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Headlines

• Senior General Than Shwe inspects Monywa Industrial Zone, construction of Chindwin Bridge (Monywa)

Region

• Secretary-1 inspects Thanlyin-Kayaktan region development project, Thilawa Industrial Region 
• Health Minister inspects hospitals in Mandalay 
• National Day ceremonies held

International Relations

• UMFCCI President meets Bangladeshi Ambassador

  Education

• Kyimyindine Township BEHS No 2 marks golden jubilee

Sport

• Training courses for swimming and volleyball coaches conclude

Drug

• Drug-related cases exposed under drug elimination programmes
• Drug traffickers sentenced 

SPOTLIGHT

• News
  

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Headlines

 Senior General Than Shwe inspects Monywa Industrial Zone, construction of Chindwin Bridge (Monywa)
Development of industrial sector plays a major role in building a modern and developed nation

Yangon, 29 Nov - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and party paid homage to Thihoshin Pagoda in Pakokku on 26 November morning.

Then, Senior General Than Shwe donated cash to the pagoda funds through members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees and signed in the visitors' book.

Next, Senior General Than Shwe and party left Pakokku by helicopter and inspected construction of a textile factory by Myanma Textile Industries under the Ministry of Industry-1 and Nyaungbingyi river water pumping project of Water Resources Utilization Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in Salingyi Township on board the helicopter, and arrived at the Industrial Zone in Monywa at 9.30 am.

They were welcomed there by Deputy Commander of North-West Command Brig-Gen Soe Myint, Secretary of Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Ye Htut and officials, industrialists and others.

At the hall of the industrial zone, In-charge of the industrial zone Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe reported on establishment of the industrial zone, allocation and setting up of the industries, formation of the Industrial Zone Supervisory Committee and the management committee to fulfill the requirements of the industrial zone, on-job training courses being conducted for the industrialists and staff of the zone and arrangements for local and foreign study tours.

Afterwards, Chairman of Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Commander of North-West Command Brig-Gen Soe Naing reported on assistance being provided for development of the industrial zone which was set up in 1992.

In response to the reports, Senior General Than Shwe said that they inspected dams and reservoirs, river water pumping projects, farming work, transport and industries in Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway Divisions, adding that the 18 private industrial zones have been set up and the industrialists are being trained and encouraged for development of the industrial sector of the State.

The development of industrial sector, he said, plays a major role in building a modern and developed nation. In addition, the private industries scattering in different places all around the country have been gathered and organized into zones, to reach the stage of using advanced machinery.

The Government will have to enlist the participation of the private industrialists in establishment of the industries. It is required to develop the private industries and strengthen their foundation, he noted.

The private industrialists are the main forces in national industrialization drive. Monywa Industrial Zone is enjoying highest growth rate after Mandalay Industrial Zone in upper Myanmar. All the 18 industrial zones should not be satisfied with their conventional production method.

They will have to use innovative means to raise the quality of their products, and at the same time, they are to make efforts for production of new items. It is required to produce items of high quality with the use of modern techniques and computers in producing goods in competition with others.

The age of the industrial zones is ten years and they required to make progress step by step from primary level till arriving at the stage of using modern machinery and computers. Only then will the national economy, which is independent can be established.

Then, Senior General Than Shwe and party inspected electrical appliances, plastic items, textiles, battery, spare parts, foodstuff, personal goods and others. Development of industrial sector plays Officials reported to Senior General Than Shwe on production of trawler-Gs which are to be used in roads in poor condition. Next, Senior General Than Shwe and party inspected power tillers, paddy huskers, water pumping machines, mowers and other farm equipment.

Afterwards, Senior General Than Shwe and party inspected a wide range of Chindwin Star automobiles produced by the industrial zone. They then inspected generators, briquette machines, hydel turbines, construction of speed boats and others.

