“The New Light of
" Promulgation of Law Repealing National
Intelligence Bureau Law and Dissolution of the National Intelligence Bureau
" Seven-step Road Map agenda was laid
down only by Government National Convention, first step of Road Map, is most
important, will continue without fail
" Maha Thakyamuni Buddha Image at Kyaunggyi
Monastery in
" Cash donated to
construction of Missionary
"
" Mahosadha
Marionette Contest continues for second day
" Work Committee for
organizing Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions meets
" Oil and natural gas production sharing
contract inked
" Ceremony to mark anniversary
of NPE held
" Forestry Minister opens
" Meeting to organize Ninth
Buddha Pujaniya of Tooth Relic Pagoda (
" Partnership Meeting of
National Red Cross Societies concludes
" Temporary power cuts in
some townships of
" Minister receives guests
" Deputy Minister for
Foreign Affairs back from
" Workshop held
" Establishment of
" Home Affairs Minister's Shield
Volleyball C'ship opened
" Min Naing
leads
DOMESTIC NEWS
Promulgation of Law
Repealing National Intelligence Bureau Law and Dissolution of the National
Intelligence Bureau
YANGON, 22 Oct — At present, the State is in the process of
establishing a developed and discipline-flourishing democratic State, and as it
is found that the National Intelligence Bureau Law is no longer suitable for
the welfare of the public to be in conformity with the changing situations and
with a view to ensuring security and peace, the State Peace and Development
Council promulgated the Law Repealing the National Intelligence Bureau Law and
dissolved the National Intelligence Bureau, it is learnt. The following is the
full text of the Law Repealing the National Intelligence Bureau Law: Union of
Myanmar The State Peace and Development Council The Law Repealing the National
Intelligence Bureau Law (The State Peace and Development Council Law No 7/2004)
The 9th Waxing of Thadingyut, 1366 ME (22nd October,
2004) The State Peace and Development Council hereby enacts the following Law:- 1. This Law shall be called the Law Repealing the
National Intelligence Bureau Law. 2. The National Intelligence Bureau Law
(Pyithu Hluttaw Law No 10 of 1983) is hereby repealed. Sd/ Than Shwe Senior General Chairman The State Peace
and Development Council
Seven-step Road Map
agenda was laid down only by Government National Convention, first step of Road
Map, is most important, will continue without fail -
Change of Prime
Minister does not change Government’s Road Map agenda
At the next National Convention, the suggestions of the
compiled papers on the chapter concerning delineation of the legislature on
which the eight delegate groups had offered suggestions and approval and
further consolidated by the Panel of Chairmen will be read out again and
further explained to the delegates and their approval obtained and submitted to
the National Convention Convening Commission for its approval after obtaining
which the detailed basic principles will be laid down, the Commission Chairman,
Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein
of the SPDC, said. Furthermore, at the National Convention to continue, he
said, the observations of the National Convention Convening Work Committee
concerning the delineation of the executive and judicial powers will be
explained to the delegates, group discussions will be held on them by the
delegates, written support and approval will be submitted to the delegate
groups, the papers submitted by the delegates will be read and scrutinized by
the group chairmen, the approvals, submissions and suggestions will be
consolidated based on like subjects and papers representing the views of the
delegate groups will be rewritten and submitted to the Work Committee which
will scrutinize them and these will be read at the Plenary Meeting. Work will
have to be done in this order step by step, the Convening Commission Chairman
said. He added that he had noticed people speculating these days as to how the
change of Prime Minister would affect events, as to whether the implementation
of the seven-point Road Map, the future political agenda, would continue to
apply, whether the first step, the convening of the National Convention would
continue.
The Road Map, the seven-point future political agenda, he
said, was laid down not by an individual person but by the State Peace and
Development Council Government itself. It does not concern only a single
individual. The Prime Minister was told to announce the principle laid down by the State Peace and Development Council.
Therefore, with a view to seeing to the emergence of a peaceful, developed and
discipline-flourishing democratic nation, the State Peace and Development
Council will continue to implement the agenda, step by step, without change, he
said. Moreover, the Government will continue to convene, without fail, the
National Convention, which is the first step of the seven-point agenda, and
also most important, he confirmed. He added that ours is an agricultural
country. Such being the case, the National Convention includes among the
delegates national race delegates, farmer delegates, worker delegates and other
invited delegates, the majority of whom are farmers. As such, they are now
engaged in agriculture. He said it had also been made known before that once
the harvest is in, and the open season comes, the National Convention will
continue. He reiterated that as had been said previously, the National
Convention will resume with the coming of the open season. At this time, the
Secretary-1 said, the monsoon is receding and the open season is drawing nearer
gradually, and with the approach of the National Convention, he urged the
National Convention Convening Commission, the Work Committee and the
Administrative Committee to make necessary preparations from now on and also to
advise, discuss and submit what needs to be done committee wise. Next, Chairman
of the Work Committee Chief Justice U Aung Toe reported on completion in
implementing the five tasks of the work committee. Chairman
of the Management Committee Auditor-General Maj-Gen Lun Maung submitted reports on progress in repairing
buildings, greening Nyaunghnapin Camp and its
environs, extension of the open air theatre and future tasks.
