Volume XIX, Number 301 9th Waning of Tabodwe 1373 ME Thursday, 16 February, 2012

Established 1914

Our Three MainNational Causes

* Non-disintegration ofthe Union

* Non-disintegration ofNational Solidarity

* Perpetuation ofSovereignty

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb—President of the Repub-lic of the Union of Myanmar U Thein Sein receivedDeputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign AffairsMr Jean Asselborn of Luxembourg and party at theCredentials Hall of the President Residence, here, at 4pm today.

Also present at the call together with PresidentU Thein Sein were Union Minister for Foreign Affairs

President U Thein Sein receivesDeputy Prime Minister and

Minister for Foreign Affairs ofLuxembourg

U Wunna Maung Lwin, Union Minister for Industry USoe Thein, Union Minister at the President Office USoe Maung, Union Minister for National Planning andEconomic Development U Tin Naing Thein anddepartmental heads.

They cordially discussed and exchanged viewson friendly ties and cooperation between the twocountries.—MNA

President of the Republic of the Union ofMyanmar U Thein Sein cordially greetsDeputy Prime Minister and Minister for

Foreign AffairsMr Jean Asselborn of Luxembourg.

MNA

President of the Republic of the Union ofMyanmar U Thein Sein receives Deputy

Prime Minister andMinister for Foreign Affairs Mr JeanAsselborn of Luxembourg and party.

MNA

Ayeyawady RiverCrossing Maubin

Bridgecontributing todevelopment ofsocio-economicstatus of local

people inAyeyawady Region

PAGE 5

Third regular session of PyithuHluttaw meeting continues for

Fourth day PAGE 6

Third regular session of firstAmyotha Hluttaw continues

for fourth dayPAGE 7

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2 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012

PERSPECTIVESThursday, 16 February, 2012

Think right, view straightNothing in this world is easier than to

criticize others. In fact, it is an aspect of ourdaily life. Critical judgements, good or bad,may be positive, negative or balanced. However,the world is just full of armed chair critics.

It takes all sorts to make a world butsometimes we are criticizing others just becausetheir meat is poison to us. Every ass loves tohear himself brays. Why? The answer is self-importance. You should look yourself beforeyou criticize others. No man in this world isperfect. If you are living in the glass house, whyshould you throw stones and invite foes?

There needs to have right view to makebalanced criticism and critical thinking is ofcrucial importance here. Most of us tend tocriticize out of ego and pride, neglecting thereal situation. We are weak in cause and effectanalysis. Differences can be seen here andthere in this world and the best option is ofcooperation on common ground. Only we thinkright, can we view straight.

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb — Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw ThuraU Shwe Mann received a delegation led by Deputy PrimeMinister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg MrJean Asselborn at the Hluttaw Building here at 3 pm today.

During the meeting, Mr Jean Asselborn said he wantedto witness the political reforms which were welcomed by theinternational community during the time of the new

Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker receives Dy PrimeMinister of Luxembourg

government.Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw Thura U Shwe Mann explained

the role of the Hluttaw in the political reform process andexpressed his warmly welcome to the delegation.

Also present at the meeting were chairmen, secretariesand members of the committees of Pyithu Hluttaw.

MNA

Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann receives Deputy Prime Minister and Minister forForeign Affairs of Luxembourg Mr Jean Asselborn and party.—MNA

Union I&P Minister, Special Adviser to UNSG hold talks

Union Minister forImmigration and

Population U Khin Yireceives Special

Adviser to the UnitedNations Secretary-

General and Under-Secretary-General Mr

Vijay Nambiar andparty.—MNA

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb —As part of efforts for enactingproper rules and regulationsto improve thecommunication sector,responsible personnel andexperts held a meeting todiscuss the communicationsbill in detail at Ministry ofCommunications, Posts andTelegraphs here today.

During the meeting,officials of the ministry andAttorney-General’s Officediscussed the details of thebill which encourages invitingtechnology and investmentfrom foreign countries in thecommunication sector.

Responsible personnelof Telenor communicationcompany from Norwayparticipated in the discussion,stressing the need for enactingstrong rules and regulationsin Myanmar andopportunities for cooperationin the communication sector.

The meeting ended withconcluding remarks byDeputy Minister forCommunications, Posts andTelegraphs U Tint Lwin.

The meeting was also

Experts discusscommunications bill in detail

Discussion onCommunications Bill

in progress.—MNA

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb —Union Minister forImmigration and Population

U Khin Yi received adelegation led by SpecialAdviser to the United Nations

Secretary-General andUnder-Secretary-GeneralMr Vijay Nambiar at his

office here yesterday.During the meeting, the

cordially discussed mattersrelated to the plan for takinga national census,dissemination of knowledgeto the people and thecooperation between theministry and UNHCR andUNFPA.

Also present at themeeting were director-general, head of officeand,departmental officials ofthe ministry.—MNA

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb—Relaxations have been seen in tax,catching fish in Myanmar’s sea, fish export and investment,Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries UKhin MaungAye said in regular coordination meeting of meat and fishsector entrepreneurs held at Myanmar Fisheries Federationin Yangon yesterday.

He also called for cooperation of all stakeholders inlivestock sector for sustainable development, quality controlfor AFTA in 2015, exporting value-added products,penetrating international market and disbursing loans.

MNA

Meat and fish sectorentrepreneurs meet

Tobacco Kills

attended by managingdirector, director-general,Chief engineers of thedepartments and enterprisesunder the ministry andofficials of the Attorney-General’s Office.—MNA

YANGON,15 Feb—Belarusian Ambassador to theRepublic of the Union of Myanmar Mr Valery Sadokhocalled on Vice-President of the Republic of the Unionof Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce andIndustry U Zaw Min Win, and Dr Maung Maung Layand party at UMFCCI office, here, on 10 February.

They held discussions on visit of Belarusiandelegation including entrepreneurs engaging infarming equipment, rice and marine products toMyanmar, and invitation to Myanmar entrepreneursto Belarus in December 2012.

MNA

UMFCCI Vice-President meetsBelarusian Ambassador

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THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012 3

Drug maker for ‘El Chapo’ seized in MexicoMEXICO CITY, 15 Feb—

Mexican officials saidTuesday they have arrested aman who manufacturedmethamphetamine for the

Federal police agentspresent Jaime Herrera,

alias “El Viejito,”alleged member of the

Pacific drug cartel, to thepress in Mexico City, on14 Feb, 2012.—INTERNET

NATO regrets airstrike thatkilled eight young Afghans

KABUL, 15 Feb— The US-led military coalition says itregrets the killing of eight civilians in a NATO airstrike thismonth in eastern Afghanistan.

The coalition dropped two bombs on 8 Feb in NajrabDistrict in Kapisa Province, after movements by eight peopleon the ground were assessed as a threat to Afghan police andNATO forces in the area.

Air Commodore Mike Wigston, the director of NATO airoperations, said on Wednesday the international forcesbelieved they were “young teenagers” who were armed.

Local officials say seven were boys between the ages of6 and 14 and one was a mentally ill young man around 18 to20 years old.

US Gen John Allen, the top commander in Afghanistan,has met with the provincial governor to express hiscondolences.—Internet

Foreign soldiersand military

personal part ofthe NATO- ledInternational

SecurityAssistance Force(ISAF) inspect

confiscated armsand ammunitions

which weredisplayed to

media during anews event inLashkar Gah,

HelmandProvince, south

of Kabul,Afghanistan, on

14 Feb, 2012.INTERNET

Sinaloa drug cartel run byJoaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

The arrest of suspectJaime Herrera Herrera was thelatest in a series of detentions

CycloneGiovanna

kills three onMadagascar

ANTANANARIVO, 15Feb— Officials inMadagascar say a cyclonethat hit the Indian Oceanisland left three peopledead.

Cyclone Giovannastruck land about 1 amTuesday, bringing heavyrain and high winds. About70 families, including 45in the capital, were floodedout of their homes.

According to natio-nal disaster officials, oneof the dead was struck byan electricity pylontoppled by high winds inBrickaville, some 160miles (260 kilometres)east of the capital,Antananarivo.

The collapse of ahouse in Brickavillekilled another victimthere, and a third drownedin Moramanga, about 60miles (100 kilometres)east of Antananarivo.

The worst of thestorm was over byafternoon.

Internet

Sirens scream in quake drill acrossIndian capital

NEW DELHI, 15 Feb—Ambulance sirens arescreaming across New Delhias the Indian Capital holds amajor disaster drill amid fearsthat a major earthquakecould topple many buildingsand homes.

Metro trains ground to ahalt for more than a half-hourWednesday while fire-fighters staged mock rescuesand school children divedunder desks for cover.

Dogs sniffed out peopleposing as survivors, andmedics tended to fakewounds.

It was the biggest-everearthquake drill across thecity of 16.7 million people.Much of New Delhi isvulnerable to quake damagebecause of poorly constru-

Indian schoolgirls lie low under their desks during adisaster drill checking the alertness and preparedness ofvarious agencies in the event of a major earthquake, atthe NP Bengali Girls School in New Delhi, India, on 15

Feb, 2012. —INTERNET

of associates of Guzman, themost wanted man in Mexico.

The arrest also came amidmounting evidence thatGuzman’s Sinaloa cartel hasmoved into meth productionon an industrial scale.Officials say several enormousseizures of meth precursorchemicals and large labs forprocessing the drug areprobably linked to Sinaloa.

Federal police said in astatement that Herrera Herrera,43, was captured in Sinaloastate, on the Pacific coast. Itsaid he was one of the principalproducers of metham-phetamine for Guzman’s cartel

and is wanted by authorities inthe United States. Police saidhe has acknowledged movingtons of methamphetamine intothe United States. AlsoTuesday, a conference on drugpolicy in Mexico City turnedinto a discussion on druglegalization, one day afterGuatemalan President OttoPerez proposed a broadlegalization. Former Brazilianpresident Fernando HenriqueCardoso said “the failed waragainst drugs has strengthenedorganized crime, destabilizedgovernments, violated humanrights and devastated liveseverywhere.”—Internet

cted buildings, looselyhanging electrical wires andnarrow alleys.

The city says a quake

could cause moderate orsignificant damage to nineout of 10 buildings.

Internet

Red Cross urges aid to avoid Sahel disasterSAHEL, 15 Feb—More funding is needed

to avert a humanitarian disaster in Africa’sSahel Region where up to 14 million peopleare suffering from food shortages, theinternational Red Cross said on Tuesday.

The emerging crisis in the desert area isunderfunded because early warnings aregoing unheeded, the International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

A photo released by Oxfam in December2011 shows a women pointing at the dry

land in Oud Guedara, Mauritania.INTERNET

(IFRC) said.The UN estimates that as many as 23

million people could be hit by the food crisisin Niger, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso,Mauritania and Senegal, spurred by poorharvests last year. The Sahel belt isparticularly sensitive to drought and famine.In 2010 some 10 million people were affectedby a severe food crisis. “IFRC is urging donorsto come to the aid of the Sahel but also toinvest in longer term resilience to break thecycle of chronic food shortages in the region,”a statement said.

Momodou Lamin Fye, who representsthe IFRC in the Sahel, has just returned fromMauritania.

“I saw for myself how severe the situationis,” he told a journalists’ briefing.

“It could quickly develop into ahumanitarian disaster if the world does notstart paying attention to the plight,” he said.

The UN World Food Programme said itwill host a meeting of humanitarian agenciesand donor governments on Wednesday toaddress the need to increase aid.—Internet

Pakistan releases US man after“bullets found in baggage”

PESHAWAR, 15 Feb—A US embassyemployee was released after being held forquestioning in Pakistan on Tuesday whenairport security officials discovered bulletsin his luggage, police said.

The American was about to fly from thenorthwestern city of Peshawar to the capitalIslamabad when he was taken into policecustody, said Tahir Ayub, a senior policesuperintendent.

A policeman gestures towards thevehicle of an American national whowas held for questioning at a police

station in Peshawar on 14 Feb, 2012.INTERNET

He was released after four hours whenofficials from the US consulate in Peshawarproduced documents to show the man workedat the consulate.

“He’s been released to the consulate,” aUS official in Islamabad said. “He’s at theconsulate now.” The American is an embassyemployee usually based in Islamabad butwas temporarily assigned to the Peshawarconsulate, the official said.

Police officers had earlier said theywould hold the man until his identity hadbeen verified by the foreign office inIslamabad and a US official in the capitalhad said the embassy was looking into thedetails of the reports.

“He has diplomatic status,” the officialsaid. “We’re in contact with Pakistaniauthorities on the details on the case.”

Ayub said a pistol and 12 magazinerounds had been recovered from the man’sluggage, while another police officer saidsecurity officials had only found bullets.

Reuters

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4 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012

Aspirin could beat cancerspread: Australian studyMELBOURNE, 15 Feb — Aspirin and other household

drugs may inhibit the spread of cancer because they helpshut down the chemical “highways” which feed tumours,Australian researchers announced on Tuesday. Scientistsat Melbourne’s Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre said theyhave made a biological breakthrough helping explain howlymphatic vessels — key to the transmission of tumoursthroughout the body — respond to cancer.

“We’ve shown that molecules like the aspirin... couldeffectively work by reducing the dilation of these majorvessels and thereby reducing the capacity of tumours tospread to distant sites,” researcher Steven Stacker said.Doctors have long suspected that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin may help inhibit thespread of cancer but they have been unable to pinpointexactly how this is done. By studying cells in lymphaticvessels, the researchers found that a particular gene changedits expression in cancers which spread, but not when thecancer did not spread.

