Information Sheet No.B-1026 (I) 15t

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

Subject: Information Sheet No.B-1026 (I) 15th August, 1999

MYANMAR  INFORMATION  COMMITTEE
Yangon, Myanmar

Information Sheet
No.B-1026 (I)        15th August, 1999

(1) Activities of School Health Week at Schools Implement

    The Basic Education Schools of No 3 Basic Education Department (Yangon
City) are implementing the sanitation work at the schools and the
environs, school health and treatment programme, protection of
infectious disease, school health education programme and nutrition
development work during the school health week.

(2) Malaysian Transport Minister Concludes Visit

    Minister for Transport of Malaysia Dato Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik and
wife and delegation on a visit in Yangon at the invitation of Minister
for Transport left by air on 14 August.

(3) Indian Classical Dances

    In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Republic of India,
Indian Embassy Yangon presented the dances in cooperation with the
Ministry of Culture and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and the Ministry of Information. The dance troupe is from
Chennai, Southern India The dances began with prayers, followed by
dance items- Natyanjali, Sabdam, Varnam and Keertanam. The Indian
troupe and artistes of the University of Culture, Ministry of Culture,
also presented a joint dance "A Joyous Return from Taxila." The dance
troupe entertains the public on 15 August evening.

(4) Minister receives Officials of International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies

    Minister for Health received Yangon office in-charge of International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Mr Floyd Barnaby and
his successor Mr Yukata Oiwa together with President of Myanmar Red
Cross Societies who called at his office on 14 August.

(5) Deputy Minister Leaves for Africa, ME

    Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs left Yangon by air on 14 August on
visit to Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Iran as Special Envoy of
Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of
Myanmar.

(6) New Sony Service Centre Opened

    A ceremony to open new Sony Service Centre and new office of TMW
Enterprise Limited was held at the office at No 90 on Kaba Aye Pagoda
Road, Yangon on 14 August. The TMW Enterprise Ltd has opened Sony
Service Centre in Yangon, Mandalay, Taunggyi, Pyay and Mawlamyine. The
service centre opened in Yangon on 14 August is the fourth of Sony. To
mark the opening ceremony, the centre will sell Sony equipment at a
discount plus gifts for 45 days a Sony Millennium Special Promotion.

(7) Industrialists, Entrepreneurs and Officials of Asia Wealth Bank  Meet

    A meeting on export promotion and business expansion between officials
of Asia Wealth Bank and industrialists and entrepreneurs of Lanmadaw
and Kyimyindine Townships took place at Equatorial Hotel, on 14 August.
Vice-Chairman of AWB explained the history and functions of the bank
and assistance to be provided. Officials of the bank replied to queries
on loans raised by those present. The AWB has been operating with 30
branches in the country and arrangements are being made to open more
branches. Entrepreneurs in need of financial and technical assistance
could make direct contact with AWB.

(8)     Training of MOS and Nurses on Diabetes Mellitus Control Opened

    A ceremony to open Training of MOS and Nurses on Diabetes Mellitus
Control jointly conducted by the Ministry of Health and WHO, was held
at Indigenous Medicine Department in Yangon on 14 August with an
address by Director-General of IMD Professor on behalf of the Minister
for Health. It was attended by 40 trainees.


    This office is presenting a News Release dated 12 August, 1999 from
Myanmar Embassy in London for your information.
                            
                        Myanmar News Bulletin
                      Published By the Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
                  19A  Charles Street, London W1X 8ER
                 Tel: 0171 499 8841     Fax: 0171 629 4169

News Release  No. 5/99      Dated:  12 August, 1999
                                                                       
         
An update on the Recent Developments in Myanmar

    Against the back-drop of negative media campaign by dissidents living
in Western countries, some positive developments concerning the Union
of Myanmar in recent days have become particularly noteworthy.
1.  Since early June 1999 the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) began to visit major prisons and other correctional facilities
in Myanmar in a cooperative effort with the government to ensure a fair
and humane treatment of all prisoners in the country.
2.  In later July and early August, the Australian Foreign Minister
observed for the first time that the negative economic and other
measures taken by the European Union and the United States against
Myanmar had not worked all that well or had not borne fruit
respectively. This was followed by the visit of Australian Commissioner
for Human Rights and Equal Opportunity who met not only the government
officials, but also politicians and leaders of nationalities in Myanmar
and exchanged views and explored avenues for cooperation in the area of
human rights. 
3.  More armed insurgents from among the remaining few, namely, the
Kayinni National Development Party returned to the legal fold joining
countless other returnees who embraced the exchange of Arms-for-Peace
programme and now living peacefully and harmoniously in their
respective homelands.
4.  More seizures of narcotic and stimulant drugs continued as a result
of valiant efforts by the Myanmar anti narcotic authorities with a view
to completely eradicating poppy plantations by the year 2015.
    Even a leading English language newspapers in Bangkok suffered serious
embarrassment when their allegations of Myanmar government complicity
in the drug trade was refuted not only by the Myanmar side but also by
the Secretary-General of the narcotic Control Board in Thailand- who
confirmed in his letter to the Editor of Bangkok Post that "the
authorities of the Union of Myanmar have extended serious, sincere and
positive cooperation to the Thai authorities in our common war against
narcotics."
5.  Finally it was no coincidence that, a few days before this Thai "
news-fiasco" - the Canadian Foreign Minister announced that his country
would begin to co-operate with Myanmar's anti-drug effort somehow.
    If any trend of development is to be read out of these recent events -
it certainly favours only a trend for peace, stability and integrity of
the Union of Myanmar at the dawn of the new millennium.

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