senior general than shwe and wife daw kyaing kyaing … guru abhidhaja agga maha saddhammajotika...

Volume XII, Number 314 1st Waning of Tabodwe 1366 ME Thursday, 24 February, 2005

Established 1914

Emergence of the State Constitution is the duty of all citizens of Myanmar Naing-Ngan.

Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing and party sharing merits gained at the Fourth Buddha Pujaniya of Lawka Chantha Abhaya LabhaMuni Buddha Image. — MNA

Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaingattend Fourth Buddha Pujaniya of Lawka Chantha Abhaya

Labha Muni Buddha Image

Secretary Magway Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kumara delivers a sermon to share merits at Fourth BuddhaPujaniya of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Buddha Image. — MNA

YANGON, 23 Feb — Chairman of the State Peaceand Development Council Commander-in-Chief ofDefence Services Senior General Than Shwe andwife Daw Kyaing Kyaing attended the Fourth Bud-dha Pujaniya of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha MuniBuddha Image on Mindhamma Hill in Insein Town-ship, Yangon Division, this morning.

Also present on the occasion were StateOvadaçariya Sayadaws, members of the StateSangha Maha Nayaka Committee, TipitakadharaTipitaka Kovida Sayadaws, members of the StateCentral Working Committee of the Sangha, mem-bers of the Sangha of the State Pariyatti SasanaUniversity (Yangon), International Theravada Bud-dhist Missionary University Theravada OvadaçariyaGroup and Division and Township Sangha NayakaCommittees totalling 45, Vice-Chairman of the StatePeace and Development Council Deputy Com-mander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Maung Ayeand wife Daw Mya Mya San, Daw Khin Than Nwe,wife of Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Member of the State Peaceand Development Council General Thura ShweMann and wife Daw Khin Lay Thet, Prime MinisterLt-Gen Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, DawKhin Khin Win, wife of Secretary-1 of the State Peaceand Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein, mem-bers of the State Peace and Development Council, theCommander-in-Chief (Navy), the Commander-in-Chief (Air) and their wives, the Chairman of YangonDivision Peace and Development Council Commanderof Yangon Command and wife, the ministers, the

Chairman of Civil Service Selection and TrainingBoard, the Yangon Mayor, the deputy ministers, sen-ior military officers and their wives, the director-gen-eral of the State Peace and Development CouncilOffice and departmental heads, the Chairman of thePagoda Board of Trustees and members, social or-ganizations, wellwishers and guests.

First, Senior General Than Shwe and wife DawKyaing Kyaing paid homage to the Image and of-fered flowers, water, ‘soon’ and alms to it.

After paying obeisance, Vice-Senior GeneralMaung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San donatedflowers, water, ‘soon’ and alms to the Image.

At 7.15 am, the ceremony to share merits washeld at the Gandakuti Hall where the Buddha Imageis being kept. Head of Yangon Division ReligiousAffairs Department U San Thinn Hlaing acted asmaster of ceremonies.

The ceremony was opened with three-time reci-tation of Namo Tassa. Senior General Than Shwe

and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing and party took theNine Precepts from Vice-Chairman of the StateSangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abhidhaja MahaRattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha SaddhammajotikaAungmyebonsan Sayadaw Bhaddanta Paññinda-bhivamsa.

Next, members of the Sangha recited Parittas.Afterwards, the Senior General and wife offered

robes and alms to Secretary of the SSMNC MagwaySayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru AbhidhajaAgga Maha Saddhammajotika Bhaddanta Kumara.

Vice-Senior General Maung Aye and wife DawMya Mya San donated robes and alms to the Vice-Chairman Aungmyebonsan Sayadaw.

Daw Khin Than Nwe, wife of Lt-Gen Tin Oo,also presented robes and alms to Vice-ChairmanThayet Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Agga MahaSaddhamma Jotikadhaja Agga MahaKammathanaçariya Bhaddanta Kesara.

(See page 8)

The Senior General and wife offeredrobes and alms to Secretary of theSSMNC Magway Sayadaw AbhidhajaMaha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja AggaMaha Saddhammajotika BhaddantaKumara. Vice-Senior General MaungAye and wife Daw Mya Mya San do-nated robes and alms to the Vice-Chair-man Aungmyebonsan Sayadaw.

2 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 24 February, 2005

MYANMAR GAZETTE

Thursday, 24 February, 2005

PERSPECTIVES* Oppose those relying on external elements, acting as stooges, holding negative views* Oppose those trying to jeopardize stability of the State and progress of the nation* Oppose foreign nations interfering in internal affairs of the State* Crush all internal and external destructive elements as the common enemy

People’s Desire

Towards closer ties betweenMyanmar and Philippines

Since the Union of Myanmar became in-dependent, it has always practised an independ-ent and active foreign policy. As a result, it hasmaintained friendly relations with many nationsof the world.

The main purpose of Myanmar’s foreignpolicy is to keep good relations with all nationsof the world, especially its neighbours and mem-ber nations of the ASEAN. Myanmar is givingpriority to cooperation with the neighbours andASEAN nations for the sake of mutual inter-ests.

At the invitation of Madame GloriaMacapagal Arroyo, President of the Republicof the Philippines, Lt-Gen Soe Win, Prime Min-ister of the Union of Myanmar, paid a goodwillvisit to the Philippines on 21 February. The sameday, Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win met withPhilippine President Arroyo at Malacanan Pal-ace and they discussed bilateral relations, coop-eration and matters of mutual interests in afriendly and cordial atmosphere.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Lt-GenSoe Win said that the more the two nationscooperated with each other, the greater theirmutual benefits would be, that he thanked thePhilippines for its understanding of Myanmar’sinternal affairs and for standing by Myanmarin the regional and international arena.

Philippine President Arroyo said that thePhilippines did not accept the economic sanc-tions imposed on Myanmar by some big na-tions, that it would continue to stick to the con-structive engagement in dealing with Myanmarand that it would strive for further cementingthe Philippines-Myanmar relations.

The Union of Myanmar and the Republicof the Philippines established diplomatic rela-tions in 1956 and, since then, they have kept afine tradition of good relationship based onmutual understanding and goodwill. The recip-rocal visits of the leaders and high-level delega-tions of the two nations have increased coop-eration in numerous fields.

The first meeting of Myanmar-PhilippineJoint Commission was held in Yangon,Myanmar, in April last year. The second meet-ing of the Commission will take place in thePhilippines. Regular meetings of the Commis-sion will be in the interests of the two nations.

We believe that the Union of Myanmarand the Republic of the Philippines will pro-mote their mutual interests by further cooper-ating with each other and cementing theirfriendship.

Development Affairs Department Dierctor-GeneralCol Myo Myint inspects sanitation tasks in

Kyaukse on 18-2-2005.— DAD

Vol II, No 5 issue of Doh Kyeywa Journal.— MNA

New arrival of ATR-42 aircraft for Air Bagan.— MNA

YANGON, 23 Feb — Director-General Col MyoMyint of the Development Affairs Department of theMinistry for Progress of Border Areas and NationalRaces and Development Affairs accompanied by offi-cials, inspected development tasks in Kyaukse on 18February. Afterwards, the director-general and offi-cials looked into sanitation tasks around the town halland urban area. After inspecting the construction ofMinye concrete culvert on Yangon-Mandalay high-way, the director-general gave necessary instructions.

Next, the director-general inspected tarring of14th street in the township and left instructions onminimizing loss and wastage and growing the floweryplants. —NLM

YANGON, 23 Feb — The prize-presenting cer-emony of the 35th Inter-State/Division Cycling Racewas held at the Youth Training Centre (Thuwunna),here, this morning, attended by Chairman of MyanmarOlympic Committee Minister for Sports Brig-GenThura Aye Myint. After the race, President of MyanmarWomen’s Sports Federation Daw Aye Aye and Secre-tary Daw L Khun Yi presented prizes to winners in thewomen’s events and Directors of Sports and PhysicalEducation Department U Naw Taung and U Zaw Linand Vice-President of Myanmar Cycling FederationU Zaw Moe, winners of men’s events. Afterwards, thevice-president of MCF gave away Best Player Awardsto Myint Myint Htwe (Yangon) in the women’s eventand Min Min Han (Mandalay) in the men’s event.

Next, the vice-president of MCF handed oversports gear donated by the Japanese wellwishers MrTakahiro Saitoh and Mr Yoshihara Tsuchiya for MCFto Secretary U Cho Maung of Myanmar SwimmingFederation.

Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myintpresented championship shield and cash prizes to

YANGON, 23 Feb —The Doh Kyeywa ( OurVillage ) Journal, Vol II,No 5 came out today.

The journal carriesarticles, short stories, hu-mour, cartoons, movies,prices of commodities,meteorology, astrologyand others.

Manuscripts andadvertisements may besent to No 30/32, 10thstreet,Lanmadaw Town-ship, Tel: 371342, 252452and 379768.

MNA

YANGON, 23 Feb — A new ATR-42 aircraft wasadded to Air Bagan, a private airline in Myanmar, forextension of domestic flights and development oftourism industry in Myanmar. The new plane arrived atthe Yangon International Airport this evening.

Air Bagan operates its regular domestic flightsfrom Yangon to Mandalay, Nyaung U, Heho, Kengtung,Tachilek, Thandwe, Sittway, Myitkyina, Putao, Pathein,Dawei and Myeik by three aircraft— Fokker-100,ATR-72 and ATR-42. Air Bagan also operates char-tered flights to other cities.— MNA

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YANGON, 23 Feb — The State Peace andDevelopment Council has confirmed the appoint-ment of the following heads of service organizationson expiry of the one-year probationary period.

Name Appointment(a) U Aung Than Myint Principal Nationalities Youth

Resource Development Degree College (Mandalay) Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs

(b) Col Soe Win Managing Director News and Periodicals Enterprise Ministry of Information

(c) U Win Pe Director-General Transport Department Ministry of Transport

The State Peace and Development Councilhas appointed U Myo Myint, Deputy Director-Gen-eral of the Auditor-General’s Office, as the Direc-tor-General of the same department on probationfrom the date he assumes charge of his duties.

MNA

Development Affairs tasksinspected in Kyaukse

Prizes for Cycling Race

New ATR-42 aircraft forAir Bagan

Doh Kyeywa Journal out

Yangon Division Men’s and women’s teams.Later, President of MCF U Kyaw Win presented

K 300,000, K 200,000 and 100,000 to the first prize,second and third winning teams respectively. —NLM

Military Code of Conductand Emtempore Talks continue

YANGON, 23 Feb — The Military Code of Con-duct and Emtempore Talks of Defence Services (Army,Navy and Air) to mark the 60th Anniversary ArmedForces Day continued for the second day at the desig-nated places this morning. The oral contest of militarycode of conduct continued at the hall of Yangon Com-mand Headquarters and the extempore talks, at thehalls of the Ministry of Defence (Chawdwingon).

Attendance at the contests were senior militaryofficers, members of the committe for holding thecontest, judges and participants. — MNA

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 24 February, 2005 3

�� HK sets up web site HealthyHKto promote public health

HONG KONG, 22 Feb— A public web site, HealthyHK, set up by the Depart-ment of Health (DH) to promote public health was officially launched here onMonday.

The web site is supported by thedepartments Public Health Informa-tion System (PHIS) which collects,collates and analyses health-relateddata from various sources includingthe Hospital Authority and govern-ment departments.

Through its various functions includ-ing an interactive inquiry applicationcalled InstantQuery, HealthyHK willserve as a platform which allows infor-mation sharing to suit the different needsof people from all walks of life.