The results published in Cancer Cell journal revealthat the gene is a link between a tumour’s growth and the

Aspirin and other household drugs may inhibit thespread of cancer because they help shut down the

chemical “highways” which feed tumours, Australianresearchers announced on Tuesday.— INTERNET

cellular pathway which can cause inflammation and dilationof vessels throughout the body. Once these lymphatic vesselswiden, the capacity for them to act as “supply lines” totumours and become more effective conduits for the cancerto spread is increased. But aspirin acts to shut down thedilation of the vessels.— Internet

Bone marrow stem cells give ‘some’ heart healingScar tissue forms after aheart attack.— INTERNET

affected life expectancy.The review comes a day after doctors reported the first

case of using heart cells to heal heart attack damage. If apatient survives a heart attack, dead heart muscle is replacedwith scar tissue - leaving the patient weaker and possibly ona lifetime of medicine. Researchers are beginning to showthat taking cells from a heart, growing millions of new heartcells in the laboratory and pumping those back into the heartmay reduce scar tissue and lead to new heart muscle.

However, the trials are at a very early stage and in onlya handful of patients. Using a similar technique with cellstaken from the bone marrow, which is a prime source of stemcells, has a much longer pedigree. The report by Cochranepooled the data from all 33 bone marrow trials which hadtaken place up to 2011. It concluded that bone marrowtherapy “may lead to a moderate long-term improvement” inheart function which “might be clinically very important”.

Internet

LONDON, 15 Feb — Bone marrow stem cell therapyoffers “moderate improvement” to heart attack patients,according to a large UK review of clinical trials. Theanalysis by the Cochrane Collaboration looked at 33 trialsinvolving more than 1,700 patients. It said longer-termstudies were needed to see if the experimental therapy

Bacteria used to fight sleepingsickness

LONDON , 15 Feb —Scientists believe they havefound a way to beat sleepingsickness using a bacteriumagainst the tsetse fly host thatspreads the disease to humans.In the same way that we havefriendly bacteria in ourintestines, the tsetse flyharbours bacteria in its midgut,muscle and salivary glands.Experts in Belgium havegenetically modified these“good bugs” so they attackthe culprit parasite carried bythe fly. But work is needed tohone the process. The latestfindings are published in theopen access journal MicrobialCell Factories. Sleepingsickness, or human African

The sleeping sicknessparasite gets into the

bloodstream.— INTERNET

trypanosomiasis, is apotentially fatal disease thatplagues many regions ofAfrica. Although the numberof people being infected withthe disease has been goingdown thanks to betterdiagnosis and treatment, therewere still more than 7,000 new

cases recorded in 2010. Theparasite causing sleepingsickness is transmitted tohumans through the bite ofthe infected tsetse fly.

This causes fever,headaches, aching jointsand itching. Then followsthe second stage of diseaseas the parasites cross theblood-brain barrier to infectthe central nervous system.The person then becomesconfused, poorly co-ordinated and experiencesthe sleep disturbanceswhich give the disease itsname. Without treatment,sleeping sickness is fatal.But current therapies oftenhave unpleasant side-effects. — Internet

China Premier Wen Jiabao vows to help oneurozone debt

BEIJING, 15 Feb — China has promisedto help resolve the eurozone’s debt crisis,after talks with EU leaders in Beijing.Premier Wen Jiabao offered co-operationto help stabilise debt-ridden EU nations,but made no specific promise to invest ina European bailout fund. EU leaders havebeen seeking Chinese money to help bolstera planned fund of about 500bn euros($665bn; £420bn).

In another sign of the EU’s troubles,credit-rating agency Moody’s earlierdowngraded Spain, Italy and Portugal.Moody’s also downgraded the creditoutlook for France, the UK and Austria.The crisis in eurozone counties hasintensified in recent days. Greece passed apackage of severe cuts late on Sunday,demanded by the EU and IMF in return fora 130bn euro bailout. But the austeritymeasures have proved deeply unpopularand caused riots in Athens.

Europe is China’s biggest trading

partner, with trade worth 560bn euros flowingbetween the two last year. European leadershave long courted Chinese investment intheir bailout fund.n a joint news conferencewith European Council President HermanVan Rompuy and European CommissionPresident Jose Manuel Barroso, Mr Wensaid China was willing to “increase itsinvolvement” in attempts to stabilize theeurozone. “China is firm in supporting theEU side in dealing with the debt problems.We match our words with our actions,” hesaid.— Internet

China’s Premier Wen Jiabao: ‘‘We arefacing enormous challenges.’’

INTERNET

Firm tries to block iPad on mainland

iPad,” said Xie Xianghui, a lawyerrepresenting Proview TechnologyShenzhen. “We are asking for the banespecially for the iPad 3.” China is the majorlocation for factories that supply andassemble a wide range of Apple products.Apple’s sales volume in China accounts for16 percent of the company’s global revenue,while sales in China only made up 2 percenttwo years ago, according to media reports.

The new generation of iPad is expectedto make its debut in early March, accordingto US media reports. Xie rebutted a popularcriticism that Proview Shenzhen, a companyon the verge of bankruptcy that has notproduced any iPad products, is exploitingApple. “Assume we have a house. If wedon’t live in it, should we give it away or sellit?” he said. He said Proview Shenzhen isundergoing debt restructuring. It has to beresponsible to its shareholders and creditorsby getting the most out of any valuableproperty.— Xinhua

BEIJING, 15 Feb—A Shenzhen-basedenterprise claiming ownership of the iPadtrademark in China is calling on customsauthorities to bar the export and import ofApple’s iPad 3. Proview TechnologyShenzhen holds the trademark it registered in2001, according to the official website ofChina’s trademark authority, while thetechnology company Apple argued it boughtthe name from Proview Taipei, which isassociated with but still a separate entity fromthe Shenzhen company.

“We plan to file the complaints to customsby the end of this month and ask for anembargo on the import and export of the

Samsung shares hit record on spin-off newsSEOUL, 15 Feb — South Korean giant

Samsung Electronics said it is consideringspinning off its loss-making liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) business, sending its sharesto a record high. Samsung, the world’s largestmaker of flat panels, memory chips and flat-screen televisions, made the announcementin a regulatory filing on Wednesday. It saidno final decision has been taken.

Details were not given, but Samsungshares rose 5.1 percent to a historic high of1,135,000 won ($1,012) as the potentialspin-off is expected to strengthen itsprofitability. Samsung’s LCD businesssuffered losses in every quarter last year dueto a supply glut. The possible spin-off sparkedspeculation that Samsung may merge itsLCD unit with Samsung Mobile Display,which produces organic light-emitting diode

A shopper is seen with a box of LCD SamsungTV at a shopping centre in Fairfax, Virginia.Samsung Electronics said it is consideringspinning off its loss-making liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) business, sending its shares to

a record high.— INTERNET

(OLED) displays for mobile devices such assmartphones.—Internet

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THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012 5

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb—Kachin StateChief Minister U La John Ngan Hsai, DeputyMinister for Border Affairs Maj-Gen ZawWin, Deputy Minister for Social Welfare,Relief and Resettlement U Phone Swe, stateministers, Pyithu Hluttaw Representative UTun Tun, Amyotha Hluttaw RepresentativesU San Tun and U Khat Htein Nan, Secretaryof National Human Rights Commission USit Myaing and officials met in KachinState government office on 13 February tohelp those who fled instability of the statesince 15 June, 2011 return home.

The chief minister explained aboutassistances provided by the stategovernment, the Union government andUN agencies and necessities of displacedpersons.

The deputy ministers said they werethere for fulfilling wishes of the ethnic

Return of displaced families inKachin State discussed

people in coordination with the stategovernment and statistics were needed tocompile to thoroughly operaterehabilitation tasks.

Officials participated in discussion.Resettlement, measures of the governmentfor ending conflicts in the state and makingeternal peace and education were put on thetable.

Families who temporarily settled inMyitkyina, Waingmaw, Bhamo, Momauk,Mansi and Shwegu Townships wereprovided with cash and kind by the KachinState government, departmental personnel,social organizations, internationalorganizations, MPs, and wellwishers.

The state government has madearrangements for allowing students of thedisplaced families to pursue their educationin respective areas.—MNA

Deputy Minister for Border Affairs Maj-Gen Zaw Win speaks at the coordmeeting to help those fled their native due to instability of the state for their

homecoming.—MNA

Ayeyawady River Crossing Maubin Bridge contributing to developmentof socio-economic status of local people in Ayeyawady Region

* The emergence ofMaubin bridge hasenabled people fromAyeyawady to travel toYangon, 50 miles awayfrom Maubin in a shorttime, and they then canproceed to Pathein andother cities by car easily.

* The agriculture, marineand other productsproduced by MaubinDistrict can betransported to othercities including Yangonthrough the bridge in ashort period of time,thereby contributingmuch to furtherimprovement of thesocio-economic status oflocal people.

* In the past, it took fivedays to travel fromYangon to Maubin. Andat present the trip takesonly one and a half hourby car.

Facts about Maubin Bridge1. Maubin Bridge is 720 meter long.2. It is complete with 8.50 meter wide motorway flanked by 1.80 meter wide

pedestrian lane.3. It is of reinforced concrete type.4. Its clearance area is 110 meter wide and 17 meter height.5. It can withstand 60 tons of loads.6. The construction of the bridge started on 1-3-1994 and it was opened on 10-2-

1998.7. Maubin Bridge is situated Taloaklat east village of Maubin Township and

Taloaklat west village.Translation: TLA

Archive: Maung Nyein Aye

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6 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012

Third regular session of Pyithu Hluttaw meeting continues for Fourth day

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb—Fourth Daysession of Pyithu Hluttaw meeting continuedat Pyithu Hluttaw Hall in Hluttaw Building,here at 10 am today, attended by PyithuHluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann and362 Pyithu Hluttaw representatives.

Defense Services Personnelrepresentatives Major Nyi Nyi Zaw tookoath in the presence of the Pyithu HluttawSpeaker in accord with Pyithu Hluttaw Lawsection 8(b), and signed.

At the meeting, raising questions andreplying answer, seeking approval ofHluttaw, submitting two proposals and twobills were carried out.

In his speaking, Pyithu Hluttaw Speakerurged those present to carry out Hluttawworks in unison for the interests of the State,the people and the Union regardless of partyattachment, sectarian, regionalism, racism,creeds and departments attachments.

At question-raising session, UnionMinister for Education Dr Mya Aye repliedthe question raised by Dr Soe Yin ofKamayut Constituency on “Whether ornot there is any plan to open Post-Graduatejournalism diploma course in Universitieslike Yangon University and MandalayUniversity.” He said that B.A (Journalism)course has been conducted in NationalManagement College since 21-1-2008. Thetrainees have to take three-and-half-yearcourse—three years in theory and six monthsin practice there. Those trainees whograduated B.A (Journalism) in 2010-2011are now engaging in outside media world.Plans are under way to open M.A(Journalism) for those qualified graduates.Arrangements are being made forconducting B.A (Journalism) course in upperMyanmar by turning out course instructors.

So, National Management College havebeen conducting B.A (Journalism) coursesince the 2008-2008 Academic year and isgoing to conduct M.A (Journalism) courseduring this year. Post-graduate JournalismDiploma course will be opened at a suitableuniversity at a time when qualified teachersare turned out.

Union Minister for Labour and forSocial Welfare, Relief and Resettlement UAung Kyi replied three questions raised bytwo Hluttaw representatives on workersaffairs and Fire services department.

Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann at the fourth day session ofPyithu Hluttaw.—MNA

Regarding the question of Dr ThanWin of North Okkalapa Constituency on“How would the State handle unemploy-ment rate in urban and villages.”, he saidthat the State will carry out availability ofup-to-date labour market information forcreating more job opportunities, adoptingstrategies that can links job opportunitiesand job hunters, creation of new jobopportunities, access to penetrating intoforeign labour markets, inflow of hugeforeign investment, the emergence of locallabour markets, giving training to job seekersso as to land jobs easily.

The State also carried out theestablishment of special economic zones,providing basic infrastructures by means oflong term and short-term projects, plansunder way to set up 18 industrial zones andindustrial regions in rural areas and creatingmore job opportunities thanks to increase inthe number of tourism industry, constructionindustry, agriculture and fishery industryand supermarkets.

According to the Statistical Yearbookfor Asia and the Pacific 2011, unemploymentrate of ASEAN countries is 5.2 percent, theworld, 6.3 percent and Myanmar, 4 percent.The country sees some job opportunitiesbecause about three million Myanmarworkers are now working in foreign labourmarket. In the olden days, only male workerswere sent to foreign countries. But now thegovernment has already given green light toemployment agencies to send female workersto secure oversea job sites. Labour ExchangeOffices serve as proxy for connection of jobseekers and job opportunities.

The government is giving its relaxationson import of automobiles for those who areofficially working in foreign countries andincome tax exemption, which are the goodopportunities for those.

According to recent political, economicand social reform processes, US and EUhave lifted some sanctions imposed onMyanmar. So, helps and assistances fromWorld Bank, International Monetary Fund,Asia Development Bank and internationalorganizations will flow into Myanmar soon.Due to the prospects of lifting more sanctionsin the future, there would be inflow of moreforeign investments, more job opportunitiesand decrease in unemployment rate, he said.