Then, Senior General Than Shwe and party arrived at the construction project site of Chindwin Bridge (Monywa). At the briefing hall, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun reported on construction of the bridge, cement used in the project, fuel and progress of works. Then, Superintending Engineer U San Nyein of Public Works reported on construction of the approach road and the main bridge and progress of works to Senior General Than Shwe who gave instructions on meeting the set standard and timely completion. Next, the Senior General and party inspected progress in installation of the beams at the main bridge.

Chindwin Bridge (Monywa) is being built to link Mindaunt Village on Monywa bank and Letkhokpin Village on Yinmabin bank.

The 4,730.18 feet long bridge is located on Monywa-Ahlon-Yagyi-Myoma-Kalewa-Kalay Highway. The motor road on the bridge is 28 feet wide and it can bear 60-ton loads. The 80 per cent of the project has been completed.

The Senior General and party heard a report on construction of Monywa-Kalewa motor road by Director Brig-Gen Tin Tun of Military Engineers of the Ministry of Defence. Then, the Senior General gave necessary instructions.

Monywa-Kalewa motor road is 115 miles long. The road is being built by members of the military engineers. The 30 feet wide two-lane earth road has been completed from Monywa to Kalewa.

The 18 feet wide tarred road has been completed forty miles. A total of 174 wooden bridges, 28 culverts and 111 water pipes along the road have been completed.

While in Pakokku, Lt-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, Lt-Gen Ye Myint, Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Thein Sein, Quartermaster-General Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo and Lt-Gen Tin Aye of the Ministry of Defence, who accompanied the Senior General, together with Commander of North-West Command Brig-Gen Soe Naing and Commander of Central Command Brig-Gen Ye Myint, met with Tatmadawmen and families of battalions and units of Pakokku Station at Yedagun Hall of the local battalion at 6.30 am and cordially greeted them. Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi, who accompanied the Senior General, inspected storage of fuel in Pakokku on 25 November evening and met with service personnel there.

Region

Secretary-1 inspects Thanlyin-Kayaktan region development project, Thilawa Industrial Region

Yangon, 29 Nov - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council General Khin Nyunt arrived at the office of the industrial region project office of Thanlyin-Kyauktan Region Development Project of Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development in Thanlyin Township at 10 am today.

First, Director-General U Arnt Kyaw of DHSHD reported on construction of the 80 feet, 60 feet and 40 feet wide roads and arrangements for construction of more roads including the four-lane entrance road to the industrial zone, location and area of Thilawa Industrial Zone, reclamation and allotment of the plots for private entrepreneurs, construction of buildings in the plots, tasks being carried out for water and power supply in the industrial zone, construction of the Pre-Primary School and the Rural Dispensary in Padagyi Model Village in Kyauktan Township and tasks being undertaken for the villages to possess characteristics of model village.

On the occasion, the Secretary-1 said that priority is to be given to allotment of the plots in the industrial zone to private entrepreneurs. He urged the entrepreneurs to develop their plots as soon as possible. Then, the Secretary-1 gave instructions on tasks to be carried out for the villages to have the characteristics of model village. Then, the Secretary-1 and party inspected construction of roads in the zone and factory buildings constructed by SMI Co Ltd. The Secretary-1 and party proceeded to Kyaikpadagyi Hsandawshin Pagoda in Kyauktan.

The Secretary-1 inspected construction of religious buildings including the prayer halls of the pagoda.

Next, the Secretary-1 met with local authorities and departmental officials at Yadana Hall of Township General Administration Department. First, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung and Township Manager U Myo Myint Naing of Myanma Agriculture Service reported on sown acreage of monsoon paddy in townships in Yangon South District, harvesting and per-acre yield, targeted acres and completion of cultivating pulses and beans, reclamation of 75,000 acres of land in three model farmland special zones in Kyauktan Township, arrangements for reclaiming No 4 special zone, sown acreage of monsoon paddy in Kyauktan Township and completion of harvesting, targeted acres and progress of pulses and beans cultivation and distribution of fertilizers.