“It will be useful for policymakers,health care professionals, researchersand businessmen to make evidence-based decisions on health policies, re-source allocation, and the planning, im-plementation and evaluation of healthservices and programmes,” said Perma-nent Secretary for Health, Welfare andFood of Hong Kong Carrie Yau at thelaunching ceremony.

“Students could also make use ofstatistical information on this web site tocarry out health-related projects, and

the general public could have a betterunderstanding on the health status ofHong Kong people so as to enhance theirdetermination on the ways of diseaseprevention and health improvement,”she added.

During the ceremony, the Director ofHealth of Hong Kong, Dr P Y Lam, saidthe PHIS was one of the initiatives inHong Kong Chief Executive’s Policyaddress in order to provide and maintainan information system to record the healthconditions of the public and the diseasepattern in the community.

“The PHIS will also help us in formulat-ing effective strategies in the preventionand control of communicable and non-communicable diseases,” Dr Lam said.

To further arouse public awareness ofthe HealthyHK web site, the departmentwill organize a series of roving exhibi-tions in a number of shopping arcadesincluding New Town Plaza, Lok FuShopping Centre, Queensway Plaza andKornhill Plaza between March and Maythis year.— MNA/Xinhua

Roadside bomb attack killedthree US soldiers in Iraq

BAGHDAD , 22 Feb — Three US soldiers werekilled and eight wounded on Monday when a road-side bomb detonated near a helicopter as it wascarrying out a medical evacuation, the US militarysaid.

The medical team was sent by helicopter to attenda soldier injured in a vehicle accident in a south-western neighbourhood of Baghdad when theexplosion went off, the US military said in a state-ment.

It gave no further details. Guerillas attack US troops many times every day in

Baghdad, although it is rare that three soldiers arekilled in a single attack.

There have now been 1,124 US troops killed inaction in Iraq since the launch of the war in March2003 as they battle to suppress a Sunni Muslim-ledinsurgency determined to drive them out of the coun-try.

MNA/Reuters

Iraqi TV presenterkidnapped in Mosul

BAGHDAD, 22 Feb—Unknown gunmen havekidnapped an Iraqi televi-sion presenter with her sonin the northern city ofMosul, an official from theTV said Monday. RaedaMuhammed al-Wazzanwas abducted with her ten-year-old son as she was re-turning home Sunday nightin Mosul, the official saidon condition of anonymity.

TV workers and officesin the city have been at-tacked several times bythe guerillas, said the offi-cial. No further detailswere immediately avail-able about the incident.

MNA/Xinhua

1,484 US troops killed sincebeginning of Iraq war

WASHINGTION , 22 Feb—As of Tuesday, 22 Feb, 2005, at least 1,484 mem-bers of the US military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war inMarch 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 1,126 died asa result of hostile action, according to the Defence Department. The figuresinclude four military civilians.

The AP count is eight higher thanthe Defence Department’s tally, lastupdated at 10 am EST Tuesday.

The British military has reported 86deaths; Italy, 20; Ukraine, 18; Poland,16; Spain, 11; Bulgaria, seven;Slovakia, three; Estonia, Thailand andthe Netherlands, two each; and Den-mark, El Salvador, Hungary, Latvia

and Kazakhstan one death each.Since 1 May, 2003, when President

Bush declared that major combat oper-ations in Iraq had ended, 1,346 USmilitary members have died, accordingto AP’s count. That includes at least1,017 deaths resulting from hostile ac-tion, according to the military’s num-bers. — Internet

US waging “dirty war” of propagandato discredit Chavez

CARACAS (Venezuela), 22 Feb— Venezuela complained on Monday thatWashington was waging a “dirty war” of propaganda to discredit PresidentHugo Chavez, but said it has no plans to cut vital oil supplies to the United States.

Venezuela’s Information MinisterAndres Izarra accused US officials andsome media of working to isolate left-winger Chavez in the internationalcommunity.

He was responding to recent state-ments from Washington brandingChavez a threat to regional stability andcriticizing his government in the world’sNo 5 oil exporter.

“All these declarations together arepart of clear policy,” Izarra told a newsconference. “This is a campaign fromthe United States to isolate and discreditthe Venezuelan Government.”

Both Administrations have steppedup a noisy exchange in recent weeks,but neither has taken any action to dis-rupt ties between the United States andVenezuela, a key oil supplier.

“Venezuela is not pursuing nor is itstudying any measure to cut the suppliesof oil to the United States,” Izarra said.

Izarra said Foreign Minister Ali

Rodriguez would travel to the UnitedStates this week to present Venezuela’scase before the Organization of Ameri-can States.

He singled out the Washington Post,Fox News and the Miami Herald asamong the media outlets he said werepart of a US campaign against Chavez.

Izarra also named several reporterswho he suggested were receiving fundsfrom the US Government, but said hehad no evidence to support this.

Among those named were PhilGunson, a British journalist based inCaracas who writes for the Miami Her-ald and is head of the foreign corres-pondents’ association in Venezuela.

Gunson denied the accusation. “I think it’s surprising that the minis-

ter should demand accuracy and well-sourced reporting from the foreign Presswhile at the same time he issues accusa-tions by innuendo and admits he has noproof,” he said. — MNA/Reuters

Overweight students follow instructions from their fitness teacher(L) during afree period at their school in Singapore as part of the government's '

Trim and Fit' (TAF) programme on 22 Feb, 2005.—INTERNET

A Japanese woman shows the Minox miniature Leica M3 replica digitalcamera in Tokyo on 23 Feb, 2005—INTERNET

Chinese, Sudanese foreign ministers talk over phoneBEIJING, 22 Feb — The Chinese and Sudanese foreign ministers spoke by phone

recently, confirming the countries' mutual support. "China supports the peace process in Sudan and is willing to join hands with

Sudan to promote Sino-Sudanese cooperation," Chinese Foreign Minister LiZhaoxing said in a telephone conversation with his Sudanese counterpart MustafaOthman Ismail here Monday morning. Li said China would further strengthenconsultations "with concerned parties" and make efforts to promote the resolutionof the on-going humanitarian crisis in Sudan's Darfur region. — MNA/Xinhua


BEIJING , 22Feb— Chinese Premier Wen Jiabaomet here on Monday with British Chancellor ofthe Exchequer Gordon Brown.

Cambodia, Vietnam to enhancebilateral cooperation

PHNOM PENH, 23 Feb — Cambodia and Vietnam said on Tuesday they will further strengthencooperation in various fields to promote the development of bilateral ties.

The 7th meeting of the Cambodia-Vietnam JointCommission was held here with the focus on furtherpromoting bilateral cooperation between them.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong andVietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Mienattended the meeting heading their respectivedelegations.

During the meeting, the two sides held in-depthtalks on a wide range of bilateral issues includingeconomic, trade, cultural, tourism, health and borderissues, according to Hor Namhong.

They also informed each other of recent social andeconomic development of their countries.

Nguyen Dy Mien told reporters after the meetingthat both sides highly evaluated the development ofbilateral ties in various areas, and the two countriesoutlined future targets for further strengtheningrelations.

The two sides also agreed to closely cooperate tocontrol along the border areas epidemics includingmalaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and bird flu inparticular, and prevent them from spreading to eitherside.

To further facilitate trade flows, they agreed tostudy the establishment of border markets with single-stop services at their border checkpoints.

Satisfied with their cooperation on border securitycooperation and the immigration control, the two sides

stressed the importance to further enhance the bilateraland regional security cooperation.

They also stressed the importance of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle and the adoptionof the Socio-Economic Development Master Plan forthe triangle.

The meeting decided the joint commission to begathered next time in Vietnam in 2006.

MNA/Xinhua

Vietnam to test bird fluvirus for waterfowls

HANOI , 23 Feb— Vietnam, from late February toearly March, will test bird flu’s virus for entireflocks of more than 500 waterfowls to quicklydetect and fully deal with the disease.

If a waterfowl is tested positive to bird flu virusstrain of H5, the entire its flock will be culled byburning. Vietnam’s Animal Health Department willalso test the virus for samples from quails, migrant andwild birds, said local newspaper Saigon Liberationon Tuesday.

Bird flu, which has killed and led to the forcedculling of more than 1.5 million fowls in 35 cities andprovinces of Vietnam since January, is cooling down.On 20 February, only four new bird flu- affected spotsin three southern provinces of Vinh Long, Ben Tre andBac Lieu were reported.

Ten provinces and cities nationwide have detectedno new affected spots in their territories for at least21 days.

MNA/Xinhua

Chinese Premiermeets British guest

RIO DE JANEIRO , 22 Feb—Joao Jose de Vasconcellos Jr would have beencelebrating his 50th birthday with his family in their apartment near the beachin Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 24 February.

Instead the whereabouts of the Bra-zilian engineer kidnapped in Iraq morethan a month ago, remain shrouded inmystery.

There has been no contact with hisfamily and no news from the Braziliangovernment. There have been no threatsor demands. There has been no images,and no proof that he is alive.

In fact, after his diving card wasshown in a video sent to Aljazeera by theMujahidin Brigades and the Army ofAnsar al-Sunna on 19 January, there hasbeen no further information of any kindat all.

Vasconcellos had been in Iraq for 12months and was one of six Brazilianconstruction workers with the companyNorberto Odebrecht in Iraq. The firmannounced they were pulling the re-

mainder out the day after the abductionwas announced.

The hostage case is marked by twounusual factors.

First, there is no political capital to begained. Brazil has no troops in Iraq andrefused a request to take part in the US-led “coalition of the willing”. PresidentLuiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been anoutspoken critic of the war.

Secondly, unlike the hardline ap-proach of many other countries whichrefuse to negotiate with hostage-takers,Brazil’s foreign minister, Celso Amorim,made it clear that “if it is necessary tonegotiate, we negotiate”.

People wore T-shirts calling for hisfreedom in Portuguese and Arabic withan image of the engineer with the Brazi-lian and Iraqi flags. —Internet

Nepali workers salary down inGulf countries

KATHMANDU, 22 Feb—Although the attraction ofthe Gulf countries is highamong Nepali workers,their earnings have gonedown significantly in theabsence of labour agree-

A traditional fishing boat sets off from a private wharf at sunset in the portcity of Zamboanga, southern Philippines on 22 Feb, 2005. –INTERNET

A dancer sporting a mask performs Cham Dances at the Labrang Monasteryon the second day of the Monlam (Great Prayer) Festival in Xiahe, on the remotefringes of the Tibetan plateau in western China’s Gansu Province, on 22 Feb,

2005—INTERNET

Brazil feels the pain of Iraq kidnappings

��

New system to track vehiclestransporting hazardous materials

SINGAPORE, 23 Feb — A Hazmat Transport VehicleTracking System will monitor all the vehicles carryinghazardous materials within Singapore by April, localmedia Channel NewsAsia reported on Tuesday.

Employing the global positioning system, thetracking system has a capability of monitoring morethan 10,000 vehicles fitted with required devices at thesame time.

The system is expected to enable the SingaporeCivil Defence Force to launch quick and proper actionsin case of emergency.

Several other new technologies and equipmentdeveloped by the private sector for the purpose ofemergency rescue have also been exhibited in the fireconference and exposition, which was opened onTuesday.

Wen gave positiveappraisal for Sino-Britishrelations, saying thecooperation between twocountries is in the inter-est of the two peoples,and conducive to worldpeace and economicdevelopment.

The two sides alsoexchanged views on the

relations between Chinaand European Union, in-ternational finance co-operation and povertyeradication.

Wen briefed theguest on China’s currenteconomic situation.

Brown is paying hisfirst visit to China asChancellor of the Ex-chequer.