With respect to the question raised byDr Daw Aye Myint of ShwetaungConstituency on “whether or not there isany plan to substitute four fire engines infour villages in Shwetaung Township andwhether or not there is any plan tosubstitute fire engine in Thayettaw wardbecause of facing many difficulties in caseof fire”, he replied that these four fire enginesare over forty years. There are 418 over-forty-year fire engines in the country.Starting the 2012-2013 financial year, planshave been adopted to substitute new oneson a priority basis. For substitution plans forover-aged fire engines, priority will be givento facts like deployment of fire stations andfire engines in foreign countries in additionto city, state/region city, township, sub-township and village-tract in order.

So, the first question regarding the fourover-aged fire engines is not first priority.For temporary convenience of these village-tracts, four light fire engines have alreadybeen provided on 6 February this year.

Regarding the latter question, that over-40-year-old fire engine is still in goodcondition. That engine can extinguish firewithout breaking down, but has weaknessin physical appearance. On 6 February thisyear, a light fire engine has been provided inThayattaw ward at present. Shwetaungtownship in which there are so many projectswill be provided with one fire engine in2012-2013 financial year because fire stationthere is 3-Unit Level.

Union Minister for Sports U Tint Hsanreplied three sport questions raised by thereHluttaw representatives.

Regarding the question raised by UWin Myint of Myingyan Constituency on“Is there any plan to renovate People’sSport Ground in Myingyan District” andon “Is there any plan to upgrade sportground in Maingpyin”, Union Minister UTint Hsan answered that Ministry of Sportsis giving priority to construction of sportgrounds, gymnasiums and sport villages forsuccessful holding of XXVII SEA Gamesto be held in Nay Pyi Taw in December2013 as a host country. So, upgrading ofsport grounds is not impossible during thisfinancial year and would be only after theSEA Game.

With respect to the question raised byDr Daw Aye Myint on “ Is there any planto promote part-time sport technicalofficers appointed in Shwetaung intopermanent ones” Union Minister U TintHsan replied that Sports and PhysicalEducation Department has appointedtechnical officers as instructor (Technical)on a piece-work basis since 21-9-2009. Inaddition, they also enjoy salary, cashassistances etc like other technical officers.

They are appointed to come out andtrain new boxers in the region. During twoyears terms, they could not serve their dutiesproperly. So, they remain piece-workinstructors (Technical).

According to new formation of SportsMinistry, technical officers will be appointedin every township. Based on theirperformances, they will be appointed astemporary officers, he said.

Union Minister for Communication,Posts and Telegraph U Thein Tun repliedthe four questions raised by four Hluttawrepresentatives.

Regarding the question raised by U SaiNaung Hsai Hein of Maukmai Constituencyon “Progress in construction of GSM/CDMA towers in Maukmai, Mongnai,Langkho, Mongpan and Homein sub-townships in Langkho district andcompletion time”, Union Minister forCommunication, Posts and Telegraph UThein Tun replied that for installation of750 CDMA-450 telephone lines in Langkhoof Shan State (South) machine buildingand tower foundation have been completed.Construction of tower, installation oftransmission and radio are under progress.In the end of February, 2012, CDMA-450mobile telephone will come online inLangkho. As the third phase of first yearGSM mobile extension project, 3000 GSMlines will be installed in the end of August2012. Machines to be installed in installationof 400 CDMA-450 lines in Maukmai are onorder. Construction of building and towerare progress. CDMA-450 mobile phone areavailable in the end of April, 2012. A totalof 1500 GSM lines will be added in the endof August, 2013, which is second year ofGSM mobile extension project.

He continued that equipment wasordered for installation of 300 CDMA-450lines in Mohne; mechanical and towerconstruction are in the course ofimplementation and CDMA-450 mobilesservice can be launched commencing theend of April; 1500 GSM lines would beinstalled in Mohne at the end of August,2013 as the second phase of GSM mobileproject.

As to Mongpan, equipment are beingtransported for installation of 1250 CDMA-450 lines; mechanical and towerconstruction are in the course ofimplementation and CDMA-450 mobileservice can be launched commencing theend of April this year; 1500 GSM lineswould be installed at the end of August,2013 as the second phase of GSM mobileproject and the same would be carried outfor Homain.

U Tin Maung Win of MingaladonConstituency asked if the CPT Ministryhas a plan to open a phone bill office inMingaladon Township, Yangon Regionand the Union Minister replied that phonebill stations in Pabedan, General Post Office,Tamwe, Thingangyun, Ahlon, Hline,Mayagon, Insein, Kyimyindaing,Pazundaung, thuwunna and Bayintnaungunder the account department of theMyanmar Post and Telecommunications ishandling 184832 auto telephone users and284000 mobile phone users in addition toonline billing payment system ofYatanarpon Web Portal through MyanmaEconomic Bank and Asia GreenDevelopment Bank; the MPT has initiatedto shift to prepaid system and phone userscan now buy prepaid cards from the prepaidcard sellers of the nearest townships.

U Ai Yun Mon of Meman Constituencyasked if the CPT Ministry has a plan toprovid GSM or CDMA service in MemanTownship and the Union Minister repliedthat 1500 GSM lines would be installed inMeman Township of Wa Self-administeredDivision at the end of August, 2013 as thesecond phase of GSM mobile project.

(See page 7)

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THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012 7

(from page 6)U Si Kam Yam of Kaunglanpu

Constituency asked if the ministry has aplan to provide CDMA/GSM service toKaunglanpu Township, which is necessaryfor the township and the Union Ministerreplied that the necessary equipment forCDMA-450 mobile service has arrived inMyitkyina and will be transported toKaunglanpu and CDMA-450 mobile servicecan be launched at the end of April this year.

U Tin Win of Kawlin Constituencyasked if the auction teams formed byregion and state governments have anyplan to auction the vehicles confiscated inconnection with the lawsuits in respectivetownships and Deputy Minister for NationalPlanning and Economic Development DrKan Zaw replied that it may take up to threeyears from at least six months to reach averdict for a lawsuit according to the legalprocedure; only five to 10 percent of suchvehicles and motorcycles can be reusable asthe remaining were usually left in poorcondition; in the time of the previous

government, serviceable vehicles andmotorcycles confiscated as public propertywere shared among government departmentsand enterprises and unserviceable vehiclesand motorcycles were auctioned to thepublic.

However, some of those who won theauctions import vehicles illegally fromabroad and made it believe those were thevehicles they won in the auctions, leading toan increase in illegal vehicles withoutlicenses.

In the time of the incumbentgovernment, serviceable vehicles andmotorcycles out of the confiscated weregiven to government departments andenterprises and the remaining unserviceablevehicles were sent to foundry and currentlythere is no plan to auction those vehicles tothe public.

Approval was sought from the PyithuHluttaw regarding replacement of PublicAccounts Committee member, recruitmentto Legal Affairs and Special Cases AnalysisCommission, making supplements toresponsibility, power of the committee/commission, and privileges and rights ofthe commission.

U Thant Zin of Gyobingauk

Third regular sessionof Pyithu Hluttaw…

Constituency was replaced with DefenceServices Personnel Representative ColMyint Ko Ko as member of the PublicAccounts Committee and Supreme CourtAdvocate U Mya Thein was recruited to theLegal Affairs and Special Cases AnalysisCommission. The previous provision—“committee/commission can invitesuggestions from responsible persons of therelated organizations” was added with thephrase “committee/commission can invitesuggestions from responsible persons of therelated organizations and those assumed tounderstand the matters concerned.” TheHluttaw also approved that commissionmembers are allowed to enjoy the sameemolument as the Hluttaw representativesbeginning the day of appointment.

Daw Tin Nwe Oo of Dagon Myothit(North) Constituency proposed topromulgate Statue Law to transformuniversities of the high education of theRepublic of the Union of Myanmar intoautonomous government agencies andThura U Aung Ko of Kanpetlet Constituencyproposed to open National University.

Regarding the proposal of Daw TinNwe Oo, U Saw Hla Tun of ChaungUConstituency asked to seek the opinion of

the related ministry and Union EducationMinister Dr Mya Aye replied that it was tooearly to enact Statue Law.

The proposer asked to seek the opinionof the Hluttaw which rejected the proposalas the majority voted against the proposal.The Hluttaw decided to put the proposal onrecord.

Hluttaw representatives wishing todiscuss the proposal of Thura U Aung Koenlisted in the evening.

Union Labour Minister U Aung Kyisubmitted Labour Dispute Settlement Billand Pyithu Hluttaw Bill Committee memberU Thaung read out the analysis report of thecommittee on the bill.

U Aung Thaung, Chairman of PyithuHluttaw Banks and Financial DevelopmentCommittee submitted Foreign CurrencyExpenditure Bill and Pyithu Hluttaw BillCommittee member U Ba Shein read out theanalysis report of the committee on the bill.

Dates for discussion of those bills willbe announced later and representativeswishing to take part are reported to enlist by18 February.

Today’s recession came to an end at2.20 pm and the fifth day session continuesat 10 am, 17 February.—MNA

Third regular session of first Amyotha Hluttaw continues for fourth day

Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker U Khin Aung Myint at the fourth day session ofAmyotha Hluttaw.—MNA

the door open for peace in his first addressto Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on 30-3-2011.

The Union government of the Republicof the Union of Myanmar issued NotificationNo (1/2011), inviting armed groups forending armed conflicts in the country,making peace and implementingdevelopment tasks around the country handin hand with the government and the entirepeople. The President assigned a 10-memberUnion-level peace-making group to holdpeace talks with RCSS/SSA, KNPP, CNF,and NMSP armed groups on 24-11-2011.

The President gave three-step guidelinefor building eternal peace that is to discussat the state level, at the Union level andbefore Pyidaungsu Hluttaw by all thenational races to sign an eternal peaceagreement.

After four meetings with Kayin nationalarmed group KNU, Union-level agreementin principle was singed. After three meetingswith Shan national armed group RCSS/SSA,Union-level agreement was inked. After twomeetings with Chin national armed group

CNF, State-level ceasefire agreement wassigned. After two meetings with Monnational armed group NMSP, State-levelagreement was signed. The Union-levelpeace-making group met twice with Kayahnational armed group KNPP and PaOnational armed group PNLO respectively.Among 11 national races armed group inUNFC, the peace-making group has contactswith two small groups—National UnityParty (Arakan) and Lahu Democratic Union.

Leader of Union-level peace-makinggroup U Aung Thaung said: The Presidentassigned a group with Pyithu HluttawRepresentative U Aung Thaung of TaungthaTownship as the leader and Pyithu HluttawRepresentative U Thein Zaw of MyitkyinaTownship as the deputy leader to discusspeace at Union-level.

Armed groups were invited to discusspeace on 18-8-2011 as it was found thegovernment, the people and the entire ethnicarmed groups to establish peace as requiredby the country. After three meetings with“Wa” Special Region (2) peace-makinggroup, Union-level peace agreement wassigned. After three meetings with SpecialRegion (4) peace-making group, Union-level peace agreement was signed.

After two meetings with Kalo HtooBaw squad (former DKBA) peace-makinggroup, Union-level peace agreement wassigned. Negotiations with KIO/KIA andSSPP/SSA are under way.

After peace meetings around the countryare accomplished, the final historical peaceagreement will be signed with armed groups,other national races leaders and otherappropriate persons before the Speaker ofthe Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and Hluttawrepresentatives.

Deputy Minister for Agriculture andIrrigation U Ohn Than answered five questionsraised by five Hluttaw representatives.

U Hmat Gyi of Mandalay RegionConstituency (9) asked “whether there isplan to reserve and distribute paddystrains to inundated plantations”. Thedeputy minister answered: There are three

means to address the issue: to reserve paddystrains suited with the region in advance, togrow reserve plantation in highland farmsand to grow plants of the same age fromfarms which are not inundated immediately.

By reserving paddy strains, strainssuited with the region are available, highcost for transportation will be reduced andsystematic storage of reserve paddy strainshelp recover quickly.

Region/State agricultural ministers needto be aware of weather conditions of theirown Region or State.

U Htay Maung of Mandalay RegionConstituency (12) asked “whether there isplan to repair No (6) (North) feeder canalof Nyaungyan-Minhla Lake in ThaziTownship”. The deputy minister answered:The original irrigation area of the lakethrough seven canals was 27205 acres. Itcould irrigate the area sufficiently in yearsof higher rainfall.

The said canal has the length of 11225 ftand the width of five feet. If the rainfall islower, it has difficulties to irrigate farmlandsat the edge of its irrigation area.

It was repaired in 2004-2005 fiscal yearby machinery. Although it was damaged byheavy rain in 2011, the Irrigation Departmentis repairing and managing to irrigatefarmlands sufficiently. The repair will becompleted by February, 2012.

Dr Myint Kyi of Yangon RegionConstituency (8) asked “whether there isplan to help farmers obtain hybrid seedfor producing hybrid rice”. The deputyminister answered: The Ministry ofAgriculture and Irrigation is making testproduction of four kinds of hybrid seed incooperation with China, the Philippines,Vietnam and India. In this monsoon, Chinaand Myanmar agriculturalists are carryingout test productions of hybrid seeds in 200-acre farmlands of Shwetaung farm inWundwin Township in Mandalay Regionand Yezin University of Agriculture. Privatecompanies are doing the same in 550-acrefarmlands in Yangon Region. (See page 8)

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb—Third regularsession of first Amyotha Hluttaw continuedfor the fourth day at Amyotha Hluttaw Hallof Hluttaw Complex here at 10 am today.

