The New Light of Myanmar (Saturday, 24 August, 2002)

[Ok Kar <okkar66126@xxxxxxxxx>]

The New Light of Myanmar (Saturday, 24 August, 2002)
----------------------------
1. State Peace and Development Council Chairman
   Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to
   Republic of Ukraine
2. Special Refresher Course No 49 for basic education
   teachers opens
3. - Briefing on false allegations on sexual violence
     against women held
   - Allegations of sexual violence against Shan
     national women as a weapon by Myanmar Government
     expressed in "License to Rape" report untrue
4. - Central Organizing Committee of MWVO holds
     meeting
   - MWJA donates cash to National Convention
   - Course on basic diplomatic skill concludes
5. - F & R Minister receives Korean guests
   - Course on GDP Calculation & Assessment opens
   - Seminar on promotion of cooperative exports
     concludes
6. - Yangon East District Myanma Traditional Cultural
     Performing Arts Competitions open
   - Commander attends coord meeting
   - Yangon Division Supervisory Committee for
     Ensuring Secure and Smooth Transport meets
   - Highland Reclamation, ensuring rice sufficiency
     and promotion of agricultural sector coordinated
     in Shan State (North)
7. - Dhamma Puja ceremony held at Kaba Aye Pagoda
   - Thidagu Missionary Group donates K 2 m to
     orphanage schools
   - Rice and provisions donated to monasteries
8. - Minister attends Thitseint tree planting ceremony
   - Meeting on observance of International Literacy
     Day 2002 held
   - Warm-up football match held
9. - Raw opium seized in Kalaw
   - Drug traffickers sentenced

---------

( 1 )  State Peace and Development Council Chairman
Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to
Republic of Ukraine

Yangon, 24 Aug - Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of
the State Peace and Development Council of the Union
of Myanmar, has sent a message of felicitations to His
Excellency Mr Leonid D Kuchma, President of the
Republic of Ukraine, on the occasion of the
Independence Day of the Republic of Ukraine which
falls on 24 August 2002.

___________________________

( 2 ) Smart School Pilot Project initiated to promote
use of electronics and IT at basic education schools

Special Refresher Course No 49 for basic education
teachers opens

Yangon, 23 Aug - The Special Refresher Course No 49
for basic education teachers opened at Central
Institute of Civil Service (Phaunggyi) in Hlegu
Township, Yangon Division, this afternoon, with an
address by Chairman of the Myanmar Education Committee
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

 The Secretary-1 said in striving to develop Myanmar
to get abreast of the world nations, the education
sector has the main responsibility to vitalize the
national spirit of the entire people and to produce
brilliant intellectuals and technicians, who are the
main requirements. Throughout the successive eras, the
concept  the education is the foundation of all
progress  is being accepted and practised. At present,
the information technology is overwhelming the human
society resulting from rapid development of science
and technology.

Thus, the education has become the core of all areas
of development, and has taken the more important role
at present. For a developing country like Myanmar, its
situation will reach the level of standing shoulder to
shoulder with the world nations only if the constant
learning society whose education level meets the
international standard can be created. With a view to
improving the national education level to meet the
international standard, Myanmar has been
systematically laying down and implementing national
education promotion programmes phase by phase for
emergence of an education system which can face the
future challenges. The phase-by-phase national
education promotion drive begins at the basic
education sector. At present the basic education
sector has been connected with the higher education
sector, and the 30-year long-term national education
plan is being implemented. Thus, the good education
environs and foundations enabling the entire nation to
get access to the constant learning society have been
laid down.

The education sector is using the information and
communication technology on a wider scale. In the
basic education sector, multimedia classrooms have
been set up in almost all the high schools and in some
middle and primary schools.

 In addition, the e-Education learning centres using
the data broadcasting system are being opened at the
basic education high schools and institutions of
higher learning. The number of e-Education learning
centres will reach 444 at the end of the current
financial year. Opening of the
electronic-technology-based New Century Resource
Centres creates good learning opportunities not only
for the student youths, but also for the entire people
including the researchers, intellectuals, observers,
regardless of the age, education level and status.