Yangon Division Director of Irrigation Department U Kyaw Thein also reported on tasks for proper flow of water in canals at the model farmland special zones in Kyauktan Township. Then, Chairman of Yangon South District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Sein Hlaing reported on availability of fertilizers for the district and distribution tasks. The commander also gave a supplementary report.

The Secretary-1 said that local authorities and departments concerned are to coordinate prevention measures to be taken against loss and wastage in cultivation matters including cold season crops due to unseasonal weather. Later, the Secretary-1 and party inspected construction of Sasana Beikman in Kyauktan and left there in the afternoon.

Health Minister inspects hospitals in Mandalay

Yangon, 29 Nov - Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, on 27 November morning inspected the newly-opened three-storey national blood bank and the gastroenterology intensive care units at Mandalay General Hospital and attended to the requirements.

Then, the minister and party arrived at the construction site of University of Traditional Medicine (Mandalay), where Director-General of the Traditional Medicine Department Prof Dr Thein Swe and engineer in-chief of ACE Construction Co U Han Thein reported to him on work progress. Similarly, at the construction site of Institute of Paramedical Sciences (Mandalay), officials reported to the minister on construction work.

After inspecting the site, the minister gave instructions on timely completion of the building and meeting the set standard, and fulfilled the requirements. The minister and party also inspected the soon-to-be-opened "Oral & Maxillo-facial Surgical Unit" building at Institute of Dental Medicine (Mandalay) and Institute of Nursing (Mandalay).

National Day ceremonies held

Yangon, 29 Nov - The National Day ceremonies were held in townships in accord with the objectives of 82nd Anniversary National Day - to keep national unity and national spirit alive and dynamic, to preserve the pride of lineage, to promote national education and to perpetuate the independence and national sovereignty.

The National Day ceremony was held at Botahtaung Basic Education High School No 6, attended by Chairman of Central Committee for Organizing the National Day Minister for Education U Than Aung.

The Chairman of Township Peace and Development Council read out the message sent by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe. Minister for Education U Than Aung and Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung presented prizes to winners in the basic education high and middle school level essay competitions.

A similar ceremony was held at Sangyoung BEHS No 2, attended by Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein and Director-General Brig-Gen Khin Yi of Myanmar Police Force. Likewise, a ceremony was held at Dagon BEHS No 3. Present were Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung and officials. Similarly, the National Day ceremony was held at Kamayut BEHS No 1, attended by Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt and officials.

The similar ceremonies were held at Latha BEHS No 2 and Thanlyin BEHS No 1. Likewise, the ceremony to mark the 82nd Anniversary National Day was held at Dagon BEHS No 2 and No 3, attended by Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Maj-Gen Sein Htwa.

International Relations

UMFCCI President meets Bangladeshi Ambassador

YANGON, 29 Nov - Bangladeshi Ambassador Mr AB Manjoor Rahim, together with First Secretary Mr Mahfuzur Rahman, called on President of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry U Win Myint and CEC member U Tun Aung at the office of UMFCCI today.

At the meeting, they discussed matters relating to promotion of trade between the two countries, holding discussions on trade through the exchange of business delegations, participation of Myanmar entrepreneurs in Dhaka International Trade Fair 2003 to be held in Dhaka from 7 January to 6 February 2003, and construction of a high- way for transaction of business.

  Education

Kyimyindine Township BEHS No 2 marks golden jubilee

Yangon, 29 Nov - Kyimyindine Township No 2 Basic Education High School [No 2 Government High School (Home Road/ Htidan) Kyimyindine] of (No 3 Basic Education Department (Yangon City) of the Ministry of Education held its Golden Jubilee in conjunction with the 14th ceremony to pay respects to the teachers by the former students (1951-71) of the school. It was attended by old students of the school Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung and Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office Lt-Col Pe Nyein, and other old students, Director-General of No 3 BED U Tin Win, departmental heads, retired teachers, and others.

