[myanmar_information] THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (Thursday, April 10, 2003)

[Ok Kar <okkar66126@xxxxxxxxx>]

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (Thursday, April 10, 2003)
------------------------
1.  Senior General Than Shwe addresses graduation 
    parade of  5th Intake of DSTA  
2.  Excerpts from Senior General Than Shwe?s address
3.  Senior General Than Shwe inspects Myanma 
    Industrial Exhibition
4.  Secretary-1 inspects regional and human resources 
    development in Kayin State 
5.  Lt-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Soe Win

    meet departmental officials in Mandalay
6.  USDA Secretariat Member tours Magway Division
7.  Madaya Township IPRD inspected
8.  Internal Revenue Department inspected
9.  National Museum to be closed during Thingyan 
    Festival
10. Myanma Industrial Exhibition 2003 concludes
11. Minister for Culture receives Sri Lankan 
    Ambassador 
------------------------
1.  Senior General Than Shwe addresses graduation 
    parade of  5th Intake of DSTA  

Yangon, 9 April ? The graduation parade of the 5th
Intake of Defence Services Technological Academy was
held at the parade grounds of DSTA in PyinOoLwin at
7.30 am today with an address by Commander-in-Chief of
Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe.

Senior General Than Shwe said: At this graduation
parade of the 5th Intake of the Defence Services
Technological Academy, I would like to inform you in
all seriousness about the matters which you should
know.

You have already been trained and nurtured by the DSTA
to become good engineers. In this regard, I would like
to urge you to become good military technicians
possessing talent and knowledge.

The most basic factor of a good soldier is having the
patriotism and the loyalty to the State. Our Tatmadaw
is a patriotic Armed Forces born of the independence
struggle. It is an institution having not only the
strong patriotic spirit, but also loyal to the State
and the people. We are the soldiers who have made a
firm revolve to safeguard our territorial land, air
and waters of the State. Moreover, we are the persons
who will protect and defend the sovereignty and
independence of the nation. In this respect, we always
keep in the fore ?Our Three Main National Causes? ?
non-disintegration of the Union; non-disintegration of
the national solidarity; and perpetuation of 
sovereignty. I would like to tell you that the
Tatmadaw never betrays the national cause; and that
the soldiers will always safeguard it at the risk of
their lives.  

Sacrificing life for the national cause is a pride of
a soldier. Thus, you are ready to daringly discharge
duties as a junior leader in a battle field as you
have already studied the military science and have
undergone military training as a platoon commander. As
you are the military leaders, you must have the
gallantry. You will have to act in accord with the 16
leadership qualities. Besides, you should become an
experienced soldier. You need to have practical
experience as well as knowledge. As it is not easy for
you to be endowed with firsthand experience by
yourself, you will have to study others? experience
also, and should have the ability to combine it with
yours. Only then, will you become a junior leader
having a wide array of experience and knowledge. As
for a leader, you must be stable and calm in making a
correct and quick decision in a difficult situation.

A difficult situation serves as a factor in producing
a leader. According to the nature of the military
duty, you will win the trust and reliance of your
subordinates only if you can make a correct decision
in time. In addition, you will be able to lead the
ordinary persons only if you make extraordinary
efforts; and you will be taken as a model, only if you
have the significant ability exceeding the qualified
level. I would like to tell you that a leader will not
be able to win staunch followers unless he has the
true ability. In this regard, the genuine long-term
interest will be given priority over the short-term
popularity. 

You must also be technological leaders for you will
discharge science and technological duties. If we
study technological advances in the human world, it is
found that technological development has become rapid
only after the book, a mass communication means, was
introduced in the 15th century. The solar system
theory was discovered in the 16th century and Newton?s
the law of gravitation and the law of motion in 17th
century. In the 18th century, steam engine was
invented.  In  the  19th   century  electron   was
discovered after a great  deal  of experiments. In the
20th century, man landed on the moon and information
technology has developed. Therefore, technological
development is very rapid. New technologies over the
old ones are overwhelming.

New problems are challenging the leaders in the rapid
changing period. It is the qualification of the leader
to expect not only present challenges but also future
challenges and to overcome them.

All small nations are endeavouring to overcome the
technological divide in the global village age.
Therefore, you have to make efforts to achieve the
technology to explore new powers hidden in nature.
Those who make explorations and experiments repeatedly
with perseverance will surely be on the right track of
innovation. Only when you stick to this track making
constant contact with the Academy will you be able to
participate in nation-building tasks.