With the aim of promoting the use of electronic
technology and the IT at the basic education schools,
the Smart School Pilot Project has been initiated in a
high school, a middle school and a primary school in
the nation. Concerning the task to widen the use of
ICT, the Myanmar Information and Communication
Technology Park (MICT Park) was set up as the most
basic centre serving as the hub in forming the
ICT-based health, education, social, administration,
economic, trade and financial networks for the basic
education schools, institutions of higher learning,
government bodies, economic organizations and
individuals. As the nation is beginning to enjoy the
better foundations for emergence of ICT and success
and developments in introducing the modern
teaching-learning systems, teachers will have to make
efforts for themselves and their pupils to adapt to
the education promotion process.

 It can be witnessed that the degree of the youths'
enthusiasm to study modern technologies, the State's
systematic encouragement and assistance and the ardent
participation of the people has reached the record
height at present. The teachers are urged to strive
for continued progress of the education sector in
quality as well as in numbers. They will have to
accept the duty to do so as the national task. In
accord with the education aims, they are required to
nurture their pupils to be outstanding in all fields,
to enable them to improve their education level to
meet the international standard and to strengthen
their mental ability including spirit, discipline and
moral.

 They will have to train the students to possess the
spirit to strive for the nation and the people to
proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the world
nations and to safeguard the Union with the spirit of
national solidarity. Only if the youths are nurtured
with correct and straightforward methods during
childhood, they will matured into adults fully
possessing the national conviction and outlook. Only
then will worthy sons and daughters who are capable of
safeguarding the peaceful and developing Union emerge.
The government is resolutely making efforts to promote
the development of the Union, upholding Our Three Main
National Causes - non-disintegration of the Union,
non-disintegration of national solidarity and
perpetuation of sovereignty.

 In undertaking tasks which contribute to the further
strengthening of national unity or the perpetual
existence of the Union, the government has placed more
emphasis on equitable development of all the regions
of the Union, the bridging the gap of development
among national races and harmonious improvement of
socio-economic standard. In his speech delivered at
the Annual General Meeting of the Union Solidarity and
Development Association for 2002, Head of State Senior
General Than Shwe said that tasks to be carried out in
Myanmar, a developing country, is wide-ranging.

 The entire Myanmar society needs to be united,
peaceful, stable and strong. Economic infrastructures
are to be built; at the same time, the economic and
social sectors need to be developed. In accordance
with the far-sighted guidance of the Head of State,
the government, while working for the unity of
national races and national solidarity, is undertaking
regional development tasks, building economic
infrastructures and implementing plans designed to
improve the health, education and social standards. A
committee headed by Head of State Senior General Than
Shwe was formed to implement the projects for the
progress of border areas and national races.

In addition, the Head of State himself laid down
special projects for construction of dams and
reservoirs, Union Highways, river-crossing bridges at
the economically and socially strategic places in the
nation. Moreover, development tasks are being carried
out in 24 special development regions and so are five
rural development tasks. If these development projects
are successful, all the parts of the Union where
national races live will develop all the more;
moreover, national solidarity is to be safeguarded
with the attitude that all the national races were
born of the same family in the Union. Only then, will
everybody be imbued with the spirit of feeling resent
in the event of hurting one of the family members. The
Union of Myanmar will be free from foreign
interference and able to stand as an independent and
sovereign nation in the world.

All the teachers need to realize that the regional
development tasks being undertaken systematically by
the government are interrelated and that they are
national requirements of great importance for the
national solidarity and perpetual existence of the
Union; therefore, they need to organize and lead their
pupils and local people to take part in undertaking
the regional development tasks. Included in the
regional development projects are the tasks concerning
the education sector. The teachers need to lead local
people and pupils in improving their education
standard and instilling them with the clear national
outlook. In the regions where they are assigned duty,
they need to cooperate in unity in undertaking
regional development tasks, developing human
resources, making national solidarity and Union Spirit
flourish and improving the economic and social
standard of local people. Some groups opposing the
State and the insurgent runaway group are attempting
to break up national solidarity and drive a wedge
among national races, and spreading accusations
designed to tarnish the image of Myanmar and its
people.