The session was attended by Speakerof Amyotha Hluttaw U Khin Aung Myintand 201 Amyotha Hluttaw representatives.

The Hluttaw approved supplement tolevel monthly emolument of financial andlegal commission with that of Hluttawrepresentatives.

The Speaker announced that 41 booksdonated by U Pe Myint will be kept in U PeMyint Corner of Amyotha Hluttaw Libraryand the Amyotha Hluttaw recorded thedonation.

U Nyan Lin of Ayeyawady RegionConstituency (3) raised the question about“progress in negotiations with ethnicarmed groups for peace till now”. Leaderof Union-level peace-making group UnionMinister for Rail Transportation U AungMin answered: The President said, regardingnational races affairs, national unity is toppriority and the government always keeps

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8 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012

Third regular session offirst Amyotha Hluttaw…

(from page 7)While educating farmers to abide by

Good Agriculture Practice (GAP), theministry is targeting to yield 20-30 basketsof paddy strains per acre. China startedapplying hybrid paddy technology for foodsufficiency as of 1974 and put 60 per cent offarms under hybrid paddy.

Innovation of experts in respective fieldscontributes much to improvement oftechnological experiences, and quality ofrice gets better market.

Thanks to innovation of Chineseagriculturalists from International RiceResearch Institutes-IRRI from People’sRepublic of China and the Philippines, hybridpaddy produce higher rate of per-acre yieldthan that of existing paddy strains and betterquality for enabling the farmers to earnincome through cost effective status. Thus,the rice exporter countries including Indiaare producing hybrid paddy. Entrepreneursof national entrepreneurs from respectivestates and regions can produce and distributehybrid paddy seeds in the respective regionsby joining hands with skillful technicians.He invited the Hluttaw representatives tovisit modern hybrid paddy seed productionfarms that can double the income of farmers.

With regard to the proposal for farmersof Maubin and Nyaungdon townships toenjoy full rights of farming works askedby U Thet Lin of Ayeyawady RegionConstituency No. 8, the deputy ministerreplied that the farmland law compilationcommission was formed with 14 memberschaired by the Union Minister for Agricultureand Irrigation under Announcement issuedon No. 44/2011 on 19-10-2011 by the Uniongovernment.

The provisions at Section 23 (a),Sections 29, 248 (a) and 249 of the 2008Constitution of the Union of Myanmar wereexactly prescribed on political system andeconomic system of the State, basis offarmland, rights of farmers, transform ofmanual farming to mechanized farming andmatters related to region or state government.

The region/state government will solvethe problems for enabling the local farmersto enjoy rights of farming works. A total of14 company entrepreneurs attained 69502acres of land in Nyaungdon and Maubintownships of Ayeyawady Region. Of them,61157 acres of farmlands have beenreclaimed and there remains to reclaim 8345acres of land. Among the reclaimed lands, atotal of 33354 acres of land are put underagriculture and livestock breeding works.Thus, there remains 27803 acres of land tobe used in agriculture and livestock breeding.

The State leaders assigned duties tocompany entrepreneurs to reclaim the vacantand wetlands to become farmlands inAyeyawady Region. The entrepreneurs tookrisks for creating of job opportunities inrural areas and regional development thoughthey do not have economical costeffectiveness in their farming works. Due toeffective undertaking of farming works, theaim of entrepreneurs can be realized todevelop the region. The Vacant, Fallow andVirgin Lands Management Law will bepromulgated soon, so the problems can besolved effectively under the law.

Dr Myat Nyana Soe of Yangon RegionConstituency No. 4 asked whether there isa plan to reclaim more and more

farmlands to contribute towardsenhancement of mechanized farming forimprovement of social economic life offarmers, the deputy minister replied that aseducative activities are being undertakenfor reclamation of mechanized farms so asto boost crop production, hectare plots andacre plots of mechanized farms facilitatedwith production roads, feeder canals anddrains are being reclaimed as model plots inDekkhinathiri, Pobbathiri, Ottarathiri andZabuthiri townships of Nay Pyi Taw CouncilArea, Shwedaung Farm in WundwinTownship of Mandalay Region in upperMyanmar, Mechanized Farming SpecialZone-1 and Zone 2 in Dagon Myothit (East)and (Seikkan) townships in lower Myanmar.At present, farmers and officials from variousregions are invited to visit the farms.

AAE Co joined the mechanized farmingprocess in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area withinvestment of heavy machinery worth US$20 million. It is necessary to come outcooperation of private sector in respectiveregions of the whole nation.

A plan is underway to grant reclamationof 500 acres each of educative mechanizedfarms in Yangon, Bago, Mandalay, Magwayand Ayeyawady regions and Nay Pyi Taw,200 acres in Mon State, 50 acres each inTaninthayi Region, Rakhine, Shan (South)and (North) states and 25 acres each inKachin, Kayah, Kayin and Shan State (East).The ministry will provide necessarytechnological and machinery assistance tothem.

Union Minister for Home AffairsLt-Gen Ko Ko replied to questions on homeaffairs sector raised by three Hluttawrepresentatives.

U Ye Myint of Bago Region Consti-tuency No. 4 asked a proposal to effectivelysupervise transport and distribution ofexplosive fireworks, and the Union ministerreplied that businessmen import and tradefireworks. Likewise, above-ground andunderground destructionists may transportand explode the gunpowder and otherexplosive materials. Thus, regional ordershave been issued officially. Moreover,warnings and orders were issued to takeaction against those who store and sellfireworks at festivities in the months ofThadingyut and Tazaungmone throughdailies, radio and TV before the festivals.

Action was taken against the offenderswith six-month imprisonment under Section188 of the Criminal Law, 7-yearimprisonment under Section 285/286 and10-year imprisonment under Section 3 ofthe 1908 Explosive Objects Act. Action wastaken against 74 persons in 67 cases from 1-4-2011 to 31-12-2011 in regions and states,and 93172 packets of fire crackers, 677packets of gunpowder and 43124 pieces offireworks worth K 5263950 were seized.

Those who illegally carrying fireworksincluding bombs and explosive materialsare being searched at border checkpointsand action is being taken against them. Heinvited the people to join hands with thegovernment conscientiously.

U Tin Maung Win of Mandalay RegionConstituency No. 3 asked as authorizedpersonnel are committing bribery andmalpractice of authority whether there isa plan to combat the said behaviors. TheUnion minister replied that emphasis is beingplaced on eradication of bribery andcorruption cases among departmentalpersonnel, and deterrent action is being takenagainst the offenders. Moreover, respective

ministries announced the telephone numbersfor complaints against the bribery andcorruption cases of departmental personnel.

Penalties were prescribed in provisionsof sections 161, 162, 163, 164 and 165 of theChapter IX of the 1861 Penal Code andsection 3 of the Suppression of CorruptionAct 1948.

In accord with the announcement No.13/2007 of the government of the Union ofMyanmar dated 18 July 2007, 10 types ofcrimes including corruption were prescribedas criminal cases of money laundering byexercising the authority under Section 5,subsection (a) and subparagraph (10) ofControl of Money Laundering Law 2002.

Myanmar signed the United NationsConvention Against Corruption on 2December 2005. The enquiry courts areformed by the ministries for respective casesin the executive sector of the State.

To clear out bribery and corruptioncases, service personnel are being assistedwith welfare tasks. The people on their partare to exactly abide by the existing laws ineradicating the bribery cases.

U Mya Ohn of Kachin StateConstituency No. 8 asked whether there isa plan to designate Phakant Township ofKachin State as drug free zone. The UnionMinister replied that the Central Committeefor Drug Abuse Control formed in 1976 istaking preventive measures against dangerof narcotic drugs in the entire nation. The15-year drug elimination plan was adoptedto decline poppy cultivation and productionfrom 1999-2000 to 2013-2014.

Myitkyina Special Anti-Drug Squad andBhamo Special Anti-Drug Squad aredischarging duty of drug elimination inKachin State. Likewise, Seikmu anti-drugmobile group, Mawwam anti-drug mobilegroup and Tamakhan anti-drug mobile groupare taking out narcotic drug preventive tasksin Phakant Township.

INGOs give talks on narcotic drugs andprovide treatment in Tanai and Phakanttownships. NGOs, INGOs and UNODC arejoining hands in rehabilitating the drugaddicts. Due to easy earning of incomes invarious jobs, jade mines and gold mines inPhakant Township has larger density ofpopulation and increasing number of drugusers. Thus, narcotic drug eradication tasksare being added with momentum there. InPhakant Township, a total of 275 maleculprits and 48 female culprits were arrestedin 238 cases of heroin, raw opium, opiumoil, stimulant tablets and opium related casesin 2011.

Rewards and certificates of honour werepresented to outstanding State servicepersonnel and people for their performancein narcotic drug prevention tasks and staffwere promoted their ranks. Likewise, thepersonnel related to the drug cases weretaken in deterrent action. Single person,national race, organization and countrycannot take drug preventive measures. Underthe leadership of the State, all the people areto participate in the drug preventive tasksjoining hands with the internationalcommunity to designate the drug free zone.

U Sai Kyaw Zaw Than of Shan StateConstituency No. 2 asked whether there isa plan to allot adequate fund formaintenance of artifacts and whetherthere is a plan to re-display royalequipment of successive NyaungshweSaophas. Deputy Minister for Culture DawSanda Khin replied that the Department ofArchaeology, National Museum and Library

opens cultural museums and archaeologicalmuseums in regions and states and demandsthe annual funds for maintenance of theancient cultural objects. Based on valuesand damages of the artifacts, the funds wereallotted for maintenance.

Artistic works like paintings andsculptures are being renovated asking thecraftsmen. Craftsmen from Mandalay weresent to Nyaungshwe Museum to repairmosaics and floral sculptures and cleanpaintings out of the antique and furniture ofthe museum. Renovation cost was grantedin this fiscal year.

Nyaungshwe Palace now opened asBuddhism Museum was opened to the publicas Nyaungshwe Palace ArchaeologicalMuseum from 1964 in the time of theRevolutionary Council to 1999, ShanChieftains Museum from 2000 to 2005 andcostumes; items, furniture, paintings anddocumentary photos of Shan chieftains wereexhibited. It was opened as NyaungshweCultural Museum beginning 3 March 2005and then as Buddhism Museum from 8 July,2007 till now. Now with Inlay becomingmajor tourist attraction, plans are underwayto reopen the museum as Cultural Museum,Nyaungshwe with the exhibition of all theitems previously on display in order thatglobetrotters can learn the history and cultureof Nyaungshwe more widely. It will berepaired during 2012-2013 fiscal year andupon completion documents, royal items ofsuccessive Shan chieftains and costumes,tradition and cultural items of the nationalsof Nyaungshwe region and religious itemscurrently on display will be exhibited in thesame fiscal year.

Next, the Amyotha Hluttaw Speakerinformed that the Pyithu Hluttaw has madeamendments to Vacant, Fellow and VirginLand Management Bill ratified by theAmyotha Hluttaw and sent it back to theAmyotha Hluttaw and asked the MPs toenlist if they wish to make discussion.

U Khin Maung Yi of Ayeyawady RegionConstituency No (6), U Soe Myint of BagoRegion Constituency No (6) and Dr MyatNyana Soe of Yangon Region ConstituencyNo (4) discussed the amendments toEnvironment Conservation Bill made by thePyithu Hluttaw and the Amyotha Hluttawdecided to ask its bill committee to reconsiderthe discussions.

U Win Naung of Yangon RegionConstituency No (5) proposed the Uniongovernment to set a suitable year andtake whatever actions for actual declinein road accidents rate and causalitiescaused by road accidents across thenation.

A MP seconded the proposal and theHluttaw approved to discuss the proposalinviting the MPs to enlist for discussion ifthey are interested.

Member of Amyotha Hluttaw BillCommittee Daw Nan Ni Ni Aye read out theanalysis report of the bill committee onUnion Election Bill. UEC Member U MyintNaing proposed to consider the UEC billand a representative seconded the proposal.The Hluttaw approved the proposal.

MPs then approved the amendmentsmade to the UEC bill and UEC member UMyint Naing proposed the Hluttaw to passthe UEC bill and a MP seconded the proposal.

The Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker soughtthe approval of the Hluttaw to pass the UECbill as amended. No MP raised objectionand the Hluttaw approved the proposal.

(See page 9)

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THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012 9

Successive governments conferring …

(from page 16)Day of Tabaung). In conclusion, he urgedresponsible persons of the leadingcommittee, work committee andsubcommittees to strive for ensuringsmooth process of the ceremony and forproviding health care services to membersof the Sanghas and nuns.

Union Minister Thura U Myint Maung

reported on preparations for successfulholding of the ceremony and Union MinisterU Thein Nyunt on matters related toaccommodation and food services forreligious title recipient Sayadaws and nuns.

Deputy Minister for Religious AffairsDr Maung Maung Htay submitted the reportson preparatory tasks of the respectivesubcommittees.