You need to be a highly qualified human resource in
the establishment of a modern nation and sophisticated
Tatmadaw. Technological advances are required in every
sector for building a modern and developed nation. 

The objective of building a modern Tatmadaw is to face
the modern warfare. Space, air and maritime sectors
play a key role in modern warfare. Therefore, you are
to pursue specialized subjects for the modern
Tatmadaw. Efforts are to be exerted on being
technologically independent as an initial objective.

To sum up, you are to try to become intelligentsia and
good sons in discharging the defence duty of the
State, to build a modern Tatmadaw with advanced
science and technology, to make yourselves new
generation leaders who risk their lives upholding the
twelve traditions of the Tatmadaw, and to be of
service in shaping a modern, developed nation by
promoting the science and technology of the Tatmadaw,
in accordance with the objectives of establishing the
DSTA. 

At the ceremony, Senior General Than Shwe inspected
the cadet companies. 

Then, the Senior General took the salute of the
graduate cadet companies.     

Next, the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
presented Best Cadet Award to Cadet Aung Myo Win,
Excellent Training Award to Cadet Nay Myo Aung and
Excellent Study Award to Cadet Kyaw Nyein San.   

Then, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior
General Than Shwe left the parade grounds.   

After the parade, Senior General met with the three
outstanding cadets and their parents in the living
room of the Academy and spoke words of encouragement.
-------------
2.  Excerpts from Senior General Than Shwe?s address

? Sacrificing life for the national cause is a pride
of a soldier.

? As it is not easy for you to be endowed with
firsthand experience by yourself, you will have to
study others? experience also, and should have the
ability to combine it with yours.

? As for a leader, he must be stable and calm in
making a correct and quick decision in a difficult
situation.

? You will be able to lead the ordinary persons only
if you make extraordinary efforts; and you will be
taken as a model, only if you have the significant
ability exceeding the qualified level.

 ? It is the qualification of the leader to expect not
only present challenges but also future challenges and
to overcome them.

? Those who make explorations and experiments
repeatedly with perseverance will surely be on the
right track of innovation.

? You have to make efforts to achieve the technology
to explore new powers which are hidden in nature.
-------------
3.  Senior General Than Shwe inspects Myanma 
    Industrial Exhibition 

Yangon, 9 April ? Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence
Services Senior General Than Shwe left by helicopter
for Mandalay on 7 April morning after inspecting
Monywa-Yagyi-Kalewa Road.

Senior General Than Shwe inspected Myanma Industrial
Exhibition (2003) in Hsinbyukan Grounds, Mandalay, at
8 am yesterday. 

At the briefing hall of the exhibition, Chairman of
the Leading Committee for Organizing Myanma Industrial
Exhibition (2003) Minister for Industry-1 U Aung
Thaung reported to the Senior General on salient
points of the exhibition. The minister said the
exhibition had been opened since 19 March. 

The first industrial exhibition was held as the Upper
Myanmar Industrial Exhibition in 1996 in Mandalay.
About 1,800 items of industrial products are display
at the exhibition, and consumer products, foodstuff
and industrial products worth K 70 million were sold
every day at the exhibition. Various kinds of vehicles
assembled in industrial zones were also on display at
the exhibition and 67 units of them had been sold out
at the exhibition so far. Based on the experience of
the exhibition, arrangements would be made for holding
future industrial exhibitions with high standards and
assorted display.

Then, Chairman of the Work Committee for Organizing
the exhibition Deputy Minister for Industry-1 Brig-Gen
Kyaw Win reported to the Senior General on visits of 
monks, laity, the public and foreigners  to the
exhibitions, spending on the exhibition and opinion of
visitors on the exhibition. Regarding the reports,
Senior General Than Shwe gave  guidance, saying that
the exhibition is drawing the attention of the people
observing the situations of the development of the
nation as well as the industrial sector. The
industrial zones play a vital role in the industrial
sector of the State, and thus necessary assistance
must be rendered after reviewing the situations in
development of the industrial zones, he noted. The
industrial production process is to be gradually
upgraded from the use of manpower to mechanical power
phase by phase. The industrial zones based on manpower
have to try more for their modernization and
development. In this process, he said that efforts
must be made phase by phase for achieving greater
success after observing the mode of production.

