,440,800.

They have started the smuggling of vehicles since
1999, and have imported over 200 vehicles from
Thailand through various illegal ways and means.
Action is being taken against them.

Deputy Head of Department Lt-Col Min Lwin said
although the government is making efforts to build a
modern and developed nation, the KNU terrorist
insurgents are trying to disturb community peace,
committing destructive acts and butchering innocent
people. In one incident, the KNU terrorist insurgents
mined and fired at two Hilux light passenger buses
near mile post 35 on Kawkareik-Myawady road at 12.45
pm on 30 April 2002. Tali Bai was at the wheels of the
car with plate No Hta/6798 and Saw Thaik Pwe at the
wheels of another car with plate No 9Ka/5734.

During the attack, Ma Myint Aye, 44, daughter of U Ohn
Yin, of Kyondoe village, Kawkareik Township, sustained
a bullet wound under her right ear, Ko Hnin Nu, 38,
son of U Ohn Khin, of Pata village, Kawkareik
Township, was hit by a bullet at his shoulder blade,
and Maung Win, 42, was wounded by the shrapnel at his
right shoulder and right neck. The three wounded
persons are undergoing treatment at the People's
Hospital in Myawady.

Similarly, three KNU terrorist insurgents blew up a
gas pipeline at estimate X-399944 near Thabyechaung
Creek bridge at railroad mile post 241/18,19 between
Hnit Kayin and Ahnin villages in Ye Township at 9.30
pm on 30 April 2002.

The pipeline is transporting gas from Kanbauk to
Myainggale. Watchman of the pipeline U Soe Naing, 33,
son of U Myat Naing, and wife Daw Nyo of Kyeikkhe
village, sustained burns at the back by the explosion.


The three KNU terrorist insurgents holding small arms
arrived at civilian guard house near the bridge at
bout 9 pm on 30 April. After inquiring the couple
about the person who assigned them the duty and the
monthly salary, the KNU terrorist insurgents tied up U
Soe Naing and wife in the guard house. Thirty minutes
later, the terrorists went to the pipeline and then
blew it up. The sleepers of the railway were burnt by
the explosion. Six units of rails and the some frames
of the bridge were twisted by the heat of the fire. U
Soe Naing and Daw Nyo sustained burns at the back by
the explosion. As the staff of the departments
concerned took immediate action to repair the
destroyed sections of the railway and the bridge,
trains are now running on them regularly.

KNU insurgents are using various means to disturb
community peace and tranquility, committing
destructive acts and atrocities against the innocent
people. At 00.30 am on 6 May 2002, a group of KNU
insurgents arrived at a place between Bilking and
Thaton and blew up the gas pipeline linking Yangon and
Myainggalay near Kazine Bridge west of Yangon-Mottama
motor road between mile posts 130/3 and 130/4 at
estimate M-840824.

The explosion caused a four-foot deep hole in the
ground which was about eight feet wide and about 10
feet long .

At 12.10 pm on the same day, an explosion occurred at
the corner of Arzani and Pakokku Kyaung streets,
Myaukywa Ward, Dawei. No one was wounded in the
incident. When the authorities combed the area, they
found that it was a local-made bomb and that the
terrorist acts was committed under orders of the KNU
Central.

Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Thura Myint
Maung, heads of departments of the Ministry of
Defense, Col Myint Zaw, Col Kyaw Thein and Col Than
Tun, and Deputy Head of Department Lt-Col Min Lwin
replied to queries raised by the journalists.

The journalists viewed the documentaries and photos on
the terrorists of the KNU terrorist insurgents.

__________________________

( 4 ) Regional development projects inspected in
Ayeyawady Division

Yangon, 9 May - Member of the State Peace and
Development Council Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than of the
Ministry of Defense and party, accompanied by
Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council
Chairman Commander Brig-Gen Htay Oo, arrived at the
Jute Factory of Myanma Jute Enterprise under the
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in Myaungmya
yesterday morning.