He held talkswith his Chinese coun-terpart Jin Renqing Mon-day morning, and bothagreed to further thecooperation on finance,trade and investment.

Besides Beijing,Brown will also visitShanghai, Shenzhen,and Hong Kong SpecialAdministrative Region.

MNA/Xinhua

ments with these countries,according to the NepaliLabour Department.

A statement issued bythe department here Mon-day said because of theabsence of agreement, Ne-

pal is put among the unof-ficial source countrymeaning Nepalis are paidless than workers fromother countries for simi-lar jobs.

MNA/Xinhua

MNA/Xinhua


YANGON, 23 Feb—The meeting of the panelof chairmen of delegatesof national races and 14representatives from 14States and Divisions tookplace at the meeting hall-3 of Nyaunghnapin Campin Hmawby Township thisafternoon for compilationof the delegates’ proposalsregarding the NCC WorkCommittee chairman’sclarifications to detailedbasic principles fordistribution of thelegislative power to beincluded in the framing ofthe State Constitution.

Panel of chairmen hold discussionswith representatives YANGON, 23 Feb—A

meeting took place at themeeting hall-5 ofNyaunghnapin Camp inHmawby Township at1 pm today to deal withthe papers of the delegatesof workers to be submittedto the National Con-vention Convening WorkCommittee regarding theclarifications made on 22February by the WorkCommittee chairman for

Present on the occa-sion were members of thepanel of chairmen ofdelegates of national racesU Mya Sein of MandalayDivision, U Kyaw Din (a)U Htay Yai of KayahState, U Doo Wah ZokDaung of Shan State(North), and U Maung Hla(a) U Hla Myint ofTaninthayi Division, and14 representatives fromStates and Divisions.

U Mya Sein ofMandalay Divisionchaired the meetingtogether with U Kyaw Din(a) U Htay Yai of Kayah

State, U Doo Wah ZokDaung of Shan State(North), and U Maung Hla(a) U Hla Myint ofTaninthayi Division.

Deputy Director UThan Tun acted as MCand Assistant Director UTin Maung Oo as co-MC.

The meeting chair-man gave a speech andsubmitted the 16proposals, followed by ageneral round ofdiscussions.

The meeting chair-man gave concludingremarks at 1.30 pm.

MNA

Proposals of delegates of workers discussedlaying down detailed basicprinciples for delegationof the legislative power tobe included in the framingof the State Constitution.

U Bo Thein chairedthe meeting together withU Kyaw Win Tun and UKhin Maung Aye. DeputyDirector U Zaw Win andAssistant Director U AungWin acted as MC and co-MC.

A total of 48 delegates

attended the meeting,accounting for cent percent. The meetingchairman delivered aspeech. Member of thepanel of chairmen U KyawWin Tun read the papersof the delegates ofworkers. The meetingchairman sought theapproval of those present,and delivered concludingremarks.

MNA

YANGON, 23 Feb —A combined teamcomprising membersof Local Battalion,Tachilek Anti-DrugSquad and TachilekDistrict Police Station,acting on information,searched at 227,Htawkawt, Hongleikvillage tract, TachilekTownship on 17 Januaryand seized Maung AikSan (a) Aik Kyaingwith 400,000 stimulanttablets bearing WYletters in an unlicensedToyota saloon withNumber Plate 3 Kha/3418 and two US-madepistols, two magazines,40 rounds ofammunition in thebedroom of Wilaza andorange colour WY brand330 stimulant tablets inthe cupboard.

The authoritiescontinued to search thehouse of driver AikHsan (a) Aik Kyaing inNaungshan village,Kettaik village tract,

Stimulant tablets,weapons seized

Kengtung Township, andseized 140 stimulanttablets in his jacket in hisbedroom.

According to theinformation, thecombined team searchedthe house of U Pae Li,at 227, Htawkawtvillage, Hongleik villagetract,Tachilek Township.

They seized a US-made long barrelshotgun and nine roundsof ammunition in hisbedroom and one pistol,one magazine and 30rounds of ammunition inthe room of Aik Yi.

Action is takenagainst Wilaza, 42, sonof U Lone Hsaing ofWannalut village ofPangsan, Aik Hsan (a)Aik Kyaing, 35, son ofU San Wi of Wannalutvillage, U Pae Li andAik Yi under theSections 15/19 (a)/21/22(C) of Narcotic Drugsand PsychotropicSubstances Law.

MNA

Myanmar archery team leaves for ThailandYANGON, 23 Feb —

The Myanmar archeryteam led by Vice-Presidentof Myanmar Archery Fed-eration U Tint Hsan lefthere by air this morning tocompete in the 1st Asian

Circuit Archery Champi-onships 2005 for WorldRanking held in Bangkok,Thailand from 23 to 28February. The 22-memberMyanmar team was led byLeader Vice-president of

MAF U Tint Hsan.Vice-President of

MAF Dr Zaw Tun andJoint-Secretary Dr MyatThura Soe left here forThailand in advance on 20February. — NLM

Thai delegationleaves forMandalay

YANGON, 23 Feb —The visiting Thaidelegation led by DeputyCommandant Maj-GenPrasitichai Pibulrat ofNational Defence Collegeof Thailand left forMandalay by air thismorning.

They were seen offat Yangon InternationalAirport by DeputyCommandant Brig-GenThan Maung of NationalDefence College ofMyanmar, senior militaryofficers, Military AttachéCol Prissapa Suvanatat ofthe Thai Embassy toMyanmar and officials.

MNA

Members of the panel of chairmen and delegates of national races seen at thediscussions.— MNA

Members of the panel of chairmen and delegates of workers hold thediscussions.— MNA

Aik Hsan (a) Aik Kyaing and Wilaza seized withweapons and drugs.— CCDAC

Myanmar archery team led by Vice-President of Myanmar ArcheryFederation U Tint Hsan seen at the airport.— NLM

Vice-President U Thet Win of Myanmar Cycling Federation hands sportsequipment to Secretary of Myanmar Swimming Federation U Cho Maung.

( News on page 2)— N̊LM

Seminar onIT on 25 Feb

YANGON, 23 Feb —The Seminar on IT HumanResource Development &Information Security co-organized by MyanmarComputer Federation(MCF) and Centre of theInternational Cooperationfor Computerization(CICC), will be held at theConference Hall of MICTPark in Hline Townshipfrom 9 am to 5 pm on 25February.

Enthusiasts mayattend the seminar free ofcharge and contact MCF,Tel: 652307 and 707503for further information.

MNA


(from page 16)On behalf of my delega-tion and on my own be-half, I would like to ex-press our deep apprecia-tion to the Government andpeople of the Philippinesfor the gracious hospital-ity extended to us.

Myanmar and the Phil-ippines may be separatedby oceans but we are boundby similarities in traditionsand culture. Even beforethe advent of formal dip-lomatic relations in 1956,our two countries enjoyedcontacts based on mutualrespect and goodwill. Therelationship has blos-somed since Myanmarjoined the ASEAN familyof nations in 1997. Morerecently, the first meetingof the Myanmar-Philip-pines Joint Commissionfor Bilateral Cooperationconvened in Yangon lastApril has provided theimpetus to move the rela-tionship forward.

We are encouraged tonote that bilateral eco-nomic and trade relationshave been initiated and thatthere is growing interest inthe Philippine businesscommunity on developingthose relations, includingthe establishment of trans-port linkages between ourtwo countries. I am sureYour Excellency willagree with me that weshould strive to realize thefull potential for closereconomic and trade rela-

(from page 16)Myanmar in 1997, the yearthat Myanmar joinedASEAN. Prime MinisterSenior General Than Shweattended in 1998 ASEANSummit in Manila and metwith officials of the Philip-pine Government includingSpeaker de Venecia.

But on a bilateralbasis, it’s the leaders of theother three new ASEANcountries that we have hadthe pleasure of hosting, andit’s good therefore and I

Philippine President hosts luncheon inhonour of Myanmar goodwill delegation

YANGON, 23 Feb—President of the Republicof Philippines Her Excel-lency Madame GloriaMacapagal Arroyo hosteda luncheon in honour ofPrime Minister Lt-GenSoe Win and party atAguinaldo State DiningRoom of Malacanan Pal-ace in Manila on 21 Feb-ruary.

Also present on theoccasion were former Phil-ippine president Mr Fidel

V Ramos, ministers, thePhilippine Senate Presi-dent and the Speaker of theHouse of Representativesand officials, high-rankingofficials, ambassadors ofASEAN nations to thePhilippines, members ofPhilippine-Myanmar Eco-nomic Council, entrepre-neurs, and magnificentguests.

Those present greetedthe Philippine Presidentand the Myanmar Prime

Minister.The Philippine Presi-

dent delivered a speech.(reported separately)

The Prime Ministeralso delivered a speech.(reported separately)

The Philippine Presi-dent hosted the luncheonto those present.

Before returning tohotel, the Prime Ministerand party were seen off bythe Philippine President.

MNA

Myanmar places importance in ASEAN…congratulate you Mr PrimeMinister that you have em-barked on a programme tovisit your ASEAN neigh-bours and conduct a con-structive bilateral dialoguewith each one of yourASEAN neighbours. Yourinitiative to visit yourASEAN neighbours andconduct constructive dia-logues with each one of usreflects your recognitionthat engagement in the re-gional and internationalcommunity carries with it

profound responsibilities.You have our fer-

vent prayers that Myanmarand ASEAN will be equalto these responsibilitiesand to the great challengesof the times for the benefitof our peoples, the regionand the global community.

Therefore, I wouldlike everyone to join me ina toast to His Excellency,Prime Minister Lt-Gen SoeWin and to the people ofMyanmar.

MNA

tions for the benefit of ourpeoples.

We in Myanmar have fol-lowed with admiration theall-round progress made bythe Filipino people in nationbuilding endeavours. In re-cent years, you have scoredimpressive gains in the po-litical, economic and socialfields. The Philippines isnow poised to move on to anew level. It is evident thathe combination of the lead-ership of Your Excellency’sGovernment and the hardwork of the Filipino peopleare bearing fruits. I am happyto be able to say that ourefforts in Myanmar to re-store peace and stabilityhave also been successful.As a result of the confidence-building measures weadopted, armed groups havenow returned to the legalfold, paving the way for na-tional unity and the trans-formation of the country intoa modern discipline-flour-ishing democratic nation.We are now implementingthe 7-step road map for de-mocratization. The NationalConvention in which all thenationalities in the countryand all strata of the societyare represented resumed 4days ago. Once its task iscompleted a new constitu-tion will emerge and the as-pirations of our people willbe met. At the same time wecontinue to strive to raisethe living standards of ourpeople.

We in Myanmar re-

alize that in an increasinglyintegrated world, we mustwork closely with friendlycountries and neighbours.We believe that the futureof developing countries lieson promoting regional co-operation which does notdiminish national identitiesbut enhances political andeconomic strength. Wetherefore place importancein ASEAN and the associa-tion’s commitment to mov-ing towards closer cohesionand economic integration.In this regard, we considerthe Philippines an impor-tant partner. I am confidentthat working bilaterally andin the framework of theASEAN we can contributeto the peace, stability andprosperity of the region.

To conclude, I would liketo once again express oursincere appreciation toYour Excellency for thewarm welcome and the ex-cellent arrangements madefor us in your beautifulcountry.