At the ceremony, "soon" was offered to five members of the Sangha. Then, the congregation received the Five Precepts from Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Paninda. Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung, Lt-Col Pe Nyein and old students presented offertories to the Sayadaw and members of the Sangha. After the sermon delivered by the Sayadaw, merits gained were shared.

Then, the stone inscription was opened to mark of the golden jubilee. Lt-Col Pe Nyein and former students planted a "gangaw tree". At 11.30 am, the ceremony to pay respects to the teachers ensued. On the occasion, former teachers Saya U Tun Shein (Tekkatho San) and Sayagyi U Aye Ko gave words of advice, which brought the ceremony to an end.

Sport

Training courses for swimming and volleyball coaches conclude

Yangon, 29 Nov - A concluding ceremony of National Swimming Coaches Clinic Level 1 co-organized by Myanmar Olympic Committee and International Olympic Committee was held at the Youth Training Centre (Thuwunna) at 3 pm yesterday. It was attended by Chairman of Myanma Olympic Committee Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint.

First, the minister and course director Mr Kirk Marks made speeches at the ceremony and the former presented certificates to the trainees. Then, the minister also attended the concluding ceremony of Volleyball TeacherÕs Course co-organized by International Volleyball Federation and Myanmar Volleyball Federation held at the National Indoor Stadium-1 (Thuwunna) where the minister and course director Mr Jivko Jetchev delivered speeches and presented certificates to the trainees.

Drug

Drug-related cases exposed under drug elimination programmes

Yangon, 29 Nov - Myanmar is implementing the 15-year plan for eradication of narcotic drugs. In doing so, from 1 September to 20 November this year, 117.46 acres of poppy plantations were destroyed in Northern and Eastern Shan State during 2002-2003 poppy cultivation season. Action was taken against 3,020 men and 710 women totaling 3,730 in 2,529 drug-related cases from January to 15 November this year. Among the seizures were 1737.1983 kilos of raw opium in 363 cases, 299.6057 kilos of heroin in 892 cases, 261.5759 kilos of marijuana in 209 cases, 9,191,694 stimulant tablets in 482 cases, and 1710.6169 kilos of Ephedrine in 8 cases.

More cases of raw opium and heroin were exposed than previous year. It was due to cooperation among the national races organizations, neighboring countries and international organizations. Tatmadaw, Myanmar Police Force and people are cooperating to expose the drug-related cases with the aim of eradicating the use and production of narcotic drugs in Myanmar.

Drug traffickers sentenced

Yangon, 29 Nov -  A combined team comprising members of Local Intelligence Unit and Kawthoung Special Anti-drug Squad searched a motor boat at Myoma jetty in Kawthoung on 3-6-2002. Authorities arrested Kyaw Zeya together with 0.8 litres of Mesa dyne liquid in eight bottles and 0.72 liters of Pecodyl in sixth bottles. Action was taken against Kyaw Zeya, 34, son of U Myint Thein of Ywama Street, Shwehintha Ward, Kawthoung, under Section 15/ 19(A)/ 20(B) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law.

Kawthoung District Court sentenced him to four years' imprisonment under Section 15 and 20 years' imprisonment under Section 20 (B) to serve separately on 30 September.

Similarly, a combined team comprising members of Local Intelligence Unit and Myitkyina Special Anti-drug Squad, acting on a tip-off, searched a passenger vehicle with number plate 9 Ka/ 1019 en route from Manwein village to Waingmaw in Waingmaw and seized 816 grams of raw opium from the bag of passenger Lahtaw Zawlu on 11-4-2002. Action was taken against Lahtaw Zawlu, 18, son of U Lahtaw Zaw Lay of Ward-5, Waingmaw, under Section 15/ 19 (A) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law. Myitkyina District Court handed down 11 years' imprisonment under Section 19 (A) on him on 10 July.

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