Factory Manager U Phe Hsaung conducted them round the
factory. Then, Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than gave
instructions to the officials. Beginning 17 August
1992, the factory is running with three shifts. It
produced 5.3 million gunny bags and 0.026 million
square yards of gunny cloth in 2001-2002 fiscal year.
Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than met with local authorities,
departmental personnel, officials of NGOs and
industrialists at Naungyo Hall in Myaungmya and gave
instructions on development tasks of Myaungmya.
Myaungmya District Peace and Development Council
Chairman Lt-Col Tin Aye reported on regional
development projects implemented and future tasks.

South-West Command Commander Brig-Gen Htay Oo
discussed matters related to agriculture, livestock
breeding, commodity production, and production
methods. Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than said that Ayeyawady
Division had favorable conditions to conduct
agriculture, livestock breeding and commodity
production and thus local authorities, departmental
officials and local people were to make concerted
efforts with added momentum for all-round development
of the division. He spoke of the need for farmers and
fisheries entrepreneurs to co-operate with respective
departments in order to boost their production at a
time when the government was rendering assistance for
development of meat and fish sector including
agricultural and fish and prawn breeding sectors. He
gave instructions on organization measures to be taken
for cultivation of kitchen crops and breeding of
poultry and pigs on a small scale to increase per
capita income of local residents, and emphasis to be
put on successful implementation of five rural
development tasks.

He called on social organizations to actively
participate in carrying out tasks on community peace
and tranquility and prevalence of law and order. At
the briefing hall of Wakema-Kangyi road Kyungon camp
of Public Works in Wakema Township, Maj-Gen Khin Maung
Than heard a report presented by the chairman of
Kyungon Village-tract Peace and Development Council on
work done for the village development and future
Regional development projects tasks. The township
agricultural manager gave a supplementary report.
Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than fulfilled the requirements.

Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and party proceeded to the
worksite of Wakema Bridge Construction Project and
inspected progress in construction of the bridge.

They next went to the worksite of the Orchard Co Ltd
in Maubin Township, where they were welcomed by
Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung
Maung Thein and the managing director of the Orchard
Co Ltd. Managing Director Dr Myint Sein reported on
breeding and production of fish this year,
arrangements being made for extended breeding of fish,
and cultivation of summer paddy and beans and pulses.

Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and party headed for the
agriculture and livestock breeding camp being
undertaken by Yangon City Development Committee in
Maubin and inspected fish breeding ponds at the
wetland and duck runs. At the camp, the YCDC is
breeding different kinds of fish in the ponds of 600
acres out of 2,000 targeted acres of land, and 28,530
ducks. A total of 16,000 duck eggs are being sent to
Yangon market daily.

Later, Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and party arrived at
the agriculture and livestock breeding camp of the
wetland reclamation project of Wah Wah Win
International Co Ltd in Nyaungdonkyun. Project Manager
Daw San San Myint reported on progress in carrying out
earth work for 6,000 acres of fish breeding ponds,
breeding of 6.2 million of fish in the ponds of 1,600
acres of land, breeding of fish at the wetland areas
from 1998-1999 to 2001-2002, and cultivation of summer
paddy.

Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than gave necessary instructions.
Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and party arrived back here in
the evening.
__________________________

( 5 ) First meeting of UN Regional Task Force on
Mobility and HIV Vulnerability Reduction held

Yangon, 9 May - The first meeting of the UN Regional
Task Force on Mobility and HIV Vulnerability
Reduction, organised by the Ministry of Health, UNDP
and UNAIDS for South-East Asia and the Pacific, was
held at the Traders Hotel this morning. Minister for
Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein delivered an address.

Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein said that being a member of
the ASEAN, Myanmar is striving to eradicate malaria,
tuberculosis and AIDS in cooperation with the nations
in the region. Myanmar hosted the ninth ASEAN meeting
on AIDS control programmes in September 2001. Together
with member nations, Myanmar approved AIDS control
programmes. One of them is mobility and HIV
vulnerability reduction.