Measures are to be taken for ensuring upgrading of
industrial sector to modern equipment-installed level
from forge level, then to advanced automatic
system-installed level and to computerized
system-installed level. According to the present
situations, it is not within the reach of using modern
machines but arrangements are to be made for meeting
this level after laying down a goal. It is important
to manufacture quality industrial products in
considerable quantity at cheaper expenses. In so
doing, it is essential to use modern machines.
Industrial zones are to be upgraded after assessing
these views, he noted.

In building up an industrial nation, people are to
make efforts with might and main while the government
is rendering necessary assistance.

Then, Minister U Aung Thaung presented a painting of
the wall of the Mandalay Palace commemorating the
achievement of the exhibition to Senior General Than
Shwe. Then, Senior General Than Shwe and party
inspected the first prize-winning product items at the
central exhibition booth. Then, Senior General Than
Shwe viewed the embossed silver paintings and bronze
paintings displayed as new handicrafts of Myanmar,
import-substitute items such as transformers, tablet 
compressors and moisture testing instrument for crops,
modern paddy and rice separators, augurs, railway
carriage hangers, sleepers for iron beams of bridges,
and furniture made of rubber wood.

Afterward, Senior General Than Shwe viewed the
1200-year old rare herbal glacier pine donated by
national race leader U Za Khun Tain Yein of Kachin
Special Region-1. 

Then, Senior General Than Shwe inspected the
power-tillers, advanced winnowing and threshing
machines, farm implement, Kanbawza Super Jeeps of
Ayethaya Industrial Zone which won first prize in
competition and third prize in innovation, UCM Double
Cab Four Door Diesel 4 WDs of UCM Advanced Vehicle
Manufacturing of Industrial Zone-3, South Dagon which
won consolation prize in best quality invention and
Okkala Trucks of South Okkalapa Industrial Zone which
won special prize in innovation.    

Then, the Senior General viewed round the vehicles
assembled in Ayethaya, Mandalay-1, Meiktila, Myingyan,
Pakokku, Monywa, Yenangyoung, Khittaya, South Dagon-2,
South Okkalapa, Hlinethaya and Mawlamyine industrial
zones and Dagon Jeeps of Myanmar War Veterans
Organization (Central) and gave necessary
instructions. 

Afterwards, the Senior General viewed round the
exhibition by car. 

Then, Senior General Than Shwe and party arrived in
PyinOoLwin by helicopter, where they were welcomed by
Member of the State Peace and Development Council
Chief of Armed Forces Training Lt-Gen Kyaw Win, senior
military officers and departmental officials.
---------------
4.  Secretary-1 inspects regional and human resources 
    development in Kayin State

Yangon, 9 April ? Secretary-1 of the State Peace and
Development Council General Khin Nyunt today inspected
tasks for development of the region and human
resources in Hpa-an, Kayin State, and fulfilled the
needs.

Accompanied by the ministers, the Chief of Staff
(Navy), the deputy ministers, officials of the State
Peace and Development Council Office and department
heads, the Secretary-1 left here by air and arrived at
Hpa-an at 9 am today.   

Next, the Secretary-1 and party and Commander Maj-Gen
Thura Myint Aung went to Hpa-an Degree College where
they were welcomed by Principal U Saw Han Shein,
professors, associate professors, faculty members and
instructors. At the meeting hall, the principal
reported on background  history and layout of the
college, major and minor subjects of distance
education division, administrative matters and
progress of installation of teaching aids. Minister
for Education U Than Aung gave a supplementary report.


The Secretary-1 then fulfilled the requirements and
made a speech. The Secretary-1 said the purpose of
their tour is to upgrade the college to a university
in order to speed up the development of human
resources for the youths in Hpa-an. The development
tasks are being carried out after establishing special
development regions in the entire nation for ensuring
equitable development of education, health and
economic sectors in 14 States and Divisions. Owing to
lack of peace in Kayin State, tasks for regional
development could not be carried out properly. 

The Secretary-1 said that he himself has made field
trips to Kayin State for many times and held peace
negotiations so as to ward off armed insurgencies and
for the prevalence of peace and tranquillity. Although
there was a growing trend towards peace, it later
deteriorated due to the instigation.

The government has drawn the 30-year long-term plan
for the development of human resources and national
education, and is implementing it systematically. And
there have emerged fruitful results, he added. There
are 7.5 million students pursuing basic education and
770,000 students higher education. The school
enrolment rate has increased and the drop-out rate
decreased. 