Therefore, the teachers need to work with the national
awareness and carry out organizational work so that
all the national brethren can know the underlying
causes of these concocted accusations designed to
drive a wedge among national races and national
solidarity and Union Spirit can flourish among
Union-born national brethren. In conclusion, the
Secretary-1 called on all the teachers to work hard so
that the Union of Myanmar can stand shoulder to
shoulder and the national education of Myanmar can
reach up to the international standard, to take part
in the tasks for progress of border areas and regional
development tasks and to organize the national people
so that they can have the clear national outlook and
Union Spirit and know the underlying causes of the
acts of driving a wedge among national races and
making accusations.

After the ceremony, the Secretary-1 had a cordial
meeting with the trainee teachers and left there in
the afternoon. Also present were Chairman of Yangon
Division Peace and Development Council Commander
Maj-Gen Myint Swe, ministers, the chief justice, the
attorney-general, the auditor-general, the chairman of
Civil Service Selection and Training Board and
members, deputy ministers, senior military officers,
officials of the State Peace and Development Council
Office, heads of department, Rector of CICS
(Phaunggyi) Col Win Maung, officials, course
instructors and trainee teachers. Teachers from states
and divisions totalling 1,515 are attending the
course.
___________________________

( 3 ) Briefing on false allegations on sexual violence
against women held

Yangon, 23 Aug - A briefing on the false allegations
on sexual violence against women in Shan State was
held for the heads of diplomatic missions and UN
agencies here this afternoon.

It was attended by Deputy Minister for Home Affairs
Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Deputy Minister for Social
Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Hlaing Win, Deputy
Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win, member
of Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs and
Head of Working Group on Prevention of Violence
Against Women and Rehabilitation Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe,
member of Myanmar National Committee for Women's
Affairs and Vice-Chairperson of Myanmar National
Working Committee for Women's Affairs Dr Daw May May
Yi, senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, the
Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and
Resettlement, the Supreme Court, the Office of the
Attorney-General and Myanmar Police Force, Dean of the
Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Lao People's
Democratic Republic Mr Ly Bounkham and other heads of
missions and UN agencies.

At the briefing, Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Win
stated that two so-called Shan Organizations had made
false allegations that Myanmar Tatmadaw committed
sexual violence against women in Shan State. To
investigate the allegations, teams led by Chairman of
Myanmar National Working Committee to Combat
Trafficking in Persons and Deputy Minister for Home
Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung and member of
Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs and
Head of Working Group on Prevention of Violence
Against Women Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe visited parts of
eastern and southern Shan State. Moreover, a special
team made up of security personnel also conducted
investigations.

The findings of the investigation teams showed that
the allegations were fabricated and groundless, he
said.

Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Dr Daw May May Yi and Dr
Daw Khin Win Shwe related their experiences during the
visit to Shan State. Later, Director-General of the
Supreme Court U Tin Aye and Director-General of the
Office of the Attorney-General Dr Tun Shin explained
about the legal aspects regarding sexual violence in
Myanmar. The questions raised by the heads of mission
and UN agencies were replied.

Allegations of sexual violence against Shan national
women as a weapon by Myanmar Government expressed in
"License to Rape" report untrue

Yangon, 23 Aug - Shan Human Rights Foundation and Shan
Women's Action Network, so-called NGOs which have a
close connection with SURA terrorist insurgent group
and are opposing the State Government, released a
report under the heading "License to Rape" concerning
the allegation of committing sexual violence against
Shan national women as a weapon by Myanmar Government.
With respect to the report, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs today announced that the allegations included
in the report are not true. On 20 May 2002, the SURA
insurgent group launched attacks on some outposts of
the Tatmadaw at the border, with the assistance of
some outside elements.