 The task for prevention of migrating people against
AIDS resulted from the seventh ASEAN meeting on AIDS
control held in Brunei in 1999. The nations in the
Mekong subregion have ratified the agreement on
mobility and HIV vulnerability reduction. Myanmar has
been taking AIDS preventive measures for 15 years. The
Central Committee for Prevention and Eradication of
AIDS was formed in 1989. Now an AIDS eradication
project has been formulated. In accord with the
guidance of Senior General Than Shwe, a 15-year
narcotic drugs elimination plan has been drawn and
implemented.

At the 34th meeting of the Myanmar National Health
Committee, which was held on 12 April 2002,
Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt spoke of the need to
make systematic efforts for the success of the AIDS
control project. The minister then elaborated on
Myanmar's holding of workshops and launching of
projects in cooperation with international agencies to
control the epidemic. Myanmar is making plans to
closely cooperate with the nations of the Mekong
region to control the spread of HIV among the people
of the nomadic groups.

Chairman of the UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS Resident
Representative of UNICEF Mr J Bertrand Mendis extended
greetings. The meeting continues tomorrow.

---------

Thailand Exhibition "2002" opened

Yangon, 9 May - Under the programme to promote the
economic cooperation between Myanmar and Thailand, and
with the assistance of the Ministry of Commerce, the
opening ceremony of "Thailand Exhibition "2002",
organized by the office of the Commercial Affairs,
Royal Thai Embassy, and Department of Export Promotion
of Thailand, was held at Yangon Trade Centre in
Mingala Taungnyunt Township here this morning.

It was attended by Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi
Sone, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, Deputy
Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen Than Tun,
Deputy Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Aye
Myint Kyu, Deputy Minister of Commerce of Thailand Mr
Suvarn Valaisathien and party, who are currently here,
departmental heads, ambassadors of foreign embassies
in Myanmar and officials and guests. First, Mr Suvarn
Valaisathien extended greetings and spoke words of
thanks.

Then, together with Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi
Sone, he opened the exhibition. Next, the minister,
deputy ministers and guests viewed the exhibition,
where machinery, stationery, household and kitchen
utilities, Lolane hair design and hair care products
of Grand Wynn Enterprise, cosmetics from Thai
companies, construction materials, medicines and
chemicals, foodstuff and beverages, packaging
machines, ornamental materials, leather ware and
textiles are on display.

At the exhibition, a total of 136 booths from 108
companies are opened. Entrepreneurs are allowed to
visit the exhibition on 9 and 10 May, and the public
on 11 and 12 May from 10 am to 6 pm daily. Admission
is free.

---------

USDA Management Course opened

Yangon, 9 May - Executives Management Course No 12 and
other courses of the Union Solidarity and Development
Association of Dagon Myothit (East) Township took
place at the association's office yesterday afternoon.


Member of the Central Executive Committee of the Union
Solidarity and Development Association Brig-Gen Thura
Aye Myint attended the opening ceremony. He delivered
an address on the occasion and accepted cash donations
to the association's office. It was also attended by
township USDA executives, township authorities and
trainees. CEC member Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint spoke of
the need to follow the purposes of the association, to
strive for the development of human resources, to
abide by the rules and regulations laid down by the
association in carrying out the rural development
tasks and to be dutiful.

Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint then accepted K 30,000
donated by five well-wishers to the township USDA
office. After which, the ceremony came to an end. A
total of 100 trainees are attending the Executives
Management Course No 12, and 50 the basic
international spoken English course and advanced
computer course.

___________________________

( 6 ) Commander inspects development works

Yangon, 9 May - Chairman of Mon State Peace and
Development Council Commander of South-East Command
Brig-Gen Thura Myint Aung, accompanied by Chairman of
Kayin State Peace and Development Council Col Maung
Shein and departmental officials, inspected the
construction works of bridge Nos 8 and 7 near
Zarthabyin Village, Hpa-an Township on 8 May and
fulfilled the requirements.