Moreover, to enable the students to complete the basic
education, post-primary schools were opened in the
regions where necessary. Opportunities for pursuing
the basic education are also created. In higher
education sector, the Secretary-1 said, colleges and
degree colleges have been upgraded to universities,
and new ones established. These educational
institutions are provided with sufficient number of
teachers, buildings and modern teaching and learning
aids.

Nowadays, the State acknowledges the active
participation of the teachers in endeavours for
developing human resources and promoting the national
education standard.  He urged the teachers to continue
to make efforts for realization of the national
education promotion 30-year long-term plan and
bringing out human resources of intelligentsia and
intellectuals who are to strive for building up a
modern and developed nation.

Afterwards, the Secretary-1 and party looked around
the e-Education learning centre, the e-Education
resource centre, the language lab and the construction
of university level buildings in the degree college
compound and the computer training centre 3 and 2. The
principal and officials concerned conducted them
around there.  

At 10.30 am, the Secretary-1 and party arrived at
State General Hospital in Hpa-an, where they were
welcomed by Kayin State Health Department Head Dr Myo
Lwin, Kayin State Traditional Medicine Department Head
U Tin Yu and Medical Superintendent Dr Kyaw Oo,
specialists, doctors and nurses.  

The Secretary-1 and party inspected ICU, operation
theatre, emergency ward, X-ray room, ultrasound and
psychiatric unit, drug addicts rehabilitation unit and
pediatric ward there and spoke words of encouragement
to the patients.

The Secretary-1 and party met with the State Health
Department Head, the medical superintendent,
specialists and doctors at the office of the medical
superintendent. Kayin State Health Department Head Dr
Myo Lwin reported to the Secretary-1 on  conditions of
hospitals in the state, providing of health care
services to the public in the state, giving treatments
to the patients at the hospitals, common diseases, and
Medical Superintendent Dr Kyaw Oo on location, area
and brief history of the hospital, buildings and
special units, providing treatment to out-patients and
in-patients. Next, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya
Oo briefed on matters related to preventive measures
for SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)
(pneumonia), and the need of the state Health
Department Head and specialists to go down to the
grassroot level to carry out tasks. Then, Secretary-1
General Khin Nyunt attended to the needs and made a
speech. He said nowadays SARS is spreading in some
south-east Asian nations. Health Department staff as
well as the public are to pay attention to preventing
the spread of the disease. Preventive tasks are to be
carried out on a wider scale, and preventive measures
for common disease in respective regions in Myanmar
are to be taken.

Moreover, special attention is to be given to fighting
against TB that is starting to rear its head again and
preventing the re-spreading of polio and leprosy in
Myanmar which was declared a polio/leprosy free
region. For promoting the health care services of
rural people that is included in the five rural area
development tasks, staff concerned and local
authorities are to cooperate to seek ways and means
for providing health care services by specialists at
the grassroot level and supplying of clean drinking
water to local people.

The Secretary-1 and party viewed the development of
Hpa-an by car and inspected completion of extension of
Strand Road in the town. They arrived at Mebaung
monastery in the town at 11:30 am. 

They paid obeisance to Mebaung Sayadaw Agga Maha
Pandita Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Eindriya
and presented offertories to the Sayadaw. 

The General and party met with State/District/Township
Peace and Development Council chairmen and members,
departmental officials and members of social
organizations, and discussed matters related to
development of Kayin State at the hall of No 22 LID at
12.30 pm.    

Kayin State Peace and Development Council Chairman Col
Cho Tun Aung reported on location of the state and
organizing of ward/village-tracts, rainfall, sown
acreage, purchasing of paddy, local rice sufficiency,
land reclamation, implementation of rural area
development tasks in 2002-2003, and activities of the
committee for implementation of Kayin State border
areas and national races development affairs. 

Afterwards, Kayin State Myanma Agriculture Service
Manager U Kyaw Thein briefed on cultivation and
production of paddy, edible oil crops and winter crops
in 2002-2003, cultivation of major crops in Thandaung
region, and Irrigation Department Deputy Director U
Aung Kyaw Win on supplying of water in the state,
tasks for prevention of floods in Mebaung-Naunglon
Creek region in Hpa-an Township, land reclamation and
tasks for supplying of water. Then, Assistant Director
U Thein Zaw Win of the Livestock Breeding and
Viterinary Department reported on the increase in
number of animals, progress of manageable livestock
breeding tasks, raising of fowls and production of
chicken and eggs, and Kayin State Fisheries Department
Head U Paw Lwin on extended breeding of fish and
prawn, and Kayin State Education Department Head U Saw
Ba Hlaing on educational matters in the state.   