To strictly uphold the objectives namely non-

disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of

national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty

To play the leading role in the national politics by the

Tatmadaw with Union Spirit, the true patriotism

To safeguard the constitution, the main duty of the

Tatmadaw in building up a modern, developed, new

democratic nation

To build strong, competent, a modern, patriotic

Tatmadaw to safeguard the independence and

sovereignty of the nation

67th Anniversary Armed Forces Day Objectives

Deputy Minister for Information U SoeWin presented reports on preparations forundertaking documentary and informationtasks in time, Deputy Minister for TransportU Win Shein on smooth transport works,Deputy Minister for Health Dr Daw MyatMyat Ohn Khin on preparations for givinghealth care services, member of Nay Pyi TawCouncil U Than Htay on smooth process foroffering rice to members of the Sangha andnuns, member of Nay Pyi Taw Council UMyo Thant on providing food service andChief of Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Kyaw Kyaw Tun on preparations forsecurity measures.

The commander, the Union Minister for

Religious Affairs and the Union Minister atthe President Office gave supplementaryreports on security, giving meal service,invitation and rice offering tasks.

After that, the Vice-President reviewedthe reports on security, invitation and healthmatters and instructed them to implementthe work plans for successfully holding theceremony, systematically supervise tasks ofthe respective subcommittees andcoordinate tasks among subcommittees inharmony.

After the ceremony, Vice-President DrSai Mauk Kham and guests viewed samplesfor religious titles to be conferred on recipientSayadaws and nuns.—MNA

Third regular session of firstAmyotha Hluttaw…

(from page 8)Dr Banya Aung Moe of

Mon State ConstituencyNo (7) proposed to considerthe Republic of the Unionof Myanmar NationalRaces Affairs Bill and aMP seconded the proposal.

Dr Banya Aung Moethen read out the Republic

of the Union of MyanmarNational Races Affairs Bill.The Hluttaw decided toadjourn the furtherdiscussion of the bill for awhile.

The fourth day thirdregular session of the FirstAmyotha Hluttaw came toan end at 4.05 pm. At

today’s session, supple-ments were made to therights and privileges offinancial and legal affairscommission members,donation of 41 books by UPe Myint was recorded,Union ministers replied to10 questions, threeproposals were made, twobills submitted, one billdiscussed and one billpassed.—MNA

Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham views samples of titles and insignias tobe conferred on monks and nuns.—MNA

Union FM holds talks with Deputy PM ofLuxembourg

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb — Union Ministerfor Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwinheld talks with a delegation led by DeputyPrime Minister of Luxembourg and Ministerfor Foreign Affairs Mr Jean Asselborn at

his ministry here today.During the meeting, the two sides

discussed matters related to promotion ofbilateral cooperation and exchanged viewson the issue.—MNA

Union Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin receives Deputy PrimeMinister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Jean Asselborn of

Luxembourg and party.—MNA

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb—Union Minister for CommerceU Win Myint received Former

Union Commerce Ministerreceives Japanese guests

Union Commerce Minister U Win Myint receives President of SingaporeBusiness Federation (SBF) Mr Tony Chew and party.

MNA

Member of the House ofCouncilors of Japan & SeniorAdvisor of the Parliamentary

League for the Friendshipbetween Myanmar and JapanMr Hideo Watanabe and party

at the ministry here on 14February. The meetingfocused on the potential tradeand investment between thetwo countries, agricultureexport with value-added, andOfficial DevelopmentAssistance (ODA) promoted

program for economicdevelopment by Japan.

In meeting with a 13-member delegation group ledby Chairman of SingaporeBusiness Federation (SBF)Mr Tony Chew, the UnionMinister held a discussion

on making potentialinvestment to improve tradesector between the twocountries.

Also present at the callwere Deputy Minister DrPwint Hsan and officials.

MNA

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10 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb — Accompaniedby Ambassador of Norway to Myanmar MrsKatja Christina Nordgaard, a businessdelegation from Norway called on Chairmanof Pyithu Hluttaw International RelationsCommittee U Hla Myint Oo at Pyithu HluttawCommittee Building here today.

During the meeting, Mrs Katja ChristinaNordgaard discussed matters related toopportunities for Norwegian businesses toinvest in the private sector in Myanmar.

U Hla Myint Oo welcomed the offer,saying that Myanmar has been makingendeavours for economic development of thecountry in accordance with the democraticreforms since 2011 when the Hluttaws were

Pyithu Hluttaw Int’l Relations CommitteeChairman, Norwegian businessmen hold talks

formed.The Hluttaws are responsible for

legislation and are making efforts for enactinglaws including the investment law, he added.

The delegation comprises businessmenfrom Statoil company which has invested inoil and natural gas exploration in Norwayand Telenor company, a communicationcompany.

Also present at the meeting wereSecretary of the Pyithu Hluttaw InternationalRelations Committee U Ko Ko Tun, Secretaryof Economic and Trade DevelopmentCommittee U Khin Maung Oo and membersof the committee U Aung San Oo and U KhinMaung Shwe. — MNA

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb—Politicalparties have been applying for setting uppolitical party. A 18-member groupincluding U Salai Aung Min Hlaing appliedto the Union Election Commission forsetting up of Asho Chin National Party

Political parties apply to UECtoday. Regarding their application, the UnionElection Commission (UEC) has madecoordination with respective ministries inorder that they are scrutinized in accord withPolitical Parties Registration Law’s sectionNos. 4 and 6.—MNA

Chairman of Pyithu Hluttaw International Relations CommitteeU Hla Myint Oo receives Norwegian Ambassador to Myanmar Mrs Katja

Christina Nordgaard.—MNA

Deputy Minister for Labour U Myint Thein being welcomed by DPRKAmbassador to Myanmar Mr Kim Sok Chol at reception to mark 70th

birthday of National Leader of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea MrKim Jong Il held at Chatrium Hotel in Yangon on 15 February.—MNA

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb — As part ofcooperation between Myanmar andUNICEF, Country Programme Action Planwas signed at Ministry of National Planningand Economic Development here today.

The plan was signed by Deputy Ministerfor NPED Dr Kan Zaw and ResidentRepresentative of UNICEF Mr RemeshShrestha.

According to the plan, UNICEF andministries concerned will cooperate in

Myanmar, UNICEF sign CountryProgramme Action Plan

growth of children, improvement of drinkingwater sources, improvement of sanitation inenvironment and personnel hygiene,ensuring equal rights for primary educationenrolment for male and female,dissemination knowledge on prevention andtreatment of HIV, AIDS and on protectionof child rights, monitoring and evaluation.

The signing ceremony was also attendedby deputy ministers of the ministriesconcerned and departmental officials.—MNA

A ceremony to sign Country Programme Action Plan in progress.—MNA

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb—Myanma Electric PowerEnterprise signed an MoUwith China Three GorgesCorporation andHydroChina KunmingEngineering Cooperation forformulating Myanmarelectricity plan yesterdayevening as the Ministry ofElectric Power No (2) isplanning to upgradeMyanmar’s electricitysystem from 230 KVA to500 KVA to reduce voltageirregularity.

Union Minister for

EP-2 to review current electricsupply system

Electric Power No (2) UKhin Maung Soe, EP-1Deputy Minister U MyintZaw, EP-2 Deputy MinisterU Aung Than Oo, DeputyMinister for Finance andRevenue U Win Than,Deputy Attorney-General UTun Tun Oo from Attorney-General Office of the Union,departmental heads, andofficials of Chinesecorporations.

The minister said theproject planning will becompleted within one yearand surveys and on-job

trainings will be conductedfor young Myanmarengineers.

The project planningprocess will study and reviewcurrent electricity supplysystems in detail.

Vice-President Mr BiYaxiong of China ThreeGorges Corporation spokewords of thanks.

Managing-Director ofMEPE U Khin Maung Zawand Mr Bi Yaxiong signedand exchanged theMemorandum ofUnderstanding.—MNA

Jobs market shows signs of stabilisationLONDON, 15 Feb—The number of Britons

out of work inched down in December fromthe 17-year high hit in November asemployment rose and firms offered more jobs.

The stabilisation in the labour market isyet another sign that Britain may have avoideda renewed slump despite an economiccontraction at the end of 2011 and providessome relief for the government, which is underpressure to ease its tough austerity programmeto boost the economy.

However, in a reminder that higherunemployment was still set to weigh on publicfinances, the number of those claiming benefitrose by 6,900 in January to 1.604 million - thehighest level since January 2010, data fromthe Office for National Statistics showed onWednesday. The number of people without ajob on the wider ILO measure stood at 2.671million in the three months to December,

A man walks past a shop advertising jobvacancies in Leicester, central England

on 16 November, 2011. —INTERNET

down from the 17-year high of 2.685 million inthe three months to November. However, thiswas still 48,000 higher than in the July-September period.—Reuters

Gas plant investment signals confidencein New Zealand economy

WELLINGTON, 15 Feb—The investmentof 70 million NZ dollars (58.65 million USdollars) in a new gas plant to supply a NewZealand Steel plant is a strong sign ofconfidence in the New Zealand economy,Economic Development Minister StevenJoyce said on Wednesday.

Joyce, who attended a ground-breakingceremony for the BOC gas facility at NewZealand Steel’s site at Glenbrook, just southof Auckland, said the construction wouldcreate 120 jobs over two years.

“The new contract for BOC Gases tobuild a plant to supply air gases to NewZealand Steel for at least another 20 years is

excellent news,” Joyce said in a statement.“It shows the confidence the companies

have in investing in our economy and recognizesthe importance of having a strongmanufacturing industry in New Zealand. The120 new jobs are clear evidence that nothingcreates sustainable employment more thanbusiness confidence and growth.”

Once operating in early 2014, the newplant would enhance reliability of supply to thesteel plant and allow increased quantities ofliquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon to the broaderNew Zealand air gases market that could beused in hospitals, food production and metalfabrication.—Xinhua

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THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012 11

Thousands of peoplecreate a human chainalong the Elbe river

in front of theDresden historicalcity centre, easternGermany, to protestagainst a neo-Nazi“funeral march”

commemorating the67th anniversary ofthe allied bombingsduring World War

II.—INTERNET

Britain again raises the pitchfor Typhoon for fighter deal

BANGALORE, 15 Feb—Britain today sought to raisethe pitch for EurofighterTyphoon, positioning it asthe ‘strongest offer’, twoweeks after it lost out toFrench-made Rafale in themulti-billion contract for thesupply of 126 MediumMulti-Role Combat Aircraft(MMRCA) to India.

‘We feel that theTyphoon is the strongestoffer...obviously, otherwisewe wouldn’t be hoping that’sthe competitive bid.Obvioulsy, there are stillsome considerations that

An Olympic countdown clock in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, showing753 days left before the event. Sochi will host the 2014 Winter Olympic

Games, which are scheduled to start on 7 Feb, 2014.—INTERNET

India interested inbuilding Med-Red

Sea railway in IsraelNEW DELHI, 15 Feb—India has expressed

deep interest in participating in building arailway between the Mediterranean and theRed Sea coasts in Israel, reported local mediaon Tuesday.

Indian Urban Development MinisterKamal Nath told Israeli officials in Jerusalemthat “once this project is formed and the roadmap is clear, Indian companies will evaluatetheir participation”, according to Press Trustof India.

The proposed rail link, which wasunanimously approved by the Israelicabinet last week, offers a new Asia-Europetrade route that will compete with the SuezCanal.—Xinhua

need to be made’, UK Ministerof State for Foreign Affairs,Jeremy Browne, toldreporters in reply toquestions.

Eurofighter Typhoon ismade by EADS and financedby the four-nationconsortium of Britain,Germany, Spain and Italy.

He said Britain feels thatTyphoon is the ‘besttechnology for India and alsooffers the right mix oftechnology transfer and it’sthe best operationally andit’s the best in technologyterms’. —Internet

Israeli lawsuit: Radiation caused cancerDIMONA, 15 Feb—Former

workers at an Israeli nuclearreactor suffered cancer andother diseases caused byexposure to radiation whilesearching for uranium ore, alawsuit says.

The class-action suit, inPetah Tikva District Court,says 44 former employees ofNegev Nuclear Research

Workers at the Rolls-Royce’s wind tunneltest facilities give a

tour for the media inSingapore, on 13 Feb,2012. Rolls-Royce on

Monday officiallyopened its largest

facilities in Asia atSeletar AerospacePark in Singapore.Constructed on a

154,000 square metresite, Rolls-RoyceSeletar Campus

includes an Assemblyand Test Unit, a Wide

Chord Fan Blademanufacturing facility

and AdvancedTechnology Centre,

and a RegionalTraining Centre. It isthe first of its kind to

bring advancedaerospace high-value

manufacturingtechnology to

Singapore.XINHUA

A young couple buy roses on the Central Avenue in Harbin,capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, on 14

Feb, 2012. Many Chinese would like to buy roses toexperience a romantic Valentine’s Day.—XINHUA

Centre in Dimona had beensent to search for uranium oreacross Israel without thenecessary protection, Haaretzreported.

The workers had beeninvolved in a search foruranium in weeklong stintsand were equipped only withgoggles and masks that didnot protect them from

radiation, the lawsuit said.Government and reactor

officials said if the formerworkers had been exposed toradiation it was at levels equalto what they would have beenexposed to in everyday life,Haaretz reported. The suitalso names family membersof the former workers asplaintiffs.—Internet

NewTradeCentresecurity

to behigh-tech

NEW YORK, 15 Feb—Officials with New York’s Port Authority said they plan to deploy military-level technology to protect the new World Trade Centre once it’s complete.