 Together with the military campaign, the SURA also
launched an international campaign to smear the image
of Myanmar and the Myanmar Tatmadaw. The so-called
Shan Human Rights Foundation and Shan Women's Action
Network, which are fronts for anti-Government Shan
dissidents and are closely linked with the SURA armed
group, issued a report entitled, " License to Rape",
alleging that the Myanmar Government was using sexual
violence as a weapon in the Shan State. It cited 173
cases involving 625 women and girls. It is obvious
that the SURA and the two so-called NGOs were acting
in concert.

The Myanmar Tatma-daw is a patriotic armed force born
out of the struggle for independence. It has always
kept the interests of the people at heart. It is
composed of national races from all over the country
and is a systematically organized disciplined
institution. The members of the Tatmadaw must strictly
adhere to the military code of conduct and when there
are infringes, severe action is taken against the
perpetrators. For major crimes like murder and rape,
severe punishment including death and life sentences
are usually imposed.

 Moreover, systematic inspections are carried out and
educational talks given to all the units to ensure
that the troops follow the military code of conduct.

 Therefore, to accuse the Myanmar Government and the
Tatmadaw of systematically using the policy of rape
would be laughable if the intentions have not been so
ill-will. But this is not the first time that the Shan
Human Rights Foundation and the Shan Women Action
Network have made false allegations against the
Myanmar Government. Time and again, their allegations
have been shown to be nothing more than malicious
accusations. Unfortunately, the false and fabricated
report of the collaborators to the SURA was given
credence by some politicians in the United State and
in Thailand. Some members of the US Congress took up
the issue and an official representation was made by
the US Embassy in Yangon.

Some Thai politicians, even ones holding responsible
positions, also made irresponsible statements.
Moreover, the Thai media continues to sensationalize
the matter, the latest example of which is the article
" Rape as a war weapon" by Pennapa Hongthong that
appeared in the Nation newspaper today. It is
regrettable that some Thai media are acting as
mouthpieces for insurgent groups for such actions will
only be detrimental to the cause of friendship between
the two nations. Myanmar Government believes that
truth will eventually prevail. The various press
conferences held by the Information Committee had
already explained that these allegations were without
any truth.

Moreover both the Myanmar Embassy in Washington and
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Yangon have also
given appropriate replies to the US side. While fully
aware that the accusations are groundless, the
Government of the Union of Myanmar nevertheless sent
investigation teams to the regions where the alleged
incidents took place to seek the truth. Indeed,
investigations were carried out by three different
organizations, independent of each other. The first
team was headed by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs
Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung in his capacity as Chairman
of the working Committee for Prevention and Combating
Trafficking in Persons.

 He toured 13 localities in Shan State (East) and Shan
State (South) from 2 to 6 August 2002. In addition, 5
groups were designated as Special Task Force and
visited 39 out of the 43 localities in Shan State
(East) where alleged offences took place. Special Task
Members were not able to visit the 4 remaining places
because there exist no places with the names given.
Secondly, the Myanmar National Committee on Women
Affairs dispatched a team headed by Dr Daw Khin Win
Shwe, Member of the Myanmar National Working Committee
on Women Affairs and Leader of the Sub-committee on
Violence Against Women to Shan State (East)
particularly Kengtung and Mongpyat areas from 5 to 9
August 2002.

 The third investigation was undertaken by a Special
Team made up of security personnel. The team met and
questioned 94 officers and men of 24 Infantry
Battalions, 27 members of the judicial courts, police
stations and hospitals of the townships where the
incidents were said to have occurred as well as 6
members of 5 non-governmental organizations as well as
195 villagers. All in all, the investigation teams met
and interviewed to thousands of inhabitants of the
region as well as government officials including
military officers and members of non-governmental
organizations.

