Region
- Padomma Soap Factory opened in Paung, Mon State
- Cash and kind donated to members of parade columns
- Drill of parade columns inspected
- Commander, Minister meet USDA members
- Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe meets WCWA members in Hsipaw, Kyaukme, Nawnghkio
- MNWCWA members meet regional WCWAs in Shan State ( North )
- CEC of MWJA meets
- MNAMCEA (Upper Myanmar) formed
- Seminar on Myanma industrial development concludes
- Myanma Industrial Exhibition continues
International Relations
Religion Sport
- Myanmar qualifies for Asian Cup Soccer Tourney
Senior General Than Shwe inspects 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day Commemorative Exhibition
Yangon, 25 March- Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe inspected the 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day Commemorative Exhibition at Defence Services Museum this morning.
Senior General Than Shwe and party inspected the booth of the twelve objectives.
Senior General Than Shwe and party also inspected the booths of Tatmadaw (Navy and Air). They were conducted round the booths by Chairman of the Leading Committee for Observance of the 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day member of the State Peace and Development Council Chief of Armed Forces Training Lt-Gen Kyaw Win and senior military officers.
Senior General Than Shwe inspected booths of Directorates of the Ministry of Defence.
Senior General Than Shwe then gave instructions and left the museum.
State Peace and Development Council Chairman and Prime Minister Senior General Than Shwe sends messages of felicitations to Bangladesh
Yangon, 26 March - On the occasion of the Anniversary of the Independence Day of the People's Republic of Bangladesh which falls on 26 March 2003, Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar, has sent messages of felicitations to His Excellency Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and to Her Excellency Begum Khaleda Zia, Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Padomma Soap Factory opened in Paung, Mon State
Yangon, 25 March - Members of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Maung Bo and Lt- Gen Tin Aye of the Minis- try of Defence attended the opening of the Padomma Soap Factory to hail the 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day constructed by the Ministry of Industry-2 in Paung, Thaton DiitriCt, Mon State, on 23 March.
The deputy minister and Managing Director of the factory Col Aung Hsan formally opened the factory. Then, Lt-Gen Tin Aye formally unveiled the stone plaque of the factory.
Afterwards, Lt-Gen Maung Bo, Lt-Gen Tin Aye, the commander and the minister inspected the production process at the factory. The deputy minister and the managing director conducted them round the factory.
At the briefing hall, Director (project) u Toe Aung reported on the purpose of construction, location and area of the factory, investments, major machinery and implementation of the project with the use of audiovisuaI aids.
Regarding the report, Lt-Gen Maung Bo said that soap was essential for the people and so it was needed to meet the set quality, to boost production and to fulfiI the demand of the peopIe. He added that the opening of the factory would contribute towards regional development as well as creating job opportunities. He spoke of the need for the staff to carry out tasks duti-fully for speedy production of items. He said that the project was undertaken by the Ministry of Industry-2, adding he took pride in implementing the project by Myanmar experts. He thanked the experts and officials who took part in the project. In conclusion, he emphasized the importance of innovative measures to be taken and coordination for construction of new factories with domestic raw materials and national experts for industrial development.
Then, Lt-Gen Maung Bo and Lt-Gen Tin Aye presented cash awards to the officials who participated in implementing the project. The factory is now producing over 80 tons of soap bars per day and sell its products to the public at reasonable prices.
Lt-Gen Maung Bo inspected the Kataik Dam Construction Project being undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation two miles from Kataik Village in Paung Township. At the briefing hall, officials reported on land preparations and construction of control tower and spillway. The commander gave a supplementary report. Lt-Gen Maung Bo gave instructions on ensuring timely completion, meeting the set standard and smooth implementation of the project.