The high-tech system would use thousands of “intelligent” cameras and computer processorsthat can recognize people’s faces and retinas and then compare the facial information withdatabases such as terrorist watch lists, sources told the New York Post in a story published Monday.

Security measures at the 16-acre site, scheduled to be completed next year, include thecameras, along with infrared and heat sensors that can be modified to include explosive andradiation detection, the officials said.

The Port Authority also is authorizing the use of “artificial intelligence” computers that cantrack the behavior of people to determine how to spot “unusual movements” that can be flagged,the Post said. Behavioural Recognition Systems will set up most of the system, estimated to costtens of millions of dollars.

While not speaking specifically about the World Trade Centre system, John Frazzini,president of the Houston-based Defence Department contractor, said the system doesn’t retainpersonal information and no security monitors are installed in private areas such as restrooms.

The Twin Towers of the old World Trade Centre were destroyed in the 11 Sept, 2001, terrorattacks.—Internet

US, N Korea to holdnuclear-related talks next week

called six-party talks amongNorth and South Korea,China, Japan, Russia and theUnited States.

Since then, however, ithas twice conducted nucleartests and it has disclosed theexistence of a uraniumenrichment programme,giving it a second path toobtaining fissile material forbombs in addition to its long-standing plutonium pro-gramme.

MNA/Reuters

WASHINGTON, 15 Feb—US and North Korean officialswill meet in Beijing next weekfor talks Washington hopesmay clarify whetherPyongyang’s new leadershipis willing to curb its nuclearprogrammes, the StateDepartment said on Monday.

However, Korea anal-ysts said they expected little

progress on the nuclear issueduring the 23 February talksbetween US AmbassadorGlyn Davies and NorthKorean First Vice ForeignMinister Kim Kye-gwan.Pyongyang agreed to aban-don its nuclear programmesunder a September 2005 aid-for-denuclearization agree-ment hammered out in so-

Experts say Iranians’ Internet access blockedtemporarily

encrypted international websites outside ofIran that depend on the Secure Sockets Layerprotocol, which display addresses beginningwith https, according to Earl Zmijewski ofRenesys, a US company that tracks Internettraffic worldwide. Google, which uses SSL forits Gmail service, reported that traffic from Iranto its email system fell precipitously. Gmail use,which typically drops by about 80 percent atnight, dropped by roughly 95 percent Fridayand remained that low during daylight hoursthrough the weekend before recoveringMonday, according to Google’s publicly postedaccess statistics.— MNA/Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO, 15 Feb—Most computerusers in Iran were blocked from accessingemail, social networking and other services inrecent days, US-based Internet experts said onMonday, raising fears the government isextending the reach of its surveillance onordinary citizens.

Internet service providers presumed tobe acting at the Iranian government’s behestbegan blocking the most common form ofsecure connections on Friday, according tothe outside experts and Iranian bloggers.Traffic rebounded to normal levels on Monday.

The cutoff apparently affected all

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12 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012

CLAIMS DAY NOTICEMV GREAT MOTION VOY NO (-)

Consignees of cargo carried on MV GREATMOTION VOY NO (-) are hereby notified that thevessel will be arriving on 16.2.2012 and cargo will bedischarged into the premises of M.I.T.T where it willlie at the consignee’s risk and expenses and subject tothe byelaws and conditions of the Port of Yangon.

Damaged cargo will be surveyed daily from 8 amto 11:20 am and 12 noon to 4 pm to Claims Day nowdeclared as the third day after final discharge of cargofrom the Vessel.

No claims against this vessel will be admitted afterthe Claims Day.

SHIPPING AGENCY DEPARTMENTMYANMA PORT AUTHORITYAGENT FOR: M/S FAIRWIND

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING CO LTDPhone No: 256916/256919/256921 Iran,

Europeansdiscuss

sanctionsTEHERAN, 15 Feb—Iran’s

semiofficial Mehr newsagency says six Europeanambassadors are meetingIranian officials to discussthe European Unionsanctions against Teheranover its nuclear programme.

Mehr says envoys fromItaly, Spain, France, Greece,Portugal and Netherlandswere invited to Iran’s ForeignMinistry on Wednesday.

The report says the talksare focused on EU sanctions,which include a boycott ofnew oil contracts with Iran.

Iran has stronglydenounced the EU action.

Mehr didn’t providefurther details. The UnitedStates and its allies accuseIran of seeking nuclearweapons, a charge Teherandenies.—Internet

In this 9 April, 2007 filephoto, Iranian PresidentMahmoud Ahmadinejadspeaks at a ceremony in

Iran’s nuclear enrichmentfacility in Natanz, 300kilometres 186 (miles)

south of capital Teheran,Iran.—INTERNET

Japan planned review oftsunami risk, but too late

TOKYO, 15 Feb— Fourdays before a tsunamidevastated a Japanese nuclearplant, its operator promised afuller assessment of the riskof such a disaster — but notfor seven months.

The disclosure in a three-page briefing paper obtainedby The Associated Press

In this 11 March, 2011 filephoto released by Tokyo

Electric Power Co (TEPCO),tsunami waves gush into a

complex near the Unit 4reactor at the Fukushima

Dai-ichi nuclear complex inOkuma twon, FukushimaPrefecture, northeastern

Japan.—INTERNET

raises questions aboutwhether the utility andregulators were toocomplacent about studiesthat suggested a tsunamicould overwhelm thedefences at the 40-year-oldFukushima Dai-ichi plant.

It also highlights Japan’sslow pace of decision-making on an issue thatexperts had been warningabout for at least 20 months.

“If they had made thedecision earlier, then theycould have been prepared on11 March,” said HideyukiHirakawa, an OsakaUniversity expert ongovernance and the sciences.“There is absolutely nothingyou can do in four days.”

On 11 March, 2011, a9.0-magnitude offshoreearthquake triggered atsunami that killed about19,000 people along Japan’snortheastern coast.—Internet

Chimney-free Battersea “worthextra £470 million”

LONDON, 15 Feb—London’s decaying Battersea PowerStation site would be worth an extra 470 million pounds to adeveloper who could demolish the protected landmarkbuilding itself, according to calculations done for Reuters byproperty consultancy EC Harris.

The extra cash would boost the viability of a stalledscheme central to the creation of 25,000 jobs in the wider areaas Britain’s economic outlook darkens.

The 38-acre (15-hectare) site, which has seen repeatedfailed redevelopment attempts in the three decades since thepower station closed, goes on sale again next month after thecollapse in December of the latest scheme - a 5.5 billion poundplan for homes and offices based around the derelict riversideedifice.

That plan, by Irish developer Treasury Holdings, wasapproved by local government authority Wandsworth council,and included 3,611 homes as well as shops and offices on thesite and inside the shell of the building itself.—Reuters

A London bus passes Battersea Power station in Londonon 8 March, 2011.—INTERNET

Boy genius’s book reveals life in college at age eightLOS ANGELES, 15 Feb—

The one thing 14-year-oldMoshe Kai Cavalin dislikesis being called a genius.

All he did, after all, wasenroll in college at age 8 andearn his first of two Associateof Arts degrees from East LosAngeles Community Collegeat age 9, graduating with aperfect 4.0 grade pointaverage.

Now, at 14, he’s poisedto graduate from UCLA thisyear. He’s also just publishedan English edition of his first

Ten killed, 24 injured inbus-truck collision in Thailand

BANGKOK, 15 Feb—Ten people were killed and 24 otherswere injured in a bus-truck collision in northeast Thailand earlyWednesday, police said.

The passenger bus, en route from the capital Bangkok to SiSa Ket Province, crashed head-on with an 18-wheel truck ataround 03: 45 am local time in Surin Province, the Bangkok Postquoted local police as saying. The two drivers were among thedead. The injured people, seven in critical condition, wererushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The cause of theaccident is still under investigation.—Xinhua

A helicopter is seen during the Cobra Gold 2012bilateral Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX)at Baan Muangkom, Lopburi Province, which is located

about 150 kilometres north of Bangkok, capital ofThailand, on 15 Feb, 2012.—XINHUA

In this 2 May, 2008 filephoto, Moshe Kai Cavalin,

10, strikes a martial artsposition as he poses for

photos at his home studio inDowney, Calif.—INTERNET

book, “We Can Do.”The 100-page guideline

explains how other youngpeople can accomplish whatCavalin did through suchsimple acts as keepingthemselves focused andapproaching everything withtotal commitment. He’shoping it will show peoplethere’s no genius involved,just hard work.

“That’s always thequestion that bothers me,”Cavalin, who turned 14 onValentine’s Day, says when

the G-word is raised. “Peopleneed to know you don’t reallyneed to be a genius. You justhave to work hard and youcan accomplish anything.”

And maybe cut out someof the TV.

Although he’s a big fanof Jackie Chan movies,Cavalin says he limits histelevision time to four hoursa week. Not that he lacks forrecreational activities or feelsthat his parents pressured himinto studying constantly.

Internet

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THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012 13

Pekingese namedMalachy wins

prestigious US dog showA placid Pekingese trotted to victory on

Tuesday at the 136th Westminster KennelClub dog show, beating a Dalmatian, aGerman Shepherd, a Dachshund and threeother canines to become the first of his breedto win the prestigious annual event since1990.

Malachy, a four-year-old dog formallyknown as Ch Palacegarden Malachy, charmedthe packed Madison Square Garden arenacrowd his way to his 115th best-in-show title.Handler David Fitzpatrick said the little dogwould now retire to the life of a house pet,saying “he won’t be doing commercials, he’sbeen working hard enough for the past twoyears.”

Owner David Fitzpatrick holds Malachy, aPekingese, as co-owner Iris Love kisses

Malachy after he won Best In Show at theWestminster Kennel Club Dog Show in NewYork’s Madison Square Garden on 14 Feb,

2012.

Man allegedly built dungeon in old houseA Canadian man was formally charged

on Tuesday with breaking into an abandonedfarmhouse near Toronto and installing adungeon there.

Robert Edwin White, 44, of Oshawa,Ontario, was being held pending a bail hearingon Wednesday, The Globe and Mail of Torontoreported. He was charged with breaking and

entering with intent to commit a crime.Contractors discovered the dungeon,

or confinement room, in the basement of theold farmhouse in November, about a yearafter the building was last inspected. It is ona property that Transport Canada plans todevelop into an airport.

Officials in Pickering, a suburb north ofToronto, had been trying to find someplaceto move the farmhouse, which wasconsidered historic. The house burned downin January in a fire that is consideredsuspicious.

Kandovan village, located in Iran’sEast Azerbaijan Province, is quaint

and mysterious. What makes Kandovanvillage so unique is due to cave ortroglodyte dwellings. Some of its

houses are at least 700 years old andare still inhabited.

Street cleaner finds Rolex in drainAn English street

cleaner who found an 18-carat Rolex Oyster Daytonawatch in a drain turned itover to police after gettinga jeweler to assess its value.

The watch’s estimatedvalue is 21,000 pounds($32,000), This Is Total

Essex reported. If no oneclaims it in the next month, itwill become the property ofthe man who found it. Policesaid the watch has not beenreported missing. “This wasa highly unusual find, andit’s hard to imagine howsomething so valuable has

not been reported lost orstolen by its owner,” saidPolice Constable CalleyMackay, a specialist in stolenproperty in Southend Police.“It is possible, seeing as thedrain was near Leigh trainstation, that the watch wasdropped by a commuter.”

Girl holds sign for stealinglesson

News Album

A Memphis family said they are hoping a13-year-old girl learned a lesson about stealingafter being made to stand at the side of a roadwith a sign.

Lauren Scales, the girl’s aunt, said NatiaWade’s mother made her stand at the intersectionof Poplar and Highland on 12 February holdinga sign reading “I steal from my family,” WPTY-TV, Memphis, reported on Tuesday.

“My niece for the past couple of years,quite honestly has been kind of taking things. Ithasn’t been anything big, but it never really hasto be,” Scales said. She said the girl’s motherfinally had enough when Wade stole her mom’sdebit card to reactive her cellphone, which hadbeen cut off as a punishment.

Victoria names handbag after daughterLONDON, 15 Feb —Singer-turned-fashion designer

Victoria Beckham has named a handbag collection after herdaughter Harper Seven. The 37-year-old showcased her newautumn-winter collection at New York Fashion Week andrevealed that she had named a bag after her seven month olddaughter, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“It’s all about construction and quality. The hardwareand military influence is coming from the handbags. I am soexcited about the new Harper bag. I am designing what I wantmyself. And I can’t wait to wear it,” said Victoria.

Victoria’s collection also includes feminine, fittedshapes, finished with military detail and biker boots, whichwere partly influenced by her husband.

“My daily life is my inspiration. I took the beanie hatsfrom David’s wardrobe and there are some boyfriend jacketsthat are all him...It looks so cool,” she said.—Internet

Oprah issuesapology forTV remarkLONDON, 15 Feb —

International talk show queenOprah Winfrey has issued anapology for breaking TVratings rules and urging fansto watch her “Oprah’s NextChapter” show instead ofGrammy Awards.

Contactmusic.com, the58-year-old invited followersto turn off music’s big nightand switch to her network,OWN, by on micro-bloggingsite twitter.

“Everyone who canplease turn to OWN, especiallyif u have a Nielsen box (sic).Commercial Grammy peo-ple..you can turn to Own,” shetweeted.

