95-05

BURMA PRESS SUMMARY

From the Rangoon "The New Light of Myanmar"
Compiled for the Burma Studies Group by Hugh C. MacDougall
Published by the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies,
University of Illinois
Volume IX, No. 5, May 1995
Table of Contents
POLITICAL
Slogans
2
Political Articles
2
Returnees from Bangladesh
4
Special Refresher Courses
4
National Races
5
USDA 6
Myanma Not Involved in Thailand
DIPLOMATIC
Diplomatic Calls 7
New Ambassadors to Myanmar
8
New Myanmar Ambassadors 8
Diplomatic Tours 8
International Fashion Show
8
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Joint Workshops & Projects
9
Donations from Abroad
9
Border & Regional Affairs
10
Social and Economic Cooperation
FOREIGN VISITORS
Medical Visitors 10
Business Visitors 11
Religious Visitors
12
Journalists 13
Lao President
13
Japanese Trade Official 14
Singapore Tax Officials 14
Japanese Parliamentarians
14
Czech Trade Official
14
Chinese Delegations
14
Vietnam Ministerial Delegations
US Congressman
14
MYANMAR DELEGATIONS
Study Delegations 15
Delegations to Meetings & Events
Religious Delegations
15
Than Shwe to Indonesia & Singapore
Delegations Return
15
MYANMAR GAZETTE
Probationary Appointments
16
Appointments
16
Appointments Confirmed 16
GOVERNMENT
Workers Day Message
16
Yangon City Law Amendment
17
Central Bank Law Amendment
17
MILITARY
Insurgent Attacks 17
Tatmadaw Actions 17
Surrenders by Armed Group Members
ECONOMIC
Economic Articles 18
Inauguration of Projects
19

10

14

15
15

18

Advertisements
19
International Business Projects
Business Courses 20
Computers
21
Banking
21
Privatization
21
Company Blacklisted
21
Economic Figures 22
New Hill Station Planned
22
Tourism
22
Twantay Canal
22
Nationalities Village
22
National Forestry Plan 22
Rainfall in Yangon
22
HEALTH
Health Articles
23
No Tobacco Day
23
Drugs Recalled
23
Birth Control
23
SPORTS
Sports Articles
23
Myanmar Teams and Officials
23
Hole In One 23
CULTURAL
Cultural and Scientific Articles
Universities & Institutes
24
Buddhism
24
Publications
25
National Library Building
25
Warning on Culture
25
YU Diamond Jubilee
25
MISCELLANEOUS
Sunday and Holiday Supplements
Crime 26
Anti-Narcotics Activities
27
Articles on Narcotics Law
27
Obituaries 28
Fires 28
Special Delivery Mail
28
Earthquakes 29
Weddings and Engagements
29
Parking Permits
29
Drifting Fishermen
29

19

23

25

-----------------------------------------HIGHLIGHTS
-Several articles discuss troubled relations with Thailand
because of insurgencies. [POLITICAL]
-Interview by American entrepreneur Ms. Miriam Marshall Segal
with Kokang National Leader U Yan Moe Hlyan. [POLITICAL: National
Races]
-Khun Sa dislodged by Tatmadaw from west Tachilek and Mongkyawt
areas. [MILITARY]
-Official visit by Lao President [FOREIGN VISITORS]
-----------------------------------------POLITICAL
Slogans
The bottom of each front page continues to bear the slogan:
Emergence of the State Constitution is the duty of all citizens of
Myanmar Naing-Ngan [reverted back from "Union of Myanmar."
The top of each back page bears the slogan:
The Tatmadaw has been sacrificing much of its blood and sweat
to prevent disintegration of the Union. All nationalities of the

Union are urged to give all co-operation and assistance in this great
task.
Religious Slogans: Since August 1991, each issue has included a
changing religious slogan at the top of each front page:
May 1-16: Anavajjani kammani, to perform faultless actions;
this is the way to auspiciousness.
May 17-31: Arati papa, to abstain from evil, this is the way
to auspiciousness.
Political Articles
May 1-5: Good
neighbour, by Nyan Win Kyaw [Cont. (2)
Atrocities, especially the mining of railways, committed by the KNU
operating out of Thailand from 1982-88.
[(3) On Nov. 5, the KNU "formed the All Burma Students
Democratic Front (ABSDF). Everyone knows this was an attempt by the
KNU to act as monkey grinder and collect money at the cost of the
poor monkey." On Nov. 14, 1988, the KNU "orchestrated" foundation of
the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB). Non-governmental
organizations formed the Burma Coordinating Group (BCG), a grouping
of 18 "so called religious and relief organizations" with Jack
Dunford of the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT) as coordinator.
Other main participants were the International Rescue Committee
(IRC), the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), the United States of Burma
Relief Committee (USBRC), and the Burma Relief Committee (BRC). Other
groups were the Bangkok-based Burma Information Group (BIG), the
Information for Action and International Campaign for Peace and the
Grassroots Education and Organizing which published Burma Issue. The
groups "disseminated not the truth" but "churned out concoctions for
reasons of their own." The KNU established close relationships with
officials of the Thai Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC).
Other Thai-based groups which "interfered in Myanmar internal
affairs" are "those which comprise remnants of the expatriates," such
as the Committee for Restoration of Democracy in Burma (CRDB) headed
by Tin Maung Win, and the Alliance for Democratic Solidarity Union of
Burma (ADSB) headed by U Nu's son Maung Aung. "It is beyond one's ken
whether the Thai authorities are pretending not to know what's going
on or simply looking the other way."
[(4) Activities of Thai-Myanmar Regional Border Committee.
Myanmar has shown friendship by deporting Thai fish poachers who
violate territorial waters, destroy fish stocks, and blow up coral
reefs. Myanmar welcomes foreign investments:
FOREIGN INVESTMENT OF PERMITTED ENTERPRISES AS OF 31-3-95
Categories: Total Permitted [P]: Number-Approved Amount (in US$
millions); Existing Enterprises [T] : [same]: Terminated Enterprises
[same]:
Australia:
P:4-$28.2; E:3-$3.0; T:1-$31.2
Bangladesh: P:2-$3.0; E:1-$0.1; T:1-$2.1
China:
P:4-$5.5; E:4-$5.5
France:
P:1-$465.0; E:1-$499.9
Hong Kong: P:17-$64.4; E:13-$41.0
Japan:
P:5-$101.1; E:4-$61.1; T:1-$62.1
Korea:
P:9-$60.6; E:9:$91.2
Macau:
P:1-$2.4; E:1-$2.4
Malaysia:
P:7-$69.6; E:7-$69.6
Netherlands:
P:2-$83.0; E:1-$3.0; T:1-$93.7
Philippines:
P:1-$6.7; E:1-$6.7
Singapore: P:25-$315.9; E:23-$295.7
Sri Lanka: P:1-$1.0; E:1-$1.0
Thailand:
P:26-$410.9; E:19-$257.2; T:7-$18.1
U.K.:
P:10-$632.2; E:9-$630.6; T:1-$18.2
U.S.A.:
P:13-$226.3; E:10-$269.1; T:3-$68.5
Canada:
P:1-$22; T:1-31.6
Austria
P:1-71.5; T:1-[no figure given]
TOTAL:
P:130-$1569.2; E:107-$2237.2; T:23-$326.4
Review of DKBO split with KNU and capture of Manerplaw and Kawmura.
[(5) History of insurgent refugee camps in Thailand. Most of

their funds come from the Consortium of Christian Agencies, which

includes 13 groups: Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT), Thailand
Baptist Missionary Fellowship (TBMF), Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS),
Inter Aid International (IA), International Rescue Committee (IRC),
ZOA Refugee Care Netherlands (ZOA), Catholic Relief Services (CRS),
World Vision Foundation of Thailand (WVFT), Compassion International,
Japan Sotoshu Relief Committee (JRSC), Committee Aid Abroad, Japan
International Volunteer Centre (JVC), and Food for the Hungry
International (FHI). However, their funds "instead of going to their
civilian refugees, fall into the hands of the Karen Refugee
Committee. Assistance from the CRS up to June 1992 amounted to over
US$ 1.9 million. Now, in the KNU refugee camps, the Christian KNUs
are "forcibly preventing the Buddhist Kayin families from returning
to Myanmar interior." Reports that the Tatmadaw has entered refugee
camps in Thailand are false. [Map of 23 KNU refugee camps in
Thailand.
[(6) Statement made in the Apr. 30 Bangkok Post by Thai Army
Chief Gen. Wimol Wongwanich that "the best solution to the problems
surrounding Karen refugees along the border was to push them all back
into Burma." Noting that he had pushed out 40,000 Cambodian refugees,
he said he could do it in a week "regardless of how many hundreds of
thousands of Karens were now in the country." According to the
article, the General's suggestion has been endorsed by Interior
Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, but is opposed by the Foreign
Ministry. {photocopy of article}.]
May 6-7: The Problem Neighbour--A Review, by U Pe Kin,
Ambassador to Thailand 1953-56. [(1) Despite their common Theravada
Buddhist heritage, "no two neighbours have ever been so suspicious
and mistrustful of each other, and so slow in healing historical
wounds.... The ancient monarchs of Thailand and Myanmar must share
the blame equally for the past misunderstanding and hostility between
our two peoples." Recollections of problems with the KMT troops in
Shan State after World War II, and the author's efforts to improve
relations with Thailand.
[(2) Involvement of United States Central Intelligence Agency
with the KMT. Final agreement with Thailand for KMT evacuation,
supervised by US General Donovan. Now there is a possibility of
building lasting friendship with Thailand.]
May 8-11: The Other Country, by Pho Khwar. [(1) Three kinds of
refugees in Thailand: KNU troops ("If they say that they are in
distress, they themselves have brought distress on them"), KNU family
members ("They belong to the KNU milieu and there is nothing strange
in their also being in trouble"), and real refugees ("forced against
their wish to abandon their heart and home, their village and their
native place"). Each group has split into two factions, with the
first splitting into the KNU and the DKBA ("if they continue to move
about freely carrying arms in Thailand after they have become the
DKBA, that is hardly anything unusual"); they have the same right to
do so as the KNU itself. Now the DKBA is attacking camps in Thailand
to rescue their families, whom the KNU holds as "virtual hostages".
Among the real refugees, the Buddhists want to flee, but the KNU has
"issued orders to gun down those who try to escape" and the DKBA uses
force to rescue them. "This is a problem for the KNU and the DKBA to
solve. Thailand keeps supporting the KNU; why has Myanmar so long
done it the courtesy of referring to it as "the other country" in
vain.
[(2) Accounts of fighting between the KNU and the DKBA at
refugee camps in Thailand during February-May 1995; the DKBA trying
to rescue family members and the KNU trying to prevent it.
[(3) Early history of KNU presence in Thailand, going back to
1952.
[(4) KNU responsible for all the problems on the Thai-Myanmar
border.]
May 10: Beware, Cooking Smell! by Kyaw Saw Han. [Myanmars think
it improper to inflict cooking odors on other houses in the
community. "Myanmar...has suffered long enough because its neighbour

has been blasting it with nauseous fumes."]

Returnees from Bangladesh
[Articles reporting the return of refugees from Bangladesh list
the cumulative total since Sept. 22, 1992. Not all returns are
reported in NLM, and, indeed, returns have increasingly been skipped,
as the discrepancy between specific reports and the running total
indicates.]
May 5: 755 persons from 136 households returned to reception
camps on May 4, bringing the total to 191,377. (NLM 5/6)
May 10: 369 persons from 71 households returned to Kanyinchaung
camp on May 8, bringing the total to 191,746. (NLM 5/11)
Special Refresher Courses
May 2: Special Refresher Course No. 16 for Basic Education
Teachers began, and was addressed by SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin
Nyunt. In a review of the Myanmar scene, he discussed programmes for
upgrading education, noting that there are now 36,499 primary
schools, 2,062 middle schools, and 857 high schools. A total of
266,376 teachers have been appointed. Turning to nationalism, "He
spoke of the need to nurture the youths who will take pride in being
Myanmar.... Today some youths fail to appreciate high Myanmar culture
standard but readily accept the alien culture, he said. After
accepting the alien culture, they have copied it and finally looked
down and discarded the Myanmar tradition. He noted that although the
people clearly understand interferences of some neo-colonialists,
their minions had been news agencies in political, economic and
social spheres since the assumption of State responsibilities of the
State Law and Order Restoration Council, the youths today have
subconsciously accepted penetration of counter culture." That is why
the State Law and Order Restoration Council is concentrating on
preservation of national culture." The four-week course in being
attended by 1,506 trainees. (NLM 5/3)
May 2: Short-term Refresher Course No. 1 on Administration of
Justice opened at the Supreme Court, and was addressed by Chief
Justice U Aung Toe. 52 judicial officers are attending the four-week
course, the first of its kind. (NLM 5/3)
May 27: Special Refresher Course No. 16 for Basic Education
Teachers concluded, and was addressed by SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen.
Khin Nyunt.
He "spoke of the important task of teachers to explain to their
pupils the true intentions of internal and external machinations
disturbing the government's endeavours with intent to cause disunity
among national brethren and difficulties in nation-building....
"The youth must discern these internal and external
machinations..., he asserted....
"At this juncture, it can be found that some external elements
are encouraging the armed groups which turn a deaf ear to the State's
invitation to return to the legal fold, he said, noting that a few of
these groups hold on to narrow racism and accept Western policies to
the delight of their supporters.
"He said some nations which do not bear to see Myanmar prosper
and their radio stations, some external non-governmental
organizations under the name of donor organizations and some selfseeking politicians utilizing Myanmar's political arena are now
collaborating to stir up concoctions.
"Besides, he said, some organizations under the guise of
international organizations are backing not only some armed groups
and some expatriates who broke the law in Myanmar and absconded but
also drug trafficking groups....
"He also explained teachings of Lord Buddha regarding good
friends and stressed that Myanmar always tries to be a good friend in
dealing with any nation with forgiveness upholding the ethics.
"However, he said, it is found that there are fabricated
reports by some foreign radio stations and newspapers, as if Myanmar
is trying to insult a neighbour with aggressive attitude.

