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News & Views from Myanmar Vol 1 No.



Subject: News & Views from Myanmar Vol 1 No.34

                     News & Views from Myanmar
                    Weekly Brief from MOFA, Yangon, Myanmar
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Vol.1           1 September 1999              No. 34
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                INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS

            1.  Teachers' role in peaceful  education
    
            2.  Tenth Meeting of ASEAN National Tourism Organizations held
in Yangon    
            3.  Armed group members exchange arms for peace                 


                FOREIGN RELATIONS

            4   Special Envoy arrives back
            
            5.  US Senator  Mr. Richard C. Shelby (R. Alabama) and  party
visit  Myanmar 
                
            6.  Ambassador of Kuwait presents his credentials
              
                                  7.    Myanmar and Turkmenistan establish
diplomatic 
            relations               
            8.  Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
appoints Permanent    
                    Representative to United Nations, Geneva and Ambassador
to Australia  
             

                GENERAL  NEWS

            9.  437 drug-related cases exposed in July
              
                                         

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            Internal Developments

            1.  Teachers' role in peaceful  education   

                Secretary  1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt.
Gen Khin 
            Nyunt gave  speeches at the opening ceremony of the Special
Refresher Course 
            No. 37 for Basic Education Teachers, held at the Central
Institute of Civil 
            Service in Hlegu Township on 27 August, 1999 and also at the
opening occasion 
            of the Special Refresher Course No.3, held at the Central
Institute of Civil 
            Service in Pyin Oo Lwin Township on 28 August,1999.

                In his opening address, Secretary 1 mentioned how
constructive endeavours 
            have been made by the Governments for all-round development of
the nation by 
            pointing out some of the most significant sectors. He said the
Government has 
            spent over K20,000 million in building 100 dams and reservoirs
since 1988,  
            so that  these dams and reservoirs will help develop the
agricultural sector 
            by irrigating 1.5 million acres of land. Moreover, the
Government also spent 
            US$ 40 million, over 206  million  yuan and over K 15,276
million in building 
            forty five bridges of different sizes. In the education sector
from 1988 to 
            1999,  4,514 new primary schools have been opened and 421
middle schools and 
            214 high schools have been upgraded. As for higher education, new 
            universities and colleges have been opened and upgraded;
altogether 24 
            universities and 14 colleges have been opened.

                While the Government is trying its best for all-round
development of the 
            nation as well as for the achievement of national
reconsolidation on the one 
            hand some destructive elements are making an attempt to hamper
the progress 
            of the nation and to cause unrest and riots intending to
disrupt national 
            solidarity and peace on the other hand. He pointed out
movements of 
            destructive elements inside and outside the country as well as
their 
            destructive programmes. 

                It is necessary to nurture the youths to become good
citizens. Since 
            teachers play an important role in education, Secretary 1
emphatically urged 
            the teachers not only to teach the pupils lessons but also
inculcate 
            patriotism and union spirit while implementing the programmes
of peaceful 
            pursuit of education. All teachers need to keep the students
and youths from 
            being misled by unscrupulous elements by means of nurturing
them to have a 
            clear national outlook, patriotism and Union spirit which are
the genuine 
            strengths of the nation.

            2.  Tenth Meeting of ASEAN National Tourism Organizations held
in Yangon   

                The 10th ASEAN National Tourism Organization Meeting was
held at the 
            Traders Hotel on 25-26 August 1999. The Minister for Hotels and
Tourism and 
            the Ministers, the Deputy Ministers, Ambassadors of ASEAN
members countries, 
            Senior officials from Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia,
Brunei 
            Darussalum, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Phillipines, Myanmar,
Laos, officials of 
            the ASEAN Secretariat, departmental officials, tour operators
and guests 
            attended the meeting. On the occasion  the Minister for Hotels
and Tourism  
            Maj.-Gen. Saw Lwin made an opening statement. He said when the
Ninth NTOs 
            meeting was held in Singapore in January 1999, there were
certain issues 
            which  had been deliberated with general consensus. One of them
was to 
            promote the ASEAN region as a combined attractive tourist
destination. He 
            said he supported the idea because the countries have many
similarities in 
            terms of culture, history, environment and ethnic diversity. He
said the 
            region, with combined efforts, can promote tourism for further
development.

                At the end of the Tenth Meeting, a Joint Press Statement
was issued in 
            which it said "an ASEAN Map has been published to promote the
primary tourism 
            destinations of the ASEAN member countries. This will be widely
distributed 
            within ASEAN and internationally, with the first release
planned for 
            Kangwon-do International Travel Exposition" in the Republic of
Korea next 
            month.

