INFORMATION SHEET NO.A-0365(I)

[OKKAR66127@xxxxxxx]

                          INFORMATION SHEET NO.A-0365(I) 

NO.A-0365(I)	                                                  27th March 1998

(1)		New Attaran Bridge Will Serve As Vital Link for Progress of Mon, Kayin
States
		The Attaran Bridge, 1,420 feet long and 24 feet wide, suspended with steel
cables on reinforced concrete foundation, built at a cost of K 580.6 million
plus $ 1.127 million in Mawlamyine Township, Mon State, was commissioned on 26
March.
		Ninety-five river bridges, including Attaran Bridge, which are over 100 feet
long have been completed and 30 such bridges are under construction, and five
Ayeyawady River bridge projects, three Thanlwin River bridge projects and one
Chindwin River bridge project which are covered by the strategic river bridge
projects, two Ayeyawady River bridges and two Thanlwin River bridges were
completed and people are using them already. The type of Attaran Bridge on
Mawlamyine-Zarthabyin-Hpa-an Road is the first to be built in Myanmar and the
day will be the landmark for Mon State, and 2,900-foot-long Gyaing River
Bridge (Zarthabyin) and 1,200-foot-long Gyaing River Bridge ( Kawkareik) which
were started together with Attaran River Bridge are now near completion.
		On completion of Gyaing River Bridge (Zarthabyin) and Gyaing River Bridge
(Kawkareik) and prospects for development of Thai-Myanmar border trade and
socio-economic uplift of people dwelling in Mon and Kayin States.
		Plans are now under way to continue to build Thanlwin Bridge (Mottama) that
on completion of that bridge, Mawlamyine which is 189.26 mile from Yangon by
road can be reached by car easily without any interruption. 
		The road linking Mawlamyine with Yay-Myeik-Dawei-Kawthoung Road that will
pass from Mon State through Taninthayi Division is being constructed so that
one can travel from far north to down south in Myanmar conveniently.
 
		(2)		Thallawady-5 Double-Decker Launched
		The 37-metre shallow draught type Thallawady-5 double-decker of Yunnan
Machinery Import and Export Corporation was Launched at Myanma Shipyards
(Hsinmalaik) in Kamayut Township on 26 March. It was built at the shipyard.
The ship worth US $ 1,451,700 can cruise at 10 nautical miles per hour
carrying 267 including 17 crew and 20 first-class passengers and 30 tons of
cargo.
 
OFFICES CALLS IN YANGON ON 26 MARCH
(A)		Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Vice-Admiral 
Maung Maung Khin received Director Mr Peter Norman Elliott and party of PL
Holding Company Ltd at his office. They discussed the situation of the hotel
business being undertaken by LP Holding Company Ltd in accord with the Foreign
Investment Law.
(B)		Minister for Finance and Revenue received President Mr Ronald L Morris
and party of Premier Petroleum Myanmar Ltd of Britain at his office. They
discussed investment and mutual cooperation.
(C)		Minister for Energy received General Manager Mr Y Katayama and party of
Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan at his office. Similarly, the minister
received General Manager Mr H Seki and party of Marubeni Corporation at the
same venue.
(D)		Minister for Industry-1 received General Manager Mr S Yamanokuchi and
party of Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan at his office. Similarly, the
minister received General Manager Mr H Seki and party of Marubeni Corporation
at the same venue.
 
			Kayin National Union forces attacked a Kayin village There has been press
reports recently of the attacks on refugee camps in Tak Province of Thailand
by the Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army (DKBA) forces (a breakaway group of the
KNU ). The U.S. State Department also blamed Myanmar Government for the
attacks and issued condemnation which seems like an appalling hasty reaction
which was obviously misdirected and misconstrued. It is quite well known to
both Myanmar and Thailand that transgressions by illegal groups had occured
before and such problems have been firmly but amicably handled by the Armed
Forces of both nations in the past and the present incident is not likely to
be an exception. 
		The recent incident which took place are merely interfactional conflicts
within separatist KNU movement which had been waging a war on succesive
central government beginning from the era of the Parliamentary Democracy
Government.
		It is not the policy of the Myanmar Government to encourage any faction of
the KNU to violate the sovereignty of a neighbouring country. 
		There had been many clashes in the past between these factions resulting in
loss of lives on both sides and they have taken vengeful counter actions which
had become endless and uncontrollable.
		While some media and government organizations have been only focusing and
highlighting the attack on the Huay Kalok camp by the DKBA. The attack on the
Kayin village ( War Hpot Kaw ) near Myaing Gyi Ngu village tract which is
approximately 25 miles inside Myanmar territory seems to go unnoticed or may
be a deliberate blind eye has been turned. Recently, a group of 30 armed men
led by Tamala Oo of KNU 7th Brigade attacked this War Hpot Kaw village on
March 24 at 2:30 am. In the ensuing attack 2 houses were burnt down and 3
villagers including a 17 year old girl was wounded.
		The government of Myanmar continues to hold out its "Olive Branch" to all
factions of the KNU as it has done so successfully with all other former
insurgencies of the national races. It is also fully committed to maintaining
good and friendly relationship with all countries of the world, particularly
with its neighbours.  
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