But ratings compilers atNielsen organization deman-ded Winfrey to remove hertweet and her posts were laterremoved.

Internet

Oprah WinfreySinger-turned-fashion

designer VictoriaBeckham—INTERNET

Rita Wilson recordsfirst solo CD

NEW YORK, 15 Feb— Thefirst solo album of Americanactress, producer and writerRita Wilson is set for releasethis spring, Decca Recordsannounced.

The “Sleepless inSeattle” cast member’s 14-track CD “AM/FM” will goon sale on 8 May, the labelsaid. Wilson, who is the wifeof double Oscar winner TomHanks, produced the film“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”and the movie musicalMamma “Mia!” She alsostarred in the Broadwaymusical “Chicago.”

For her first solo album,she chose songs “thatresonated emotionally withher, that told a story andevoked the era of the ’60s and’70s which sparked hersinging desires,” her labelsaid in a news release.

“That time period washugely influential on me as akid and as a teenager,” she

Actors Tom Hanks andRita Wilson attend the

Clive Davis pre-Grammyparty salute to Richard

Branson in Beverly Hills,California on 11 Feb,

2012.—INTERNET

said in a statement. “I’d spendhours and hours lying on mybed, holding up the albums,reading the liner notes, andlearning all the words to thesesongs that expressed what Iwas feeling or fantasizingabout.”—Internet

Madonna’s necklace up for grabsnecklace she wears in the promo for newsingle “Give Me All Your Luvin”.

The 53-year-old donned the SwarovskiMontaigne accessory in the video, and nowbosses of the jewellery brand have teamed upwith the pop star to offer it as a prize in anonline competition, reports contact-music.com. Hopeful fans need to log on totheir Facebook page account and connectwith Madonna and Swarovski before enteringtheir details for the raffle.

The lucky winner will be announcednext month. —Internet

Pop diva Madonna

LONDON, 15 Feb—Pop diva Madonna isgiving her fans the chance to own the

Whitney Houston climbs popcharts again after death

LOS ANGELES, 15 Feb—Whitney Houston’s songswere rocketing up the popcharts Tuesday, in some casesa quarter-century after theirinitial release, as fans soughtto recapture the magic of thediva’s iconic voice in thewake of her death.

The late pop diva WhitneyHouston at the BeverlyHilton hotel in BeverlyHills on 12 Feb, 2011.

INTERNET

Amazon.com said on itswebsite that seven of the top10 bestselling musiccollections were recordingsfrom Houston, while her“Greatest Hits” album wasthe top seller on iTunes.

Meanwhile, Britishmusic tracker Official Chartssaid that sales from Sundaythrough to midnight onMonday were so brisk thatseven of Houston’srecordings were “heading forthe Top 40.”—Internet

Tony Bennett honoured onValentine’s Day in SF

SAN FRANCISCO, 15 Feb — More than 1,000 peoplecrammed into San Francisco’s City Hall on Valentine’s Dayto honour singer Tony Bennett and the 50th Anniversary ofhis famous song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a symphony,children’s chorus and the Gay Men’s Chorus all sang thefamous song to Bennett during a ceremony he attended onTuesday.

The tune had its first public performance in December1961 in the Venetian Room of the Fairmont Hotel, whereBennett was scheduled to sing later Tuesday night.

Bennett’s version of the song was being playedthroughout the city on radio and in public performances atUnion Square in honor of the holiday.

The song has become a part of San Francisco culture, andis played after every home victory for the Giants.—Internet

Tony Bennett sings “I LeftMy Heart in San Francisco”during a sound check for a

Valentine’s Day benefitconcert in the Venetian

Room at the Fairmont Hotelin San Francisco, on 14Feb, 2012.—INTERNET

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14 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012

Pioneering Premier League coverage to take offLONDON, 15 Feb — Coverage of Barclays

Premier League matches is about to enter anew era as live matches become available towatch on board flights. IMG Media, whocurrently produce a 24-hour Premier Leaguechannel for overseas broadcasters, hasteamed up with Panasonic to launch the first-ever live global premium 24-hour sportschannel – SPORT 24 - for airline passengersfrom this week. The Barclays Premier Leagueis one of the competitions which will bebroadcast via satellite to specially-equippedGulf Air planes for the pioneering service.

And the channel will also be available tocruise liners from 1st March with NorwegianCruise Liners (NCL) being the first operator tobroadcast SPORT 24 on selected vessels.Other live events which will be availablethrough Panasonic’s eXTV service includethe 2012 Summer Olympic Games, theBundesliga, The Masters, The US Open, TheOpen Championship and the Ryder Cup,Formula 1, Roland Garros, The Wimbledon

Manchester United are the current BarclaysPremier League champions.— INTERNET

Championships and the Australian Open.Discussions with other interested airlines

are ongoing, and Gulf Air, Bahrain’s nationalairline, is initially offering Sport 24 on its ‘SkyHub’—currently available on A330 aircraftthat fly long-haul and on some intra-Gulf routesincluding its destinations to Europe, KualaLumpur, Bangkok, Jeddah, Manila, Lahoreand Islamabad. Richard Wise, Senior VicePresident, IMG Media, said: “Sport 24 willrevolutionise the way passengers watch livesports on Airlines and Cruise Ships.— Internet

Sanchez double and Messimagic delights Barca

LEVERKUSEN, 15 Feb—Two goals by Alexis Sanchez —his first in the Champions League - led Barcelona to a 3-1 first-leg win at Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday to put the holdersin the driving seat in their round of 16 tie. Barca, who are nowunbeaten in 13 Champions League games and have scored in28 consecutive matches in the competition, are trying to lift thetrophy for the third time in four years.

While Chile forward Alexis struck twice, it was LionelMessi who once again stole the show with another sublimeexhibition of ball skills capped by a late third goal from theWorld Player of the Year. “We are very satisfied with the resultbecause scoring three goals away is very important,” saidBarca coach Pep Guardiola. The visitors grabbed the lead inthe 41st minute after a brilliant left-footed flick by Messi sentAlexis racing through on goal.

Michal Kadlec equalized in the 52nd minute but the 23-year-old Chilean made it 2-1 three minutes later. Messicompleted the win, starting an 88th-minute move that alsoinvolved Dani Alves and finishing it with a volley at the farpost as Barca avenged their 2001 defeat by Leverkusen, thelast German club to beat them.

Asked whether he was planning to rest Messi, who hasnow scored a remarkable 25 goals in his last 24 ChampionsLeague matches, Guardiola replied: “Why? People want to seeplayers like him. “His life is football. He doesn’t care. He’s justhappy when he plays. For us it’s very important when heplays.”— Internet

FC Barcelona’sAlexis Sanchez

celebrates a goalagainst BayerLeverkusenduring theirChampions

League soccermatch in

Leverkusen on14 Feb, 2012.

INTERNET

Zambia soars in FIFArankings; Germany up to No 2

ZURICH, 15 Feb—Zambia has soared in the FIFA rankingsafter winning the African Cup of Nations, and Germanyclimbed to second behind World Cup winner and Europeanchampion Spain. Zambia rises 28 places to No 43, becomingthe continent’s fourth-ranked nation after starting the AfricanCup in 16th place. Ivory Coast, which lost Sunday’s final ina penalty shootout, is the highest African nation at No 15.

Egypt plummeted 25 places to No 61. The three-timedefending African champions failed to qualify for thetournament. Germany moved up one, dropping the Netherlandsto third. South American champion Uruguay is fourth, followedby manager-less England. Portugal rises to No 6, droppingBrazil to seventh. Denmark relegates Argentina a spot to No11.— Internet

Clijsters withdraws fromIndian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, 15 Feb—Kim Clijsters announced onTuesday that she has withdrawn from next month’s BNPParibas Open because of an injury to her left ankle. Clijsterssaid in a statement that she is disappointed she won’t beplaying in the tournament, saying she has great memories ofIndian Wells.

The Belgian plans to retire at the end of the season.Clijsters has already retired once—in 2007—but was temptedback in 2009 and has since won three Grand Slam titles.

She won the Australian Open a year ago but the remainderof the season was marred by shoulder, wrist and abdominalinjuries. A twisted ankle almost curtailed the defense of herAustralian Open title last month. Clijsters lost to eventualchampion Victoria Azarenka.— InternetKim Clijsters

Djokovicawarded Serbia’stop honour from

presidentBELGRADE, 15 Feb—

Novak Djokovic has beenawarded the top state honourin Serbia. President Boris Tadichas decorated the tennis greatwith the Karadjordjeva StarMedal, the highest honour inthe Balkan country.

Tadic said on TuesdayDjokovic deserves the medalfor “special merits inrepresenting Serbia.” Djokovicwas the world’s top-rankedplayer, and winner of the lastthree Grand Slams. Djokovicwill formally receive the medalat a ceremony on Wednesdaymarking Serbia’s statehoodday.—Internet

Novak Djokovic

A late start for Adam Scott; a snub for Mike Weir

Adam Scott

had it during a tournament,”he said. “I figured if I had itduring a major, it would beone less chance of gettingone.” The three-month breakwas the longest of his career,and it was the first time in 10years Scott has spent so muchtime at home in Australia. Itallowed him to get his mindoff golf, and it made him eagerto return.

“I’m really ready to play,and that’s important, too,”Scott said. “I’ve been starvedof tournament golf at themoment.” The majors werealso behind his late start tothe year.—Internet

LOS ANGELES, 15 Feb—Adam Scott was on the rangeat Riviera on Tuesday andhad every reason to feel like astranger. He is the only playerfrom the top 10 in the worldwho has yet to play atournament this year.”I mayhave to introduce myself to afair bit of people,” Scott said.Waiting until the NorthernTrust Open to begin his 2012season was only partially bydesign. Scott had planned tobe at Kapalua for the PGATour opener, but he had histonsils taken out in December.He said the recovery time foran adult is about three weeks.

Scott said he hadtonsillitis at least five times ayear for the last couple ofseasons, and when ithappened at the DeutscheBank Championships—hewas tied for the lead through36 holes—that was the laststraw. “It was the first time I

Lin sanity breaks heart of Raptors onValentine’s Day

TORONTO, 15 Feb— Thelegend of Jeremy Lincontinued as he hit a game-winning three-pointer with 0.5second left to lead the Knicksto a 90-87 victory over theToronto Raptors on Tuesdaynight. The victory marked thesixth consecutive victory forthe 14-15 Knicks and alsosaw the return of forward/center Amar’e Stoudemirewho came back after a four-game absence.

In front of a season-highcrowd of 20,092 fans, Lin didnot disappoint them, scoring27 points and a career-high11 assists. In total, he playeda game-high of 43 minutesand 10 seconds, the second

Arsenal star Henry hoping to go outwith a bang

English opposition in the nexttwo years with ManchesterUnited and Tottenham bothwinning at the San Siro aswell.

Until that juncture Milanhad never lost at home to anEnglish side but now they willbe looking to end this run ofthree successive reverses.And they will have to keep aneye on Henry who at 34proved during his six-weekspell with Arsenal that he canstill cut it at the top level, eventhough he was mostly usedas a substitute.

Internet

Thierry Henry, will belooking to give the club heloves a farewell gift as he

makes his final appearancefor Arsenal against AC

Milan in the ChampionsLeague on Wednesday.

INTERNET

LONDON, 15 Feb —Thierry Henry will be lookingto give the club he loves afarewell gift as he makes hisfinal appearance for Arsenalagainst AC Milan in theChampions League onWednesday. Henry’s secondspell at the North Londonersis set to come to an end onThursday when he will returnto the New York Red Bulls inMajor League Soccer.

And having bowed outof his Premier Leaguecommitments on Saturdaywith a vital winning goal atSunderland, Henry will be

hoping to leave an equallylasting impression at the SanSiro. These two sides meet atthis stage of the competitionfor the second time in fouryears.

Back in 2008/09 Milancame away from the Emirateswith a goalless draw but twogoals in the final six minutesin Italy from Cesc Fabregasand Emmanuel Adebayor sawArsenal triumph 2-0 onaggregate.

That was the start of amiserable run for the rossoneriwho were also knocked out atthe second round stage by

most in his young career. Linstarted the game slowly,scoring his first two pointsalmost eight minutes into theopening frame. His strugglescontinued into the thirdquarter as he struggled onboth ends of the floor.

In the first three quarters,Lin allowed Raptors point

guard Jose Calderon to score25 points on 11 of 15 fieldgoals. Lin on the other handhad 15 points on a lessefficient six of 15 shootingalong with six turnovers. Oncethe fourth quarter started,Knicks coach Mike D’Antoniswitched to a more defensiveline-up, holding the Raptorsto only 12 points on five of 15shooting in the final frame.The most noticeablesubstitution was that of ImanShumpert, who was assignedto defend Calderon and kepthim off the score sheet for theentire quarter.— Xinhua

Jeremy Lin (L) ofNew York Knickscontrols the ballduring the NBA

game against TorontoRaptors at Air

Canada Centre inToronto, Canada, on14 Feb, 2012. Knickswon 90-87.—XINHUA

p14(16).pmd 2/16/2012, 9:19 AM14

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 16 February, 2012 15

Weather Map of Myanmar and Neighbouring Areas

Weather forecast for16th February, 2012

Oversea Transmission* News* Amazing Wooden Sculpture

Exhibition & Contest* News* Music Programme* News* Bagan: The Land of Pagoda* News* Youth & Technology (Chin

Twin Technology TrainingSchool)

* News* Myanma Traditional

Festivals in the Month ofTabodwe

* News* Music Gallery* News* National Races from Shan

State “Gon Shan and LiShan”

* National Expo & Car Show(2012)

* News* On the LEDO Road (Part-1)* Myanmar Movies

‘‘Longing For Mother’’

(16-2-12 09:30 am ~17-2-12 09:30 am) MST

MYANMARINTERNATIONAL

MYANMAR TV(16-2-2012) (Thursday)

Focus Myanmar TV Programme

R/489 Printed and published by the New Light of Myanmar press in Nay Pyi Taw, the News and Periodicals Enterprise, Ministry of Information.