                The Statement also says, "The ASEAN Communications Team for
Tourism 
            (ACTT) will continue to play an active role in disseminating
relevant 
            information on events affecting travel and tourism in the
region. The ACTT 
            will also plan and organize a communication training Workshop
for Member 
            Countries during ATF 2000.

                As in other areas, Myanmar will actively take part in
promoting tourism 
            in cooperation with fellow members while paying attention to
the protection 
            of the environment for sustainable development, narcotics abuse
control, 
            combating AIDS and development of the border areas. As active
member of the 
            ASEAN, Myanmar looks forward to sharing the rich experiences of
fellow 
            members and promote the tourism industry markedly.

            3.  Armed group members exchange arms for peace 

                The government is striving for national reconsolidation and
implementing 
            the twelve political, economic and social objectives for
emergence of a 
            peaceful, modern and developed nation. After realizing genuine
goodwill and 
            endeavors of the government, members of remnant armed groups
abandoned their 
            destructive acts which do not benefit the nation and exchanged
arms for 
            peace.A total of 20 armed  group members exchanged arms for
peace at military 
            camps in July 1999.

                Pado Mehn Thein Hlaing, Pado Lin Kyi and Pado Kyaw Ei of
the No 7 Brigade 
            of the KNU armed group with two grenades and one walkie-talkie
and pvt Phone 
            Myint (a) Phone Kywe, pvt Pher Lay and pvt Nyo Nyo of the No2
Do Battalion of 
            the No 1 Brigade of the KNU armed group in the South-East
Command area, pvt 
            Saw Bo Wah of the KNU armed group with one .22 automatic rifle,
one magazine 
            and six rounds of ammunition in the Coastal Region Command
region, pvt Jack 
            Moo of the No 12 Battalion of the No 4 Brigade of the KNU armed
group in the 
            Southern Command area, section leader Aik Kywal, pvt Ya Kyan
and pvt Kya Pl 
            of the remant MTA armed group with one .30 carbine, two M-22s,
one M-22 
            pistol, six magazines and 104 rounds of ammunition in the
Triangle Region 
            Command area, deputy section leader Nandaw, pvts Aik San, Zaw
Ti Ka and Ya 
            Kyin of SURA armed group with three M-22s, three magazines and
136 rounds of 
            ammunition in the Eastern Command area, pvt Soe Thein of the No
701 ABSDF 
            Battalion of the Northern Command area, pvt Ma Maw Maw Lwin of
the No 702 
            ABSDF Battalion in North-East Command area, former member of
ABSDF U Khin 
            Maung Than in the North West Command area and Sgt Min Gyi of
the AA armed 
            group with one M-22, one magazine, 15 rounds of ammunition, one
grenade and 
            two detonators in the Western Command area were cordially
welcomed by the 
            officials of the respective military camps  and  were paid
attention to their 
            needs.

                On 25 August 1999 morning, a 15-member group led by
Dawrawkhu township 
            commander U Dae Mu of Kayinni National Development Party
exchanged arms for 
            peace. A ceremony to exchange arms for peace of Dawrawkhu
township commander 
            U Dae Mu and members of KNDP was held at the City Hall of
Loikaw on 25 
            August. . Dawrawkhu township commander of KNDP U Dae Mu and
members arrived 
            at the City Hall in Loikaw where they were cordially welcomed
by tradional 
            cultural troupes and local people.  They  handed over their
arms and 
            ammunitions  to Col Nyunt Hlaing.  The list of arms were six
M-16s, 312 
            rounds of ammunnition, one AK-47, one RPJ launcher, 15
magazines, one shell, 
            one 22, and an intercommunications set.  The officials
concerned presented  
            basket of honour , gifts and cash assistance to Dawrawkhu
township commander 
            U Dae Mu and party of KNDP.  The  officials concemed are
fulfilling the 
            livelihood and social needs and helping in reclaiming land for
agriculture 
            and livestock breeding farms in long term of those who
exchanged arms for 
            peace.

            Foreign Relations

            4   Special Envoy arrives back  

                 Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win who
visited 
            Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Iran as the Special Envoy
of the 
            Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior
General Than Shwe 
            arrived back  by air from Singapore on 31 August 1999.

                The deputy minister and party were welcomed back at Yangon
International 
            Airport by Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung, Egyptian
Ambassador Dr. 
            Farouk Riad Hassan Mabrouk and officials of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.