The results of these three investigations show that:

- The allegations that there had been widespread rape
in Shan State during the period 1996 to 2001 are false
and fabricated;

- Even the names of some of the alleged victims were
not mentioned in some allegations;

- Some of the villagers where the incidents were
supposed to take place were non-existent;

- The military units mentioned were not even present
in the area;

 - There was no such military officer or soldier in
the military unit mentioned in the allegation;

- Even in instances where the name of the military
officer and the unit he was serving was correct, the
military officer or his unit was not operating in the
area;

 - Judicial, police and military records show there
had only been three rape cases and only two involving
Shan women; and

- The three soldiers involved have already been given
heavy prison sentences by military courts.

 Moreover, one of the assertions was that some of the
raped women received treatment at a hospital in Wiang
Haeng town, Chiang Mai district, Thailand. Enquiries
made by the Myanmar National Committee on Women's
Affairs and the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok showed that
there were no such cases and there were no hospital
records of Shan women admitted and treated as alleged.
The Myanmar Government is prepared to take legal
action if there is any validity in the allegations.
However, extensive investigations therefore have shown
that allegations contained in the report " License to
Rape" have no truth.

 Nevertheless, the Myanmar Government will continue
with its enquiries until all the allegations have been
investigated. In this regard, it looks forwards to
working together with reputable NGOs to show to the
world that there is no truth in the allegations: that
they are politically-motivated to smear the reputation
of the Myanmar Government and the Tatmadaw; that they
were aimed at sowing discord among the national races
in the country; and that the so-called Shan Human
Rights Foundation and Shan Women Action Network are
nothing more than mouth pieces for narco-terrorist
organization like the SURA.
__________________________

( 4 ) Central Organizing Committee of MWVO holds
meeting

Yangon, 23 Aug -The Central Organizing Committee of
Myanmar War Veterans Organization held meeting No
6/2002 at the meeting hall of the Headquarters of the
Organization this evening. Member of the State Peace
and Development Council Chairman of the Central
Organizing Committee Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Thein
Sein addressed the meeting.

 Maj-Gen Thein Sein made a speech. Joint Secretary of
COC Vice-Adjutant-General Brig-Gen Maung Nyo reported
on the approval of the decisions made at meeting No
5/2002 and implementation of the decisions. Then,
leaders of the five working groups reported on
progress of work in undertaking five tasks.
Afterwards, a general round of discussions followed.
The meeting ended with concluding remarks by Maj-Gen
Thein Sein.

---------

MWJA donates cash to National Convention

Yangon, 23 Aug - Myanmar Writers and Journalists
Association, hailing the National Convention, donated
cash to the National Convention Convening Commission
at a ceremony held at the office of the NCCC Working
Committee in the Kyaikkasan Ground this morning.

It was attended by NCCC Chairman Maj-Gen Saw Lwin,
Vice-Chairman Maj-Gen Sein Htwa and members, Chairman
of the Working Committee U Aung Toe, Vice-Chairman U
Tha Tun and members, Chairman of the Management
Committee for Holding the NCCC Brig-Gen Tin Aye and
members, wellwishers MWJA Vice-Chairman U Tin Kha
(Tekkatho Tin Kha), CEC Member U Chit Naing (Chit
Naing-Psychology), Secretary U Hla Tun (Hla
Tun-Twantay), Joint-Secretary -1 U Myint Kywe (Maung
Myint Kywe) and CEC Member U Than Hlaing (Tekkatho
Thin Kha). Director of the NCCC Office U Ko Ko Gyi
acted as master of ceremonies. Then, the MWJA
vice-chairman explained the purpose of the donation,
and presented K 200,000 to Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, who then
presented a certificate of honour to him. Next, U Aung
Toe spoke words of thanks, which brought the ceremony
to a close.

---------

Course on basic diplomatic skill concludes

 Yangon, 23 Aug - The closing ceremony of the basic
diplomatic skill course No 6/2002 conducted by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs took place at the ministry
on Pyay Road this morning. Present on the occasion
were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung,
departmental heads, course instructor Myanmar
ambassadors, experienced diplomats, rectors of
universities, professors and trainees. Minister U Win
Aung made a speech and presented course completion
certificates to trainees. Persons interested in
international affairs, business entrepreneurs engaged
in foreign companies, and company and government
employees totalling 156 attended the course, which
lasted 12 weeks.
__________________________

( 5 )  F & R Minister receives Korean guests

Yangon, 23 Aug- Minister for Finance and Revenue U
Khin Maung Thein received President Mr T Y Lee and
party of Daewoo International Corp of the Republic of
Korea at his office this afternoon and discussed
matters related to bilateral cooperation between the
two countries.