"Reports are also fabricated that Myanmar is responsible for

the splits of the anti-government organizations, which were accepted
by that neighbour, and fights among themselves and that Myanmar
encouraged them to do so...." Khun Sa's March 1995 attack on
Tachilek, and protection of them by "the other country."
DKBO's rescuing of family members from KNU camps "in the other
country." "He said the clashes between the two armed groups had later
been dubbed Myanmar Tatmadaw's intrusion and attack on the other
country and this accusation was loudly claimed by NGOs in that nation
and anti-Myanmar radio stations, which usually engage in airing
concocted news, and self-styled journalists....
"At present...these radio stations and newspapers broadcast or
wrote news as if Myanmar Tatmadaw had invaded the other country and
the Tatmadaw of that country had borne the invasion with head bowed.
These allegations were found to be instigating disputes between the
two Tatmadaws, he said...." (NLM 5/29)
May 30: Special Refresher Course No. 12 for Revenue Officers of
the Internal Revenue Department opened. Director-General U Than Nyunt
"said the IRD has been collecting five of the 15 types of tax and
revenues in the country and in all it has collected 79 per cent of
the revenues targeted in the entire nation. He pointed out that the
Department had collected nearly 300 million kyats more than the
previous year." 85 officers are attending the 3-week course. (NLM
5/31)
National Races
May 6: Ms. Miriam Marshall Segal interviewed U Yan Moe Hlyan,
Kokang National Leader, at Laukkai on Feb. 27, 1995 [full text]:
U Yan Moe Hlyan: There has been some successes since we have
joined hands together with the government but regarding these
successes we are not very much satisfied. We want to develop the area
much quicker and we have in our plan the crop substitution program
which is being implemented and especially in the rubber growing
sector. We want this to develop much quicker and at the same time we
are planning to construct a hydro electric power station and with
that energy we intend to build cottage industries and to produce the
raw rubber material into finished products so we can export them and
sell them. At the same time to industrialize the whole area so that
the people can have proper work and a proper income then the poppy
growing in this area will be totally eliminated.
Ms. Segal: I want to tell you a little bit on myself. I am not
a reporter I am totally a private citizen who is seeking the truth
and I have found about Myanmar that the overseas Press has been
totally lacking in understanding of the needs of the country. I also
want to know when was opium introduced into this area and how the
opium growing started in this area?
U Yan Moe Hlyan: Originally this growing of poppy came in from
China and this was introduced into China by the British. Later on the
Western countries brought in technology of refining poppy into heroin
No. 3 and heroin No. 4. This was done even before we were born. So,
we inherited that and we had no choice but to carry it onwards.
Today, we realize this is wrong and we want to stop it. We on our
part together with the government, we will do our best to stop the
production and producing of this narcotic drug.
Ms. Segal: What can the West do to help you to do that. Is it
mainly in the transfer of technology to show you how to help you find
out what kind of crop you can grow here -- apples, pears -- things
like that which are easily exportable or is it in actual financial
aid. What do you see that we can do that would assist you to cut out
total poppy growing?
U Yan Moe Hlyan: We have been offered some assistance from the
Chinese side regarding this agricultural techniques and methods, also
at the same time we have the government of Myanmar coming in with the
technology and other materials we need to develop our agricultural
sector. But the problem in this area is that up to now we found out
that sugar cane is the only crop that really grows in this area. The

rest of the crops we have substituted were not successful. So, on our
part we would like to have assistance from the International
Community. If the International Community give support and assistance
to the government -- that means they are indirectly supporting and
assisting us at the same time. Because what the government receives
-- the government will definitely give us the cooperation,
coordination and assistance we need.
Ms. Segal: So you feel that the Government of Myanmar has been
totally supportive of your efforts to eradicate the growing of opium
here and they have done all they can possibly to help you. Are you
satisfied that they have done all they can to help you eradicate the
problem?
U Yan Moe Hlyan: The government is not a rich government and
this is not a rich country. We believe that the government has given
us its all out assistant [sic] and support. But on the government's
part -- the development projects are going on at the same time in
various places. The government has to spread out the funds to many
places and we also get a part of that fund. But that fund, to be very
honest, is not enough to implement our projects such as building a
hydro-electric power station building up factories etc. Anyhow, we
appreciate what the government has given us because the government we
understand is doing it on its own without International Community's
support and understanding.
Ms. Segal: When did you come back to the legal fold and were
you the first group to come back to the legal fold and why?
U Yan Moe Hlyan: It is very clear because if we continue to
fight among each other -- that means we (the country) will become
weak. If the country is not united the country automatically becomes
weak and if we are weak we will be bullied by outside countries. So,
Myanmar as you know is very rich in natural resources. We believe
that working together as brothers unitedly we can develop the country
with our own natural resources and this country will be very well-off
in the near future and there will be a future for our next
generation.
Ms. Segal: It also gives the next generation a heritage because
I believe up until you come back into the legal fold there was no
schooling system and all of these roads and everything I see here has
been built since then just with the help of the government. Since
this is the nation of one -- one nation a united nation sort of
thing. It builds the future of your children that is the main desire.
U Yan Moe Hlyan: Yes, Madam. I agree with you totally because
the government on its part has laid down the policies and we will
make sure that these policies are followed because we are also sons
of this country. We are brothers. If the whole country develops, all
of us living in this country we also develop. So, regarding your
statement I agree totally with you.
Ms. Segal: What would the average farmer that had a poppy
cultivation, what would he get in the way of money are they rich are
they poor?
U Yan Moe Hlyan: Yes, the poppy growers actually are not rich.
Not reach means actually they are very poor. But the problem in this
area is the land is not fertile. So, poppy is the only kind of crop
that grows without giving much attention to. And for the other crops,
if we can substitute these crops for poppy plants and if we can get
enough income out of it our people will very willingly give up this
planting of poppies.
Ms. Segal: Does any other government support you and have there
been foreign groups here seeing if they can assist you?
U Yan Moe Hlyan: Yes, up to today including you Madam there has
been 13 groups that have visited us. Some of these groups have
promised to give us technical know-how especially in the hydro
electric power sector. But nothing has really materialized so we came
to believe that the International Community is not very much
interested in our projects because up to know we only have lip
services. But we together with the close support and cooperation of
the government we have been doing everything we can on our own.

(NLM 5/7) [See also under ECONOMIC: Business Visitors]

USDA

May 6: The foundations were laid for the Union Solidarity and
Development Association (USDA) Headquarters at the corner of
Thayawady Road and University Avenue in Bahan Township, Yangon, in
the presence of SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, SLORC
Secretary-2 Lt-Gen. Tin Oo, USDA Secretary-General Minister for
Cooperatives U Than Aung, and other officials. The six-storey
building is being constructed by the Wa Wa Win International Co. (NLM
5/7)
Myanma Not Involved in Thailand
May 9: The Ministry of Defence held a press conference "on the
situation along Thai-Myanmar border, engagement between the DKBO and
KNU, and attacks on and capture of base camps of drug trafficking
terrorist Khun Sa...." Deputy Director of Defence Services
Intelligence Col. Kyaw Win noted that many terrorist groups have long
lived along the 2,096 kilometer Thai-Myanmar border, including "Khun
Sa's drug-trafficking terrorist Mong Tai Army (MTA),...Karen National
Union (KNU), The National Council of Union of Burma (NCUB), the
Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB), the National Coalition Government
of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), the National Democratic Front (NDF),
the National League for Democracy (Liberated Areas) (NLD-LA), the
All-Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), the All-Burma Muslim
Union (ABMU), the Muslim Liberation Organization (MLO), the
Democratic Patriotic Army (DPA), the New Mon State Army (NMSP), the
Arakan Liberation Army (ALP), among others...." Other opposition
groups using Thailand as a lifeline are the "Overseas National
Students of Burma (ONSOB), the Alliance for Democratic Solidarity
Union of Burma (ADSB), the Committee for Restoration of Democracy in
Burma (CRDB), and others based in Bangkok and Chiangmai...." There
are also "over 30 so-called refugee camps...." Khun Sa attacked
Tachilek through Maesai, Thailand, on Mar. 20, 1995; when the
Tatmadaw fought back, reinforcements were brought in to Homein and
Loilem through the Maesareng and Hintek routes in Thailand.
As to the DKBO, they are former KNU members and Buddhists who
split with Bo Mya, and "still have not returned to the legal fold."
They are attacking KNU camps in Thailand to bring back their
relatives to Myainggyingu. Over 10,000 DKBO family members have left
the camps and returned to Myanmar, despite attempts by Bo Mya to hold
them. When Bo Mya resorted to force, "the DKBO, it is known, employed
guerilla tactics and entered the camps and took away some of the KNU
leaders."
On May 1, 1995, 24 82mm shells were fired at Manerplaw from
Hwebalu village in Thailand. On May 4, three "military coloured"
helicopters from the Thai side" fired seven rockets at the Thumwehta
monastery, wounding 15 women and children and destroying six houses.
"The Government of Myanmar has at no time become involved in
these problems and had not, at any time, encouraged any organization
to oppose any neighbour." Problems on the Thai border result from
Thailand's having harboured "terrorists who seek to oppose Myanmar."
(NLM 5/10)
DIPLOMATIC
Diplomatic Calls
[The following calls were paid on Burmese officials by foreign
Embassy or UN officials accredited to Burma. Details of the meetings
are rarely reported. Ambassadors generally accompany foreign visitors
from their countries on official calls, and their presence is
generally not noticed in this Summary. Newly arrived and departing
Ambassadors generally make the rounds of Cabinet Ministers and other
leading officials.]
May 3: Cyprus Ambassador Stavros A. Epaminondas called on
Minister for Trade Lt-Gen. Tun Kyi. (NLM 5/4)

May 4: Australian Military Attache Col. Richard Douglas Warren,

called on Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen. Thein Win; he was
accompanied by First Secretary Mr. Jonathan Hugh Philip. (NLM 5/5)
May 5: German Ambassador Dr. Baron Walther von Marschall, who
has completed his tour of duty, called on Minister for Home Affairs
Lt-Gen. Mya Thin and on Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen. Tin Tun. (NLM
5/6)
May 8: The German Ambassador called on Minister for Culture LtGen. Aung Ye Kyaw. (NLM 5/9)
May 9: The German Ambassador called on Attorney-General U Tha
Tun, and on Minister for Forestry Lt-Gen. Chit Swe. Sri Lankan
Ambassador K.B. Fernando called on Auditor-General U Aung Khin Tint.
Japanese Ambassador Takashi Tajima called on Minister for Progress of
Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Lt-Gen. Maung
Thint. (NLM 5/10)
May 10: The German Ambassador called on Minister for
Communications, Posts & Telegraphs U Soe Tha. Outgoing Russian Deputy
Military Attaches Col. Nikolai V. Khartchouk and Lt-Col. Vassili I.
Savenkov called on Deputy Director Col. Kyaw Win of Defence Services
Intelligence. (NLM 5/11)
May 17: German Ambassador Dr. Baron Walther von Marschall
called on Minister for Agriculture Lt-Gen. Myint Aung, and on Yangon
Mayor U Ko Lay. (NLM 5/18)
May 19: The German Ambassador called on Minister for
Information Brig-Gen. Myo Thant. French Ambassador Bernard Pottier
called on Minister for Agriculture Lt-Gen. Myint Aung. Japanese
Ambassador Takashi Tajima visited the Myanmar Seafoods JV Co. Ltd.
cold storage and ice factory, and a meat shop in Insein. (NLM 5/20)
May 22: The German Ambassador called on Minister for Health
Vice-Adm. Than Nyunt. Indian Ambassador Gopalaswami Parthasarathy,
who has also completed his tour of duty, called on Minister for
Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs
Lt-Gen. Maung Thint, on Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen.
Win Tin, and on Minister for Information Brig-Gen. Myo Thant. British
Ambassador Julian D.N. Hartland-Swann, who has completed his tour of
duty, called on Minister for Information Brig-Gen. Myo Thant. (NLM
5/23)
May 23: The Indian Ambassador called on Deputy Prime Minister
Lt-Gen. Tin Tun, and on Minister for Livestock Breeding & Fisheries
Brig-Gen. Maung Maung. United States Charge d'Affaires Ms. Marilyn A.
Meyers, accompanied by Counsellor for Political and Economic Affairs
Mr. Angus T. Simmons and Counsellor for Public Affairs Mr. Douglas M.
Barnes, called on Minister for Information Brig-Gen. Myo Thant.
Yugoslav Charge d'Affaires Milos Belgic called on Chief Justice U
Aung Toe. (NLM 5/24)
May 24: The Indian Ambassador called on Minister for
Agriculture Lt-Gen. Myint Aung. (NLM 5/25)
May 25: German Ambassador Dr. Baron Walther von Marschall
called on Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Col. Pe Thein,
Minister for Industry-2 U Than Shwe, and Minister for Finance and
Revenue Brig-Gen. Win Tin. Indian Ambassador Gopalaswami
Parthasarathy called on Minister for Religious Affairs Lt-Gen. Myo
Nyunt. (NLM 5/26)
May 26: The Indian Ambassador called on Minister for National
Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel. (NLM 5/27)
May 29: Cuban Ambassador Rolando Lopez del Amo called on
Minister for Health Vice-Adm. Than Nyunt. (NLM 5/30)
May 30: The Cuban Ambassador paid respects to the State Sangha
Maha Nayaka Sayadaws. German Ambassador Dr. Baron Walther von
Marschall called on Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin,
on behalf of SLORC Chairman Senior General Than Shwe. British
Ambassador Julian D.N. Hartland-Swann called on Minister for Forestry
Lt-Gen. Chit Swe. Bangladeshi Ambassador Chowdhury Khalequzzaman
called on Minister for Trade Lt-Gen. Tun Kyi. Yugoslav Charge
d'Affaires Milo Belgic called on Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe
Nyunt, and on Minister for Information Brig-Gen. Myo Thant. Laotian

Ambassador Ly Bounkham called on Deputy Minister for Trade U Aung

Thaung. UNDP Acting Resident Representative Mr. Douglas Gardner,
accompanied by UNIDO consultant Ms Ursula Kraus-Harper, called on
Minister for Cooperatives U Than Aung to discuss UNDP rural
development programmes. (NLM 5/31)
New Ambassadors to Myanmar
May 3: Mr. Stavros A. Epaminondas presented credentials to
SLORC Chairman Senior General Than Shwe as new Ambassador of Cyprus
to Myanmar. He is Resident in New Delhi. (NLM 5/4)
May 17: Mrs. Sonia C. Brady presented credentials to SLORC
Chairman Senior General Than Shwe as new Ambassador of the
Philippines. (NLM 5/18)
May 24; Dr. Benito Volpi presented credentials to SLORC
Chairman Senior General Than Shwe as new Italian Ambassador to
Myanmar. (NLM 5/25)
New Myanmar Ambassadors
May 12: U San Thein, new Myanmar Ambassador to the Philippines,
left for Manila. (NLM 5/13)
Diplomatic Tours
May 8: Diplomats of donor nations and UN agencies "inspected
eradication of opium poppy cultivation and rural development
projects" in Kengtung and Mongyang Townships, Eastern Shan State, on
May 6-7. They included UNDCP Office Head Mr. Gerald Moore, British
Ambassador Mr. Julian Hartland-Swann, Japanese Ambassador Mr. Takashi
Tajima, Chinese Ambassador Mrs. Chen Baoliu, American Charge
d'Affaires Ms. Marilyn A. Meyers, German Charge d'Affaires Dr.
Michael Kohl, French Counsellor Mr. Francois Sastourne, Australian
First Secretary Mr. Jonathan Hugh Philp, and American Political and
Economic Counsellor Mr. Angus Simon [sic]. The tour flew to Kengtung
May 6, flew by helicopter to Hotaung Village, Wa Region, Mongyan
Township where Wa national leaders told them "that opium poppy is no
longer cultivated in Panghsan, Hotaung and Namtit." The diplomats
then visited Mongyang before returning to Kengtung. On May 7, the
tour visited projects in Kengtung East Region, Mongyang Township, and
Mongla. (NLM 5/9)
May 14: Military Attaches in Yangon, led by Dean of the
attaches Col. Hiroshi Mamizuka, toured Myitkyina and Putao on May 1214. (NLM 5/15)
International Fashion Show
May 28: A dress rehearsal was held of the International Fashion
Show scheduled for June 3, jointly organized by the Myanmar Women's
Sports Federation and diplomats in Yangon. Fifteen nations will take
part: Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan,
Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, and
Myanmar. (NLM 5/29)
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Joint Workshops & Projects
May 3: A 3-day Workshop on Water Supply and Collective Data
Management on Sanitation and Media System, so-sponsored by the Water
Resources Utilization Department and the World Health Organization
opened. (NLM 5/4)
May 12: A Seminar on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
Law was held, jointly sponsored by the Central Committee for Drug
Abuse Control and the United Nations Drugs Control Programme. (NLM
5/13)
May 29: The Seventh Country Course on Sampling Design and
Survey Operations, jointly conducted by the United Nations
Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP), and the
Central Statistical Organization, opened and was addressed by
Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen.