Secretary-1 said arrangements have been made to
upgrade Hpa-an Degree College to a university, and to
construct buildings and provide teaching aids to it.
Peace and stability and the rule of law are prevailing
in all parts of the nation including border areas, and
all the sectors including health, education and
economic sectors are achieving development. The pace
of regional development drive is somewhat slow in
Kayin State as peace and stability cannot be restored
fully in the region yet. Officials at district and
township levels are required to join hands with the
social organizations for the arm of the law to reach
the border areas and to develop the areas.

Because of the armed insurgency that broke out soon
after the regaining of independence, the nation lagged
behind in development. Thus, the Tatmadaw government
has been striving with the aim of consolidating the
national unity, promoting peace and stability and the
rule of law. Although, the aims have been realized in
all other states and divisions, development drive
cannot be launched as expected in Kayin State as peace
and stability is not fully prevailing in the region.

The remaining insurgent organizations are talking
about peace on one hand, and committing destructive
and terrorist acts including planting bomb and bridge
and railroad destruction on the other hand. While the
government is launching the nation-building task, the
insurgents are committing destructive acts. Thus,
development has not been achieved as expected. In this
respect, collective efforts should be made to find
means for the Kayin State to catch up with other
regions in terms of development.

Anyhow, the government will strive in all sectors for
development of the entire nation including Kayin State
in accord with the guidance of the Head of State.
Departmental personnel assigned duty at the border
areas are required to strive for development of the
areas with zeal and conviction.

The Secretary-1 stressed the importance of correct and
complete data for regional development. Related
projects can be reviewed through the correct and
complete data. He spoke of the need for officials to
make trips to the grassroots levels to collect correct
data. Emphasis must be placed on collecting correct
and accurate data.

He said Kayin State is a region where border trade
develops. He spoke of the need to supervise the tasks
on the equal amount of export and import items for
development of normal trade through official channel.

The main economy of Kayin State is agriculture.
Efforts are to be made for boosting production of
paddy, beans and pulses, edible oil crops and rubber
and officials concerned are to make trips to villages
for realization of the set targets, he added.

The government has established the administrative
machinery in every state, division, district,
township, ward and village tract. He said all the
officials are to carry out the tasks on smooth running
of the machinery through correct management.

He said Kayin State borders a neighbouring country. It
is necessary to prevent the practice of working in the
other country, realizing that it causes loss of
working power in the own country. The young women?s
working in the other country affects dignity of the
State and its people, he said.

He said working in the other country causes bad
results such as degradation of national prestige and
integrity and spread of infectious diseases. He said
preventive measures on working in the other country
are to be undertaken effectively.

He said departmental officials in cooperation with
social organizations should organize and educate young
women constantly for preservation of their lineage,
cherishing traditional culture and customs and uplift
of national prestige and integrity. This would
constitute taking of preventive measures.

He said it is necessary to actively participate in
promotion of education for gaining knowledge of local
people and for emergence of highly-qualified human
resources. Human resource development plays a key role
in realization of national objectives on development
of the nation, he added.

Dams and embankments, major bridges across rivers and
creeks and buildings of high standard were being built
nationwide with the strength of national intellectuals
and intelligentsia, he said. 

The government is implementing the 30-year long-term
national education promotion project and five-year
short-term project for turning out highly-qualified
intellectuals and intelligentsia and achievements have
also been made. He called for cooperation for
continued progress.

Looking at the international situation, it can be
found that efforts are to be made  for national
development and perpetuation of the State on
self-reliance basis without relying on others.

The Secretary-1 called on departmental officials,
national races organizations and the entire people to
work in unity for development of the region and the
Union, perpetuation of the State, for better
foundations in education, health and social sectors,
for stronger national economic life and for
safeguarding the interests of the nation and its
people.

The Secretary-1 and party arrived back here in the
evening.
------------
5.  Lt-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Soe Win

    meet departmental officials in Mandalay

Yangon, 9 April? Member of the State Peace and
Development Council Lt-Gen Thura Shwe Mann,
Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council
Lt-Gen Soe Win, members of the State Peace and
Development Council and ministers, who accompanied
Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General
Than Shwe, on 7 March, met with members of Mandalay
Division Peace and Development Council, departmental
officials, chairmen of Mandalay District,
Aungmyethazan, Chanayethazan, Maha Aungmye,
Chanmyathazi, Pyigyidagon, Amarapura, Patheingyi
Township Peace and Development Councils, secretaries
and executives of division, district and township
Union Solidarity and Development Associations in
Mandalay District and officials of Mandalay Division
Chamber of Commerce. 

Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development
Council Commander of Central Command Maj-Gen Ye Myint
reported on maintenance tasks of dams, lakes and
creeks with the use of heavy machinery provided by the
State to cultivate more paddy for regional rice
sufficiency, measures undertaken in cooperation with
local people for land reclamation and arrangements
being made for cultivation of paddy on 38,000 acres of
land in the coming monsoon season.

Chairman of Magway Division Peace and Development
Council Col Zaw Min reported on arrangements being
made to increase 83 per cent rice sufficiency in
Magway Division.

Chairman of Sagaing Division Peace and Development
Council Commander of North-West Command Maj-Gen Soe
Naing reported on efforts being made for development
of the agriculture sector in Shwebo, Monywa and
Sagaing Districts.

Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt
Tin reported on efficient use of agricultural
machinery and Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung on
more supply of industrial crops.

Minister for Electric Power Maj-Gen Tin Htut reported
on measures being undertaken for supply of electricity
to river water pumping projects and Minister for
Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi on fuel supply.

Minister for Rail Transportation Maj-Gen Aung Min
reported on services offered through rail
transportation.

Minister Brig-Gen Thein Zaw reported on communication
work, arrival of more tourists to Myanmar and tourism
industry and requirements for development of hotel
industry.

Minister for Health Dr Kyaw Myint reported on health
matters.

Then, member of the State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Gen Ye Myint explained matters relating to
rice sufficiency and surpluses in Kachin State and
Sagaing Division and coordination and cooperation work
being carried out for rice sufficiency in Mandalay
Division. 

Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Soe Win said that Mandalay and
Magway Divisions are the regions where rice is not
sufficient; and that various ways and means such as
increase of paddy sown acreage and per acre yield are
to be sought for regional rice sufficiency.

Afterwards, member of the State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Gen Thura Shwe Mann made a speech. He said
that it is known to all that the Head of State himself
toured right down to the grassroots level for
development of the nation and raising the living
standard of the people. Mandalay and Magway Divisions
are the regions on which the State can rely
economically. According to natural resources, there
are fewer cultivation and producing of paddy and crops
 in the divisions by tradition and local people have
to rely on other regions for rice requirement. In
accord with the guidance of the Head of State, efforts
are to be made for regional rice sufficiency applying
new ideas and ways and means instead of ordinary
methods. 

The State is endeavouring to supply water for
agricultural purpose using various ways and means.
Especially, water resources are pooled in Mandalay and
Magway Divisions and arrangements are being made for
efficient use of water in the agriculture sector and
extended cultivation of paddy. Along with the water
supply, efforts are to be made to change the small
farmland into land on which paddy can be grown. In
doing so, it is impossible to rely on only one
department. Related departments are to render
necessary assistance to the tasks and local farmers
are to be organized to cooperate. Only when the
farmers realize the situation and make earnest efforts
will there be progress in the tasks. At the opening
ceremony of Chindwin River Bridge (Monywa), the Head
of State gave guidance saying that for enabling the
nation to acquire her wealth, prevalence of peace and
tranquillity and consolidation of national unity,
active participation of the people is specially
needed. 

The Government alone cannot carry out the tasks for
development of national economy, defence and raising
the living standard of the entire nation and thus the
State, the people and the Tatmadaw are needed to
cooperate. Similarly, rice sufficiency and regional
development tasks which are related to the economic
and social sectors of the State are to be implemented
through cooperation based on nationalism and patriotic
spirit, he said.

Member of Central Panel of Patrons of the USDA
Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Soe Win, together with Secretariat
members of USDA U Aung Thaung, Brig-Gen Thein Zaw and
U Thaung, on 7 April evening, met with secretaries and
executives of Mandalay Division, Mandalay District,
Kyaukse District and Township USDAs at the office of
Mandalay Division USDA. 

Secretary U Tin Maung Oo of Mandalay Division USDA
reported to the Secretary-2 on organizing and rural
development tasks. Then, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Soe win
gave necessary instructions.
------------
6.  USDA Secretariat Member tours Magway Division

Yangon, 9 April ? The Union Solidarity and Development
Association membership applications presentation and
cash donations presentation ceremony of Htilin
Township took place at the basic education high school
in the township, Gangaw District, Magway Division, on
5 April.