Afterwards, Chairman of the Commission Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein
Sein gave necessary instructions. The Secretary-1 and
party inspected the open air theatre to be extended and gave necessary
instructions to officials and left Nyaunghnapin Camp.
Maha Thakyamuni
Buddha Image at Kyaunggyi Monastery in
YANGON, 22 Oct — A ceremony to consecrate Maha Thakyamuni Buddha Image
being kept in Gandakuti Building in the precinct of Kyaunggyi Monastery in Kyimyindine
Township, Yangon Division, donated by Yangon Division Peace and Development
Council and wellwishers led by Chairman of the State
Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior
General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing and family, was held in conjunction with the
ceremony to share merits for Gandakuti Building at
the Kyaunggyi Monastery this morning. Present on the
occasion were Vice-Chairmen of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Aungmye-bonsan Sayadaw Abhi-dhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika
Bhad-danta Paññind-abhivamsa
and Pyay Zawtikayon
Monastery Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Agga
Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Bhaddanta Kundalajoti and members of the Sangha,
families of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Chairman of Yangon
Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myint Swe and wife Daw
Khin Thet Htay, Minister
Brig-Gen Ohn Myint and
wife, Minister Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein and wife, senior military officers and their wives,
departmental heads, members of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council,
social organizations, wellwishers, Çetana Sambhara Wut Association, the drum troupe and wellwishers.
At
Text, Head of Yangon Division Religious Affairs Department U
San Thin Hlaing recited a Gatha.
A total of 108 members of the Sangha led by Presiding
Patron of Kyaunggyi Monastery Sayadaw
Bhaddanta Paññinda from 14
monasteries consecrated Maha Thakyamuni
Buddha Image. Leader of the Gandakuti building
construction engineer group Maj Myo Thant sought the advice of the Ovadaçariya
Sayadaws and read out the paper on successful
construction of the building and handing over it to the original wellwishers. After the ceremony, the commander and
officials offered ‘soon’ to 108 members of the Sangha.
At
Cash donated to
construction of Missionary Myanmar Monastery in Paris
Mahosadha Marionette Contest continues for second
day
Work Committee for organizing
Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions meets
Oil and natural gas
production sharing contract inked
YANGON, 22 Oct — A production sharing contract between Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise and a business group
including CNOOC Myanmar Ltd of the People’s Republic of China, Golden Aaron Pte Ltd of Singapore and China Huanqiu
Contracting & Engineering Corp (HQCEC) of PRC was signed at the Traders
Hotel here yesterday evening to carry out the tasks for exploration of oil and
natural gas in Kyaunphyu Region, Rakhine
State. The contract-signing ceremony was attended by Minister for Energy
Brig-Gen Lun Thi, Myanmar
Investment Commission Chairman Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung, Minister for Finance and Revenue Maj-Gen Hla Tun,
PRC Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Li Jinjun,
CNOOC Ltd Chairman Fu Chengyu, guests and
departmental officials. Minister Brig-Gen Lun Thi spoke on the occasion and Mr
Fu Chengyu and Mr Li Jinjun spoke words of thanks. MOGE Managing Director U San Lwin, CNOOC Myanmar Ltd Chairman Mr
Zhou Shouwei, China Huanqiu
Contracting & Engineering Corp Chairman Mr Wang Shihong and Golden Aaron Pte Ltd
Director Mr Chua Chay Jin
signed the contract. After exchanging documents, Minister Brig-Gen Lun Thi and Minister U Thaung presented the work permit of the Ministry of Energy
and the permit of MIC to Mr Zhou Shouwei.