Abel, who welcomed SIAP lecturers Dr. Mosleh Uddin and Mr. Kwok Kwan
Kit. 25 personnel are attending the course, which will last until
June 9. (NLM 5/30)
Donations from Abroad
[We report donations that apparently come from foreign sources.
We do not normally report the numerous articles on donations by
Burmese individuals inside Burma and Burmese companies to government,
religious, and social organizations and charities.]
May 2: The Third World Shop of Japan presented K 200,000 to
Yindaikkwin village in Taikkyi Township as capital for rural
development projects. (NLM 5/3)
May 5: Director Mr. Kitte Patrapayoon of Thai Southern
Investment Co. Ltd. donated K 300,000 and a fax machine worth K
70,000 for the Cooperatives Colleges. (NLM 5/6)
May 10: China donated 20 "walking tractors trawlers jeeps of
Dong Feng 12 type", worth 200,000 yuan, for distribution to returned
refugees in Buthidaung and Maungtaw Townships, Rakhine State. (NLM
5/11)
May 12: The International Canoe Federation, represented by Mr.
Csaba Szando, presented 12 canoes and kayaks, valued at US$ 8,000, to
the Myanmar Rowing Federation. (NLM 5/13)
May 12: The Japanese Organization for International Cooperation
in Family Planning donated 225 bicycles to the Ministry of Health.
(NLM 5/13)
May 12: The Japan Asia Buddhist Association presented 38,400
notebooks valued at 3.8 million for use in border regions. 40
cartons have been sent to Kokang, Wa, and Kengtung East Regions, and
120 cartons will be sent to schools in Lwekaw, Lwemwe, Tangyang,
Hakhan, Hkamti, and Kunlon. (NLM 5/13)
May 17: Komatsu Singapore (Pte) Ltd. provided US$ 1,492 for
Myanmar citizens who were killed or injured in the Jan. 17 Kobe
earthquake. Director-General U Saw Thein of the Relief and
Resettlement Department of the Myanmar Red Cross distributed US$ 372
each to "U Tin Aung Cho, elder brother of the late U Lat Maung Cho,
Daw May May Thwin, mother of the late Ma Khin Thet Swe, Daw Kyin
Shwe, mother of the later Ma Wai Moe Lwin and Daw Hta Hta, mother of
injured Ma Aye Thin Hlaing." (NLM 5/18)
May 18: Siemens AG Medical Division, Erlangen, donated hospital
equipment worth US$ 15,000 to the Health Department. (NLM 5/19)
May 18: Fourteen "wellwishers of Japan", assisted by Ashin
Kondinna, a missionary Sayadaw in Thailand, and Sayadaw U Vijjananda
of Moji, Japan, donated seven fire engines to the Fire Services. (NLM
5/19)
May 23: Korean Ambassador Jung Hwan Kim, and Chairman Mr. Han
Yoo Ko of the Korean Companies Association, accompanied by members
Mr. Jong Heon Park and Mrs. Yoon Sung Hae, presented 10,000 sheets of
plywood worth K 2.4 million, MSG powder worth K 18,000, and K 240,000
to Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen.
Thaung Myint, for relief of fire victims in Bago and Mandalay. (NLM
5/14)
May 23: Dr. San Aye, a Myanmar resident in the United States,
donated eye surgery equipment to the Ministry of Health. (NLM 5/24)
May 24: Wirtschaft Hilft Hungernden, a German social
foundation, presented an ECG machine and other medical equipment to
the Ministry of Health. (NLM 5/25)
May 29: Director U Thet Aung of Winner Brothers International
Ltd. donated 100 bottles of Via Robo Vites, worth K 60,000,
manufactured by Vita Health Laboratories (Australia) to the
Children's Hospital. (NLM 5/30)
May 30: The National Library of Australia presented 36 books on
university subjects to the Universities Central Library. (NLM 5/31)
May 30: Dr. Thein Blocher of CT-Arzmeimittel Chemische
Tempelhof, Berlin, presented medical equipment worth DM 20,000 to the
Ministry of Health. (NLM 5/31)
May 30: On May 29, Mr. Bruce Williams of International School

donated medicine worth K 27,500, and Dr. Htay Htay Nwe, on behalf of
Dahl Hausen Co. of Cologne, Germany, donated surgical instruments
worth K 30,000 to the Yangon General Hospital. (NLM 5/31)
Border & Regional Affairs
May 24: Instruments of Ratification of the Agreement between
Myanmar, India, and Thailand on the Determination of the Trijunction
Point between the three countries in the Andaman Sea, which was
signed at New Delhi on Oct. 27, 1993, were exchanged by DirectorGeneral U Aye Lwin of the International Law and Treaties and Research
Department of the Foreign Ministry, Indian Ambassador Gopalaswami
Parthasarathy, and Thai Ambassador Poksak Nilubol. (NLM 5/26)
May 24: A delegation led by Chairman of the Central Committee
for Drug Abuse Control Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen. Mya Thin
left for Beijing to attend the Sixth Joint Coordination Meeting of
Myanmar, China, and UNDCP from May 25-27. Other members are CCDAC
Joint Secretary Police Col. Ngwe Soe Tun, Lt-Col. Kyaw Thein, Deputy
Director U Aye Lwin of the Ministry of Progress for Border Areas and
National Races and Development Affairs, and the Minister's PSO Capt.
Sein Mya. (NLM 5/ 25)
May 27: The Second Regional Seminar on Teak will take place at
the International Business Centre on May 29-June 3. Representatives
of 10 countries and NGOs, researchers, entrepreneurs, and
representatives of FAO agencies RAPA, FORSPA, FORTIP, STRAP, and
AFTSC, totalling 51 and observers will attend. The first Seminar was
held in China in 1991. (NLM 5/28) // May 29: The Seminar began and
was addressed by Minister for Forestry Lt-Gen. Chit Swe. He reviewed
the history of teak in Myanmar and elsewhere. He said Myanmar has a
forest cover of 33 million hectares, or half its land surface, twothirds of which "are teak bearing forests." The Annual Allowable Cut
for teak is 350,000 tons, plus 1.3 million for other hardwoods, for a
total of about 3 million cubic meters. The reforestation planting
programme is set at 80,000 acres annually, of which about 40% is for
commercial plantations, mainly of teak. Many groups have cooperated
with Myanmar on wildlife conservation, including the Smithsonian
Institution, the Wildlife Conservation Society of New York, the
Washington Park Zoo [sic], and the Asian Elephant Specialist Group.
Other speeches were given by FAO Resident Representative Mr. A.W.
Jalil and by Dr. C.T.S. Nair of the Forestry Research Support
Programme for Asia (FORSPA). The seminar is being attended by 51
participants from Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Netherlands, Philippines, Thailand, the United States, and Myanmar.
Eleven papers will be presented, including three by Myanmars. On May
31-June 1 the participants will visit a forest camp in Ottwin
Township, Toungoo District, Bago Division. (NLM 5/30)
Social and Economic Cooperation
May 18: Myanmar signed agreed minutes with JICA representative
Mr. Hiroshi Izaki, whose delegation has been in Myanmar since May 14,
on the use of 1 billion in Japanese Grant Aid for "increase of
food production in Myanmar," mainly in border areas. (NLM 5/19)
May 23: A Meeting on Aviation Agreement between Myanmar and
Vietnam continued into its second day. Myanmar officials are led by
Director-General U Tin Aye of the Department of Civil Aviation, and
Vietnamese delegates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Air
Vietnam are led by Director Mr. Pham Vu Hein of the Vietnam Civil
Aviation Department. The Myanmar side "said the agreement reached at
the first coordination meeting held in Hanoi in July 1994 expressed
cooperation on bilateral aviation and mutual understanding, and he
believed that final agreement would be reached at the meeting." (NLM
5/24)
FOREIGN VISITORS
Medical Visitors
May 17: Orthopaedics Specialist Dr. Lewis G. Zirkle of North-

West Orthopaedic Associates, United States will lecture on "Outcome

Study in Orthopaedics" at the Myanmar Medical Association Auditorium
on May 18. (NLM 5/18) // May 18: The lecture was given. (NLM 5/19) //
May 19: He gave orthopaedic surgery equipment worth US$ 20,000 to the
Ministry of Health. (NLM 5/ 20)
Business Visitors
[Although we do not normally report it, business and other
visitors calling on Myanmar officials are usually accompanied by the
Ambassador from their country. -- HCMacD.]
May 4: President Mr. Yasuhiro Matsuda of the Royal Connection
International Co. Ltd. in Tokyo, and delegation, called on Minister
for Information Brig-Gen. Myo Thant to report on his opening of a
Myanmar Centre for Business and Information in Tokyo. The Centre
"will offers services to disseminate news and information to the
Japanese people." (NLM 5/5)
May 8: An industrial delegation led by Senior Vice-President
Mr. Fritz Becker of KHD Humboldt Wedag AG of Germany called on Deputy
Minister for Trade U Aung Thaung. (NLM 5/9) // May 10: He called on
Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen.
Abel. (NLM 5/11)
May 8: Industry and Business Consultant Mr. Dieter Vogt of G
German Consult GmbH called on Minister for Energy U Khin Maung Thein,
accompanied by German Economic Attache Mr. Bernerd Herring. (NLM 5/9)
// May 10: He called on Minister for Industry 1 Lt-Gen. Sein Aung.
(NLM 5/11) // May 12: He called on Minister for National Planning and
Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel. (NLM 5/13)
May 10: Chairman Mr. Teddy Setiawan of Tunas Mulia Continental
Co. and party called on Minister for Energy U Khin Maung Thein to
discuss "laying of a natural gas pipeline to Indonesia from Yetagun
offshore oil rig off Taninthayi Coast for importing gas." (NLM 5/11)
May 10: Vice-Chairman Mr. Shan Ningwu of Dong Feng Motor Corp.
of China and party called on Minister for Industry-2 U Than Shwe.
(NLM 5/11)
May 10: A 25-member Japanese Economic Mission, led by Mr.
Shunji Koike of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries arrived.
(NLM 5/11) // May 11: The delegation called on Minister for National
Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel, and visited the
Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (NLM 5/12) // May 12: The
delegation studied the Myanmar Segye Garment Factory, and visited the
Gems Emporium. It also called on Minister for Trade Lt-Gen. Tun Kyi,
on Minister for Industry 1 Lt-Gen. Sein Aung, and on Minister for
Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw. (NLM 5/13) // May 13: The delegation
returned home. (NLM 5/14)
May 11: A delegation from the Bobo Industrial Working Group of
Norway, led by Dr. Felice Strollo, called on Yangon Mayor U Ko Lay.
(NLM 5/12) // May 12: The delegation called on Minister for Hotels
and Tourism Lt-Gen. Kyaw Ba, and discussed tourism and "building of a
beach resort hotel." (NLM 5/13)
May 19: Vice-President Mr. Hezi Wein of Lego Irrigation Ltd. of
Israel demonstrated water supply equipment. (NLM 5/20)
May 20: An 8-member delegation led by Vice-President Mr. Iwao
Mizusaki of Marubeni Corp. arrived. (NLM 5/21) // May 22: The 27member delegation [sic] called on Minister for National Planning and
Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel. Mr. Mizusaki called on Minister
for Livestock Breeding & Fisheries Brig-Gen. Maung Maung. (NLM 5/23)
// May 23: The delegation called on Minister for Agriculture Lt-Gen.
Myint Aung. Minister for National Planning and Economic Development
Brig-Gen. Abel hosted a dinner for it, attended by Minister for
Livestock Breeding & Fisheries Brig-Gen. Maung Maung and Japanese
officials. (NLM 5/24) // May 24: Following a breakfast meeting at the
Myanma Agricultural Service, hosted by Minister for Agriculture LtGen. Myint Aung and Deputy Minister for Agriculture U Tin Hlaing, the
"delegation then studied rice, beans and pulses, vegetables, fruits,
soft drinks, tinned provisions, export quality sugar, purified sugar,
rubber blocks and sheets, textiles, silk, jute carpets, cotton,