Lt-Gen Maung Bo and the commander met with district level departmental officials at the office of Thaton District Peace and Development Council. Speaking on the occasion, Lt-Gen Maung Bo said that Mon State was located in Taninthayi Coastal Strip of Myanmar and it was most prosperous in regional development. So, departmental officials are to implement projects for regional development and the agriculture sector after laying down plans. Efforts were to be made for ensuring rice surplus in the region in order to fulfil the rice demand of other regions in Taninthayi Coastal Strip and states and divisions where there was not rice sufficiency. In order to boost production of rice, he stressed the need for extended cultivation of monsoon and summer paddy in the region. In that process, organizing measures are to be taken for ensuring participation of local farmers in the projects. Furthermore, cultivation of cold season crops should be extended in order to raise the individual income of the local people. He called on the departmental officials to dutifully carry out tasks with awareness and will.
Lt-Gen Maung Bo and party arrived back here in the evening.
Cash and kind donated to members of parade columns
Yangon, 25 March - To hail the 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day, cash and kind were donated to members of the parade columns which will take part in the 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day Parade at the Office of the Director of Defence Services Museum and Historical Research Institute on Shwedagon Pagoda Road in Dagon Township at 4 pm today.
Chairman of the Leading Committee for the Observance of the 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day member of the State Peace and Development Council Chief of Armed Forces Training Lt-Gen Kyaw Win attended the ceremony.
Donations made were 500 copies of "Peace, the eternal gift for the people" worth K 1,250,000 by writer Taungdwin Bo Thein, 500 eyedrop bottles worth K 250,000 by Alinyaung Medical House, K 100,000 each by U Maung Maung Kyi and Police Lt-Col Saing Aung Lin (retired), 3,000 educative pamphlets worth K 60,000 by Kyimyinedine Township WJA, K 10,000 by U Hla Maung of Mayangon Township. Chief of Armed Forces Training Lt-Gen Kyaw Win accepted the donations and presented certificates of honour to the wellwishers.
Writer Taungdwin Bo Thein, on behalf of the wellwishers, explained the purpose of the donation. Then, Lt-Gen Kyaw Win spoke words of thanks and cordially greeted the wellwishers.
At the ceremony, the wellwishers donated K 210,000 in cash and K 1.56 million worth of provisions.
Drill of parade columns inspected
Yangon, 25 March - Chairman of the Leading Committee for Observance of the 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day Member of the State Peace and Development Council Chief of Armed Forces Training Lt- Gen. Kaw Win inspected the drill of the 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day parade columns at the Resistance Park and Myoma Grounds this morning.Tatmadawmen and members of Myanmar Police Force, Fire Brigade and Red Cross Brigade of Anawrahta column, Kyansittha column, Bayinnaung column, Nawaday column, Aungzeya column, Sin-byushin column, Bandoola column, Myawady column and Aung San column led by Parade Commander Brig-Gen Than Htay, Reserve Parade Commander Brig-Gen Myint Aung practised the drill.
Lt-Gen Kyaw Win and officials inspected the drill and gave necessary instructions.
Commander, Minister meet USDA members
Yangon, 25 March - Commander of Northern Command Maj-Gen Maung Maung Swe and Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan met with members of Ward, Township, District and Kachin State branches of the Union Solidarity and Development Association in Myitkyina in the state on 24 March.
The commander is a member of the Panel of Patrons of the USDA, and the minister, a member of the USDA Secretariat.
Maj-Gen Maung Maung Swe discussed plans to increase the membership strength, conduct summer courses, harmoniously launch the five rural development tasks, introduce commercial-scale farming, to cultivate marketable crops, and take part in the regional development undertakings.
The minister spoke of the need to actively take part in serving the public interest, to continue to enhance the qualifications of the association in accord with "Our Three Main National Causes", to strive to win public support, to safeguard the national interest, to uplift the ability of the members, and to consolidate the association's strength.
The minister then presented donation for the Kachin State USDA. Secretary of the association U Ra Wonjom accepted the donation.
The commander and the minister inspected the agricultural undertakings of the association and the site to build its computer centre.
Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe meets WCWA members in Hsipaw, Kyaukme, Nawnghkio
Yangon, 25 March -Member of Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs and Myanmar National Working Committee for Women's Affairs Field Group Leader Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and Women's Affairs Work Committee members, who were in Lashio to observe the activities of Shan State (North) Women Affairs Work Committee at different level yesterday morning attended the coordination meeting of MNWCWA, Hsipaw Township/ward/village WAWCs and townselders.