Ceremony to mark
anniversary of NPE held -
NPE has to review
itself on extent of success achieved and take remedial measures on weaknesses
Forestry Minister opens Myanmar
Furniture Fair-2004
Meeting to organize Ninth Buddha Pujaniya of Tooth Relic Pagoda (
Partnership Meeting
of National Red Cross Societies concludes
Temporary power cuts
in some townships of Yangon City
Yangon, 22 Oct—The 230 KV cable and main transformers of Hlawga Power Station that are supplying power to Thakayta Sub-Power Station will be under repairs from 7 am
to 12 noon on 24 October 2004. Power supply to Tamway,
Mingala Taungnyunt, Thingangyun,
Minister receives
guests
YANGON, 22 Oct — Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and
Resettlement and Minister for Immigration and Population Maj-Gen
Sein Htwa met with
Ambassador of Singapore Mr Simon Tensing de Cruz and
party at his office at 1 pm, and Ambassador of Israel Mrs
Ruth Schatz and party at the same venue at 3 pm. Also present at the calls were
Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Kyaw Myint, Deputy Minister for Immigration and Population U
Maung Aung, Officer on Special Duty at the Ministry of SWRR Brig-Gen Thura Sein Thaung,directors general and officials.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs back
from India
Yangon, 22 Oct — The Myanmar delegation led by Secretary for
Working Committee on the Implementation of ASEAN Economic Agreements Deputy
Minister for Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Thu arrived back here by air this morning
after attending the 3rd ASEAN-India Business Summit held in New Delhi and Channai, the Republic of India. The
Workshop held
Establishment of
Home Affairs
Minister’s Shield Volleyball C’ship opened
Min Naing leads
YANGON, 22 Oct — Bagan Golf
Championship of the Myanmar Open Golf Tour 2004, sponsored by Myanmar PGA and
Myanmar Golf Federation, began at Bagan Golf Culb in NyaungU, Mandalay
Division, this morning. Min Naing (Srixon) led with 136 strokes on the second day in
professional level followed by Soe Kyaw Naing with 140, and Myint Shwe
with 141. Win Zaw Oo scored a hole-in-one in the same
level. In amateur level, Thein Zaw
Myint led with 142 strokes, followed by Than Naing Oo with 144, and Aung Win with 145. Tour sponsor of
the championship is Rothmans of Pall Mall Myanmar Pte
Ltd, title sponsor Bagan Hotel Association and
cosponsors Air Mandalay, Tiger Beer, Bagan Golf
Resort Hotel, Alpine Purified Drinking Water, KM Golf Centre, Maruman, Tourstage, Wilson. Srixon, Grandslam (Munsing Wear), Canon (Accel International Co Ltd), Sun-Far Travels and
“PERSPECTIVES”
From rural to national development
Nowadays, continued efforts are being made to transform the
Union of Myanmar into a peaceful, modern and developed nation. In doing so,
special emphasis is being given to parallel development of rural and urban
areas.
Seventy per cent of the total population
of over 53 million of
For the development of rural areas, the five rural
development tasks are being carried out to ensure better transport, sufficient
supply of drinking water, higher educational standard, wider health care
services and development of agriculture and livestock breeding in rural areas.
The Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development
Affairs is taking responsibility for better transport and supply of drinking
water and wellwishers and various organizations are
taking an active part in these tasks.
Transport plays an important role in rural development and
therefore continued efforts will have to be made to improve it. At the same
time, measures are being taken for sufficient supply of water for both drinking
and agricultural purposes. Only then, will the health, education, social and
economic status of people living in rural areas improve. Due to the
construction of dams, embankments and river water pumping stations, farmers can
now engage in the cultivation of double and triple crops.
Rural development is fundamental to national development
because development of villages can lead to the development of townships,
districts, states and divisions and eventually to the development of the entire
Therefore, we would like to urge all those responsible and
local people to strive for the development of the
FEATURE
King Bagyidaw’s Edict on
Marionette Show
In the latter part of the Kon-Baung
dynasty (AD 1752-1885) marionette shows became so popular and so successful
that a royal edict was issued to standardize the conventions and customs to be
strictly observed in connection with such shows.
In those days the marionette show as a genre was called Amyint Thabin, which literally
means entertainment on a raised platform because it was the only kind of
entertainment performed on a stage above the ground; while all other forms of
entertainment were held on the ground.
It was in the time of King Sagaing
Min (AD 1819-37) or commonly known as King Bagyidaw
in Myanmar history that his Minister for Royal Enterainment,
U Thaw, Myosa (Lord) of Shwedaung
Township, was authorized by his royal master to issue the following “Amyint Thabin Ameintdaw”
(Royal Edict on Marionette show). “Tuesday, the ninth day of the waxing moon of
the month of Tabaung in the year of ME 1183 (AD 1821)
“The Amyint Thabin
shall be hereafter named Yoke Thay (Marionette). The
Puppeteers had to be educated men only. No woman would be allowed to
participate in the performance of the show. The show may take themes and plots
from the 550 Jatakas (ie
Buddha’s Birth stories), history, Mahawun, Zimme history, fables, and pagoda taming (legend). There
should be altogether 36 puppet figures. Homage to the Lord Buddha should be
paid, at the place where the show would take place. If a drama is going to be
performed, a stage of nine divisions, each division measuring three cubits must
be constructed. At the front of the stage there should be a bar of eighteen
cubits fixed at a height of twenty one fist’s length. In front of this bar, a
long mat of five fists breadth must be spread out. From the front of the middle
divisions to the back of the stage there shall be a space of four divisions
each measuring three cubits’ length. From other divisions on the left and right
sides to the back of the stage there shall be spaces of four divisions of each
three cubits’ length, two divisions of each three cubits’ length and one
division off each three cubits’ length. The whole stage must have altogether
eighteen divisions.”