cotton carpets, polypropylene carpets, jute products, toilet

requisites and various kinds of flowers." The Agriculture Ministry
"will boost its products under contract system as there are prospects
to extend agricultural exports to Japan in the future." Then,
following a visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Gems Emporium, the
delegation left. (NLM 5/25) // May 26: Officials from the Marubeni
Corp., led by Mr. Ariya Imagawa, met with officials of the Yangon
City Development Committee to discuss Yangon water supply and
production of concrete pipes. (NLM 5/27)
May 22: An Indonesian delegation led by Chairman Mr. S.
Nursalim of P.T. Gadjah Tunggal Group called on Minister for
Industry-2 U Than Shwe. (NLM 5/23) // May 23: It called on Deputy
Prime Minister Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin. (NLM 5/24)
May 22: A 32-member delegation from the Singapore Manufacturers
Association led by Vice President Mr. Seck Hong Chee arrived, and
called on Minister for National Planning and Economic Development
Brig-Gen. Abel, who hosted a dinner. (NLM 5/23) // May 23: The
delegation called on Minister for Industry 1 Lt-Gen. Sein Aung. (NLM
5/24) // May 24: The delegation called on Minister for Trade Lt-Gen.
Tun Kyi, Minister for Cooperatives U Than Aung, and on Yangon Mayor U
Ko Lay. (NLM 5/25) // May 25: The delegation donated US$ 3,000 for
Bago fire relief. A delegation led by Mr. Moses Koh called on
Minister for Industry-2 U Than Shwe. (NLM 5/26)
May 23: Director Mr. David Bochm of the Australian Chamber of
Commerce, and delegation, called on Chairman of the Myanmar
Investment Commission Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Adm. Maung Maung
Khin and Minister for National Planning and Economic Development
Brig-Gen. Abel. (NLM 5/23)
May 23: A delegation of the French Business Association,
comprising 18 representatives of 12 Singapore-based French companies,
led by Regional Manager M. Michael Scherrer of the Banque Indosuez
called on Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen. Win Tin, and on
Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen.
Abel, and led by Mr. Christian Giraudon called on Minister for Trade
Lt-Gen. Tun Kyi. (NLM 5/24) // May 25: Mr. Jean Malfait of SDV SEA
Pte. Ltd., a member of the delegation, called on Minister for
Transport Lt-Gen. Thein Win. (NLM 5/ 26)
May 25: Executive Chairperson Ms. Miriam Marshall Segal and
party of Peregrine Capital Myanmar Ltd. called on Minister for
Construction U Khin Maung Yin. Ms. Segal, as Chairperson of Peregrine
Investments Holdings Ltd. and some Hong Kong entrepreneurs also
called on Chairman of the Myanmar Investment Commission Deputy Prime
Minister Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin. (NLM 5/26)
May 25: The Gestetner Grand Fair, sponsored by UE Myanmar (S)
Pte. Ltd., represented by Executive Director Mr. Stephen Huen, and
Gestetner (S) Pte. Ltd., represented by Division Manager Mr. Eric
Tan, opened at the Strand Hotel, where Gestetner duplicators, De La
Rue Cash Counting Machines, computers (ABM-Wearnes Computer System),
Epson Printers, and Victron computer equipment were demonstrated.
4030 Electric Duplicators, each worth K 1.8 million, were presented
to the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance
and Revenue, and the Directorate of Procurements. The Fair will last
until May 27, "with special discounts for buyers." (NLM 5/26)
May 25: General Manager Mr. Andrew Low of Straits Greenfield
Ltd. of Singapore, and party, called on Minister for Information
Brig-Gen. Myo Thant to discuss "prospects for building multi-purpose
highrise complexes on land currently occupied by some cinemas
downtown." (NLM 5/ 26)
May 29: Director Mr. George Gun of MBF Holdings of Malaysia
called on Minister for Industry-2 U Than Shwe. (NLM 5/30)
May 30: A delegation led by Chairman and Executive Officer Mr.
Andres Sorriano III of San Miguel Corp. [of the Philippines] and
delegation called on Minister for Trade Lt-Gen. Tun Kyi, who hosted a
dinner for it. (NLM 5/31)
Religious Visitors

May 10: A Buddhist delegation from Bangladesh led by Sayadaw

Bhaddanta Pandita arrived in Yangon, via Sittway, for a two-week
visit. It includes 11 Sanghas and 31 laymen, and will visit famous
pagodas. (NLM 5/11) // May 11: The monks were offered alms by
Minister for Religious Affairs Lt-Gen. Myo Nyunt. (NLM 5/12) // May
12: The delegation visited Yele Pagoda in Kyauktan. (NLM 5/12) // May
13: It attended a water-pouring ceremony at the Bodhi Tree at the
Shwedagon Pagoda. (NLM 5/14) // May 14: It left for Bagan. (NLM 5/15)
// May 15: It visited Bagan and Mandalay on May 14-15. (NLM 5/16) //
May 17: It visited Amarapura and Sagaing. (NLM 5/18) // May 18: The
delegation returned home to Bangladesh. (NLM 5/19) // May 19: The
delegation met with Myanmar religious associations on May 17. (NLM
5/20)
May 17: U Goenka, who runs over 30 Vipassana centres worldwide,
arrived in Yangon "to share his experiences on missionary services
abroad and on Vipassana practices during his stay in Myanmar." He
will lecture in English and Myanmar in Yangon on May 19-21, and then
go on to Mandalay, Sagaing, and Myitkyina. (NLM 5/ 18) // May 28:
Sayagyi U Goenka of India "recounted his foreign missionary
experience and talked about Vipassana meditation at Mahatma Gandhi
Hall, with an attendance of over 500. (NLM 5/29)
Journalists
May 6: Head of the BBC Myanmar Service Mrs. Marcia Poole was
given a dinner by Minister for Information Brig-Gen. Myo Thant. (NLM
5/7) // May 9: She called on Minister for Information Brig-Gen. Myo
Thant. (NLM 5/10)
Lao President
May 3: At the invitation of SLORC Chairman Senior General Than
Shwe, President and Madame Nouhak Phoumsavanh of Laos will pay a
goodwill visit to Myanmar in the near future. (NLM 5/3)
May 8: Formal biography of the Lao President. (NLM 5/8)
May 8: President Nouhak Phoumsavanh of Laos arrived by special
flight for a goodwill visit. He was accompanied by Madame Bounma
Phoumsavanh, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad and
wife, Minister at the President's Office Mr. Thongdam Chanthaphone,
Minister of Commerce Mr. Sompadit Vorasang, Vice-Minister of
Agriculture and Forestry Mr. Siene Saphanghong, Vice-Chairman of the
Committee for Planning and Cooperation Mr. Somphong Mongkhonvilay,
and other high ranking officials for a total of 28. They were met at
the airport by SLORC Chairman Senior General and Madame Than Shwe,
who later received the delegation, and in the evening hosted a dinner
for it.
At the dinner, formal speeches of welcome and friendship were
given [texts in NLM], in which the Lao President noted that "To be
frank, Yangon nowadays is far more prosperous than Yangon I used to
know in the past." and Sen. Gen. Than Shwe noted the growing
cooperation between Myanmar and Laos in agriculture, forestry and
construction, as well as religion and the fight against narcotic
drugs.
Other meetings were held: Vice-Chairman Somphong Mongkhonvilay
of the Lao Committee for Planning Cooperation, accompanied by
Director Mr. Somchit Inthamit of the External Economic Cooperation
Department met with Minister for National Planning and Economic
Development Brig-Gen. Abel. Minister to the President's Office Mr.
Thongdam Chanthaphone met with Minister at the Prime Minister's
Office Brig-Gen. Lun Maung. SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. and Madame Khin
Nyunt called on President and Madame Nouhak Phoumsavanh. Madame
Phoumsavanh later visited Bogyoke Market and the Myanma Department
Store. Minister of Commerce Mr. Sompadit Vorasang met with Minister
for Trade Lt-Gen. Tun Kyi.
The two foreign ministers headed the First Meeting of the
Myanmar-Lao Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation. A preliminary
officials meeting had been held May 5-6.
Various agreements were signed:

A Trade Agreement was signed by the respective Ministers.

Joint Minutes of the First Meeting of the Myanmar-Lao Joint
Commission for Bilateral Cooperation were signed, providing for
cooperation in "culture and sports, tourism, education, agriculture,
forestry, narcotic suppression, boundary matters," etc.
An Agriculture Agreement was signed by the respective deputy
ministers.
[two pages of photos] (NLM 5/9)
May 9: Following a visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda, Lao President
Nouhak Phoumsavanh and members of his delegation flew to Bagan by
special flight, on pilgrimage to the pagodas there, accompanied by
Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw and other Myanmar officials.
[photos] (NLM 5/ 10)
May 10: The Lao President and party went on to Mandalay, where
they visited the Maha Muni Pagoda and other pagodas. Madame Bounma
Phoumsavanh visited lacquerware shops in Bagan-NyaungU. [photos] (NLM
5/11)
May 11: The Land of One Million Elephants A Good Friend of
Myanmar, by Minye Kaungbon. [Background article on Lao history.]
May 11: The Lao President and delegation returned to Yangon
after visiting Pyin Oo Lwin and Mandalay; they then toured Yangon,
visiting the Gems Emporium Hall, the Defence Services Museum, and the
Yangon-Thanlwin Bridge. [photos] (NLM 5/ 12)
May 12: Between Vientiane and Yangon, the road is but a short
one, by Kyaw Thura. [Further Lao history; Myanmar-Lao cooperation
against narcotics.]
May 12: The Lao President and his delegation departed, after a
joint communique was issued noting that the meeting between the two
heads of state "took place in an atmosphere full of friendship and
understanding." In addition to meetings and agreements noted above,
the communique recorded the Exchange of Instruments of Ratification
of the Agreement on the Fixed Boundary Along the Mekong River, signed
during the visit of SLORC Chairman Senior General Than Shwe to Laos.
[two pages of photos] (NLM 5/13)
Japanese Trade Official
May 2: Director-General Mr. Katsusada Horose and party called
on Minister for Energy U Khin Maung Thein, Minister for Trade Lt-Gen.
Tun Kyi, and on Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin.
(NLM 5/3)
Singapore Tax Officials
May 2: Myanmar officials led by Director-General U Than Nyunt
of the Internal Revenue Department met Apr. 25-28 with Singapore
officials led by Divisional Director Mr. Ng Keat Seng of the
Singapore Internal Revenue Authority; "the discussions were held for
the second time concentrating on current collection systems under the
existing tax laws of the two countries." (NLM 5/3)
Japanese Parliamentarians
May 3: Japanese Diet Member Mr. Tatsuo Ozawa, President of the
Japan-Myanmar Friendship Promotion Parliamentarians League, called on
Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin. (NLM 5/4) // May 4:
He called on Deputy Minister for Health Col. Than Zin. Accompanied by
fellow member of the House of Representative Mr. Kawashi Nishimura,
he called on SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt. (NLM 5/5)
Czech Trade Official
May 5: Assistant Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Mr.
Tomas Husak and delegation of the Czech Republic called on Minister
for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel, and on
Minister for Industry-2 U Than Shwe. (NLM 5/ 6)
Chinese Delegations
May 11: Chairman Mr. Tong Yong Xi of Jing Gan District of
China, and party, called on Yangon Mayor U Ko Lay. (NLM 5/12)

May 25: Deputy Director-General Mr. Zhang Ruikum of the Yunnan

Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Department and delegation
called on Minister for Trade Lt-Gen. Tun Kyi; it invited the Minister
to participate in the Trade Fair to be held in Kunming on Aug. 8-16.
(NLM 5/26) // May 28: Minister for Trade Lt-Gen. Tun Kyi hosted a
dinner for the delegation, and for that led by General Manager Ms.
Zhang Lun of China Economic and Trade Consultants Corp. (NLM 5/29)
Vietnam Ministerial Delegations
May 15: Vietnam Deputy Minister of Forestry Mr. Tran Son Thuy
and delegation arrived for a week-long study of Myanmar's forestry
sector. Deputy Minister for Forestry U Aung Phone hosted a dinner.
(NLM 5/16) // Mar. 16: He called on Minister for Forestry Lt-Gen.
Chit Swe. (NLM 5/17) // May 20: He visited sites in Bagan, and
studied forestry at Popa, the Yezin Forest Research Centre, the
Seinyay Camp in the Bago Yoma, Oktwin Township, No. 104 Saw Mill in
Phyu Township, the Mazin Industrial Producers' Cooperatives Society,
and Myanma Timber Enterprise Yeiktha. Returning to Yangon, they met
officials of the Forest Products Joint Venture Corp. Ltd. and the
Myanmar Timber Entrepreneurs Association. (NLM 5/21) // May 21: He
visited Yele Pagoda in Kyauktan Township [photo caption]. (NLM
5/22) // May 22: After signing agreed minutes on cooperation in
forestry with the Myanma Timber Enterprise, the Deputy minister
departed for home. (NLM 5/23)
May 24: A 9-member delegation led by Vietnam Minister of
Education and Training Prof. Dr. Tran Hong Quan arrived. (NLM 5/
25) // May 25: He called on Minister for Education U Pan Aung. (NLM
5/26) // May 26: The delegation visited the Shwedagon Pagoda, Dagon
University, and other sights in Yangon. (NLM 5/27) // May 29: The
delegation visited Bagan on May 27, and then went on to Mandalay
University and Sagaing. (NLM 5/30) // May 30: The delegation visited
the Institute of Foreign Languages and other educational institutions
in Yangon. (NLM 5/31)
US Congressman
May 29: United States Congressman Bill Richardson called on
SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt and on Deputy Prime Minister
Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin. (NLM 5/30)
MYANMAR DELEGATIONS
Study Delegations
May 16: A delegation led by Deputy Minister for Hotels and
Tourism Brig-Gen. Tin Aye returned to Myanmar after studying hotels
and tourism in Singapore since May 10, and attending the inauguration
of the Traders Hotel there. (NLM 5/17)
May 16: Lecturer U Than Swe of the Institute of Economics left
for Japan to research Economics under the Scholars and Researchers
Fellowship Programme of the Japan Foundation. (NLM 5/17)
May 21: Tour Guide Daw Khin Mar Kyi of Myanma Hotels and
Tourism Services left for Israel to attend a Workshop on Development
of Rural Tourism from May 23-June 16. (NLM 5/22)
May 29: Librarian Daw Yin Yin Sein of the Universities Central
Library left for the United States under the International Visitors
Project entitled American Libraries, which will last from June 1-28.
(NLM 5/30)
Delegations to Meetings & Events
May 1: A delegation led by Minister for Finance and Revenue
Brig-Gen. Win Tin left for Auckland, New Zealand, to attend the 28th
Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank. Other members are
Director-General U Thein Aung Lwin of the Foreign Economic Relations
Department and the Minister's PSO U Khin Maung Aye. (NLM 5/2) // May
9: The delegation returned. (NLM 5/10) // May 10: While in New
Zealand, the delegation called on ADP President Mr. Sato on May 3,
and the Minister attended a lunch hosted by Japanese Minister of

Finance Mr. Masayoshi Takemura on May 4. (NLM 5/11)

