Information Sheet No.A.0650(

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON
				Information Sheet                            

                               No.A.0650(I)             15 October 1998

(1)		Over 5,600 New Gold Plates to be Offered to Shwedagon 

		The forthcoming renovation task of Shwedagon Pagoda would involve replacing
the deteriorating original gold plates with new ones and offering new gold
plates at the thebeikhmauk and bell of the pagoda. Wellwishers had already
donated 106 gold plates each weighing 6 ticals, 426 plates each weighing 3
ticals and 5084 plates each weighing six ticals, 5,098 plates each weighing
two ticals, altogether numbering 5,616 plates. The arrangements were made to
offer copper plates and gold foils. Wellwishers had already donated about
60,000 gold foils. 64 encircling pagoda on the upper terrace and four Mokoo
zedis (Enterance Stupas) would be gilt. The entire project is expected to
complete on 31 March 1999.    

(2)		Myanmar Delegation Leaves for China 

		A Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Industry-2 left for the People's
Republic of China by air on 14 October to discuss prospects of industrial
cooperation and to study the industries there at the invitation of Minister
for State Administration of Machinery Industry of PRC for boosting industrial
cooperation between the Union of Myanmar and PRC.

(3)		12,000-ton mv Dawei Added to Myanma Five Star Line

		A ceremony was held on board mv Dawei at Yangon port on 14 October to
welcome the maiden voyage of the 12,000-ton multi-purpose sea-going cargo
vessel. Mv Dawei is one of the two 12,000-ton ships Myanmar has agreed with
China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMEC) to build for
Myanma Five Star Line. By adding mv Dawei, MFSL fleet has now 24 ships. Her
sister ship mv Kengteng and two other 440- seated passenger-cargo coastal
vessels will be completed soon. Built at Xing Gang Shipyard in Titangyin, the
People's Republic of China, in accord with Lloyd's class, mv Dawei can carry
11,654 tons of cargo including 382 twenty-foot containers or 138 forty-foot
containers. With a speed of 14.7 nautical miles per hour, it can cruise up to
12,000 miles without refuelling. It began its maiden voyage from the shipyard
on 9 September 1998 and arrived the port on 10 October, on her way to Yangon
it carried over 1,000 tons of soda ash from Xing Gang, over 6,000 tons of
steel coils from Pyung Teak port, Republic of Korea, over 1,400 tons of
trucks, mini-buses and general goods from Pusan port, and over 6,000 ton of
cars and general cargo from Yokohama port , Japan, totalling over 15,000 tons.
Vice-Chairman of CMEC Mr Li Shuzi also gave a speech on the occasion. The ship
will leave Yangon for Mumbai in India on 17 October.

(4)		42 Mong Tai Army Remnants Exchange Arms for Peace

		The 42 remnants of MTA armed group led by Commanding Officer Li Chan
exchanged arms for peace at regional battalion in Namsam Township, Southern
Shan State on 4 October. A ceremony to exchange arms for peace was held at the
parade ground of the regional battalion in Namsam Township on 12 October
morning. CO Li Chan, on behalf of his troops, begged forgiveness for his past
misdeeds. Then, remaining MTA members presented their arms to Local Tactical
Operations Commander who provided cash assistance to them and fulfilled their
livelihood and social needs. More members of armed groups are reported to be
planning to exchange arms for peace.

(5)		Stimulant Tablets Seized in Mongphyat

		A combined group including Army Personnel and anti-insurgent members, acting
on tip-off, combed the areas around Nanghoke Creek in Mongphyat Township, Shan
State (East), on 17 September. The group stopped and investigated five
suspects with six mules who were near the creek. The group members had to
shoot them as they tried to flee. In the incident, four men drug traffickers
and all mules were captured dead and Ephedrine powder weighing 181.5 Kilos and
439,300 stimulant tablets were seized.

(6)		PRC Company Donates Medicines to Medical Services

		Vice-Chairman of CVC Central Medical Products Co Ltd Mr Yang Wei Qin
explained the objective of the donations and handed the medicines to Director
of Medical Services who accepted the donations and presented a certificate of
honour.

(7)		Myanmar Daimex Co Donates Oxygen Concentrators to Medical Services

		Myanmar Daixmex Co Ltd donated three Oxygen Concentrators to the Defence
Services Medical Services on 14 October. Representative of Daimex Co Ltd
(Japan) Mr Noga Mi spoke on the occasion and Director of Medical Services
accepted the donations and presented a certificate of honour to the donors. 

(8)		Minister Receives Head of Office of Regional Delegation of  South-East
Asia and East Asia ICRC		

		Minister for Health received Head of Office of Regional Delegation of South-
East Asia and East Asia International Committee of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent Federation Dr Johan Schaar and Country Delegate Mr Floyd Barnaby
together with President of Myanmar Red Cross Society at his office.	

(9)		Minister for Foreign Affairs Receives FAO Resident Representative to the
			Union  of Myanmar

		Minister for Foreign Affaris received Mr Francis Rinville, the newly
accredited FAO Resident Representative to the Union of Myanmar at the ministry
on 14 October evening.  Mr Francis Rinville presented letters of appointment
from Director-General of FAO. He expressed his wish to further promote
cooperation between the Union of Myanmar and FAO. He will actively take part
in the projects with the Ministries of Agriculture and Irrigation, Forestry
and Livestock and Fisheries.
**********