Then, the commander inspected the construction of a
station hospital in Katoe Village and works of the
gravel extraction site of South-East Command. He then
fulfilled the requirements there. At 1 pm, the
commander attended and made a speech at the work
coordination meeting on promotion of basic education
in Mon State held at Yamanya Hall of the Mon State
Peace and Development Council Office. Next, Mon State
Education Officer U Than Myint and Secretary of Mon
State Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Aung Maw
Maw reported on the progress of work on promotion of
basic education in the state and installation of
equipment at the multi- media classrooms respectively.
The commander attended to the needs. Afterwards, the
commander presented teaching aids to Education Officer
U Than Myint.

---------

International Relations Courses conclude

Yangon, 9 May - A concluding ceremony of the spoken
(English/Japanese) courses for Intrernational
Relations, organized by Kachin State Union Solidarity
and Development Association, was held at City Hall of
Myitkyina at 9 am on 7 May.

Present were Chairman of Kachin State Peace and
Development Council, Commander of Northern Command
Brig-Gen Maung Maung Swe, Patron of Kachin State
Maternal and Child Welfare Association Supervisory
Committee Daw Tin Tin Nwe, Brig-Gen Bo Kyi of
Myitkyina Air Base, Deputy Commander Brig-Gen San Tun,
senior military officers, Secretary of Kachin State
Lt-Col Myint Thein and committee members, state and
division level departmental personnel, secretary and
executives of USDA , members of USDA, social
organizations, course instructors, trainees and
invited guests.

Patron of Kachin State USDA Commander Brig-Gen Maung
Maung Swe made a speech at the ceremony and secretary
of township USDA U Nyo Win presented gifts to
outstanding trainee Ma Saw Yu Mon and course
instructors, and then the ceremony came to an end.

___________________________

( 7 ) Mayor inspects agriculture and livestock
breeding tasks

Yangon, 9 May - Chairman of Yangon City Development
Committee Mayor U Ko Lay inspected agriculture and
livestock breeding tasks in Uto-Kya-in region, Taikkyi
Township in Yangon Division this morning. The mayor
inspected land preparation and canals in the region
and storage of water in the Insu pond. Then, the mayor
inspected the main sluice gate and raising of pigs.
Afterwards, the mayor went to Indwingyi region and
viewed summer paddy fields.

The mayor also inspected tarring of No 1 Road and
raising of broilers and extension of broilers farms.
Then, member of the National Health Committee Mayor U
Ko Lay met with over 200 outstanding Red Cross youths
who came there to visit the City Resort at Shwewa Tun
Hall and gave an account for the implementation of
agriculture and livestock breeding. The mayor hosted
lunch to them at the Shwewa Tun hall.

___________________________

( 8 ) Co-ord meeting for MWJA conference held

Yangon, 9 May - The meeting of the information work
committee for holding the third Myanmar Writers and
Journalists Association conference was held at the
News and Periodicals Enterprise (Head Office) on
Theinbyu Road here at 1 pm today, attended by chairman
of the work committee and committee members.

First, work committee Chairman Director (News) of NPE
U Hla Tun (Hla Tun-Twantay) delivered an address and
Secretary of the work committee adviser to NPE U Maung
Maung Nyo reported on the plans of the committee.
Then, those present took part in the discussions and
the meeting came to a close at 2 pm.

___________________________

( 9 ) National race study group continues tour

Yangon, 9 May - Altogether 126 members of the national
race study group from An Township, Rakhine Region, who
are here to visit famous pagodas and to study the
development of the state, together with Deputy
Director of the Department for Progress of Border
Areas and National Race Maj San Wai and officials,
paid homage to Shwethalyaung, Mahazedi and Shwemaw-daw
Pagodas in Bago and made cash donations to the funds
of the pagodas this morning.

The study group proceeded to Kanbawzathadi Palace
where they were briefed on facts about the palace by
Assistant Director of the Department of Archaeology U
Myat Swe. Then, they viewed around the Archaeological
Museum and the palace. Then, they arrived at the
Myanma Perennial Crops Enterprise (Indagaw) of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and studied the
rubber production. They also paid homage to Tooth
Relic Pagoda.

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