Religious Delegations
May 12: A 27-member delegation led by Minister for Religious
Affairs Lt-Gen. Myo Nyunt left for Kathmandu in Nepal to attend the
foundation-laying ceremony for construction of Lawkamani Cula Pagoda
in Lumbini Park, "to be built with the donations of the devotees of
Myanmar." It includes Deputy Minister for Construction Col. Aung San,
Director-General U Arnt Maung of the Religious Department, and other
officials. (NLM 5/13) // Mar. 15: The delegation returned. In Nepal,
Minister for Religious Affairs Lt-Gen. Myo Nyunt called on Minister
for Education, Culture and Social Welfare Mr. Nod Nath Parshrit and
on Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Madhav Kumar. They visited sites in
Lumbini, including the statue of Mother Maya and Asoka inscriptions.
On May 14, they attended the ceremonies beginning the Lawka Mani Cula
Pagoda.(NLM 5/18)
May 16: Tantkyitaung Yanaung Chantha Sayadaw Bhaddanta Soma
Buddha left for the United States to start his sixth missionary work
abroad, at the invitation of Tibetan Lama Mr. Thang Tutul, Chairman
of Meditation Centre in Berkeley, California. (NLM 5/17)
Than Shwe to Indonesia & Singapore
May 28: SLORC Chairman Senior General and Madame Than Shwe will
pay official visits to Indonesia and Singapore in the near future.
(NLM 5/28)
Delegations Return
[Return of delegations whose departure was noted in early
issues, or whose departure NLM did not cover]
Apr. 30: The delegation led by Minister for Foreign Affairs U
Ohn Gyaw returned from the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating
Bureau of Non-Aligned Movement, held in Bandung, Indonesia from Apr.
25-27. During the visit, the Foreign Minister exchanged views with
Thai Foreign Minister Dr. Karasae Chanawongse, Bangladesh Foreign
Minister Mr. Mostafizur Rahman, Indian Foreign Minister Mr. Pranab
Mukherjee, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, and
Japanese delegation leader Mr. Matsunaga. (NLM 5/1)
May 10: The pilgrimage group led by Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta
Aggiya returned "from abroad." It included 5 Sayadaws and six
disciples. (NLM 5/11)
May 13: The delegation led by Minister for Health Vice-Adm.
Than Nyunt returned from the World Health Organization Conference in
Geneva. (NLM 5/14)
May 25: A delegation led by member of the Myanmar History
Commission U Maung Maung Tin (MA), which visited Britain May 4 at the
invitation of the University of Oriental and African Studies,
returned. Other members were U Win Maung (Tampawadi), adviser at the
SLORC on ancient culture and history, U Sein Myint, expert in gold
embroidery, and Assistant Director U Thaung Shwe of the Department of
Archaeology, delegation secretary. [Departure not noted in NLM] (NLM
5/26)
MYANMAR GAZETTE
Probationary Appointments
The SLORC appointed the following, on probation:
May 3: U Kyaw Nyein, Director (Admin), to be Managing Director,
Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise, Ministry of Energy.
Dr. Hla Myint, Pro-Rector, to be Rector, Taunggyi University,
Higher Education Department, Ministry of Education.
U Thein Tan, Pro-Rector, to be Rector, Mandalay Institute of
Technology, Higher Education Department, Ministry of Education. (NLM
5/4)
May 17: Lt-Col. Khin Maung Lat (Air 1425) of the Office of the
Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, to be Director-General, Directorate
of Hotels and Tourism, Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. (NLM 5/18)

Appointments
The SLORC has appointed the following:
May 17: U Myo Min, Director-General, Directorate of Hotels and
Tourism, to be Managing Director, Restaurant and Beverages
Enterprise. (NLM 5/18)
Appointments Confirmed
The SLORC has confirmed the following, after one-year of
probation:
May 3: U Khin Maung Myint as Director-General, Department of
Transport, Ministry of Transport.
Thura U Win Myint as Managing Director, Myanma Airways,
Ministry of Transport.
U Tin Oo as Managing Director, Myanma Port Authority, Ministry
of Transport.
U Tin Aye as Director-General, Department of Civil Aviation,
Ministry of Transport.
U Tin Htay as Managing Director, Myanma Department Store,
Ministry of Trade.
U Aung Par Thein as Director-General, Irrigation Department,
Ministry of Agriculture. (NLM 5/4)
May 10: U Tin Hla as Director-General, Forest Department,
Ministry of Forestry. (NLM 5/11)
GOVERNMENT
Workers Day Message
May 1: SLORC Chairman Senior General Than Shwe's Message on the
occasion of 1995 Workers Day [full text]:
To all esteemed workers,
Ont his auspicious occasion of Worker Day designated in honour
of the world's workers, which falls on 1 May 1995, I send this
message in honour of the blue collar and white collar workers in the
whole of the Union of Myanmar, extending my greetings with love and
respect to you and wishing for your physical and spiritual wellbeing.
In each and every country, the great mass of workers plays a
very critical role in fulfilling food, clothing and shelter needs and
social requirements of the respective nationals or in striving for
the development of her economy. Hence, every nation of the world has
organized Workers Day ceremonies in honour of workers and in
recognition of their crucial role.
The glorious life of Myanmar nationals with their own
sovereigns and palace had changed into servitude of the colonialists
for more than 100 years. During these gloomy years, the colonialists
systematically designed to cause degeneration of Union spirit and
patriotism and nationalism of the nationals and their fine inborn
character based on tenacity, diligence and perseverance. Social life
of Myanmar workers, peasants and students had gradually degraded.
Implanting bureaucratic sentiments in the minds of youths, they
caused suppression of Myanmar nationals on their own kins and
prolonged the slavery of Myanmars. Bureaucratic administrative
machinery or divide-and-rule tactics were employed to impede progress
in political, economic and social sectors.
Hence, the goal for advancement and development of the nation
each and every national wished for was far off with the
disintegration of national unity in the post-independence era.
Despite the Union of Myanmar being a nation rich in natural
resources, its development was sluggish without peace and stability.
Under the State Law and Order Restoration Council, national
brethren who had gone misled by the colonialist instigation have been
invited with genuine goodwill to the legal fold. Realizing the
genuine goodwill of the government, various armed groups have
renounced their armed struggle line and returned to the legal fold to
carry out tasks for their regional development, hand in hand with the
government.

The State Law and Order Restoration Council is making continued

efforts in all sectors for the nation to emerge peaceful, prosperous
and modern. As the nation's economic system has been changed from
socialist economy into market-oriented economy and opportunities have
been created for employment both in the nation and abroad, it depends
only on you to try to possess fitting qualifications of a good worker
such as diligence and adherence to discipline while improving morale
and discipline.
The State Law and Order Restoration Council has laid down a
guidance on the economy for a short term, from 1992-93 to 1995-96,
for quickening the pace of national economic development. In
accordance with the guidance, annual plans and aims are formulated
and for realization of them, they are being implemented, based on the
strength of workers and peasants, with assistance provided and
requirements fulfilled. So, good foundations that have been gained
consecutively with realization of aims of the first, second and third
years of the plan are now in sight for national economic development.
These successful results are attributed to exertion of great
endeavours by all those, including workers and peasants, who have
undertaken and participated in each sector of the national economy
with serious attention paid to increasing investments, boosting
production, promoting exports and multiplying foreign exchange. These
can also be attributed to united and harmonious interaction,
cooperation and coordination between State, cooperative and private
sectors.
To be able to realize or overcome yearly targets of the present
1995-96, the last year of the short-term plan, it is needed for the
workers to strive with harmonious combination of productive strength
of the peasants.
To all esteemed workers,
All of us are to take great honour as worker delegates and
State service personnel delegates are taking part as a national duty
in the National Convention being held to be able to lay down basic
principles for the new Constitution of the State. I would like to
urge them to continue to strive with all their physical strength and
intellectual power for successful conclusion of the National
Convention in accordance with its objectives.
On this auspicious occasion of peace and tranquillity and
stability in the nation with a trend towards modernity and
prosperity, I would like to emphatically urge physical and
intellectual workers to actively participate in the forefront,
together with entire nationals:
-for realization and overcoming the 1995-96 yearly plan
targets of the nation;
-for boosting production and services and for improving
quality of products; and,
-for emergence of a new Constitution which will bring
about a peaceful modern nation.
(NLM 5/1)
Yangon City Law Amendment
May 4: SLORC Law No. 5/95 of May 4, Law Amending The City of
Yangon Development Law, sets new penalties for violations at a K
50,000 fine and/or 1 year imprisonment. Daily violation penalties
under section 28 are raised to K 200-1000 per day. Violation of
orders under the law may be punished up to K 10,000 and/or 6 months
imprisonment, and violations of orders under section 30 are set at K
100-500 per day. (NLM 5/5)
Central Bank Law Amendment
May 5: SLORC Law No. 6/95 of May 5, Law Amending the Central
Bank of Myanmar Law, increases the penalty under section 89 from 5-10
years in prison to 10 years to life. (NLM 5/6)
MILITARY

Insurgent Attacks
May 14: Six Khun Sa Loimaw drug-trafficking group terrorists on
Apr. 30 tied up and hacked to death a monk, the Sayadaw of Loiting
Monastery in Namlan Township. (NLM 5/15)
May 20: 30 members of Khun Sa's Loimaw drug-trafficking
terrorist group invaded Wun Phwe village in Kehsi Mansam Township,
Shan State, on May 13; they killed 4 men and 7 women, and wounded 26
others including a monk. (NLM 5/21)
Tatmadaw Actions
May 5: From Mar. 11-May 4 the Tatmadaw "raided and smashed" 38
camps of Khun Sa's Loimaw drug-trafficking group in Loihan Kaungmu,
Phettumein in western Tachilek Township, Bakyan, Mongkung, and
Mongtalang areas of eastern Shan State. The captured Bakyan was
visited by Military Attaches, Mr. Gerald Moore of UNDCP, Mr. Gary
Carter of DEA, US Embassy personnel, and reporters from APTV, Time
Magazine, and NHK. In the campaign there were 55 clashes with the
enemy, who suffered 218 killed. Tatmadaw losses were 76 killed,
including an officer, and 175, including seven officers, wounded.
Captured were 26 weapons and other equipment [details]. (NLM 5/6)
May 6: The Tatmadaw crushed Khun Sa's drug-trafficking
terrorists in actions from May 11-June 13, 1994 and Mar. 11-May 5,
1995, and "smashed their camps in eastern Shan State." Khun Sa and
the Loimaw terrorist group used three routes for drugs from the
Golden Triangle, through the "adjoining country," to other countries:
Homein headquarters route; Mongkyawt-Monghtaw-Monghta route; and
Baja-Mongtalang-LoiHang-Kawngmu-Phettumein route. In the Mongkwawt
Operation, Khun Sa's losses were 250 "captured dead" and 163 weapons;
193 Tatmadaw members, including 7 officers, died and 257 were
wounded. This year, the Tatmadaw smashed enemy camps in the Nawngkan
area on Mar. 19, Kyahpee area on Mar. 21, LoiHang Kawngmu area on
Apr. 1, Hokemu area on Apr. 11, Bakyan area on Apr. 16, MongtalangMongtwe area on Apr. 22, and the last strongholds in the Pattumein
area on May 5. There were 62 clashes in two months; Khun Sa lost 237
men "captured dead" and 23 weapons; Tatmadaw lost 76 members,
including one officer, killed, and 178, including 7 officers,
wounded. The Tatmadaw seized 45 camps, large and small, including
three clandestine heroin refineries. With Khun Sa dislodged from the
west Tachilek and Mongkyawt areas, heroin production has been reduced
by two-thirds. [map] (NLM 5/7)
Surrenders by Armed Group Members
Apr. 30: Between Mar. 27-31, 31 members of various armed groups
returned to the legal fold, bringing the March total to 145 [names
and details]. (NLM 5/1)
May 2: Two members of the Mon armed group returned to the legal
fold Apr. 22 at Thanbyuzayat [names and details]. (NLM 5/ 3)
May 17: Four members of the Muslim armed group (Hussein's
group) returned to the legal fold May 8 at Myeik [names and details].
(NLM 5/18)
May 19: 24 members of various armed groups returned to the
legal fold at Tatmadaw camps [names and details--no dates but
presumably Apr. 1-11]. (NLM 5/20)
May 20: Between Apr. 12-30, 26 members of various armed groups
returned to the legal fold at Tatmadaw camps [names and details].
May 26: Two members of the BCP returned to the legal fold May
13 at Kanmaw Tatmadaw camp. (NLM 5/27)
ECONOMIC
Economic Articles
May 19: A Historic Day, by Hla Tun (Twantay). [Contract by
Myanma Five Star Line to buy two new Freighters from China noted.
Myanma Five Star Lines owns 21 ships, as follows:
Name
Built
Tonnage
1. Ocean-going freighters

(A)
Multi-purpose
Sagaing
1985 Germany
13,055
Magway
1985 Germany
13,055
Bago
1983 Germany
13,105
Mandalay
1983 Germany
13,105
Mawlamyine 1979 Germany
11,660
Sittway
1979 Germany
11,660
[Mawlamyine and Sittway can carry 400 containers; others can carry
383 containers]
(B)
Conventional freighters
Inwa
1963 Germany
10,720
Pathein
1963 Germany
10,720
Myeik
1963 Japan
10,075
Pinya
1963 Japan
10,011
(C)
Short haul freighters
Pagan
1979 Norway
2,076
Hpa-an
1979 Norway
2,076
Myomaywar
1961 Germany
7,082
II. Coastal vessels
(A)
Coastal freighters
Loikaw
1978 Myanmar
790
Lashio
1975 Denmark
700
Phashwegyawywar
1964 Denmark
1,575
Htonywar
1961 Germany
1,720
Shweli
1970 Japan
1,305
(B)
Coastal passenger/freighters
Hakha
1979 Norway
948
Myitkyina
1979 Norway
948
Taunggyi
1979 Norway
948
[these can carry 315 passengers]
TOTAL TONNAGE
137,334
Myanmar Five Star Line operates one other ship, and charters ships as
needed. In foreign trade it operates three lines:
European Line: Myanmar -- Hull (UK) -- Hamburg (Germany) -Rotterdam (Netherlands) -- Antwerp (Belgium) -- Myanmar.
Far Eastern Line: Myanmar -- Kobe, Yokahama, Nagoya (Japan) -Hong Kong -- Pusan (Korea) -- Shanghai and other ports (China) -Myanmar.
South Asian Line: Myanmar -- Singapore -- Penang (Malaysia) -Jakarta, Valawan (Indonesia) -- Mangalow (India) -- Bangladesh -Bangkok (Thailand) -- Myanmar.
Domestic lines are:
Rakhine Coastal Route: Thandwai -- Kyaukpyu -- Sittway -- Cocos
Island (in open season).
Mon-Taninthayi Route: Mawlamyine -- Dawei -- Myeik -Kawthoung.
Container service is provided to Japan (since 1980) and to Singapore
(since 1994, using chartered ships). In 1994-95 Five Star Line
carried 1,213,000 tons of freight and 77,000 passengers.]
Inauguration of Projects
May 2: The 27.5 mile Namhsan-Mongnai Railway, the first segment
of the Shwenyaung-Namhsan Railroad, was launched by Minister for Rail
Transportation U Win Sein. (NLM 5/3)
May 5: Skyline Express opened a new bus line between Yangon and
Bago. (NLM 5/6)
May 11: A modern 10-storey hotel, the Alfa Hotel, with 90
rooms, was inaugurated at 41 Nawade Street, Dagon Township, Yangon.
Built by the local Alfa Hotel of Myanmar Associate Co., it cost K 300
million. It was inaugurated by Minister for Hotels and Tourism LtGen. Kyaw Ba. (NLM 5/12)
May 12: Komatsu Singapore Pte. Ltd., a construction equipment
manufacturer, opened its Yangon Branch on Shwegondine Road, Bahan
Township. Present were Myanmar officials, Managing Director Mr. Akio
Mitake, and Vice-President Mr. Taizo Kayata. (NLM 5/14)

