Information Sheet No. A-0636(I)

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON
Information Sheet

                    No. A-0636(I)
4 Oct 1998

(1)		(Continuation of  yesterday)   
		Attitude of the Nationalities Peace Groups 
		Today, a translation of the declaration of the peace group led by U Saw
Ferimo, who separated from Kayin  National Union (KNU) and exchanged arms for
peace, of Thandaung Township Special Region, Kayin State, is stated as
follows. The declarations of other peace groups will also be made public.

Declaration on Attitude of Kayin Peace Group of Thandaung Township Special
Region in Connection with the NLD's Call for Convening of Hluttaw

Date: 20 September 1998

1.	The peace group of Thandaung Township Special  Region issued a declaration
on its attitude in connection with the declaration No 58 (9/98) issued by
National League for Democracy (NLD)  on 16-9-98.
2.	In the course of over 50-year-long internal strife in Myanmar, various
governments changed , and there was no peace and progress in the nation.
Though, they governed the nation through various systems, the nation did not
see peace at all. Now, the declaration issued by NLD is also an illogical one.
That party can take a similar course like previous governments.
3.	Therefore, we will not at all support that party's declaration. Only the
incumbent government is striving for national solidarity. It is found that
pleasantness will continue to reign in the future. It will be of great benefit
to the people.
4.	The (KNU) peace group of Thandaung Township Special Region pledges itself
to continue to strive for the development of the nation and oppose subversives
acts, joining hands with the Government.
5.	The reason is that our peace group is a peace group that stands for the
nation forever.
6.	Therefore, we declare that we will not at all encourage and support every
act of NLD.

Sd Maj Ferimo 
Chairman 
Thandaung Township Special Region (KNU)
The Peace Group, Peace village

(2)		 Pyay Mass Rally Held to Express People's Desire

		Over 21,000 people of various strata of life of Pyay District, Bago
Division, expressed their genuine desire in maintaining and safeguarding the
stability, peace and tranquility of the State which has already been achieved
at a mass meeting held at Khittaya People's Sports Ground in Pyay on 3 October
morning. Present were representatives of Maternal and Child Welfare
Association, Women's  Affair Working Committee, Red Cross Brigade, Nurse and
Midwife Training School, Union Solidarity and Development Association,
Auxiliary Fire Brigade, Merchants Association, Private Bus Lines Control
Committee, Writers and Journalists Association, families of markets,
trishawmen, freight handling workers, hoteliers, vessel owners association,
Thabin Asiayon, rice millers association, saw mill proprietors association,
departments, economic and social organizations and people from Pyay,
Shwedaung, Padaung, Paungde, Paukkhaung and Thegon townships and villages in
Pyay District.

(3)		Computer Aided Multi-Media Technology Lab Handed 

		A ceremony to hand over Computer Aided Multi-Media Technology Lab to No 1
Basic Education High School, Dagon Township by CE Technology was held at Dagon
Thiri  Hall of the school on 3 October morning.  Education promotion
programmes are now being  implemented in Myanmar and the government is
endeavouring to bring about electronic technology and computer-aided teaching
in Myanmar as advanced electronic technology is being applied in education
worldwide. Efforts are being made to possess at least a computer aided multi-
media teaching lab in every school. The School Welfare Committees are taking
an active part in the education promotion programmes, all-round development
projects and modern computer and electronic aided education programmes.

(4)		Secretary-1 Receives Chairman of New Mon State Party 

		Chairman of Work Committee for Border Areas and National Races Secretary-1
of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt received Chairman
of New Mon State Party Nai Shwe Kyin, Secretary General Nai Yaw Sa and
members, peace negotiators Nai Khin Maung and Nai Pe Tin at Defence Services
Guest House on Inya  Road. They discussed cultivation, ensuring transport and
regional development tasks.

(5)		Housing Projects Provide Progress of People's Living Standard 

		Ceremonies to hand over Shwegon Yeikmon housing project and Pan Hlaing
housing project were held at respective projects on 3 October  morning,
attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council. The
ceremony to hand over housing project level 4 of Shwegon Yeiktha housing
project was held at the project site at the junction of Kaba Aye Pagoda Road
and Shwegondaing Road in Bahan Township at 8.30 am. The project was under
taken by Yanshin Construction Co under the arrangement of Yangon City
Development Committee(YCDC). Shwegon Yeiktha housing project level 4, includes
8 eight-storey buildings with six-unit and 4 eight-storey buildings with
eight-unit totalling 640-units, three-storey Bahan Basic Education Primary
School No. 14 and one three-storey monastery. YCDC handed over 640 units to
old house owners and tenants in the Shwegon Yeiktha housing project level 4.
The ceremony to hand over Pan Hlaing housing project level 5 was also held on
PanHlaing Street in Kyimyindine Township at 9.45 am. Pan Hlaing housing
project (level 5), includes 10 eight-storey buildings and 1 eight-storey
building totally 650 units.

(6)		250-ton Rice Mill Opens in Letpadan Township

		The 250-ton rice mill of Myanma Agricultural Produce Trading (MAPT) opened
in Letpadan Township on 3 October morning. Managing Director of MAPT and
Managing Director Mr Pornchai of Rice Engineering Supply Co of Thailand
formally opened the mill. Rice milling in Myanmar is an extensive undertaking
which is contributing towards progress of the entire agricultural sector. Over
60 State-owned rice mill and over 1500 private rice mills are operational.
They do not include hullers which total about 20,000.  Although private rice
mills are in the majority they are old and outdated. The MAPT's rice mills
will play a leading role to be emulated by private enterprises. Annual
production is more than 800 million baskets of paddy. The government purchases
between 80 and 90 million baskets of paddy every year for government
employees. The amount of paddy purchased by the government amounts to just
over 10 per cent of the total output. After deducting the seeds for the next
crop, farmers, needs and loss and wastage, the government purchases about 20
per cent of the marketable paddy and 80 per cent is traded by the private
sector. At present, paddy purchased by the government is being milled at
private rice mills since the State-owned rice mills could not do so in time.
Hence, the private entrepreneurs are encouraged to build and run modern rice
mills in order that rice milling may be improved. The new rice mill is the
largest of its kind at the dimension of 300 feet long, 100 feet wide and 57
feet high and cost Kyat 76.57 million and US $ 3 million. The newly opened
rice mill will produce 250 tons of export quality 25 per cent rice a day.
There will also be less loss and wastage.

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