The meeting was attended by officials from Township General Administration Department, USDA members, departmental heads, members of WCWA, Myanma Maternal and Child Welfare Association, national cultural troupe, Red Cross Society, and Auxiliary Fire Brigade and townelders totalling over 600. Hsipaw Township WCWA member Daw Nan Khin Myat Oo extended greetings. Then, Group Leader Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe explained the purposes of field trip. She said the MNWCWA has made field trips to meet the WCWA members to Shan State (East), Mon State, Kayin State and Taninthayi Division. The WCWAs have already been founded at basic level and she came there to give instructions and attend to the requirements. Taking weak and strong points into consideration, activities are to be carried out. As Shan State is a border region, women with the hope to earn more money work in the other country. Due to the luring of human traffickers, they work there and fell short of expectations and got into troubles. Especially, they were infected with HIV/AIDS and this caused the spread of the disease in Myanmar. Their own families as well as the State has suffered a lot. So, authorities, teachers and departments concerned are not only to educate them but to create job opportunities in the region, she said.
Then, she handed over exercise books, pencils and medicine presented by MNWCWA to officials.
MNWCWA members and Hsipaw Township/ward/village WCWA members held talks in friendly atmosphere on different topics. Queries raised were replied to and suggestions were made. Field Group Leader Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and party offered flowers, lights to historic Bawgyo Muhtaw Pagoda in Hsipaw. Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe signed in the visitors' book.
Afterwards, they arrived at Kyaukme and met WCWAs members from Momeik, Mabein, Namhsam, Namtu and Kyaukme township/ward/village and townelders at the Town Hall. Also present on the occasion were district/township level departmental officials, officials from national peace groups, township/ward WCWA members and women from six villages, totalling about 600.
Group Leader Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe explained the purposes of field trip. She said she had the opportunity to meet national brethren and it will enhance national reconsolidation. She continued that she came there to make development tasks for women's affairs sector more effective. Taking advantage of the inexperienced and sincere women at the border areas, human traffickers exploited them. She urged them to be careful and local authorities are to prevent the dangers of human traffickers and to create job opportunities in the region. Next, she handed over exercise books, pencils and medicine presented by MNWCWA to officials.
MNWCWA members and those present held cordial discussions and queries raised were replied.
Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and party then proceeded to Nawnghkio and arrived there in the afternoon. They met Nawnghkio Township/ward/village WCWA members and townelders at the Township Hall. Also present on the occasion were district/township level departmental officials, officials from national peace groups, township/ward WCWA members, WCWA members and women from six villages and nine villages there, totalling about 1,000. Nawnghkio Township WCWA member Daw Hla Hla Tin extended greetings. Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe explained the purposes of field trip. She said the committee represents the whole women mass all over the country. Efforts are to be made for the national girls at border areas not to take wrong path, to educate them and to take serious actions on human traffickers. It is needed to hold educative talks and organizing works, she said. Next, she handed over exercise books, pencils and medicine presented by MNWCWA to officials. MNWCWA members and those present held discussions in family type and queries raised were replied. Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and party arrived back here this morning.
MNWCWA members meet regional WCWAs in Shan State ( North )
Yangon, 25 March - The field excursion team made up of members of the Myanmar National Working Committee for W omen. s Affairs led by member of MNCWA and Working Committee Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe left here to carry out tasks for national con- solidation and development of the women sector arrived at Lashio on 23 March afternoon.In the afternoon. Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and party met with about 500 local people including members of ward and village-tract WCWAs, townsnelders and local national races from Ward 1, 2, 3 and 4, Panlot, Konkout, SeU, Kaungkaw, Namsalat, Kaunghaw, Nasaut, Painser, Kamtain, Maiyan, Mingpa and Moutsali Village-tracts in Hsenwi Township at the hall of Hsenwi Station.
Representative of Hsenwi Township WCWA Daw Sai Khun extended greetings at the meeting.