“The stage must be made of bamboo and thatch only. It must
not be constructed vis-à-vis East. West, North of
South. Kya Thaung and Kya Khat bamboos must not be used
in the construction of the stage. Thatch should not be roofed face to face. The
mat must be spread out from the right side of the stage to the left side. The
one who hires the marionette show must propitiate the nat
spirits with the offering of coconut, bananas, and a quarter of one tickle of
pure silver. The plot of the drama must be made known to the nat spirits. There should be two places of offering, one at
the front (of the stage), the other at the back. “At
the back” means at the orchestra. There should be three performances for three
successive nights. On the first night, the orchestra must play the overture of
“Wind” “Fire” and “Rain” three times followed by a votaries dance. She must
enter the stage from the right side, because this country is Zabu-dipa, the right-sided island on the south. First
homage must be paid to the stage, second homage to the local authorities, and
third homage to the audience. Homage-paying song must be sung by leading male
and female dancers (ie Prince and Princess). No other
person must sing it. The orchestra should play 37 ditties for 37 nat-spirits. After that the nat-votaress
must exit from above the bar.”
“Next, to present three forests, three branches of tress
must be set up on the stage. The three branches must be cut off from the
astrologically auspicious trees. No creeper is allowed on the stage. To convey
the image of the walls of the Universe, the three branches must be brought out
from the beneath of the bar. Then dragon and
The king enters from the right side and sits on the throne.
During the audience, the plot of the drama must be laid out. The king must not
weep in any kind of drama or play. He must retain his majestic dignity. In the
dialogues, the general outline of the drama (synopsis) must be hinted at.”
“Poetical quotations and epigrammatic sayings should not be
uttered on the first night. They may be uttered on the subsequent nights. Any
drama must always be performed three successive nights.”
1. “The nat-spirit, the Thagyar, the Brahma, and the necromancer must always enter
and exit from above the bar. They must never enter or exit from the sides.
Their feet must not touch the floor.”
2. “Water creatures like fish, tortoise, crocodile
must not be lifted or raised above the floor.”
3. “Jungle creatures like dragon, garuda,
lions etc. must first enter from the left side.”
4. “Regarding the making of puppet figures, man horse and nat spirits must be carved out of the yamanay
(Gmelina arborea) or thit myitzu wood. All the rest
are to be made of let pan, than hut wood. All puppet figures must have all
anatomical parts (including sex organs)”
5. “During the performance special care must be taken so as
not to cause any harm or offend religion, state, king and government. Jokes
must not be so obscene as to insult the modesty and dignity of the monks and
Brahmins. Any one found guilty shall have either his body or hand or tongue
mutilated.
6. “No other orchestra except the state orchestra must be
gilded and decorated with glass-mosaic. The leader of the orchestra, the
leading dancer and the stage manager have the right to punish their
sub-ordinates found guilty either by beating up or detaining them in the
lock-up. They can punish even those who are senior in age but junior in
education and experience.”
7. “With the exception of King, Queen, and Prince Regent,
all who hire the marionette show must pay for it. Only
with the consent of the puppeteers may the marionette show be performed gratis.
Except in the case of Pagoda and Nat festival, no marionette show must be
performed without the Myowun’s )governor of town) permit.”
We thus notice that the above “Ameintdaw”
law bears strong witness to the place of precedence accorded to
The Minister for Royal Entertainment Thabin
Wun was entitled to wear “Thakhar
Thoyin” jacket, old head strap, two vermillion
painted Thaings, and silver encased sword. He was in
charge of all performances and entertainments. He got a monthly salary of K 100
in pure silver. It is not easy to get appointed to this kind of post. Apart
from the fact that he must be a most trustworthy man of the king, some
educational qualifications were also required. He must be well-versed in Pali, Bedin (Vedas) cosmology,
astrology, medicine, sculpture, classical literature, Judicial
matters, Buddhism, philosophy and Tipitakas.
(Buddhist scriptures)
It is therefore no wonder that with such strict conventions
and traditions of Ameintdaw and supervision of the Thabin Wun,
Author : Dr Khin Maung Nyunt