May I now invite you tojoin me in a toast:-- to lasting friendship be-

tween the Union ofMyanmar and the Repub-lic of the Philippines;

- to the health and well-being of Her ExcellencyPresident GloriaMacapagal Arroyo;

- to the health and happi-ness of all the Distin-guished Guests andfriends present here thisafternoon. — MNA

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win being greeted by Senate PresidentMr Franklin Drilon.— MNAPhilippine President Madame Gloria Macapagal Arroyo greets

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win after the luncheon. — MNA

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win being greeted by Mr Jose C De Venecia.— MNA Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win receives Mr Jose C De Venecia.— MNA

Your initiative to visit your ASEAN neighbours andconduct constructive dialogues with each one of us reflectsyour recognition that engagement in the regional and inter-national community carries with it profound responsibili-ties. PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

Myanmar places importance in ASEAN…


Prime Minister concludes visit to Philippines

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win receives ILOofficials at Zeyathiri Beikman.

MNA

YANGON, 23 Feb —Prime Minister of theUnion of Myanmar Lt-Gen Soe Win receivedand ILO delegation ledby former Governor-General of Australia SirNinian Stephen atZeyathiri Beikman Hall,Konmyinttha yesterdayafternoon.

Present at the calltogether with the PrimeMinister were Ministerfor Foreign Affairs UNyan Win, Minister forScience and Technologyand Minister for LabourU Thaung, Director-Gen-eral of the Government

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win receives ILO officials

YANGON, 23 Feb—Prime Minister Lt-GenSoe Win and party whowere on an official visitto the Philippines at theinvitation of PhilippinePresident Her ExcellencyMadame GloriaMacapagal Arroyo, leftthe Westin PhilippinePlaza Hotel in Manilaand arrived at VillamorAir Base at 3.45 pm lo-cal time on 21 February.

The Prime Ministerand party were seen offby Myanmar Ambassadorto the Philippines U TinTun and wife Daw NanPhaung, embassy staffand family members.

The Prime Ministertook the salute of theGuard of Honour. Hegreeted Philippine Secre-tary of Foreign Affairs DrAlberto Romulo, Philip-pine Secretary of Envi-ronment and Natural Re-sources Mr Michael TDefenson, CommandingGeneral of Philippine AirForce Lt-Gen Jose LReyes, Philippine Am-bassador to MyanmarMme Phoebe A Gomezand Ambassador U TinTun, who would see himoff at the airport.

The Myanmar del-egation left Manila by airand arrived at Tan Son

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win greets Command-ing General Lt-Gen Jose L Reyes of Philippines

Air Force at Villamor Air Base in Manila. MNA

Nhat International Airportin Ho Chi Minh City, theSocialist Republic of Vi-etnam, at 6.40 pm localtime, where they werewelcomed by DeputyChief of Cabinet of theOffice of the People’sCouncil & People’s Com-mittee of Ho Chi MinhCity Mr Huynh KhanhHiep and officials,Myanmar Ambassador toVietnam U Tin Latt, Mili-tary Attache Col Tin Soeand embassy staff.

The Prime Ministerheld a cordial meetingwith Mr Huynh KhanhHiep and officials at thespecial lounge.

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win takes the salute of the Guard of Honourat Villamor Air Base in Manila.— MNA

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win being welcomed by Deputy Chief of Cabinetof the Office of the People’s Council & People’s Committee of Ho Chi MinhCity Mr Huynh Khanh Hiep at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.— MNA

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win being seen off at Villamor Air Base inManila by staff and families of Myanmar Embassy.— MNA

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win cordially converses with Mr Huynh KhanhHiep.— MNA

Office U Soe Tint, Direc-tor-General of ProtocolDepartment Thura U

Aung Htet, Director-Gen-eral of International Or-ganizations and Eco-

nomic Department UWin Mra and officialsconcerned. — MNA

The Prime Ministerand party arrived herelater in the evening.

MNA


Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing offer a ‘soon’bowl and alms to a Sayadaw.— MNA

Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing donate ‘soon’ toLawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Buddha Image.— MNA

Vice-Senior General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San offer provi-sions to Vice-Chairman Sayadaw Bhaddanta Paññindabhivamsa.— MNA

Vice-Senior General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San present a‘soon’ bowl to a Sayadaw.— MNA

General Thura Shwe Mann and wife Daw Khin Lay Thet offer a ‘soon’ bowlto a Sayadaw.— MNA

General Thura Shwe Mann and wife Daw Khin Lay Thet donate robes andalms to Vice-Chairman Sayadaw Bhaddanta Gunesana.— MNA

Senior General Than Shwe…(from page 1)

Similarly, General Thura Shwe Mann and wifeDaw Khin Lay Thet offered robes and provisions toVice-Chairman Agga Maha Pandita Agga MahaSaddhamma Jotikadhaja Bhaddanta Gunesana.

Next, Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win and wifeDaw Than Than Nwe presented robes andoffertories to State Ovadaçariya Agga Maha PanditaBhaddanta Ñaninda.

Daw Khin Khin Win, wife of Secretary-1 Lt-Gen

Thein Sein, offered robes and alms to StateOvadaçariya Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru AbhidhajaAgga Maha Saddhammajotika BhaddantaRajindabhivamsa.

The members of the State Peace and Develop-ment Council, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy), theCommander-in-Chief (Air), the Chairman of YangonDivision Peace and Development Council Com-mander of Yangon Command, the ministers, theChairman of CSSTC, the Yangon Mayor and thedeputy ministers donated robes and provisions to the

Sayadaws.The Secretary Magway Sayadaw delivered a ser-

mon, and the Senior General and wife and congre-gation shared merits gained.

The ceremony ended with three-time recitationof Buddha Sasanam Çiram Titthatu.

After the ceremony, the Senior General and wifeand party offered ‘soon’ and alms to 108 membersof the Sangha led by State Ovadaçariya Sayadawsand member Sayadaws of the SSMNC.

(See page 9)


Senior General Than Shwe…(from page 8)

At that time, artistes of the Fine Arts Depart-ment played religious songs.

Along the platform of the pagoda from southernto northern stairways, the Ministry of Defence, StatePeace and Development Council Office, the PrimeMinister’s Office, the Adjutant-General’s Office, theQuartermaster-General’s Office, the Office of theCommander-in-Chief (Navy), the Office of the Com-mander-in-Chief (Air), ministries, the SupremeCourt, the Attorney-General’s Office, the Auditor-General’s Office, the Office of CSSTB, YangonDivision Peace and Development Council, YangonCity Development Committee, district and townshipPDCs and wellwishers donated alms to members ofthe Sangha.

On behalf of all the wellwishers, Head of YangonDivision Religious Affairs Department U San ThinnHlaing shared merits gained.

After the ceremony, Senior General Than Shweviewed tasks for all-round construction ofMindhamma Hill and the religious buildings on thehill.— MNA

Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing offer provisions to Secretary MagwaySayadaw Bhaddanta Kumara.—˚MNA

Daw Khin Than Nwe, wife of Lt-Gen Tin Oo, donates robes and alms toVice-Chairman Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kesara.—˚MNA

Daw Khin Than Nwe, wife of Lt-Gen Tin Oo, offers a ‘soon’ bowl to aSayadaw.—M̊NA

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe presentrobes and provisions to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Ñaninda.—˚MNA

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe donate a‘soon’ bowl to a Sayadaw.—MNA

Daw Khin Khin Win, wife of Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein, offers a ‘soon’bowl to a Sayadaw.—̊MNA

Daw Khin Khin Win, wife of Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein, presents robesand offertories to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Rajindabhivamsa.— MNA


U Maung Hla (a) U Hla Myint of Delegates of NationalRaces.— MNA

YANGON, 22 Feb — On behalf of the Panel of theAlternate Chairmen, U Maung Hla (a) U Hla Myint ofthe Delegates of National Races presented the panel ofchairmen’s collection of excerpts from the suggestedproposals submitted by delegates to the National Con-vention on the management sector at the PyidaungsuHall of the Nyaunghnapin Camp in Hmawby Town-ship, Yangon Division yesterday.

The following is a translation of presentation madeby U Maung Hla (a) U Hla Myint.

In connection with the basic principles to be laiddown for the judicial sector on grounds of 11 legisla-tive matters relevant to the sharing of legislative powerthat shall be included in writing the State constitution,I will continue to present the panel of chairmen's col-lection of excerpts from the suggested proposals sub-mitted by some delegate groups to the National Con-vention and from those by certain delegates to theNational Convention.

Further burgeoning of the noblest and worthiest of worldlyvalues namely justice, liberty and equality in the State

the court and judges are responsible to make deci-sions according to law without any forms of corrup-tion and without any discrimination between the richand the poor, and between the high-ranking and thelow-ranking, as the National Convention has laid downa basic principle “further burgeoning of the noblestand worthiest of worldly values namely justice, lib-erty and equality in the State”.

It continued that in hearing the civil cases, they areto follow the principles laid down for contract, arbi-tration, civil wrongs, insolvency, inheritance, familylaws and so on. The legislative power is vested in thelegislatures at central level to deal with foreign juris-diction, overseas jurisdiction, robbery at sea, andcrimes committed at sea and in space. It agreed to theadoption of the 11 points of the judicial sector to beincluded as detailed basic principles in the Union Leg-islative List.

The Mro (a) Khami National Solidarity Organiza-tion discussed that cut of the basic principles, the Na-tional Convention has laid down, one principle is “fur-ther burgeoning of the noblest and worthiest of worldlyvalues namely justice, liberty and equality in the State”.

It also agreed to the adoption of all the points ofthe judicial sector to be included as detailed basicprinciples in the Union Legislative.

The Lahu National Development Party discussedthat of the 11 sectors, the defence and security sector,the foreign affairs sector, and the judicial sector arewhat matters most for the whole affairs of the coun-try. Therefore, the specific points under these threesectors should be adopted as detailed basic principlesin the Union Legislative List so that law can be en-acted when necessary.

The Union Kayin League discussed that it entirelyagreed to the adoption of all the 11 points as detailedbasic principles under the judicial sector as clarifiedby the Work Committee Chairman.

The Kokang Democracy and Unity Party discussedthat basic principles have been laid down as regardsthe “further burgeoning of the noblest and worthiestof worldly values namely justice, liberty and equalityin the State”. The party continued that judicial stipu-lations have also been laid down for independent ad-ministration of justice in accord with law, administra-tion of justice in public except where restricted bylaw, and giving of right of defence and right of appealby law in cases.

It then agreed to what the Work Committee Chair-man clarified in connection with the matters related tothe smooth running of judicial machinery, the judges,and jurisdiction.

The Wa National Development Party discussed thatin connection with the aims of objectives of the State,the National Convention has laid down basic princi-ples such as the “further burgeoning of the noblestand worthiest of worldly values namely justice, lib-erty and equality in the State”; and “independent ad-ministration of justice in accord with law, administra-tion of justice in public except where restricted bylaw, and giving of right of defence and right of appealby law in cases”. These principles are absolutely suitedto the entire national people of the country.

The party continued that the practice of jurisdic-tion should be uniform across the country, and thatthe top legislature of the State is responsible to stipu-late necessary law. It then agreed that all the pointsmentioned under the judicial sector are appropriate tobe adopted as detailed basic principles in the UnionLegislative.

Of the five proposed papers submitted by the del-egate group of representatives-elect, which is one ofthe eight delegate groups to the National Convention,the proposed papers of the National Unity Party andthe Mro (a) Khami National Solidarity Organizationhave been presented by the parties concerned, whichare members of the delegate group of political parties.In like manner, it is found that other delegates con-cerned submitted their proposals.

Dr Hmu Htan, the independent representative-electfrom the constituency of Thantlan township in Chin

State and U Aung Thein, the independent representa-tive-elect from the constituency of Ywangan townshipin Shan State discussed that they agreed that all thepoints mentioned under the judicial sector are appropri-ate to be adopted as detailed basic principles in theUnion Legislative.