---------

Course on GDP Calculation & Assessment opens

Yangon, 23 Aug - A basic course on GDP calculation and
assessment of agricultural development, organized by
the Agriculture Planning Department of the Ministry of
Agriculture and Irrigation, was opened in the training
hall of the department on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road at 9 am
today, with an address by Minister for Agriculture and
Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin. Officials reported to
the minister on the use of GIS in drawing up plans of
the agricultural sector. A total of 31 trainees are
attending the one-week course.

---------

Seminar on promotion of cooperative exports concludes

Yangon, 23 Aug- A seminar on promotion of cooperative
exports concluded at the meeting hall of the ministry
on Bogyoke Aung San Street at 9 am today, with an
address by Minister for Cooperatives Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said
cooperative societies are undertaking business
transactions in line with the three objectives
economic, technological and social development. At a
time when efforts are being made for the promotion of
export on a national scale according to the
export-first policy of the State's economy,
cooperative societies are needed to expand export
promotion activities as an outcome of the seminar, he
said. As for cooperative societies, he also stressed,
it is required to actively participate in foreign
trade, to take innovative measures and to promote the
export sector, depending on the experience gained from
the seminar and the condition of their societies.

___________________________

( 6 ) Yangon East District Myanma Traditional Cultural
Performing Arts Competitions open

Yangon, 23 Aug- The opening ceremony of the Tenth
Myanma Traditional Cultural Performing Arts
Competitions of Yangon East District was held at the
hall of Thingangyun Township Peace and Development
Council Office this morning, attended by Chairman of
Yangon Division Peace and Development Council
Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myint Swe.

 Chairman of Yangon East District Peace and
Development Council Lt-Col Aung Pyi formally opened
the competitions and made a speech. Next, amateur
level medallists Ma Ei Shwe Zin and Maung Naung Naung
Lin of Dagon Myothit (South) performed dances with the
accompaniment of Myasithu saing troupe. Then, the
commander presented gifts to the medallists. A total
of 145 participants 107 in amateur level and 38 in
professional level are taking part in the competitions
which continue tomorrow.

---------

Commander attends coord meeting

Yangon, 23 Aug - A coordination meeting on holding the
Tenth Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts
Competitions of Sagaing Division (2/2002) was held at
Myathala Hall of Sagaing Division Peace and
Development Council on 19 August morning. Present were
Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council
Chairman North-West Command Commander Brig-Gen Soe
Naing, officials and artistes. The commander made a
speech, and those present reported on progress of
work. The meeting ended with concluding remarks by the
commander.

---------

Yangon Division Supervisory Committee for Ensuring
Secure and Smooth Transport meets

Yangon, 23 Aug -A work coordination meeting of Yangon
Division Supervisory Committee for Ensuring Secure and
Smooth Transport took place at the office of Yangon
Division All Private Bus Lines Control Committee on
Laydauntkan Street, Ta-mway Township, at 5 pm toady,
with an address by Chairman of the Supervisory
Committee Commander Maj-Gen Myint Swe.

 In his address, the commander said that the
Supervisory Committee was carrying out tasks for the
convenience of passengers commuting in Yangon Division
and travelling from Yangon Division to other states
and divisions. He spoke of the need for committee
members to supervise measures for ensuring drivers'
abiding by rules and regulations and avoiding
accidents. Members of the Supervisory Committee and
chairmen of the bus lines of Yangon Division reported
on matters related to ensuring secure and smooth
transport. Afterwards, the commander fulfilled the
requirements and made concluding remarks.