May 18: The Tarli Diversion Weir in Momauk Township was opened
May 13. Built at a cost of K 6.1 million, it is 6,500 feet long and
will irrigate 2,680 acres. (NLM 5/ 19)
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May 12: Full page advertisement from Komatsu Singapore Pte.
Ltd. (Construction Machinery) announcing the opening of a Yangon
Branch. (NLM 5/12)
==========================================
Welcome to Everybody!
* Traditional Puppet Show
Dances and Drama
Aurora Hotel
477, Pyay Road
Kamayut Township
Yangon. Tel: 34080
20th May '95 (Sat). 3:00 p.m.
350 Ks. Per Person
* To welcome The New Chief Cook from Germany "MR. ANDREAS"*
(NLM 5/18)
==========================================
Will Open On 21 May 1995
The Serenity
Music, Bar & Restaurant
ADDRESS:
114/B, INYA ROAD, YANGON, MYANMAR
Telephone No: 34890
(NLM 5/19)
==========================================
May 26: Full page advertisement for Ovaltine, distributed by
Super One International Company (Myanmar) Ltd. "Available from every
shops in every town." (NLM 5/26)
==========================================
International Business Projects
[This category will now also include reports on the
establishment of Joint Ventures, hitherto a separate category.]
May 9: The Ministry of Mines, represented by Managing Director
U Tin Win of No. 2 Mining Enterprise, signed a production sharing
contract with Sum Cheong Resources Pte. Ltd. of Singapore,
represented by President Mr. Low Tuck Kwong, for the Phayaungtaung
Gold Mine. Also present was Managing Director Mr. Lai Seck Khui.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Mines Lt-Gen. Kyaw Min noted
that this was the second gold production contract signed by Myanmar;
the first was on Feb. 28, 1995, with Pacific Arc Exploration of
Australia. Reviewing the history of gold production in Myanmar (the
Burma Gold Dredging Co. produced 56,000 ounces of gold in the upper
Ayeyawady River from 1903-18), he said that No. 2 Mining Enterprise
had begun a pilot project at the Phayaungtaung Gold Mine in 1986.

(NLM 5/ 10)
May 9: Myanma Shipyards, represented by Managing Director U
Percy Maung Maung signed a memorandum of understanding with Mitsui
Engineering and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., represented by President Mr.
Jiro Hoshino, and Mitsui and Co. Ltd., represented by Senior
Executive Managing Director Mr. Kazuo Sato, for the upgrading of
Myanma Shipyards. This will enable it to dock vessels up to 8,000
tons; the MoU also "involves cooperation in engineering enterprises
such as building of bridges, jetties, barges, buildings and sluice
gates and implementation of Thilawa Port." (NLM 5/10) // May 10: The
two Japanese called on SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt. (NLM
5/11)
May 11: Myanma Heavy Industries, represented by Managing
Director U Myint Thein Lwin, and Daewoo Corp. of Korea, represented
by Executive Director Mr. S Kim, signed a contract to establish
Myanmar Daewoo Motors Co. Ltd. as a joint venture "for import and
sale of new automobiles in Myanmar." The joint venture will import
Tico, Damas, Racer, Expero and Super Saloon in the first phase; in a
second phase it "target to manufacture the automobiles in Myanmar."
(NLM 5/12)
May 14: Myanma Five Star Line, represented by Managing Director
U Khin Maung Htoo, and Yunnan Machinery Import & Export Corp.,
represented by Chairman Mr. Wu Wen Kuan signed a contract for the
purchase of two 3,000 ton coastal freighters. (NLM 5/15)
May 18: Myanma Posts and Telecommunications, represented by
Managing Director U Htay Aung, and Telrad Telecommunication
and Electronics Industries Ltd. of Israel, represented by VicePresident Mr. Avi Lipski and Director Mr. David Shilo, signed a
contract to extend the autophone network in Yangon (16,000 new
digital electronic phones), Pyin-Oo-Lwin (1,000), Shwebo (800),
Sagaing (400), Hpa-an (400), and Loikaw (400). (NLM 5/19)
May 22: Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development
Notification No. 22/95 of May 22, Formation of Myanma Narong Fishery
Industries Limited, establishes a private joint venture "for the
purpose of fishing, processing of marine products, fishmeal
production and prawn farming," with an authorized capital of K 120
million, divided into 12,000 shares of K 10,000, of which 4,800 are
held by the Department of Fisheries, represented by Director-General
U Kyaw Lwin, and 7,200 by NCC Asian Fishery Industries Co. Ltd.,
represented by President Mr. Narong Piboonthanapattana, 1668/78 SOI
54, New Road, Yannawa, Bangkok 10120, Thailand.
May 23: The Information Subcommitteee of Tourist Development
Management Committee, represented by Secretary Managing Director U
Than Maung of the Printing and Publishing Enterprise, and Mewakasa
(M) Sdn Bhd of Malaysia, represented by Managing Director Mr. Azmi
Mansor signed a Memorandum of Understanding "to produce and
distribute souvenirs commemorating Visit Myanmar Year 1996...." Mr
Mansor and Chairman Dr. Tha Tun Oo of Today Media and Information
Ltd. signed a contract for local distribution of souvenirs. (NLM
5/24)
Business Courses
May 10: Seminar on Business Education No. 32 was held. Director
of Customs Department Thiha Thura U Thein Tun Tin lectured on A
Single International Valuation System. (NLM 5/11)
May 15: Ministry of Trade Special Course No. 1 for Graduate
Junior Officers opened at the Inspection and Agency Services.
Minister for Trade Lt-Gen. Tun Kyi "said the course is aimed at
bridging generation gap and 41 trainees were selected from among
qualified, honest and dutiful under-40 graduate personnel." The 2month course covers English and economics, and "the outstanding will
be assigned higher duties and vested with suitable rights and
authority step by step...." (NLM 5/16)
May 21: Seminar on Business Education No. 33 will be held on
May 24, with Direct
or U Thin Maung of the Directorate of Investments and Companies

lecturing on Profiles and Issues of the Investment Laws. (NLM 5/22)

May 29: Management Seminars for Leading Managers, presented by
the British Council and the Nawarat Concorde Hotel, opened, conducted
by Mr. Ralph Lewis of Ralph Lewis Associates. The opening was chaired
by British Cultural Attache Mr. Christopher Harrison; Director Dr.
Khin Sanda Win of Nawarat Concorde Hotel spoke. (NLM 5/30)
May 30: Myanma Insurance and TRB (London) Ltd. jointly
sponsored a Seminar on Oil and Gas Insurance at the Strand Hotel;
present were Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen. Win Tin,
Managing Director U Ba Tun of Myanma Insurance, and Managing Director
Mr. Andrew Morrison Corely of TRS (Asia) Ltd. Managing Director Mr.
Simon R. Cartwright of TRB (London) Ltd. lectured and answered
questions. (NLM 5/31)
Computers
Apr. 30: Speaking at Meeting 5/95 of the All-Myanmar Computer
Association Organizing Committee, SLORC Secretary-2 Lt-Gen. Tin Oo
"spoke of extensive application of computers and computer technology
all over the world, noting that progress of computer technology in
Myanmar is not satisfactory on the present stage.
"He recalled computer history in Myanmar and evaluated that
though it was not late to apply computers [sic], there are only a few
who can master computer technology. Some computer experts, he said,
are eager to work abroad rather than to strive to disseminate the
technology at home. He said computers are now widely used in various
fields, speaking of the need to upgrade the technology to keep
abreast with the times.
"It is essential for all State's functions, associations and
private establishments to work under a network for extensive exchange
of information, he said, speaking of the need to enter into an
internet. He also spoke of development modern computer technology in
many countries and stressed the need for computer experts to strive
in unity for modernizing, extension and development of technology at
home.
"He dealt with Information Technology (IT), which is crucial
for political, economic and social development of a nation, and
explained effective application of IT in the world. He suggested that
National IT Policy should be laid down as the nation's future
strategic aim and called for suggestions and coordination for
emergence of Myanmar Computer Association.
"Chairman of the Committee Deputy Minister [for Education] Dr.
Than Nyunt explained the tasks carried out by the Committee." (NLM
5/1)
Banking
Apr. 30: The Asia Wealth Bank Ltd. opened at 584 Strand Road,
Lanmadaw Township, Yangon; Minister for Finance and Revenue BrigGen. Win Tin and Bank Vice-President U Aik Tun spoke. There was also
a ceremonial dinner, attended by SLORC Secretary-2 Lt-Gen. Tin Oo.
(NLM 5/ 1)
May 16: Myanmar Oriental Bank Ltd. opened a Mandalay Branch on
May 15. (NLM 5/17)
May 24: The Central Bank of Myanmar has authorized the Societe
Generale of France to open a Representative Office in Yangon. Such
licenses have already been issued to 25 banks from Thailand (6),
Singapore (5), Malaysia (3), France (3), Indonesia (1), Cambodia (1),
Hong Kong (1), Bangladesh (1), Japan (1), United Kingdom (1), the
Netherlands (1), and Canada (1). (NLM 5/25)
Privatization
May 2: The Union of Myanmar Privatisation Commission announced
on Jan. 9 51 State-owned enterprises to be privatised. "The
individuals or organizations who are interested in doing business and
those who have filled up initial proposals but need to follow some
procedures are to contact the Project Appraisal and Reporting
Department on Bo Aung Kyaw Street. They can also contact telephone

numbers 94490 and 94967. (NLM 5/3)

May 18 [full text]: Those who have submitted proposals for
privatisation of 51 State-owned enterprises are to fill in the
detailed proposal papers after a study of the mills, factories,
cinemas and work establishments. They are to send the papers to the
Project Appraisal and Progress Reporting Department at 313, Bo Aung
Kyaw Street, Yangon by 5 June 1995." (NLM 5/ 19)
Company Blacklisted
May 3: The Ministry of National Planning and Economic
Development has blacklisted Managing Director Daw May Wa Phaw and her
company, Din Family Co. Ltd. of North Okkalapa Township for
"breaching principles of the market-oriented economy." (NLM 5/4)
Economic Figures
May 3: Speaking at the assignment of 1995-96 targets for Yangon
Division, Division LORC Chairman Lt-Gen. Myo Nyunt said that
Myanmar's foreign exchange holdings had risen from an alleged K 8
million on Sept. 18, 1988, when the SLORC took over, to K 2,127
million at the end of September 1994. Economic growth rates were 9.7%
in 1002-93, 5.9% in 1993-94, and 6.8% in 1994-95. "The successes have
been made possible without the assistance of foreign nations, he
said." (NLM 5/4)
New Hill Station Planned
May 7: SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt "inspected measures
for converting Thandaunggyi in Kayin Station into a hill station of
Lower Myanmar." Like Kalaw and Pyin-Oo-Lwin [formerly Maymyo], it was
used as a hill station by the colonialists before 1940. (NLM 5/8)
May 12: Editorial: Hill station of Lower Myanmar. ["Visiting a
hill station is...{a} way of evading the summer's sun.... {Myanmar}
hill stations...are not merely popular summer resorts, but are also
famous for their beautiful scenery and interesting places, which are
frequented year by year by local and foreign visitors.... As rays of
peace and stability are starting to beam brilliantly in Kayin
State...establishment of a new hill station in the state is a
considerable step towards its progress as well as promotion of
tourism industry."]
Tourism
May 10: 35 American tourists arrived by chartered flight,
sponsored by New Horizons Travels & Tours Ltd. They will visit Bagan
and Yangon before departing May 13. (NLM 5/11) // May 13: They
departed by chartered DC-8. (NLM 5/14)
Twantay Canal
May 21: Minister for Transport Lt-Gen. Thein Win toured the
Twantay Canal, which is to be transferred from the Irrigation
Department of the Ministry of Agriculture to the Waterways Department
of the Ministry of Transport. "He said traffic of vessels has to be
suspended eight hours a day due to whirlpools in the eroded parts and
so. eroded river bed is to be filled up with bags of stones and toll
collected from vessels using the canal is to be updated." For at
least three years, maintenance will be carried out jointly between
the two departments. The Minister "spoke of the need to salvage
vessels that have sunk in the river bed since pre-war era and
registration of wrecks...." (NLM 5/22)
Nationalities Village
May 23: Speaking to a coordination meeting of the Subcommittee
on Nationalities, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National
Races and Development Affairs Lt-Gen. Maung Thint "said traditional
houses of nationalities are on display temporarily at the People's
Square and People's Park before the establishment of a nationalities
village that contributes to the development of tourism. The 39-acre
nationalities village is being created near Thanlyin Bridge by Maha