They also discussed the matters related to the prac-tice of jurisdiction that should be included in the Re-gion or State Legislative List, giving suggestion onallowing the people living in regions or states to con-tinue the amicable settlement through customary prac-tices which are not contrary to Union Law.

U Tin Win, the independent representative-elect fromthe constituency-2 of Kyaiklat township, U Thein Kyi,the independent representative-elect from the constitu-ency-1 of Taungdwingyi township, U Hla Soe, the in-dependent representative-elect from the constituency-2of Minbu township, U Mya Hlaing, the independentrepresentative-elect from the constituency-2 of Twantaytownship, U Kyi Win, the independent representative-elect from the constituency-1 of Mingaladon township,and U Tin Tun Maung, the independent representative-elect from the constituency-2 of Mingaladon townshipdiscussed that they agreed with the Work CommitteeChairman on his clarifications on the judicial sector.

U Tun Kyaw, the independent representative-electfrom Namhsan township in Shan State (North) discussedthat the matters related to the judicial sector clarified bythe Work Committee Chairman should be adopted asdetailed basic principles in the Union Legislative List.

In his separate suggestion, he said the Union of

The practice of jurisdiction should beuniform across the country, and that thetop legislature of the State is responsi-ble to stipulate necessary law. It thenagreed that all the points mentionedunder the judicial sector are appropri-ate to be adopted as detailed basic prin-ciples in the Union Legislative.

At the Plenary Meeting of the National Conventionheld on 21 May 2004, the Chairman of the NationalConvention Convening Work Committee clarified that:“Of the basic principles already laid down by the Na-tional Convention, one of the aims and objectives ofthe State calls for ‘Further burgeoning of the noblestand worthiest of worldly values namely justice, libertyand equality in the State’. The basic principle is anessential right of all the citizenry residing in the nation.Different levels of court and judges are to take specialcare to see that our citizens do not lose that right.Moreover, basic principles calling for independent ad-ministration of justice in accord with law; administra-tion of justice in public except where restricted by law;and giving of the right of defence and the right ofappeal by law in cases are laid down.”

“It is therefore necessary to discuss whether thefollowing matters mentioned in the judicial sector Ihave just explained should be adopted as detailed basicprinciples in the Union Legislative List.”

“They are: 1. Administration of justice 2. Lawyers 3. Penal laws and procedures 4. Civil laws, contract, arbitration, civil wrong, in-

solvency, Trust and people who can administerbecause of the trust, guardians and wards, transferof property and inheritance

5. Evidence Act 6. Limitation 7. Valuation of suit 8. Specific relief 9. Foreign jurisdiction10. Admiralty jurisdiction11. Robbery at sea, and crimes committed on land or

in the international waters or in space in violationof the international laws.”

As regards this clarification, the National UnityParty, which is a member of the delegate group ofpolitical parties, which is a delegate group to the Na-tional Convention, discussed that in the basic princi-ples concerning the legislation, it is stated that the leg-islative power is vested in the Union Hluttaw, theRegion Hluttaw, and the State Hluttaw, and that thelegislative power will be vested in the self-adminis-tered areas in accord with the State constitution. Theparty continued that it found what the Chairman of theWork Committee clarified was complete in connectionwith the judicial sector and the legislative power to bedistributed to the leading committees of the self-ad-ministered areas.

The Union PaO National Organization discussed that

U Tun Kyaw suggested that consid-eration be taken into the continued al-lowance of amicable settlement of caseswhich is not contrary to Union Law. Headded in doing so, the friendly relationsamong national races will thrive andflourish all the more and this willamount to preservation of traditions.

Myanmar is a country where a diversity of national raceshave been living through thick and thin since yore. Hecontinued that every national race has their own cul-tures and traditions. There are customary practices inamicable settlement of cases, he added, that have beenin practice in the regions, or the states, or the self-ad-ministered division or the self-administered zone. Hesuggested that consideration be taken into the continuedallowance of this practice there which is not contrary toUnion Law. He added in doing so, the friendly relationsamong national races will thrive and flourish all themore and this will amount to preservation of traditions.

(See page 11)


that the clarifications including the legislative power ofthe self-administered areas are comprehensive. Thus, itsaid that it has no further discussions concerning theissue.

Lahu National Development Party said that the leg-islative power of the State is distributed amongPyidaungsu Hluttaw, Region Hluttaws and StateHluttaws. Legislative power stipulated by the State Con-stitution shall be distributed to self-administered areas.In connection with the bodies which will exercise thelegislative power delegated to the self-administered ar-eas, it is stated — the self-administered division lead-ing body and the self-administered zone leading bodyof the respective self-administered division and zoneswill be constituted and these leading bodies exercisethe legislative powers delegated by the Constitution. Itis important that such powers should be those the leg-islative leading bodies can manage.

The party said that the ten points explained by theWork Committee Chairman are appropriate to be laiddown as detailed basic principles in drafting a consti-tution.

Union Kayin League said that members of the self-administered division leading body or self-administeredzone leading bodies are mainly responsible for the de-velopment of the respective division or zones. Theyare to take care of health, smooth transport, high levelof education and better condition of the basic needs ofthe people depending on the conditions of their areas.Appropriate legislative powers are to be delegated tothem to enable them to carry out the duties.

A detailed basic principle — legislative power con-cerning the ten points is vested in the self-administereddivision leading body and the self-administered zoneleading bodies — should be laid down.

Kokang Democracy and Unity Party said that theparty has no further discussion on the legislative powerof the leading bodies of self-administered areas and thematters concerning the sharing of the legislative powerincluded on the Union legislative list of the Pyidaungsu,regions and states and leading bodies of self-adminis-tered division and zones, legislative power of Unionterritories, and the effectiveness of the laws enacted bythe hluttaws at all levels and self-administered arealeading bodies.

Wa National Development Party said that in theself-administered areas, there reside not a single na-tional race, but numerous national races. As appropri-ate power has been distributed to the self-administeredareas, the 10 points explained by the Work CommitteeChairman are suitable to be laid down as detailed basicprinciples for self-administered division or self-admin-istered zones.

Of the five papers presented by representatives-electgroup, the papers presented by the delegates of theNational Unity Party and the Mro or Khami NationalSolidarity Organization are the same as the ones pre-sented by the delegates of the respective parties in thepolitical parties delegate group.

Representative-elect Dr Hmu Htan of ThantlanTownship constituency in Chin State, and Representa-tive-elect U Aung Thein of Ywangan Township con-stituency in Shan State said that 10 points explained bythe Work Committee Chairman are suitable to be laiddown as detailed basic principles for self-administereddivisions or self-administered zones for delegating thelegislative power to them.

Further burgeoning of thenoblest…

(from page 10)The delegate group of national races discussed that

in accordance with the basic principles laid down bythe National Convention, judges at different levels ofcourt are to practise the uniform laws for the peopleresiding in the nation regardless of the rich or poor,position or class in passing judgments. They have noright to administer justice as they please. To be able tokeep the machinery of administration of justice in op-eration, the judges need to be well-versed in judicialaffairs and efficient. At the same time, they need to bemorally upright, free from bias and bribery.

They must be bold enough to pass judgments cor-rectly. If such efficient and qualified judges administerjustice they will win the trust and reliance of the publicall the more.

tice include foreign jurisdiction, maritime jurisdiction,robbery at sea, and crimes committed on land or in theinternational waters or in space in violation of the in-ternational laws.

The group then agreed to the adoption of the 11points mentioned in the judicial sector as detailed basicprinciples in the Union Legislative List so that law canbe enacted when necessary.

In a separate suggestion, the group said the term“robbery at sea, and crimes committed on land or inthe international waters or in air space in violation ofthe international laws” should be changed to the term“crimes committed in international waters and in thewater, land, and space of Myanmar”.

They also gave a suggestion on allowing the na-tional races to continue the practice of their traditionalarbitration methods in their respective areas as long asthey are not contrary to the laws the State enacted.

Now, I will present a collection of excerpts fromthe suggestions compiled by the panel of meeting chair-men concerning the 11 points of the legislative powerof self-administered areas scheduled to be included inlaying down detailed basic principles.

At the plenary meeting held on 21 May 2004, theWork Committee Chairman said, “The National Con-vention, in accordance with the basic principles laiddown, has designated one self-administered division andfive self-administered zones.

“In connection with the enactment of law for theself-administered areas, a basic principle has been laiddown — the legislative powers of the State is distrib-uted among Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Region Hluttaws andState Hluttaws. Legislative power stipulated by the StateConstitution shall be distributed to self-administeredareas. In connection with the bodies which will exer-cise the legislative power delegated to the self-admin-istered areas, it is stated — the self-administered divi-sion leading body and the self-administered zone lead-ing body of the respective self-administered divisionand zones will be constituted and these leading bodiesexercise the legislative powers delegated by the Con-stitution.

“According to the detailed basic principle, it is re-quired to prescribe in the Constitution which type oflegislative powers are to be delegated to the self-ad-ministered areas. In studying the type of legislativepowers to be delegated to the self-administered areas,it is important that such powers should be those thelegislative leading bodies can manage.”

He continued to explained, “Hence, in connectionwith delegation of legislative power to the self-admin-istered areas, a detailed basic principle delegating thelegislative powers to the self-administered division orself-administered zone leading bodies should be laiddown for the following matters:

(a) Town and village plan(b) Building, repair and maintenance of roads(c) Public health(d) Development affairs(e) Fire prevention(f) Pasture(g) Forest protection and conservation(h) Environmental conservation(i) Water and electricity supply in towns and villages(j) Town and village markets

“National Convention delegates are to discuss andmake suggestions on whether to lay down detailed ba-sic principles in the Constitution on delegation of leg-islative powers to the self-administered division or zoneleading bodies in connection with the above matters.”

Concerning the sector, National Unity Party saidthat in accord with a basic principle — the legislativepowers of the State is distributed among PyidaungsuHluttaw, Region Hluttaws and State Hluttaws. Legisla-tive power stipulated by the State Constitution shall bedistributed to self-administered areas — concerninglegislation, the party has found the matters on judiciaryand the legislative power of the self-administered areasexplained by the Work Committee Chairman are com-prehensive and appropriate.

Union Pa-O National Organization said that the leg-islative power of the self-administered division and self-administered zones should be in accord with the 10points explained by the Work Committee Chairman,and the points should be laid down as detailed basicprinciples.

Mro or Khami National Solidarity Organization said

The matters covered by the adminis-tration of justice include foreign juris-diction, maritime jurisdiction, robberyat sea, and crimes committed on landor in the international waters or in spacein violation of the international laws.

The group also agreed that all the matters men-tioned in the judicial sector should be included in theUnion Legislative List so that law can be enacted whennecessary.

The delegate group of peasants discussed that itagreed to the adoption of the 11 points mentionedinthe judicial sector as detailed basic principles in theUnion Legislative List.

The group also gave a separate suggestion on strictsupervision for bringing corrupt judges to justice.

The delegate group of workers discussed that itagreed to the adoption of the 11 points mentioned inthe judicial sector as detailed basic principles in theUnion Legislative List.

The delegate group of intellectuals and intelligent-sia discussed that in connection with the aims of ob-jectives of the State, the National Convention has laiddown six basic principles. Of them, one principle goes“further burgeoning of the noblest and worthiest ofworldly values namely justice, liberty and equality inthe State”. This principle is absolutely essential forthe entire national people. The respective courts andjudges bear the responsibility to administer justice inaccord with the basic principles the National Conven-tion has already laid down. They are: “independentadministration of justice in accord with law, adminis-tration of justice in public except where restricted bylaw, and giving of right of defence and right of appealby law in cases”.