---------

Highland Reclamation, ensuring rice sufficiency and
promotion of agricultural sector coordinated in Shan
State (North)

Yangon, 23 Aug -A work coordination meeting on
highland reclamation, ensuring rice sufficiency and
promotion of agricultural sector in Shan State (North)
was held at the office of Shan State Peace and
Development Council in Lashio on 19 August morning.

 The commander made a speech on the occasion. Then,
Member of Shan State (North) Peace and Development
Council U Sein Oak and officials reported on work
being carried out for self-sufficiency in rice,
agricultural development and future work to the
commander, who then fulfilled the requirements. Next,
the commander presented cash awards to Muse and
Namkham townships for their excellent performance in
paddy cultivation in 2002.

Then, the commander made the concluding remarks. He
spoke of the need of collective efforts to be made
with might and main for local rice sufficiency. In the
afternoon, Deputy Commander Col Hla Myint and
officials inspected 50 acres of Hsin Shweli high-yield
strain paddy being undertaken by the Customs
Department at Htoomon Village-tract in Lashio and
attended to the needs. Afterwards, local authorities
and officials of Myanmar Agriculture Service inspected
cultivation of poppy substitute corn, bee keeping camp
(Bonmon) and monsoon paddy fields which are thriving
at Hopeik Village in Lashio Township. At 3 pm, the
commander attended the opening of Shan State (North)
Peace and Development Council Chairman's Trophy 2002
Inter-district Under-17 soccer tournament held at the
Union Sports Ground in Lashio and made a speech on the
occasion.
___________________________

( 7 ) Dhamma Puja ceremony held at Kaba Aye Pagoda

 Yangon, 23 Aug -A ceremony to set free doves and
sparrows organized by the Thirimingalar Kaba Aye
Pagoda Board of Trustees was held in conjunction with
Dhamma Puja ceremony in the prayer hall of the pagoda
this morning. The ceremony was opened with the
three-time recitation of namo tassa.

Chairman of the pagoda board of trustees gave a talk
on Metta (Loving-kindness) Day. Then, the religious
organizations recited metta sutta. Similarly, over 500
trainees of the basic Buddhist culture course led by
course instructor Bhaddanta Pannasami (Magadhi -
Thazi) observed Metta Day at Maha Pasanna Cave on Kaba
Aye Hill. The ceremony was opened with the three-time
recitation of namo tassa. The trainees offered water,
flowers and lights to the Buddha. Afterwards, the
trainees recited religious verses. After the ceremony,
they set doves and sparrows free.

---------

Thidagu Missionary Group donates K 2 m to orphanage
schools

Yangon, 23 Aug -Under the patronage of Sagaing Hill
Sitagu Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Maha Dhammakathika
Bahujanahitadhara Agga Maha Saddammajotikadhaja
Bhaddanta ?anissara, Thidagu Missionary presented a
donation of K 2 million to orphanage schools under the
Social Welfare Department at the hall (A) of Myanmar
Medical Association (Yangon) at 5.30 pm today. On
behalf of the missionary, chairman of the missionary
(Lower Myanmar) Prof Dr Hla Myint handed over the
donation to Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and
Resettlement Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, who then presented a
certificate of honour to the wellwishers.

---------

Rice and provisions donated to monasteries

Yangon, 23 Aug - Staff families of the Ministry of
Labour donated rice and provisions to Ngwekyayan
Pariyatti Sarthintaik in South Okkalapa Township and
Pyinsanikaya Sasana Beikman Kyaungtaik in Yankin
Township this morning. Minister for Labour U Tin Winn
and wife Daw Khin Nu, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Win
Sein and wife Daw Wai Wai Thin, officials of the
departments, boards and committees under the ministry
and guests offered rice and provisions to the
Sayadaws. Staff families of the ministry today donated
75 bags of rice, K 100,000 and offertories to the
monasteries.
___________________________

( 8 ) Minister attends Thitseint tree planting
ceremony

Yangon, 23 Aug - Rainy season thitseint tree planting
ceremony of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the
departments under the ministry was held at the
compound of Pitakat Taik of the Department for
Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana on Kaba Aye
Hill this morning.