DISTRICT NEWS

7:25 am 1. To Be Healthy Exercise7:50 am 2.Nice & Sweet Song8:00 am 3. Health Programme8:15 am 4. Dance Variety8:30 am 5. Teleplay (Forest)4:05 pm 6. Cute Little Dancers4:15 pm 7. Musical Programme4:25 pm 8. Myanmar Traditional

Cultural Performing ArtsCompetitions

4:30 pm 9. 2012 University Entrance

Examination (History)5:00 pm10. Songs For Upholding

National Spirit5:05 pm11. One Village & One

Product5:15 pm12. Science and Environment6:20 pm13. Approaching Science

Discovery World6:40 pm14. TV Drama Series8:00 pm15. News16. TV Drama Series

New school building openedWAKEMA, 15 Feb—A new building was opened at Basic

Education Primary School in Danonchaung Village ofWakema Township on 7 Febuary.

Township Administrator U Soe Tun, AyeyawadyRegion representative U Kyaw Lwin and villageadministrator U Zaw Oo spoke on the occasion.

The local authorities and school constructioncommittee chairman U Htay formally opened the newbuilding. The 60x30 feet building was constructed at a costof over K 17 million.

Myanma Alin

Agricultural technologyexplained

Township on 5 February, officials of Pyapon District andTownship Myanma Agriculture Service explainedcultivation of crops through good agriculture pattern,prevention against pests and technology on boostingproduction.

The trainers and farmers viewed thriving Palethwehybrid paddy plantation on 18 acres of model plot.

District IPRD

PYAPON, 15Feb—At thea g r i c u l t u r a ltechnologicalcourse No. 2/2012 beingconducted inKyontashankwinvillage ofP y a p o n

Sr.

No. Regions/States

Temperature (°C/°F) For Tomorrow

Maximu

m

Minimum Forecast Percent

1 Kachin 30/86 14/57 Likelihood of isolated light rain or

thundershowers 60(%)

2 Kayah 32/90 07/45 Generally fair weather

3 Kayin 38/100 15/59 Partly Cloudy

4 Chin 22/72 10/50 Partly Cloudy

5 Upper Sagaing 30/86 13/55 Partly Cloudy

6 Lower Sagaing 34/93 16/61 Generally fair weather

7 Taninthayi 36/97 21/70 Likelihood of isolated light rain or

thundershowers 60(%)

8 Bago 36/97 17/63 Generally fair weather

9 Magway 36/97 16/61 Generally fair weather

10 Mandalay 34/93 16/61 Generally fair weather

11 Mon 38/100 18/64 Partly Cloudy

12 Yangon 38/100 18/64 Generally fair weather

13 Rakhine 30/86 16/61 Generally fair weather

14 Southern Shan 29/84 11/52 Generally fair weather

15 Northern Shan 30/86 07/45 Generally fair weather

16 Eastern Shan 32/90 12/54 Generally fair weather

17 Ayeyawady 35/95 19/66 Generally fair weather

18 Neighbouring Nay Pyi

Taw 38/100 15/59

Generally fair weather

19 Neighbouring Yangon 38/100 18/64 Generally fair weather

20 Neighbouring Mandalay 34/93 16/61 Generally fair weather

Summary of

observations at

09:30 hr MST on

today

During the past (24) hours, light rain have been isolated in Taninthayi Region, weather has been partly cloudy in Kachin, Shan and Rakhine States and generally fair in the remaining Regions and States. Night temperatures were (4°C) below February average temperature in Upper Sagaing and Bago Regions, (3°C) above February average temperature in Magway Region, Chin and Mon States and about February average temperature in the remaining Regions and States. The significant night temperatures were Pinlaung (3°C), Loilen (4°C), Namhsan and Heho (5°C) each.

Bay

Inference

Weather is partly cloudy to cloudy in the Andaman Sea, South and West Central Bay

and generally fair elsewhere in the Bay of Bengal.

State of the Sea Seas will be slight to moderate in Myanmar waters.

Outlook for sub-

sequent two days Likelihood of slight increase of night temperatures in the Northern Myanmar areas.

Job seekers view the employment information at ajob fair in Xining, capital of northwest China’s

Qinghai Province, 15 Feb, 2012. Over 300enterprises provide nearly 10,000 job opportunities

at the job fair.—XINHUA

Soldiers find, detonate carbomb in north Nigeria

MAIDUGURI, (Nigeria),15 Feb—Authorities saysoldiers have found andsafely detonated a car bombin a northeast Nigeria citythat’s the spiritual home toa radical Islamist sect.

Military spokesmanCol Victor Ebhaleme toldjournalists Wednesday thatsoldiers discovered the carthat morning in the city ofMaiduguri in aneighbourhood that hasseen attacks by the sectknown as Boko Haram.

Boko Haram is

Fukushima weighs heavy atBerlin film showcase

TOKYO, 15 Feb—The Fukushima nuclear disaster hascome under the spotlight at Berlin’s film festival with threefilms exploring its impact on Japanese society less than ayear on. The 11-day festival, which prides itself on itsgenerally edgier and more politically-overt line-up overother film showcases, was perhaps a fitting backdrop for thedocumentaries. “I’m more than happy to be here because the

Screen shot from the documentary film Nuclear Nationby Japanese director Funahashi Atsushi, presented at

the International Film Festival Berlinale in the Forumsection.—INTERNET

A visitor looks into the Boeing 787 Dreamliner duringthe second day of the Singapore Airshow in Singapore,

15 Feb, 2012.—XINHUA

Berlinale has got a long history of showing all thosepolitical, socially conscious films,” Atsushi Funahashi,director of “Nuclear Nation”, told AFP. He said that althoughhe was sensitised to the atomic question because his familyhad been affected by the 1945 Allied atomic bombing ofHiroshima, he was unsure at first how to tackle Fukushima.

“First of all, I didn’t know what to do as a film-makerbut I knew I had to do something,” he said, adding one ofhis motives had been the difference in data from internationaland Japanese officials.

He focuses on the exile of residents of Futaba, where thecrippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was based, to anabandoned high school 250 kilometres (155 miles) away.

The story homes in on a mayor whose town no longerexists as he tries to keep the community together.

“No Man’s Zone” by Toshi Fujiwara journeys insidea 20-kilometre area which was evacuated after the disaster,as well as surrounding areas, to talk to “normal” peopleabout how their lives were affected.—Internet

blamed for killing at least286 people so far this year,according to an AssociatedPress count. At least 185people died in the sect’scoordinated assault inJanuary on Kano, the largestcity of Nigeria’s north.

On Tuesday, a policeanti-bomb squad memberdied in the city of Kadunaafter an explosive detonatedinside a plastic bag he wasexamining. No one hasclaimed responsibility for thatattack.

Internet

p15(16).pmd 2/16/2012, 9:19 AM15

Thursday, 16 February, 20129th Waning of Tabodwe 1373 ME

Successive governments conferring religious titles on members of the Sangha, nuns andlaypersons for their performances in ensuring perpetuity of Theravada Buddhism

Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham attends coord meeting toVice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham attends coord meeting toconfer religious titles and offer rice to monksconfer religious titles and offer rice to monks

NAY PYI TAW, 15 Feb—A coordination meeting to conferreligious titles and offer rice to members of the Sangha washeld at the hall of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, here, at2 pm today, with an address by Patron of the Religious TitleConferring and Rice Offering Ceremony Holding CommitteeVice-President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar DrSai Mauk Kham.

Also present at the meeting were Chairman of the LeadingCommittee for Organizing the Religious Title Conferring andRice Offering to members of the Sangha Union Minister forReligious Affairs Thura U Myint Maung, Vice-Chairman ofthe Leading Committee Union Minister at the President OfficeChairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council U Thein Nyunt, UnionMinister for Hotels and Tourism U Tint Hsan, Commander ofNay Pyi Taw Command Maj-Gen Maung Maung Aye, deputyministers who are chairmen of subcommittees, members ofNay Pyi Taw Council, the Chief of Myanmar Police Force,departmental heads and officials.

Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-President said thatsuccessive governments have been conferring religious

titles on members of the Sangha, nuns and laypersons for theirperformances in ensuring perpetuity of Theravada Buddhismcountable by the years in the thousands. Since 1915, AggaMaha Pandita titles for Pariyatti literature have been conferredon the monks. In 1953, he said that not only Agga MahaPandita title but also Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru title wasconferred on the prominent monks. In 1953 when the SixthBuddhist Synod was held, TipitakadharaDhammabhandagarika title was offered to Sayadaw BhaddantaViççittasarabhivamsa, he said. After 1963, the conferring ofreligious title was suspended, and beginning 1979, AggaMaha Pandita, Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru and TipittakadharaDhammabhandagarika titles were conferred for Pariyatti genre.

The State Law and Order Restoration Council continuedthe conferring of the titles in 1989 and 1990, he said. In 1991,he added that a total of 20 religious titles were prescribed toconfer three types of titles on Pariyatti lecturers, three typesof titles on meditation instructors, two types of titles onDhamma preachers, four types of titles on missionary andeight types of titles of Sasana Nuggaha on lay persons in

addition to existing three types of titles. Thus, he said thatthere are 23 types of religious titles.

In the time of the new government of the Republic of theUnion of Myanmar, an announcement was issued on 4 January2012 to confer 23 types of religious titles on 121 members ofthe Sangha, eight nuns and 31 lay persons for their outstandingperformances, he said.

He said that the patrons and the leading committee wereformed for successfully holding the ceremony to conferreligious titles and offer rice for 2012.

Moreover, he added that the President of the Republic ofthe Union of Myanmar and wife and party will offer alms mealto State level members of the Sangha and religious titlerecipient monks and nuns at Sasana Maha Beikman on NayPyi Taw Uppatasanti Hill on 5 March, two days ahead of thereligious title conferring ceremony.

He continued to say that the religious title conferringceremony will be observed at the Beikman on Nay Pyi TawUppatasanti Hill at 12 noon on 7 March 2012 (Fullmoon (See page 9)

Vice-President ofthe Republic of theUnion of MyanmarDr Sai Mauk Khamdelivers an address

at coordinationmeeting to conferreligious titles and

offer rice tomembers of the

Sangha.MNA

Aspirin could beat

cancer spread:

Australian study

PAGE 4

Pioneering Premier Leaguecoverage to take off

PAGE 14

Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker receivesDy Prime Minister of Luxembourg

PAGE 2

Zenit 3-2 Benfica: Shirokov strikes late winner to decideend-to-end contest and given Russians narrow victoryA brace by Roman Shirikov stole the show for the hosts, who will not look kindly on keeper YuriZhevnov for two errors that cost them two away goals

MOSCOW, 15 Feb—ZenitSt Petersburg ran out 3-2winners over Benfica after athrilling ChampionsLeague Round of 16 at thePetrovsky Stadium.

Maxi Pereira openedthe scoring for the visitors20 minutes in, but a pair ofwell taken goals in eitherhalf from Roman Shirokovand Sergey Semak gave thehosts the advantage.

A late equaliser fromOscar Cardozo appeared torestore parity for the second

leg, but Shirokov roundedoff his brace with twominutes to go to send the tieto Lisbon on a knife’s edge.

Conditions were wellbelow freezing, and with thehome side playing their firstcompetitive match in twomonths, it was no surprisethat the first half unfolded infits and starts with both teamsstruggling to establish arhythm.

Perhaps befitting the

Roman Shirokov

disjointed tone of theopening exchanges, it was ascrappy goal from Benficathat broke the deadlock after20 minutes. A free kick byCardozo was fumbled byYuri Zhevnov, which gavePereira an empty net to pokehome the rebound.

With three minutes togo, Benfica grabbed anequaliser through Cardozoafter another fumble byZhevnov allowed the

Paraguayan the simplest offinishes from barely a yardout.

The drama was notdone, and Zenit regainedthe lead a minute later aftera failed clearance by Pereiraand a spill by Artur allowedShirokov an open goal togive the Russian outfit aslender advantage headinginto the second leg, whichtakes place on 6 March inLisbon.—Internet

Frank de Boer: It is a big surprise to be facing ManchesterUnited in the Europa League

SPORTS

AMSTERDAM, 15 Feb—Ajax coach Frank De Boerhas admitted his surprise atseeing Manchester Uniteddrop into the Europa League,although he concedes thatteams like the Red Devils

and their rivals ManchesterCity do bring a lot to thecompetition.

Ajax found themselvesin a similar position to Unitedgoing into their final groupgame of the Champions

League, knowing a winwould see them through tothe second round.

Internet

P16(16).pmd 2/16/2012, 9:19 AM16