The group continued that the judges at differentlevels of courts are to practise the uniform laws forthe people residing in the nation regardless of the richor poor, position or class in passing judgments. To beable to keep the machinery of administration of justicein operation, the judges need to be well-versed in ju-dicial affairs and efficient, morally upright, and freefrom bias and bribery. Only then will they win thetrust and reliance of the public all the more.

The group then agreed to the adoption of the mat-ters mentioned in the judicial sector as detailed basicprinciples in the Union Legislative List so that lawcan be enacted when necessary.

The delegate group of State service personnel dis-cussed that in connection with the 11 points mentionedin the judicial sector, they should be included in theUnion Legislative List to enact law when necessary.

The delegate group of other invited persons dis-cussed that the judges at different levels of court areto practise the uniform laws for the people residing inthe nation regardless of the rich or poor, position orclass in passing judgments. Other matters covered bythe administration of justice are those concerning law-yers, penal laws and procedures to be followed in hear-ing the cases, civil laws and procedures to be followedin hearing civil cases and the Evidence Act which isto be followed in hearing criminal and civil cases.They are to be practised uniformly throughout thecountry.

The matters covered by the administration of jus-

According to the basic principles oneself-administered division and five self-ad-ministered zones will emerge. The lead-ing bodies will play key role in develop-ing their own division or zones. Thus, the10 points should be laid down as detailedbasic principles in distributing the legis-lative power to the leading bodies.

Representatives-elect U Tin Win of Kyaiklat Town-ship constituency-2, U Thein Kyi of TaungdwingyiTownship constituency-1, U Hla Soe of Minbu Town-ship constituency-2, U Mya Hlaing of Twantay Town-ship constituency-2, U Kyi Win of Mingaladon Town-ship constituency-1 and U Tin Tun Maung ofMingaladon Township constituency-2 said that they haveno further suggestions for the sector.

(See page 15)


TRADE MARKCAUTION NOTICEMITSUI CHEMICALS,INC., a company organizedunder the laws of JAPANand having its principal of-fice at 5-2, Higashi-Shimbashi 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan is the ownerand sole proprietor of thefollowing Trademark:-

Reg. Nos. 6096/2001 &

4/116/2005

Used in respect of:-

“Pharmaceutical, veterinaryand sanitary preparations;dietetic substances adaptedfor medical use, food forbabies; plasters, materials fordressings; material for stop-ping teeth, dental wax;disinfectants; preparationsfor destroying vermin;fungicides, herbicides.”(International Class 5)

Any unauthorized use, imi-tation, infringements orfraudulent intentions of theabove mark will be dealt withaccording to law.

TIN OHNMAR TUNB.A (LAW) LL.B,LL.M (U.K)

P.O. Box. 109, Ph: 248108/723043(For. Mark-i Inc., Japan)

Dated: 24 February 2005

Putin intensifies fight againstNorth Caucasus militants

M OSCOW, 22 Feb— Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday orderedthe Interior Ministry to reinforce efforts to crack down on illegal armed forcesin the country’s restive North Caucasus region.

Firefighters battle major blaze inChile’s National Park

SANTIAGO (Chile), 22 Feb — Hundreds of firefighters battled a major blazeon Monday in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park that forced wildlife toflee and obscured views of the famous Horns of Paine peaks at the height of thetourist season.

Tanzania to allocate land strip to trainlandmine sniffing rats

DAR-ES-SALAAM , 22 Feb — Tanzania is to set aside 100 acres of land in oneof its universities to help train landmine sniffing rats.

Sky over Chinato be filled withplanet sightings

BEIJING, 22 Feb—Chinese stargazers areexpected to see aspectacular astronomicalphenomenon Sundaynight when Saturn willoverlap the moon.

Expert Qi Yue withthe Beijing Planetariumsaid that starting at 7 pm,stargazers across thecountry will be able to seeSaturn clearly to the southof the moon. People withtelescope of fivecentimetres or more willbe able to see Saturn’srings, he said.

On 27 February, themoon will overlap Jupiter,and China will also be anideal place to observe theplanet sighting, Qi said.

MNA/Xinhua

“I hope you will hold acomprehensive investigation which willhave a good effect on the regionalsituation,” Putin told Interior MinisterRashid Nurgaliyev at a governmentmeeting, praising the weekend militaryoperation that killed three militants inNalchik, capital of Kabardino-BalkariaRepublic.

Putin said he hoped Russian troopsand police will continue acting in theNorth Caucasus in the same way andtreat the militants “more severely”, theInterfax news agency reported.

Federal forces on Sunday uprooteda number of terrorist groups in Nalchik,killing three militants led by notoriousChechen rebel leaders Aslan Maskhadov

and Shamil Basayev who Russianauthorities blame for a number of terroristattacks across the country.

Russian troops carried out anotheroperation in the early hours of Mondayagainst militants in the breakawayChechen republic, killing two aides toBasayev and Maskhadov.

Nurgaliyev said the police havelaunched similar operations in the NorthCaucasus regions of Ingushetia andDagestan.

Russian authorities intensifiedoperations against terrorists and rebelgroups following the Beslan schoolhostage tragedy which left over 330people dead last September in NorthOssetia in the region. — MNA/Xinhua

The land strip, to be sealed fromlayman access inside the SokoineUniversity of Agriculture in theMorogoro region, will bury over 1,000landmines with some of their locksremoved to avoid unintended blastscaused by animals, according to reportsreaching here on Monday.

The sniff rat-training project, beingconducted in three African countries ofTanzania, Mozambique and Angolasince 1998, is based on the fact that ratsare too light to set off landmines.

Researchers have so far proved inlaboratories that after approximately 18months of training, sniff rats can detectlandmine smells far better than anymachines or dogs.

Researchers say that almost everylandmine-detecting method has itsdrawbacks.

Sniff dogs often set off detonators,

armoured bulldozers only work on levelground while metal detectors cannotdistinguish between coins and landmines.Sniff rats are superior to these methodsfor they seldom get blown up, apart fromthe fact that they are abundant, cheap andto move around easily.

The project’s coordinator RobertMachangu said that the rats in theSokoine university are trained to receivefood such as groundnuts or bananas onlywhen they successfully detect explosivedevices.

Three sniff rats have already foundsome 60 landmines in an un- clearedland strip in Mozambique.

According to the InternationalCampaign to Ban Land Mines, anestimated 100 million landmines havebeen laid worldwide, most of them inAfrica, South America and the MiddleEast. — MNA/Xinhua

Second transplant patientdies in Germany

FRANKFURT , 22 Feb — A second transplantpatient in Germany believed to have contractedrabies after receiving an organ from an infecteddonor has died, medical authorities said on Monday.

The fire, which was started when aCzech camper’s stove turned over, hasburned more than 14,000 acres in fourdays, the government’s NationalForestry Corporation spokesmanClaudio Perez said.

An unusually hot summer in remotesouthern Chile, steep terrain, and strongwinds typical of the season havecomplicated firefighting efforts, Perezsaid.

“It’s really hard to say when wecould have it contained,” he said.

A few dozen tourists have beenevacuated from campgrounds due toheavy smoke, and campgrounds havebeen shut down near popular lakes onthe eastern side of the park, according toa report in La Segunda newspaper.

Chile, a South American nation with

the soaring Andes mountain range andmiles of dramatic coastline, drawsthousands from around the world to itsnational parks. Torres del Paine’s glaciersand dramatic granite spires are a bigdraw for hikers.

Foxes, pumas, guanacos (a smallerrelation of the llama) and nandues (aflightless bird related to the ostrich) arefleeing the flames from the fire, theworst in two decades.

The tourist whose camp stoveaccidentally started the fire paid themaximum fine of 200 US dollars andwas allowed to leave the country.

Torres del Paine lies 1,500 milessouth of the capital on the border withArgentina and its total area is 450,000acres.

MNA/Reuetrs

“Despite great efforts,it was impossible tostabilize the recipient of thekidney transplant andprevent a fatality,” a clinicin the central town ofHannoversch Muendensaid. The 70-year-old manhad initially been broughtinto hospital about a weekago with suspectedmeningitis. On Saturday, awoman who received a lungfrom the same donor died.

Authorities inGermany said last weekthey suspected threepeople may have beeninfected with rabiesfollowing transplants froma woman thought to havecontracted the illnessbefore her death.

Doctors believe thedonor, who died of heartfailure in December 2004,may have contracted thevirus during a holiday inIndia. She displayed no

symptoms of rabies —which can have anincubation period of severalmonths — before her death.

Authorities said apatient in Marburg whoreceived a transplant fromthe donor remained in acritical condition, whileothers being treated inMainz and Heidelbergwere doing well.

MNA/Reuters

British mily helicopter crashesin Bosnia

SARAJEVO, 22 Feb —A British military Lynxhelicopter crashed in centralBosnia on Monday but threecrew members sufferedonly minor injuries, aBritish spokesman for theEuropean Union peaceforce said.

The helicopter wentdown near the centralBosnian town of Kakanj,

close to Sarajevo, at 7.30pm (1830 GMT), spokes-man Lieutenant ChrisPercival of the EuropeanUnion Force (EUFOR)told Reuters.

“It was seriouslydamaged,” Percival said.“Three aircrew walkedaway after the crash andhad only minor injuries.”

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Ministers to discuss UN’s futurework on environment protection NAIROBI , 22 Feb— Ministers and national delegations from over

100 countries gathered here Monday to discuss ways on how to improveenvironment to reach the UN’s millennium goals for poverty eradication.

Klaus Toepfer, headof the United Nations En-vironment Programme(UNEP) re-commits hisagency’s efforts tostrengthen environmentprotection as he stated atthe opening ceremony forthe 23rd Session of UNEPGoverning Council andGlobal Ministerial Envi-ronment Forum.

“Environment is one ofthe three pillars to supportsustainable development.Let’s work together tomake that pillar stronger,”said Toepfer, noting thatin the conference, del-egates will participate indiscussion about theUNEP’s future pro-gramme, as a way to helprealize the UN’s goal to

reduce poverty. The UN Millennium

Development Goals wereset forth in 2000 in theGlobal Millennium Dec-laration and are expectedto materialize by 2015. Thegoals include cutting pov-erty and hunger, achievinguniversal primary educa-tion, ensuring environmen-tal sustainability amongothers.

The environment “is agolden thread” runningright through the UN’s de-velopment goals. “If youdamage the environment,all the millennium devel-opment goals are going tobe harder to achieve,” saidToepfer in an earlier Pressbriefing.

According to him, the

meeting which is lookingat how to bolster global,regional and national en-vironments so as to im-prove the prospects forachieving the MDGs, andwill feed its conclusionsinto the September Sum-mit-level meeting of theUN General Assembly fora five-year review of thegoals.

The 23rd Session ofUNEP Governing Coun-cil and Global MinisterialEnvironment Forum enti-tled “Protecting the Envi-ronment: the thread thatruns through the Millen-nium Development Goals”will be held from Febru-ary 21 to 25 in the UNEPheadquarters based inNairobi.—MNA/Xinhua

Blair’s party loses ground toConservatives

LONDON, 22 Feb — British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Labour Partyhas lost ground to the opposition Conservatives since the start of intensecampaigning for an expected general election in May, according to an opinionpoll on Tuesday.

The ICM poll for the Guardian news-paper found Labour’s lead over the Con-servatives was down to three points,compared to seven points last monthand nine in December.