                During the visit, the Special Envoy met with Foreign
Minister Mr. 
            Mohammed Bennaissa of Morocco, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of 
            Agriculture and Land Reclamation Dr. Youssef Wally, Assistant
Foreign 
            Minister Mr. Nagui Ali Ghatrivy and Commercial Minister
Plenipotentiary Mr. 
            Mohamad Abdual Rahim Mohamad of Egypt, President and
Commander-in-Chief of 
            the Armed Forces General Olusegun Obasanjo and Minister of
State for Foreign 
            Affairs Mr. Dabem Onyia of Nigeria, President Dr. Negasso
Gidada and Deputy 
            Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Tekeda Alemu of Ethiopia,
Minister for 
            Foreign Affairs Dr. Kamal Kharriazi and Deputy Minister for
Foreign Affairs 
            Mr. Mohsen Aminzadeh of Iran and had friendly and cordial
exchange of views 
            on further promoting the bilateral relations and cooperation as
well as on 
            regional and international issues.

            5.  US Senator  Mr. Richard C. Shelby (R. Alabama) and  party
visit  Myanmar 

                Secretary 1 of the State Peace and Development Council
Lt-Gen.Khin Nyunt 
            received  US Senator  Mr. Richard C. Shelby  who called at his
offfice at the 
            Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at 11 am on 31 August
1999.  Senator 
            Shelby  and wife  and party arrived Yangon by a special
aircraft in the 
            morning of 31 August . They were welcomed at the Yangon
International Airport 
            by Director- General U Nyunt Maung Shein of the Political
Department of the 
            Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials, Charge'd Affaires
of the US 
            Embassy and staff .The  Senator and party were hosted to dinner
by the 
            Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung and wife Daw San Yon at
the Karaweik 
            Palace restaurant. The Senator and party left by special
aircraft for 
            Mandalay  on   September  1   and   they   will  proceed  their
 trip  to  
            Vientiane  on September 2.

            6.  Ambassador of Kuwait presents his credentials     

                The newly-accredited Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to
the Union of 
            Myanmar  Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Al-Mijrin Al-Roomi presented his
credentials to 
            the  Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the
Union of 
            Myanmar at the Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence on 25
August 1999. 

            7.  Myanmar and Turkmenistan establish diplomatic relations 

                The Union of Myanmar and Turkmenistan have established
diplomatic 
            relations at Ambassador level on 26 August 1999. The Ministry
of Foreign 
            Affairs issued  a Press Communiqui on the establishment of
diplomatic 
            relations between the two countries, which expressed as follows:

                The Union of Myanmar and Turkmenistan, guided by the
principles 
            enunciated in the Charter of the United Nations and being
desirous to 
            establish relations of friendship and mutually beneficial
cooperation on the 
            basis of the principles of equality, non-interference in the
internal affairs 
            of the others, respect for independence and territorial
integrity, have 
            decide to establish diplomatic relations between the two
countries at 
            Ambassadorial level.


            8.  Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
appoints Permanent    
                    Representative to United Nations, Geneva and Ambassador
to Australia  
             

                The Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of
the Union of 
            Myanmar has appointed U Mya Than as the Permanent
Representative of the Union 
            of Myanmar to the United Nations, Geneva and U Aye, Permanent
Representative 
            of the Union of Myanmar to the United Nations, Geneva, as
Ambassador 
            Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Commonwealth of
Australia.

            General News

            9.  437 drug-related cases exposed in July      

            The Tatmadaw, The Myanmar Police Force and the Customs
Department exposed 437 
            drug-related cases in July.

                The authorities seized 76.079 kilos of opium in 37 cases,
14.6245 kilos 
            of heroin in 137 cases, 4.8034 kilos of opium oil in five
cases, 5.243 kilos 
            of marijuana in 62 cases, 17.21 liters of Phensidyl in five
cases, 3.4726 
            kilos of low-grade opium in 16 cases, 2,073,599 stimulant
tablets in 49 
            cases, 2,227.8994 kilos of ephedrine in 17 cases, 0.7753 kilos
of stimulant 
            medicine powder in one case, 210 rounds of methaqualine in one
case, 16.35 
            litres of cough syrup in five cases, 1,227.45 kilos of other
chemical powder, 
            145.472 litres of alcohol in one case, 21.0086 litres of other
chemical 
            liquid, 91 cases for failure to register and 10 other cases.

                Action was taken against 577 persons -- 483 men and 94
women -- involved 
            in 437 cases. In 1998-99 opium cultivation season, a total ot
9,824.667 acres 
            or 3,978.99 hectares illicit poppy plantation -- 745.38 acres
in Shan State 
            (South), 160.8 acres in Shan State (East), 143.987 acres in
Kachin State and 
            15.5 acres in Mandalay Division -- have been destroyed in July
1999.

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