Secretariat Member of the USDA Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan
accepted 650 membership applications from an official,
and presented K 200,000 for  township development
tasks, K 100,000 for generating electricity for
Htanbingon Village, and K 150,000 for construction of
Thanthay Creek Bridge to officials. Speaking on the
occasion, the secretariat member emphasized the
importance of building up a stronger national force
under the leadership of the USDA, adding that
upholding the People?s Desire, the public is to crush
internal and external destructive elements . He called
for extended cultivation of seasonal and perennial
crops and carrying out livestock breeding tasks for
regional development, and measures to be taken for
prevention of outbreak of fire. 

The secretariat member attended the ceremony to unveil
Pyi-khaing-phyo signboard in Tharakha Village and
presented periodicals to the village library and
clothes donated by the Myanmar Red Cross Society to
the village. He also attended the ceremony to unveil
Pyi-khaing-phyo signboard of Aung and Kyee villages in
the township. He then presented clothes to the former
and K 100,000 for village development and clothes
donated by the MRCS to the latter through officials,
and accepted 90 USDA membership applications of Kyee
Village. In the afternoon, the secretariat member
attended the the ceremony to unveil Pyi-khaing-phyo
signboard and accepted 192 USDA membership
applications of Kyaukhtu. He presented K 100,000 to
the fund of the Station Hospital and blankets to the
village. He spoke of the need for the people to take
part in the nation-building tasks.

Afterwards, the secretariat member attended the
opening of Phi-khaing-phyo signboards and USDA
membership application presentation of Kangyi and
Kahchaung villages in Saw Township. He presented
clothes to the former and K 50,000 to the BEMS and
clothes to the latter.
--------------
7.  Madaya Township IPRD inspected

Yangon, 9 April ? Deputy Minister for Information
Brig-Gen Aung Thein, inspected the IPRD in Madaya
Township, Pyin-OoLwin District, yesterday afternoon. 

Then, the deputy minister met township level
departmental officials and stressed the importance of
cooperation among respective departments for
successful implementation of the State?s objectives at
the grassroots level, widely giving educative talks on
a fresh outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS) or Atypical Pneumonia to the people for taking
preventive measures, and systematic formation of
respective committees for establishing self-reliant
libraries in model villages. 
--------------
8.  Internal Revenue Department inspected

Yangon, 9 April ? Minister for Finance and Revenue
Maj-Gen Hla Tun, inspected the banking service at the
Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank on Merchant
Street this afternoon and gave instructions to
officials.

Looking into the stamp sales counter-2 of the Internal
Revenue Department, the minister and party were
conducted round the counter by Director-General of the
IRD U Win Naing and officials.
-----------
9.  National Museum to be closed during Thingyan 
    Festival

Yangon, 9 April ? The Department of Cultural Institute
of the Ministry of Culture will temporarily shut the
National Museum on Pyay Road during Thingyan Festival
(Water Festival) starting from 13 April, the eve of
Thingyan, to 17 April, the New Year Day, and will open
it by 18 April from 10 am to 4 pm as usual.
-----------
10. Myanma Industrial Exhibition 2003 concludes 

Yangon, 9 April ? Myanma Industrial Exhibition 2003
concluded today on Hsinphyukan grounds in Mandalay. It
was held for 22 days beginning from 19th March. 

At the exhibition 86 booths of ministries, 190 booths
of industrial zones, 47 booths of business
entrepreneurs, 68 shops of consumer products and 36
restaurants totalling 427 were opened. The exhibition
was largely crowded with all walks of life daily.

A ceremony to honour those who actively participated
in the exhibition was held this morning at the central
pandal on the grounds. 

Deputy Minister for Industry-1 Brig-Gen Kyaw Win first
made a speech and presented cash awards to those of
the organizations who took part in the exhibition.
--------------
11. Minister for Culture receives Sri Lankan
Ambassador

Yangon, 9 April ? Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Myanmar
Mr Ubhayasekara Mapa who had completed his tour of
duties in Myanmar  called on  Minister for Culture
Maj-Gen Kyi Aung at the latter?s office this
afternoon. On the occasion, they cordially discussed
matters on bilateral cultural cooperation.
-------------------------
www.myanmar.com/nlm/

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