The poll put Labour on 37 per cent,the Conservatives on 34 per cent, andthe Liberal Democrats, who opposedthe Iraq war, on 21 per cent.

The Guardian said the findings sug-gested Blair’s attempts to regain thepublic’s confidence in his leadership,severely damaged by the Iraq war whichmany Britons opposed, had failed.

The paper said the poll had alsofound that outside Labour’s core sup-port, many voters thought the PrimeMinister was arrogant, out of touch and

untrustworthy. Despite the apparent dip in support,

Blair — who won power in 1997 andwon another large parliamentary major-ity in 2001 — remains on course to wina historic third term according to ana-lysts.

The latest poll’s findings are at oddswith a similar survey carried out by NOPlast week which gave Labour 42 per centcompared to the Conservatives’ 30 percent — the party’s biggest lead sinceMay 2003.

No date for the poll has yet been setbut campaigning by the major parties iswell under way and the election is widelyexpected to be held on 5 May.

MNA/Reuters

“Mermaid syndrome” baby’s fatherappeals for help

L IMA (Peru), 22 Feb—Ricardo Cerron a 24-year-old mechanic, was sodesperate when his daughter was born with “mermaid syndrome” — acondition called sirenomelia, which is nearly almost fatal — that he appearedon television to appeal for help.

The city of Lima haspledged to pay for yearsof gruelling operationsthat are his daughter’s onlyshot at a normal life.

But the intensifyingmedia interest about 40days before Milagros’ sur-gery has not translated into“a single diaper or anymilk” to help the family,complained Cerron.

Cerron’s appealprompted a municipal hos-pital to bring babyMilagros to Lima whenshe was two days old.

Her doctor, Luis

Rubio, said the hospitalwould fund all her treat-ment and that media cov-erage of her case had ledto donations of medicinesand surgical thread.

Milagros — her namemeans “miracles” in Span-ish — was born last Aprilin the Andean town ofHuancayo. Her mother,19-year-old Sara Arauco,had no ultrasound scan soMilagros’ appearance wasa total shock.

The baby girl’s abdo-men flows seamlessly intoher legs, which move sepa-

rately but are trapped in a“sack” of tissue and fatdown to her heels. Her feetare splayed in a “V” like amermaid’s tail. She has arudimentary anus, urethraand genitalia all locatedtogether.

Two weeks ago, doc-tors inserted silicone bagsbetween Milagros’ legsand began pumping in sa-line solution to stretch theskin in preparation forcutting her legs apart.

It will be one of only ahandful of times the sur-gery has been tried. Manyof the 1-in-60,000 to 1-in-100,000 “mermaid” ba-bies lack kidneys and mostdie within hours. TiffanyYorks, a 16-year-oldAmerican believes she isthe only survivor.

Before surgery,Milagros is having therapyin a high-pressure hyper-baric chamber to boostoxygen to the skin.

Lying on her back, hersplayed feet peeping outfrom a white gauze band-age, she seemed unfazedby the cameras and wassoon craning her neck andsmiling.

Rubio said doctorswould cut as far as herknees, then divide herthighs five months later.Genital reconstructionwill probably wait untiladolescence.

MNA/Reuters

Singapore launches anti-cocaine adsin two magazines

SINGAPORE, 23 Feb— Singapore is launching anti-cocaine advertisementsin two high-society magazines in an unprecedented campaign to stem drug usein one of Asia’s wealthiest societies.

The full-page ads to appear in nextmonth’s issues of Singapore Tatler andThe Peak magazines have a prominentmessage reading: “I can stop taking co-caine anytime I want.”

In the background will run a list ofnames of people who have been con-victed and their sentences, the latest useof “name and shame” justice in a coun-try famous for its strict laws and au-thoritative government.

“We decided on the two magazinesbecause its readers, the rich and famous,are the next group of abusers that wewill be targetting,” said Central Narcot-ics Bureau spokewoman Dawn Sim.

The campaign follows a rare co-caine drug scandal in October that ex-

posed a high-society world of drugs amidcelebrities and the rich in Singapore,whose drug laws are among the world’stoughest and include the death penaltyfor trafficking.

Of 23 people arrested in October, six— including a British-born editor ofTatler magazine, the son of a formerHigh Court judge, a prominent British-born financial broker, an award-winningchef, a shipping executive and the daugh-ter of an entertainment mogul — havebeen convicted.

Those sentences were the first in Sin-gapore for cocaine consumption since 1971and followed a year in which synthetic“club drugs” overtook heroin as Singa-pore’s drug of choice.—MNA/Reuters

Crane-shaped lanterns are seen at Baotu SpringPark in Jinan, capital of east China’s Shandong

Province, on 20 Feb, 2005.—INTERNET

A porcelaine doll by Seymour Mann is displayed recently at the 2005American International Toy Fair at the Jacob Javits Convention Centre in

New York City.—INTERNET

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Pizarro strikes twice to lead Bayern3-1 win over Arsenal

MUNICH , 23 Feb— Claudio Pizarro struck twice to lead Bayern Munich toa 3-1 win over Arsenal on Tuesday that put the Bavarians on course for theChampions League quarter-finals, despite the late Kolo Toure goal that gavethe Londoners a lifeline.

Helguera’s header gives Real1-0 win over Juventus

MADRID , 23 Feb— A glancing header from Ivan Helguera gave a dominantReal Madrid a slender 1-0 win over Juventus in the first leg of their ChampionsLeague knockout tie at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

Liverpool defeat Leverkusen 3-1 LIVERPOOL (England), 23 Feb—Liverpool had to settle for a bitter-sweet3-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League knockout roundon Tuesday after a goalkeeping blunder by Jerzy Dudek in stoppage time.

Yoshikatsu to missWorld Cup qualfier in Iran

TOKYO, 23 Feb— Japan goalkeeper YoshikatsuKawaguchi could miss his country's World Cupqualifier in Iran on 25 March after breaking a finger,his club Jubilo Iwata said on Tuesday.

Kawaguchi fractured his right index finger in trainingand will miss Iwata's J-League season opener on 5March. Club doctors told the player the injury will takea month to fully heal.

The 29-year-old could also miss out on Japan'shome game against Bahrain on 30 March. Nagoya'sSeigo Narazaki would be Kawaguchi's naturalreplacement.

"It's a blow for the team and for (Japan coach) Zico,"Japan Football Association (JFA) president SaburoKawabuchi said.

"But it's a chance for someone else to step up — like(Masashi) Oguro did against North Korea."

MNA/Reuters

Alex’s header helps Eindhovento win over Monaco

EINDHOVEN (Netherlands), 23 Feb— An early header from Braziliancentre back Alex helped PSV Eindhoven to a 1-0 first leg win overMonaco after their first appearance in the Champions Leagueknockout stage on Tuesday.

Alex rose unchallenged to powerfully nod home the excellentMark van Bommel's eighth minute corner for what was a rarehighlight in anotherwise dull encounter.

In the first half both sides laboured on a slippery surface, causedby snow before the match, and Monaco's midfield especially struggledto link the play to their strikers as they frequently resorted to the longball. After 25 minutes Van Bommel found Johann Vogel in a goodposition on the edge of the penalty area but his hurried shot wentwide.

In the opening period of the second half Monaco looked morethreatening but it was Eindhoven defender Andre Ooijer who had thebest chance to double their lead after 56 minutes only to blaze overthe bar from a good position.—MNA/Reuters

Spaniard Luis Garciagave Liverpool a 15thminute lead, NorwegianJohn Arne Riise arrowedin a free kick 20 minuteslater and German DietmarHamann curled homeanother free kick instoppage time to put themon track for the quarter-finals.

But there was still timefor Dudek to fumble ahopeful shot andBrazilian substituteFranca to poke the ball

home from close range togive the Germans achance of qualifying ifthey can manage at least a2-0 win in the second leg.

Liverpool, looking toavenge their 2002Champions Leaguequarter-final exit toLeverkusen, made lightof the absence ofsuspended captain StevenGerrard and cup-tiedSpanish striker FernandoMorientes and could havewon by a far bigger

margin. The turning point on

the night came midwaythrough the first half whenLeverkusen strikerDimitar Berbatov misseda golden opportunity toequalize and minutes laterRiise pulled the trigger tomake it 2-0 to the homeside.

Before thatLeverkusen had carvedout the first chance of thegame following a mazyrun by midfielder PaulFreier but Robson Pontecould only meet hiscushioned cutback with ashot over the bar.

Liverpool made nosuch mistake with theirfirst break when Croatianmidfielder Igor Biscanthreaded in a defence-splitting pass and Garciaran on to tuck the ballunder keeper Joerg Butt.

The Bundesliga sideshould have been levelafter 29 minutes, though,when Liverpool defenderSteve Finnan completelybotched a header back toDudek, putting Berbatovclean through.

However, the fearedBulgarian striker put hisshot wide of the left handpost with Dudekcompletely at his mercy.

Leverkusen paid forthe error when Riise beatButt at his near post witha free kick that flew overthe German wall.

Klaus Augenthaler'sside never reallyrecovered from the blowand were lucky not to bethree down soon after thebreak when Riise skippedpast a defender and laidthe ball back for MilanBaros but the Czechstriker squandered thechance.

MNA/Reuters

Pizarro took advantage of Toure'sdreadful mistake to put Bayern into thelead in the fourth minute with a lowvolley and headed in a second, with adeflection off the hapless Toure, 13minutes into the second half.

Hasan Salihamidzic made it 3-0 sixminutes later when Jens Lehmann couldonly get a finger-tip to a Torsten Fringscross, leaving him unmarked to smackinto an empty net. Bayern were incomplete control but were shocked aminute from time when Toure made upfor his earlier mistakes by firing pastOliver Kahn, after Patrick Vieira¥s strikehad come back off a post.

Arsenal, desperate to do well in theChampions League after falling waybehind in the race for the Premier Leaguetitle, created virtually nothing else.

They scarcely deserved it, but Toure'slate strike gives them a glimmer of hopeof overturning the deficit at Highburyon March 9.

"At 3-0 it looked impossible for us togo through, but now we have a chance intwo weeks, we only have to win 2-0 andwe are through," said Lehmann.

Arsenal's poor defending could inpart be explained by the absence ofEngland defenders Sol Campbell and

Ashley Cole from the starting line-upthrough injury and illness.

There could be no excuses for theircomplete lack of invention in midfield,with Thierry Henry and Jose AntonioReyes seeing little of the ball and Kahnforced into just one save.

The game had been billed as ashowdown between Kahn and Lehmann,rivals for the number one spot for the2006 World Cup hosts.

Kahn got the better of the personalduel, but hardly in the way he wouldhave imagined.

It was Kahn's long punt forward thatled to Toure¥s mistake, the defenderheading the ball straight up into the airinstead of clear of danger.

It was his misfortune that Pizarroreacted in a flash to volley the ball lowpast Lehmann and give Bayern an earlyconfidence boost. After their bright start,Bayern found themselves unable to getthe ball forward to Pizarro and RoyMakaay because of pressure from theaggressive Arsenal midfield and therewere no further clear chances for thehome side in the first half.

There were no chances for Arsenaleither, just a series of hopeless ballsforward for Henry to chase.—MNA/Reuters

The Real centre-backangled his header into thetop corner after Englandcaptain David Beckhamhad swung in an in-swinging free kick fromthe left just after the halfhour.

But the nine-timesEuropean champions willhave been left feelingshort-changed after agame they dominatedfrom start to finish againstan ultra-conservativeJuventus side.

In a cagey start the twosides traded a series oftough challenges inmidfield and looked toplay on the break.

