INFORMATION SHEET N0.A-0609(I)

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

 MYANMAR INFORMATIOM COMMITTEE

                                                   YANGON
                                        INFORMATION SHEET

                                   N0.A-0609(I) 16th September 1998 

                                 Birth-spacing Course Opens
			
A birth-spacing course jointly sponsored by Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare
Association and the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) was
held at MMCWA building in South Okkalapa Township on 15 September. Vice-
Chairperson of MMCWA and Chief Technical Adviser Dr. RSS Sarma of UNFPA spoke
on the occasion. The course is being attended by EC members of Township
Maternal and Child Welfare Associations of Yangon Division.
OFFICE CALLS IN YANGON ON 15 SEPTEMBER
(A)			Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen Tin Tun received owner and 
Vice-Chairman Mr Jonathan Kolber and officials Mr Danny Biran and Mr Gad
Gitron of Koor Industries Conglomerate of Israel and Chairman Mr Edi Penn and 
Vice-Chairman Mr Carmel  Dahan of Koor Trade Company at his  office.
(B)			Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs  received 
Vice-Chairman & CEO Mr Jonathan Kolber and President Mr Danny Biran of 
Koor Industries Ltd, mother company group of Telrad Telecommunication and 
Electric Industries Ltd of Israel.
(C)			Minister for Livestock Breeding and Fisheries received Managing Director
Mr Gregory Cheung Msg Pe and party of Sun King Enterprise Ltd at his office.
(D)			Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission received Chairman Mr Gad
Gitron and party of  ISREX (94)  Ltd of Israel at the commission office.They
discussed investment in agriculture.

SPECIAL FEATURE

A NLD Member Returns Home
			
A senior member of the National League for Democracy Thakin Khin Nyunt
returned to his residence on 14 September, after a brief stay at a Government
guest house. Thakin Khin Nyunt  is (85) years old,  back with his family and
is in good health. Similarly, at the invitation of the Government some other
NLD members have been staying at Government guesthouses since September 6.
They are being comfortably housed, well fed, and treated with courtesy and
respect. The Government has no wish to house them for any longer than
necessary, and regrets the inconvenience to those involved. It is hoped that,
with the cooperation and goodwill of the NLD leadership, the rest of the NLD
members will soon be home.
		These invitations have raised criticism from some outside observers, a
spokeman for one foreign government said on September 8 that  ? Arbitrary
detentions are unjustifiable and will only worsen rather than solve the
political crisis.?
		Apparently there is some misunderstanding of the situation in Myanmar. Like
any government anywhere in the world, the Government of Myanmar has a
fundamental obligation to protect the right of all its citizens to a safe,
secure and stable environment.
		Only ten years ago, Myanmar experienced first-hand the tragedies that
resulted from a genuine political crisis. She went through months of riots,
looting, social anarchy and even mob executions before safety was restored. It
was an experience  no  one  in Myanmar wants to go through again.
		As we look at other countries around the world, we can still see many of
these horrors today. Tragically, political change and social unrest in some
new democracies in recent months have  resulted in rioting, looting, violent
death and even civil war.
		The Government of Myanmar therefore takes the issue of ? Political Crisis?
very seriously as it moves towards its goal of a stable and multiparty
democracy. If the basic peace and stability the country has achieved are lost,
the ground work for democracy may be lost. If riots and social chaos break
out, then the Government will have to fail in its primary responsibility,
which is to protect its citizens from  harm and to maintain national security.
		The Government views  with grave concern the expressed intention of the NLD
to convene a People?s Parliament before the country has had time to complete a
National Constitution which will ensure political stability. Without a
constitution, the Parliament would be unable to govern effectively. That,  the
government fears, would lead not to a stable democracy, but to institutional
confusion, social chaos and genuine political crisis.
		And if political crisis leads to crisis in national security, then Myanmar?s
very existence is in danger of splitting into a number of Mini-states.
		Therefore the Government urges all political parties including the NLD, to
responsibly cooperate to establish the social and economic foundation for a
stable democracy. As the country?s stability and prosperity grow, economic
opportunities will grow and her political system will be able to develop.

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