 It was attended by Minister for Religious Affairs U
Aung Khin and wife Daw Yin Yin Nyunt, Deputy Minister
Brig-Gen Thura Aung Ko and wife Daw Myint Myint Yi,
Director-General U Sann Lwin of DPPS and wife,
Director-General Dr Myo Myint of the Religious Affairs
Department and wife, Pro-rector (Admin) Dr Hla Pe and
directors of the International Therevara Buddhist
Missionary University, officials, guests and staff of
the ministry. They planted 100 thitseint trees at the
ceremony. Then, the minister and wife, the deputy
minister and wife and party offered gold robe to the
ancient Buddha Image of the Amarapura Era at the
Buddhist Cultural Museum.

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Meeting on observance of International Literacy Day
2002 held

Yangon, 23 Aug - A meeting on observance of the
International Literacy Day 2002 ceremony organized by
the Leading Committee for Education for All was held
at the meeting hall of Myanmar Education Research
Bureau on Pyay Road at 4 pm today.

 First, adviser U Than Oo explained arrangements to be
made for the observance of the International Literacy
Day 2002. Joint-Secretary of the Leading Committee for
Education for All Chairman of MERB U Myint Han
reported on arrangements made for the ceremony. Those
present also took part in the discussion and the
meeting came to a close with concluding remarks by the
adviser.

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Warm-up football match held

Yangon, 23 Aug- U-17 Selected Myanmar youth team,
which is under camp-training to take part in the
final-phase Asia U-17 soccer tournament to be held in
the United Arab Emirates, and Ministry of Home Affairs
team of the premier league played a warm-up match at
Youth Sports Training Camp (Thuwanna) this evening.
Selected Myanmar youth team beat Ministry of Home
Affairs team 5-3. After the match, Minister for Sports
Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint awarded K 100,000 to the
winning team and K 70,000 to the other.
___________________________

( 9 ) Raw opium seized in Kalaw

Yangon, 23 Aug - A combined team comprising members of
the local intelligent unit and local police force,
acting on information, searched an air-con bus with
number plates 5/Kha 6669 on its way from Taunggyi to
Mandalay at the toll-gate in Kalaw on 31 July and
seized 3 packages of raw opium weighing 12.2469 kilos
from passenger Ohn Shein. Action is being taken
against Ohn Shein, 41, son of U San Nyein, Nyaungphyu
Sakhan Ward, Taunggyi, under Section 15/19 (A) of the
Narcotic Drugs and Psycho-tropic Substances Law.

---------

Drug traffickers sentenced

Yangon, 23 Aug - A combined team comprising members of
local intelligence unit and Bago Special Anti-drug
Squad, acting on information, intercepted a
Bayintnaung passenger vehicle with number plates 4
Kha/6279 enroute from Toungoo to Yangon near the Toll
Gate in Bago on 17 February this year.

The authorities seized 3.3 kilos of marijuana from
passenger Ma San Kyi. Action was taken against Ma San
Kyi, 29, daughter of U Tin Aung of Aungthukha Ward,
Kyaukkyi, under Section 15/19(A) of Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances Law by the Bago No 1 police
station. Bago District Court handed down 15 years'
imprisonment on her under section 19 (A) on 31 July.
Similarly, a combined team comprising members of local
intelligence unit and Yangon Special Anti-drug Squad,
acting on a tip-off, searched Ma Thwe Thwe Thin in
Pazundaung Township on 24 September 2001, and seized
85 stimulant tablets. Action was taken against Ma Thwe
Thwe Thin, 25, daughter of U Mya Han of Room 310,
Building 8, Lakekan Street, Ward 7, Pazundaung
Township, under Section 15/19 (A) of Narcotic Drugs
and Psychotropic Substances Law by Pazundaung Police
Station. Yangon East District sentenced her to 20
years' imprisonment under Section 19(A) on 29 July.

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

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