Then, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe explained the purpose of their visit to the region. She said they visited the region to cordially meet with local national race girls and to provide township, ward and village WCWAs with ways and means in solving the difficulties with the tasks, and to clarify the development tasks being carried out by the State. The State, upholding Our Three Main National Causes, was implementing the objectives to build a peaceful, modern and developed nation and to narrow the development gap between rural and urban areas, she said. Especially, the State was giving priority to border area development tasks. It was the duty of all the citizens to ward off destructionists who instiuated to cause dissension between the Tatmadaw and the people. She urged members of WCWAs at all levels to organize women to adore the Union and to organize young women not to go to the neighbouring country for the purpose of earning money. Afterwards, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe handed over exercise books, pencils and medicines donated by MNWCWA to officials. Then, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and party held family style discussions with those present and help them solve their difficulties and problems. Afterwards, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and party met with members of township, ward and village WCWAs and townelders in Muse, Namkham and Kutkai Townships at the hall of the Development Affair Department in Kutkai. About 500 local people including members of ward and village-tract Working Committees for Women's Affairs, social organizations and cultural troupes, townelders and local national races attended the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe said members of MNWCWA occasionally made field tours of states and divisions especially border areas. Some women in border areas, thinking highly of foreign countries, left their job and the country to work abroad. But, they suffered various hardships in foreign countries and their social and health conditions deteriorated. Then, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe urged officials to cooperate in giving educative talks to women, taking actions against those trafficking in human, and creating job opportunities in the region.
Afterwards, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe handed over exercise books, pencils and medicines donated by MNWCWA to officials. Then, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and party held friendly discussions with those present and help them overcome their difficulties.
Afterwards, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and party arrived at Shweli Yeiktha of Lashio Station. Then, she handed over educative video tapes on HIV/AIDS, cassette tapes and posters and wall clocks for WCWAs to Shan State (North) WCWA Chairman U Sein Oak.
Yangon, 25 March - The Central Executive Committee of the Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association held the meeting No 3/2003 at the meeting hall of the MWJA this afternoon.
It was attended by Vice-Chairman of the MWJA U Tin Kha (Tekkatho Tin Kha), the secretary, joint-secretaries, and members of the CEC.
Vice-Chairman U Tin Kha (Tekkatho Tin Kha) presided over the meeting and Joint-Secretary U Khin Swe (Shwesunnyo) acted as master of ceremonies.
After a speech delivered by Vice-Chairman U Tin Kha (Tekkatho Tin Kha), Secretary U Hla Tun (Hla Tun-Twantay) explained matters relating to the implementation of the resolutions of the CEC's meeting No 2/2003 and requirements to be fulfilled.
Then, a general round of discussions followed. Office work, organizational tasks, financial matters, publishing work, fund-raising, welfare, international relations, the holding of talks and paper reading sessions, and the drawing up of constitution, rules and regulations were discussed.
MNAMCEA (Upper Myanmar) formed
Yangon, 25 March - A meeting to form and assign duties to Myanmar Cnstruction Entrepreneurs Association (Upper Myanmar, Mandalay branch) was held at Nadi Myanmar Hotel in Mandalay yesterday. Director-General of Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development U Arnt Kyaw, MCEA Chairman Dr Khin Shwe and CEC members and construction entrepreneurs. The MCEA (Upper Myanmar) was formed with U Aung Khaing (Nadi Myanmar) as Chairman, U Thein Zaw (Engineer) and U Maung Maung (Myitphya Eya) as Vice-Chairmen and U Ko Ko Lay (Yoma) as Secretary.
Seminar on Myanma industrial development concludes
Yangon, 25 March - Organized by the work committee for organizing Myanma Industrial Development Seminars and Industrial Exhibition, the seminar on Myanma industrial development to mark Myanma Industrial Exhibition-2003 continued today for the last day at Mandalay University.
Mandalay University Rector Dr Nyunt Lwin chaired the seminar. The resource persons submitted their respective papers and replied to the queries raised by those in attendance.
Departmental heads and officials of the ministries, those of industrial zones, students and observers were also present at the seminar.