International Ltd. and some nationalities will reside there according

to their customs so that tourists will have the opportunity to
observe the nature of the national people in Myanmar, he said.... The
establishment of the village will take one year. He also spoke of the
need to provide traditional objects for the houses on display...."
(NLM 5/24)
National Forestry Plan
May 25: The National Forestry Action Plan Steering Committee
held its first meeting, chaired by Deputy Minister for Forestry U
Aung Phone. He noted that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
had begun the Tropical Forest Action Programme (TFAP), and countries
were laying down National Forestry Action Plans (NFAP) to realize its
objectives. "Myanmar is the last to do so and it has been drafting
the plan due to be completed in the last week of June 1995, he
noted." The Steering Committee was to review and amend the draft. He
reviewed six points to be included in drafting the NFAP: "collection
of data and seeking the suggestions of the department, appraisal of
the forestry sector, appraisal of separate sectors, stating the
policy, methods and performance, drafting of NFAP and
implementation." An issues paper by FAO consultant Mr. C. Smith was
read and discussed. (NLM 5/26)
Rainfall in Yangon
Rainfall, in inches, at Yangon's three weather stations of
Yangon Airport (YA),
Kaba-Aye (KA), and Central Yangon (CY) was:
YA
KA
CY
1987
97.01 100.98 95.43
1988
99.17 100.00 107.76
1989
96.22 100.59 102.76
1990
118.35 109.92 122.84
1991
91.81 83.78 96.65
1992
81.34 96.02 95.98
1993
82.64 111.18 95.12
1994
120.16 120.94 117.36
1995
as of:
May 1:
0.00
0.00
0.00
May 15:
2.36
3.78
2.44
May 30:
9.88
8.62
7.95
HEALTH
Health Articles
May 6: The control of occupational exposure to radiation, by
Khin Maung Tin (Radiation Health). [Background information.]
May 24: The Role of Radiology and Radiologist in the Practice
of Medicine, by Dr. Kyaw Myint (Radiology). [What radiologists do.]
May 28: Neonatal Tetanus, the Infant Killer to be Eliminated
This Year, by Dr. Saw Myint. [It is time to end this cause of infant
mortality: Statistics for Myanmar
Percent
Mothers
No.
Cases/10,000
immunized
cases
Live births
1990 71.1%
n/a
1991 81.1%
189
1.89
1992 81.9%
111
1.11
1993 81.5%
105
1.05
"In conclusion, it is confident with sound reasons that the
preparedness in Myanmar will definitely eliminate neonatal tetanus by
the end of this year."]
No Tobacco Day
May 16: A coordination meeting was held on World No-Tobacco
Day, which falls on May 31, 1995, attended by Deputy Director-General

Dr Tin Wan of the Health Department. The motto "Tobacco Costs More
Than You Think" was chosen for 1995. (NLM 5/ 17)
Drugs Recalled
May 24: In view of the recall by Upjohn Company of two lots of
Solu-Cortef, (100mg AOV Lot No. BI 255 and BJ 055), the Drug Advisory
Committee decided to disseminate information to the general public
that those in possession of these drugs "should stop using them."
(NLM 5/25)
Birth Control
May 29: The Myanma Maternal and Child Welfare Association
(Central) opened a "birth-spacing course" in Taunggyi on May 24. "A
total of 150 trainees from maternal and child welfare associations of
18 townships in Taunggyi and Loilem districts" attended the two-day
course. (NLM 5/30)
SPORTS
Sports Articles
May 4: Praiseworthy Persons, by Kyaw Soe Myint. [Sportsmen
donating medals to an exhibit honored by Minister at the Prime
Minister's Office Brig-Gen. Lun Maung, Chairman of the National
Olympic Committee, n Apr. 27.]
Myanmar Teams and Officials
May 20: A 3-member sports delegation led by President of
Myanmar National Olympic Council Minister at the Prime Minister's
Office Brig-Gen. Lun Maung left for Seoul, Korea, to attend the May
23-25 14th Meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia. Other members are
General Secretary of the Olympic Committee and Director of the Sports
and Physical Education Department U Kyaw Mra and the Ministers
Personal Staff Officer Capt. Tin Htut Aung. (NLM 5/ 21)
May 30: Three Myanmar kick-boxers returned from the
International Kick-Boxing Tournament in Duisburg, Germany. (NLM 5/
31)
Hole In One
May 19: U Bo Bo scored an ace on May 18 at the 170 yard Hole
No. 12 of the City Golf Resort. (NLM 5/20)
CULTURAL
Cultural and Scientific Articles
May 6: Editorial: Role of mass media in development. ["At
present there are five retransmission stations in Kengtung East
Region, two in Wa Region, one each in Kokang Region and Kachin
Special Region-1, two in Tanintharyi Region and one in Kayin Region
totalling 12 stations constructed with border area development funds.
There is one station in Kachin North-East Region.... Ten similar
stations were constructed in the border areas with the funds of
Myanma TV and Radio Department. There is one station constructed on
self-reliance basis...in Muse Township.... A total of 24 such
stations were constructed ...up to the end of the fiscal 1993-94. A
total of 12...were constructed during 1994-95 in Kachin Special
Region-1 Kachin Special Region-2, Kengtung East Region, Kayah Region,
Kabaw Valley and Sagaing."]
May 30: Editorial: Back to school [full text]: After the long,
hot summer's vacation, children under basic education system will go
back to school this week. For all of them, the vacation had been
enjoyable whether they stayed home or really went on vacation
somewhere else. Apart from such excursion trips as organized by
township groups, there was merit-making in many cases also, with the
boys entering novicehood and the girls trying out nunhood, temporary
as that might be.
[End of holidays means start of schooldays. All of the

children, are going back to school on promotion to the next higher

classes. Those who finished high school will also be readying
themselves to enter institutions of higher learning.
[For parents sending children back to classes for the new
academic year, the deal means money for admission and other fees, new
clothes, footwear, school stationery, not to mention umbrellas and
raincoats, and, donations.
[This has meant stashing away some of the cut budget and
devising ways and means to supplement it. For most parents with more
than one or two children, money management in this period may reach
crisis proportions.
[This is when the worker welfare committee comes in most handy,
with a few hundred kyats for each employee with or without children
to help their own as well as others under the same roofs, those young
nieces and nephews who find such uncles and aunts very useful.
[Worker welfare committees can only be helpful if they have
money to help. The savings and credit societies can help with loans
repayable in instalments, and are thus not of much help although they
can be useful in case some shoring up is needed.
[This is a time when Parent-Teacher Associations should be able
to help, specially pupils with parents who are strapped for expenses.
However, most PTAs do not actually function till a few months into
the new school year or halfway through, not before the new executive
committees are formed.
[This leaves much room for thought, and, action. The PTAs
should help those who are in straitened circumstances, the children
of truly poor parents who cannot scrape up enough to meet new-term
expenses.
[Today, money anywhere in the world buys much less than it used
to even a decade ago. All the more reason resources should be pooled
to help those who need it, that is, when school days are just weeks
away.]
Universities & Institutes
May 14: The Institute of Paramedical Sciences held its first
Convocation, and Rector Dr. Saw Kyaw Aung distributed B.PS degrees to
40 graduates. (NLM 5/15)
May 19: Yangon University held its 79th Convocation, with
Rector Dr. Tun Maung conferring degrees on 321 law graduates, 771
arts graduates, and 312 economics graduates. (NLM 5/20) // May 20: On
the second day of the Convocation, Rector Dr. Tun Maung conferred
degrees on 924 arts graduates and 646 science graduates. (NLM 5/20)
May 26: Mawlamyine University welcomed 2,800 first year
students ("freshers") on May 24. (NLM 5/26)
Buddhism
May 1: SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt and religious
officials attended a ceremony for the completion of a Buddha image of
Maha Waiyanbontha Bagayakyaung, and a Pitakat Museum, in Amarapura
Township, Mandalay. (NLM 5/2)
May 14: Four sacred Buddha images from Bawgyo, Hsipaw Township,
that have been touring Myanmar for a month or so, were conveyed from
the Sule Pagoda in Yangon to the Shwedagon Pagoda, where they will
remain until May 23. They were originally donated by King
Naraptisithu of Bagan. [NLM has run photographs of the four Buddhas
in each issue for several weeks.] (NLM 5/15) // May 24: Following 30
days in Yangon (Botahtaung Pagoda Apr. 23-May 3; Sule Pagoda May 413; Shwedagon Pagoda May 14-23), the four sacred Bawgyo Buddha images
were ceremoniously conveyed to Thayawady. (NLM 5/25)
May 16: 402 Akha and In nationals in Mongphyat Township became
Buddhists on Apr. 29. (NLM 5/17)
Publications
May 15: The Golden Mrauk-U: An Ancient Capital of Rakhine, by U
Shwe Zan. An English-language guidebook to the ancient Rakhine
capital of 1430 AD to 1785 AD, the "fortress city of Myanmar." (NLM

5/16)

May 17: Selected Monthly Economic Indicators, January-February

1995, available at the Sarpay Beikman and Central Statistical
Organization. (NLM 5/18)
May 19: The first volume of an anthology by writer Maha Swe
will be available a K 130 at Wa Moe Aung Sarpay, 50 43rd Street,
Botahtaung Township. It includes 16 articles, one novel, and 15 short
stories. The Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association has
published three volumes of an anthology of writer Zawgyi and two of
P. Monin. (NLM 5/20)
May 28: Imex (Myanmar) Co. Ltd. on May 27 launched the first
edition of its Myanmar Yellow Pages 1995. General Manager U Ye Linn
explained how it was produced; the edition is complimentary. (NLM
5/29)
National Library Building
May 12: SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt inspected progress
on ground-levelling at a "site for building of National Library at
the corner of Laydaungtkan and East Race Course Roads...." in
Thingangyun Township. (NLM 5/13)
Warning on Culture
May 21: At a preliminary meeting for the Third Myanma
Traditional Performing Arts Competitions, SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen.
Khin Nyunt spoke:
"Traditional culture...cannot be the same between one country
and another nor one race an another, he said. Different cultures
should not get mixed up, he remarked. He warned of losing one's
identity if the culture of another is copied as one's own. He
stressed the need not to imitate the culture of other when one's own
culture is in existence....
"The Secretary-1 cited rising tendencies among some circles of
the present-day youths who think highly of alien culture. Hence, he
said, those concerned are to provide proper guidance in order to
eliminate such attitudes and tendencies. Then only will the youths be
brought back onto the right path, he said. If they float down the
trend in the absence of proper care and attention, the nation and the
race will suffer....
"He reminded that attempts are intentionally made these days to
tarnish the traditional culture which Myanmar peoples hold in esteem
and to overwhelm it with counter culture. He called for concerted
efforts to guard against the danger...." (NLM 5/22)
YU Diamond Jubilee
May 28: Co-eds of Inya Hall, pre- and post-war, met to discuss
the upcoming Diamond Jubilee of Yangon University; patrons for the
celebrations were Dr. Khin Win Shwe and Dr. Nan Oo. (NLM 5/29)
MISCELLANEOUS
Sunday and Holiday Supplements
May 7,14,21,28: Text of "Our Three Main National Causes. List
of Special Projects (6 bridges and 12 dams). Further List of Special
Projects (11). For texts see January issue. -- Seven National
Convention Slogans. For texts see April issue.
May 7,14,21,28: Towards a modern nation through all-round
development, by Warazein. [Cont. Ministry of National Planning and
Economic Development is achieving planned objectives (ii) Main
features of the short-term five year plan (1992-93 to 1995-96) are:
to raise GDP to K 62,046 million in 1985-86 prices, for an annual
growth rate of 5.1%; increase exports to K 5,604 million; increase
imports to K 7,280 million; invest K 104,099 million (39.6% State,
60.4 Coop and private). Targets for 1994-95 are: GDP of K 61,514
million, or annual growth of 6.4%; investments of K 35,688 million (K
13,567 million State and K 22,121 million Coop and private); exports
of K 4,379 million; imports of K 7,256 million. (iii) Statistics on

investments, exports, and imports.

[Ministry of Finance & Revenue plays an important role in the
economic sector. (i) Different branches of the Ministry. (ii) Review
of recent banking legislation.]
May 7: Pumped water agriculture is new trend, by Kyu Kyu Thinn.
[Visit to irrigation in Yegyibauk Village, Mandalay.]
-Golden Carp Co-op repeats successes, by Ahtet Minhla
Nyunt Aung. [Production by Coop in Khayan Township has risen from
580,000 viss in 1991-92 to 1,348,000 viss in 1993-94, with a pond
acreage of 720.]
-Kabaw Valley forges ahead, by Salai Nwai. [Area in Kalay
Township, Sagaing Division, on the Indian frontier, progresses.]
-A sanctuary for Myanmar golden deer, by Swe Thant Ko. [In
Minbu Township, Magway Division.]
-Khayan, a town with many splendours, by Thura Nyunt.
[Growth of a small town 36 miles from Yangon.]
May 14: Ywataung diesel locomotive workshop, by Khin Maung
Than. [Founded in 1969, now has 700 workers and a 43 acre workshop,
engaged in repairs, production, and Railways Engineering Training
Schools.]
-Road traffic in a modern city, by Mawgyun Soe Myint.
[Myanmar now has over 250,000 motor vehicles, of which 130,000 are in
Yangon and 44,000 in Mandalay. In Yangon there are 15,000 trucks,
6,600 passenger buses, and 80,000 taxis. "Yangon...has not yet
experienced any traffic jams excepting at the Hledan traffic lights
where vehicles have to wait a fairly long time for the right to go
ahead."]
-Irrigation canals in Thaton district, by Ahtet Minhla
Nyunt Aung. [Agricultural progress in Mon State.]
-Summer paddy in Waidaungt village, by Reporter Tin Ohn
Maung. [Agricultural progress in Toungoo District.]
-Preventing forest fires, by Pyin-Oo-Lwin Chit Swe.
[Importance of obeying forest rules.]
-Growing paddy in Bilin by irrigation, by Zaw Min Thein.
[Agricultural progress in Mon State.]
May 21: Farm machines production co-operative, by Myint Thura.
[Various small farm appliances.]
-Machinery beginning to roar in Myanma paddy fields, by
Paungde Min Thein. [Progress in Shwebo area.]
-Growing oil palm for self-sufficiency in cooking oil, by
Ahtet Minhla Nyunt Aung. [There is an annual deficit of 100,000 tons
of cooking oil.]
-South Nawin Dam Project, by Myint Zarni. [Completed dam
in Paukkhaung Township, Bago Division, inaugurated Apr. 28, 1995.]
-Conquering Hlaing River, by Sein Shwe Hlaing. [Recently
opened bridge.]
May 28: A resort town on west bank of Ayeyawady, by Swe Thant
Ko. [Visit to Pakokku, and its Myakanthar Garden.]
-Developing Okkan Township and surrounding area, by Ahtet
Minhla Nyunt Aung. [Visit to area in Taikkyi Township.]
-Valuable Myanmar marble slabs, by Mawgyun Soe Myint.
[Plans to exploit granite and marble. Discovered reserves are as
follows:
Granite, light grey, nr. Yezin, Pyinmana Township, Mandalay:
134 million tons
Granite, black, Kyaikto Township, Mon: 45 million tons
Granite, grey, Yay Township, Mon: 200 million tons
Granite, grey, Katan Isles, Myeik Township, Tanintharyi: 8,800
[million] tons
Granite, grey, Salon Island, Myeik Township, Tanintharyi: 2,800
million tons
Granite, light grey, Kawthoung Township, Tanintharyi: 5,000
million tons
Marble, pink, Thandaung Township, Kayin: 160 million tons
TOTAL: 17,139 million tons
Panthu Geological Services Co-operative Society of Myanmar plans to

produce marble, and will be discussing formation of a joint ItalianMyanmar marble factory this month.]
-Constructions for urban development, by Khayan Soe Myint.
[Housing project plans in Yangon.]
-Long-staple cotton cultivation in Yesagyo, by Tin Win
(Yesagyo). [Plans.]
-An important course of technology on fish and prawn
breeding, by Thein Mya Lwin. [Course on "Fresh Water Fish and Prawn
Breeding and Production" given by Khattiya Technological Extension
Co. Ltd. for two weeks beginning Apr. 24.]
Crime

May 5: Police on May 4 raided the Pegasus Karaoke Lounge at 5

Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Yangon, and will take action against its
foreign owner, a Mr. Ham, Manager U Tint Lwin, and the young ladies
"on breach of public morals." The "young ladies who sang karaoke, sat
intimately with customers and wore defiled dresses." Police found
"twenty-three ladies, ten of them with miniskirts, entertaining the
customers, who visited the shop at the rate of K 1,000 an hours, with
karaoke music and sitting questionably at the tables. It was also
found that some 20 ladies went into the shop in the evening and some
of them left in their customers' cars." (NLM 5/6)
May 9: A 20-year old man in Maungtaw Township was sentenced
Apr. 27 to life imprisonment for raping a woman on Mar. 26 and
stealing K 1,500 from her. (NLM 5/10)
May 16: Police and DSI on May 6 raided various houses in
Mingaladon, Lanmadaw, and Tharkayta Townships [Yangon], exposing a
ring producing and selling imitation liquors labeled as famous
brands, including Mandalay Rum, Black and White Whiskey, Vat 69,
Johnny Walker Red Label and Black Label, and others. (NLM 5/17)
May 30: Police have seized various persons trying to smuggle
ancient artifacts out of Myanmar at Nyaung U and Yangon International
Airports. On Apr. 16, Mr. Vincent Cerre, a Frenchman, was seized at
NyaungU airport with two 13th century votive tablets. On April 23
Miss Sherri Elizabeth, a Canadian, was seized at NyaungU airport with
an 11th century "floral accent object." On May 1, Mr. Lin Yun Han, a
Taiwanese, was seized at Yangon airport with five ancient Buddha
images, 2 porcelain vases, and 6 porcelain cups. On May 12, a
Myanmar, acting as liaison for two American tourists, Mr. Coughlin
Hugh James and Mrs. Overman Susan [sic], with various 18th century
bronze objects purchased at Tommy's in Mandalay for US$ 440. In
addition, on May 12, 6 votive tablets, 2 bronze Buddha images, and 2
stone-age implements were seized from the Ever Stand Lacquerware shop
in Bagan, and on May 4 bronze Buddha images, 2 bronze hintha images,
3 bronze keinnara figures, 2 silver bracelets, 58 Yadanabon and Pyu
coins, and 21 silver coins were seized at Tommy's. (NLM 5/31)
Anti-Narcotics Activities
Apr. 30: 1.9 kilos of opium oil, 4.9 kilos of opium, and
paraphernalia were seized Apr. 23 during a search of "the houses on
Phwenusiset Street, Ywama West Ward" in Insein Township, Yangon; 14
persons were arrested. Further searches turned up 1.1 kilos of raw
opium, 0.9 kilo of opium oil, TV sets, jewellery, and other
valuables. (NLM 5/1)
May 3: 0.002 kilo of heroin, and heroin-mixed products, were
seized May 1 in Chanaye Thazan Township, Mandalay Division. 12
gallons of acetic anhydride, smuggled in from Imphal, was seized Apr.
24 in Tamu. (NLM 5/4)
May 4: 1.6 kilos of opium were seized Apr. 26 in Hopang. 10.5
kilos of opium were seized Apr. 28 in Mohnyin Township. (NLM 5/5)
May 6: 19.5 grams of heroin were seized on May 2 in Botahtaung
Township, Yangon, and five drug traffickers arrested. (NLM 5/7)
May 15: 0.0004 kilo of heroin was seized May 3 in Mandalay;
0.02 kilo of heroin was seized May 5. (NLM 5/16)
May 17: 3.6 kilos of raw opium were seized Apr. 9 in Mandalay;
another 1.3 kilos of raw opium were seized Apr. 10. (NLM 5/18)

May 18: 6.6 kilos of raw opium were seized May 5-9 in Kutkai
Township. (NLM 5/19)
May 18: During April 1995, the Tatmadaw seized 0.08 kilo of
heroin and 12.8 litres of Phensedyl. The police seized 2.6 kilos of
heroin (126 cases), 97.8 kilos of opium (40 cases), 18.8 kilos of
marijuana (40 cases), 73.5 litres of Phensedyl (16 cases), 1.9 kilos
of opium oil (2 cases), 0.003 kilo of dried opium (1 case), 0.9 litre
of Comethazine (3 cases), and 12 gallons of acetic anhydride. There
were 97 cases of failure to register for treatment and 7 other drugrelated cases. The police took action against 479 persons in 335
drug-related cases during April. The police and Tatmadaw acting
together seized 0.3 kilo of heroin (6 cases), 33.6 kilos of opium (8
cases), 0.02 kilo of marijuana (1 case), and 63.3 litres of Phensedyl
(14 cases) during April. (NLM 5/19)
May 24: 960 bottles of Benedryl, 630 unlabeled bottles and 104
empty bottles, were seized May 13 in Monywa. 4.8 kilos of opium were
seized in Hopong. (NLM 5/25)
May 30: 2,727 litres of acetic anhydride and 0.05 kilo of
heroin were seized May 24 in Kyukok-Pangsang. 120 bottles of
Comethazine were seized May 26 at the Sao Sam Htun Hospital quarters
in Taunggyi. (NLM 5/31)
Articles on Narcotics Law
[Articles by "KMO" were previously reported under GOVERNMENT,
but since virtually all of them concern narcotics cases, we shall in
future report them here. HCMacD.]
May 1: Legal feature of the term "knowledge" under the Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law elucidated by the Supreme
Court, by KMO. [Supreme Court overturned the acquittal of one Maung
Nyunt Oo for knowingly possessing heroin, and sentenced him to five
years. The heroin was found buried in his house compound, and a large
quantity of money found in the house; the defendant had pleaded that
he knew nothing about the heroin, had a agreed to a search only after
being beaten by police, and that the money was from the sale of a
house. The Supreme Court held that because the heroin was buried "it
must be deemed [to be] purposely...concealed" and "it must...be
construed that the money must be the proceeds of the sale of
heroin."]
Obituaries
[English language obituaries only; there are obituaries in
Burmese as well.]
Apr. 13: Daw Thein Tin (Thanbyuzayat), widow of Rev. Nai Po
Chit,...grandmother of Daw Khin Mar Oo-U Nyein Thwin (Canada),
Reginald D. Chit-Selma Chit (USA)...died in Myitkyina, aged 90.
[Christian] (NLM 5/20)
Apr. 30: Mrs. E.D. Nasse (nee Baker), St Johns Dio: Ex-Teacher,
died in Yangon, aged 75. [Christian] (NLM 5/2)
Apr. 30: U Gabriel Pyan, Kayan National Guard -- Mobye, husband
of Daw Annie Talbot, died (in Mobye?), aged 48. [Christian] (NLM
5/17)
May 1: Rev. Fr. Cyril U Tun Myat, died in Yangon, aged 81.
[Catholic] (NLM 5/2)
May 1: Dr. Khin Ma Ma Nyo (Lucy Nyo), Retd Headquarters
Assistant Department of Health, Taunggyi, died in Yangon, aged 70.
(NLM 5/3)
May 8: U Nyunt Thein, Retired Asst. Superintendent Aerial
Survey, husband of Daw Khin Hla Hla, died in Yangon, aged 82. (NLM
5/9)
May 8: Daw Sein Tee, wife of U Thein Maung, died in Yangon,
aged 85. (NLM 5/10)
May 10: U Zau Awng, Director-General (Rtd), Forest Department,
husband of Daw Nang Ja, died in Yangon, aged 76. [Christian] (NLM
5/11)
May 11: Steven Khup Do Dal, Retired Officer (Oil Dept.), Heho
Airport, husband of Nu Angela Niang Go Cing, died in Kalemyo, aged

59. [Christian] (NLM 5/13)

May 21: Daw Nyein Shwe (Morton Lane Judson) Mawlamyine, widow
of U Aung Gywe, died in Yangon, aged 90. [Christian] (NLM 5/22)
May 21: Ebrahim G.H. Doo, husband of Daw Gori Azam Alloo,
father of...Gulam Hussain Doo (USA)...died in Yangon, aged 81.
[Muslim] (NLM 5/22, corrected 5/23)
May 22: U Maung Maung Lay (Haroon Vali), Advocate, Taunggyi,
husband of Daw Khin Kyin Aye, died in Taunggyi, aged 62. [Muslim]
(NLM 5/25)
May 25: Miss Caroline Jacobs died in Yangon, aged 64.
[Christian] (NLM 5/26)
May 27: Daw Chit Sein (Tharyargone), widow of U Aye Maung,
mother of...Khin Pyone Lwin (Sally) (USA),...Daw Mya Mya Oo (USA), U
Zaw Win-Daw Khin Saw Yu (USA)...died in Yangon, aged 85. (NLM 5/ 28)
May 28: U Tha Lun, Burma Railways, husband of the late Daw
Thit, died in Yangon, aged 96. [Christian] (NLM 5/29)
May 29: Kanti Kumar (Gon Htoo Sarpay), husband of Bhariti, died
in Yangon, aged 51. [Hindu] (NLM 5/31)
May 30: Augustus Ernest Ross, Retired ATCO 2, Mingaladon
Airport, Secretary, Thai Military Attache, husband of Beatrice Ross,
died in Yangon, aged 70. [Christian] (NLM 5/31)
Fires

During the early part of May, there were repeated calls for,
and reports on, donations for victims of the Apr. 27 fire in Shin Saw
Pu and Leikpyakan Wards, Bago, which destroyed 745 houses.
May 5: Japanese Ambassador Takashi Tajima donated 3,000
blankets and other supplies worth US$ 97,000 for Bago fire relief,
and visited the area. (NLM 5/6)
May 7: Fire Brigades which extinguished a fire on Mar. 30 in
Ward 12 of Thongwa Township, Yangon, were honoured. (NLM 5/ 8)
May 24: United States Charge d'Affaires Ms. Marilyn A. Meyers
donated US$ 10,000 to UNDP for Bago fire relief, which has been
earmarked for "the provision of rice, cooking oil and school supplies
to the affected families of a fire which gutted 745 homes and made
4,558 people homeless in two residential wards in Bago on 27 April."
The gift was received by Acting UNDP Resident Representative Mr.
Douglas Wagner. (NLM 5/25)
May 25: Chinese Ambassador Mrs. Chen Baoliu presented the
Ministry for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, on behalf of
the Chinese Red Cross, with US$ 10,000 for Bago fire relief. (NLM
5/26)
Special Delivery Mail
May 6: Myanma Posts and Telecommunications will launch a pilot
special delivery system on May 8. Under it, letters, publications and
gifts will be "sent to the respective addresses in time." During the
pilot stage, regular postal rates will be charged. The system will
cover Botahtaung, Pazundaung, Mingala Taungnyunt, Tamway, Kyauktada,
Pabedan, Latha, Seikkan, Lanmadaw, Alon, Kyimyindine, Sangyoung,
Dagon, Bahan, Kamayut, Hline, Mayangon, and Yankin Townships and the
Yangon Institute of Technology. For information, call 91873 or 86411.
(NLM 5/7)
Earthquakes
May 6: An earthquake of strong intensity (6.3 Richter) was
recorded at 08:31:16 hours, local time, with epicentre 564 miles NW
of Yangon. (NLM 5/7)
May 17: An earthquake of moderate intensity (5.2 Richter) was
recorded at 04:20:40 local time, with epicentre 60 miles E of Yangon.
(NLM 5/18)
Weddings and Engagements
May 4: Mr. Sigmund Lee, son of Mr. Yock Chang Lee and Mrs. Chai
Her Lee of Chicago, USA, married Ma Nu Nu Yee, daughter of Loo Yap
Khin (a) U Mya Khin and Daw Kyin Pu of Yangon. (NLM 5/18)

May 6: Ma Sandar Kaung Myint (Assistant Surgeon, Pyay Myo),

eldest daughter of U Kaung Yin and Daw Aye Myint, married Maung Hla
Aung (Managing Director, Techmat Myanmar Co. Ltd.; Director, Air
Mandalay), son of the late U Ngain and Daw Kee, at the Inya Lake
Hotel, Yangon. (NLM 5/8)
May 7: Ma Cho Mar Kaung Myint, second daughter of U Kaung Yin
and Daw Aye Myint, became engaged to Mg Kyaw Zaw Thein, son of U Aung
Kyaw Thein and Daw Mya Mya Saw, at Karaweik Hall, Yangon. (NLM 5/8)
May 7: Ma Lwin Mar Kaung Myint, youngest daughter of U Kaung
Yin and Daw Aye Myint, became engaged to Mg Soe Aung Lwin, son of U
Kyi Lwin and Daw Kyi Thein Lwin of Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, at Karaweik
Hall, Yangon. (NLM 5/8)
May 7: Ma Than Cho Nwe, Managing Director, TCN Construction &
Trading Co. Ltd., daughter of U Pe Than and Daw Cho Cho Tun, became
engaged to Maung Thant Sin Soe, son of U Soe Thein and Daw Khin Hnin
Yee, at the Mya Yeik Nyo Royal Hotel, Yangon. (NLM 5/8)
Parking Permits
May 17: Since July 1, 1993, the Yangon City Development
Committee has issued permits to vehicles "after they paid tax for
permission for overnight parking." Vehicles "which have paid tax for
night-stop permits are to keep them visible or else they will be
considered as those which have not paid tax." (NLM 5/18)
May 19: The Traffic Rules Enforcement Supervisory Committee met
to "coordinate parking of cars at schools and measures to prevent
traffic jams." (NLM 5/20)
Drifting Fishermen
May 18: More than 100 Myanmar fishermen who drifted to
neighbouring countries during storms were repatriated. 76 were
brought back between January 1- May 5, by ship, plane, and land. On
May 18, a plane brought 78 back from Calcutta. (NLM 5/19)
----SUBSCRIPTIONS & RENEWALS
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