But it was adetermined-looking Realwho were the first to showwhen Ronaldo hooked avolley over the bar afterRoberto Carlos had waftedin a cross from the left.

The Brazilian strikerhad another half chancewhen Raul slipped a passinto his path a minute later,but Juve keeper GianluigiBuffon reacted sharply toswipe the ball off his feet.

Real suffered a setbackin the ninth minute whenright back Michel Salgado

was forced out with whatappeared to be a kneeinjury, but they continuedto take the initiativeagainst the unambitiousItalians.

Roberto Carlos was aconstant threat with hisrampaging runs down theleft, while ZinedineZidane, who gave anoutstanding performanceagainst his former club,probed for gaps in thecrowded Juve defence.

The Brazilian created agreat chance for his side inthe 25th minute when hefired a cross into the areaafter Zidane had put himclear on the left, but Raulhit the top of the bar with

Liverpool's John Arne Riise celebrates his goalagainst Bayer Leverkusen during their Champions

League soccer match at Liverpool, England,on 22 Feb, 2005.—INTERNET

For long cricketers were the only sportspersons toget mobbed in India, but tennis player Sania Mirza

now enjoys similar star status.—INTERNET

his shot. Real, though, made no

mistake six minutes laterwhen Helguera flicked aheader past Buffon andinto the far corner.

Juve's only threat in thefirst half came from acouple of wayward shotsfrom midfielders Emersonand Pavel Nedved aroundthe half hour mark.

But the Czechinternational, who wasmaking his first start in amonth after recoveringfrom a knee injury, leftthe field a few minuteslater after a clash of headswith Real substitute RaulBravo.

MNA/Reuters


R 489 Published by the News and Periodicals Enterprise, Ministry of Information, Union of Myanmar. Edited and printed at The New Light of Myanmar Press,No 22/30 Strand Road at 43rd Street, Yangon. Cable Newlight, PO Box No. 43, Telephones: Editors 296115, Manager 296864, Circulation 297093, Advertisement 296843,Accounts 296545, Administration 296161, Production 297032 (Office) /297028 (Press).

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21. The next day’sprogramme

Thursday, 24 FebruaryTune in today:

8.30 am Brief news8.35 am Music :

-The light8.40 am Perspectives8.45 am Music:

-Sunshine8.50 am National news/

Slogan9.00 am Music:

-Around theworld

9.05 am Internationalnews

9.10 am Music:-Absolutely

1.30 pm News/Slogan1.40 pm Lunch time music

-Up where webelong-Real love-Ain’t nothinglike the real thingbaby- Faxing a brokenheart

9.00 pm Aspects ofMyanmar-The month ofTapodwe

9.10 pm Article9.20 pm Pourri

-China fromMarco Polo tra-velogue becom-es prosperousagain- A l c o h o l i cdrinks are as badas tobacco andhigh bloodpressure-Study findsworms squirm-ing of fish-hookfeel no pain

9.30 pm Favourite songschosen by musiclovers-If we hold ontogether-I’m not a girl butnot a woman

9.45pm News/Slogan10.00pm PEL

Wednesday, 23 February, 2005Summary of observations recorded at 09:30 hours

MST: During the past 24 hours, light rain or thundershow-ers have been isolated in Kachin State and weather hasbeen generally fair in the remaining areas. Night tempera-tures were (3˚C) to (4˚C) above normal in Kachin, Shan,Chin, Rakhine States, upper Sagaing and Taninthayi Di-visions, (5˚C) to (6˚C) above normal in Mon State, Man-dalay, Bago Divisions and about normal in the remainingareas. The significant night temperature was Lashio (8˚C).

Maximum temperature on 22-2-2005 was 98°F. Mini-mum temperature on 23-2-2005 was 65°F. Relative humid-ity at 9:30 hrs MST on 23-2-2005 was 83%. Total sunshinehours on 22-2-2005 was (7.6) hours approx. Rainfalls on 23-2-2005 were nil at Yangon Airport, Kaba-Aye and centralYangon. Total rainfalls since 1-1-2005 were nil at YangonAirport, Kaba-Aye and central Yangon. Maximum wind speedat Yangon (Kaba-Aye) was (15) mph from Northwest at(21:30) hours MST on 22-2-2005.

Bay inference: Weather is partly cloudy in the SouthBay and generally fair in the Bay of Bengal.

Forecast valid until evening of 24-2-2005: Isolated lightrain or thundershowers are likely in Kachin and upperSagaing Division and weather will be generally fair in theremaining areas. Degree of certainty is (60%).

State of the sea: Seas will be slight to moderate inMyanmar waters. Outlook for subsequent two days: Slightincrease of night temperatures are likely in CentralMyanmar areas.

Forecast for Yangon and neighbouring area for24-2-2005: Fair weather.

Forecast for Mandalay and neighbouring area for24-2-2005: Partly cloudy.

WEATHER

Thur sday, 24 FebruaryView on today:

(from page 11)Representative-elect U

Tun Kyaw of NamhsanTownship constituency innorthern Shan State saidthat according to the al-ready-laid-down basicprinciples, there will beone self-administered divi-sion, and five self-admin-istered zones. The 10points are suitable to beput on the legislative listof the self-administeredarea leading bodies.

The national race del-egate group said that a de-tailed basic principle —legislative power concern-ing the ten points is vestedin the self-administered di-vision leading bodies andthe self-administered zoneleading bodies — shouldbe laid down.

Peasant delegate groupsaid that the National Con-vention has laid down ba-sic principles to form lead-ing bodies at the self-ad-ministered division andself-administered zones.

Further burgeoning of thenoblest…

Myanmar traditional Htamane preparation contest in progress at the KandawgyiKaraweik Natural Garden on Full Moon Day of Tabodwe (23-2-2005). — NLM

According to the basicprinciples one self-admin-istered division and fiveself-administered zoneswill emerge. The leadingbodies will play key rolein developing their owndivision or zones. Thus,the 10 points should belaid down as detailed ba-sic principles in distribut-ing the legislative powerto the leading bodies.

Worker delegate groupsaid that a detailed basicprinciple — legislativepower concerning the tenpoints is vested in the self-administered division lead-ing body or the self-ad-ministered zone leadingbodies — should be laiddown.

Intellectuals and intel-ligentsia delegate groupsaid that legislative powerconcerning the ten pointsshould be vested in theself-administered divisionleading body or the self-

administered zone leadingbodies.

State service personneldelegate group said thatthe National Conventionhas already designated oneself-administered divisionand five self-administeredzones. And it is requiredto prescribe in the Consti-tution which type of leg-islative powers are to bedelegated to the self-ad-ministered areas. In study-ing the type of legislativepowers to be delegated tothe self-administered ar-eas, it is important thatsuch powers should bethose the legislative lead-ing bodies can manage.The distributing of legis-lative power concerningthe ten points to the self-administered divisionleading body or the self-administered zone leadingbodies should be includedin the Constitution.

The group has alsosuggested to substitute theterm in item (h) of the tenpoints “Environmentalconservation” with the

term “Environmental con-servation in accord withthe law enacted by theUnion.”

Other invited personsdelegate group discussedin support of the ten pointsconcerning the legislativepower of the self-admin-istered areas as it seesthem as comprehensiveand appropriate.

In giving a separatesuggestion, the group saidthat the State should con-sider adding of the follow-ing two more points in theten points explained by theWork Committee Chair-man, in enacting laws forthe self-administered divi-sion or self-administeredzones:

(1) Preservation of lit-erature and culture

(2) Administration andjudicial affairs as requiredby specific nature of areas,border trade and crossborder permission

Moreover, it gave aproposal to substitute theterm “Building, repair andmaintenance of roads”

with the term “Road andbridge construction andmaintenance of roads andbridges”, and the term“Forest protection andconservation” with theterm “Conservation andprotection of natural for-ests and private forestplantations includingteak.”

The panel of chair-men’s collection of ex-cerpts from the suggestedproposals submitted by

delegates to the NationalConvention on distributionof legislative power inconnection with other mat-ters not stated in the legis-lative lists of the Union,Region or State, and self-administered division orzone leading bodies pre-sented by U Mya Aye ofDelegates of Peasants willbe published in tomor-row’s issue.

MNA

EARTHQUAKE REPORT(Issued at 10:00 hours M.S.T on 23-2-2005)

An earthquake of moderate intensity (5.5) Richter Scalewith its epicentre outside of Myanmar about (654) milesSouthwest of Kaba-Aye Seismological Observatory wasrecorded at (23) hrs (43) min (46) sec M.S.T on 22nd

February 2005.

1st Waning of Tabodwe 1366 ME Thursday, 24 February, 2005

* Development of agriculture as the base and all-rounddevelopment of other sectors of the economy as well

* Proper evolution of the market-oriented economicsystem

* Development of the economy inviting participation interms of technical know-how and investments fromsources inside the country and abroad

* The initiative to shape the national economy must be keptin the hands of the State and the national peoples

* Uplift of the morale and morality ofthe entire nation

* Uplift of national prestige and integ-rity and preservation and safeguard-ing of cultural heritage and nationalcharacter

* Uplift of dynamism of patriotic spirit* Uplift of health, fitness and education

standards of the entire nation

* Stability of the State, community peaceand tranquillity, prevalence of law andorder

* National reconsolidation* Emergence of a new enduring State

Constitution* Building of a new modern developed

nation in accord with the new StateConstitution

Four economic objectives Four social objectivesFour political objectives

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win delivers an address at the luncheon.— MNA Philippine President Madame Gloria Macapagal Arroyo deliversan address. — MNA

Myanmar places importance in ASEAN and its commitment tomoving towards closer cohesion and economic integration

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win of the Union of Myanmar receives Senate President of PhilippinesMr Franklin Drilon. — MNA

Prime Minister meets Philippine Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives

Senior General Than Shwe sends congratulatorymessage to Croatian President

YANGON, 23 Feb— Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and DevelopmentCouncil of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a congratulatory message to His Excellency Mr StjepanMesi , President of the Republic of Croatia, on the occasion of his inauguration for the secondterm.— MNA

YANGON, 23 Feb — The following is the full statement of Prime Minister ofthe Union of Myanmar Lt-Gen Soe Win at the luncheon given in his honour by thePresident of the Republic of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyoon 21-2-2005.

I am deeplytouched by Your Excel-lency’s kind words ofwelcome. The warmth

with which we have beenreceived since our arrivalin Manila no doubt reflectsthe close bonds of friend-

ship between our two coun-tries. It is a pleasure to beamong friends.

(See page 6)

YANGON, 23 Feb— The following is the full statement of President of theRepublic of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during the luncheon for PrimeMinister of the Union of Myanmar Lt-Gen Soe Win on 21-2-2005.

I wish to welcome YourExcellency, LieutenantGeneral Soe Win, PrimeMinister of the Union of

Myanmar and the mem-bers of your delegation tothe Philippines.

Myanmar is one of the

four new member coun-tries of ASEAN.President Ramos visited

(See page 6)

We in Myanmar realize that in an in-creasingly integrated world, we must workclosely with friendly countries and neigh-bours. We believe that the future of develop-ing countries lies on promoting regional co-operation which does not diminish nationalidentities but enhances political and economicstrength.

YANGON, 23 Feb—Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Winmet Philippine Senate President Mr Franklin Drilon atthe Imperial Suite on the 11th floor of the WestinPhilippine Plaza Hotel in Manila at 2 pm local time on21 February.

The Prime Minister received Philippine Speaker ofthe House of Representatives Mr Jose C De Venecia,Jr at the same venue at 2.30 pm local time the same day.

Also present at the calls were Minister for Agricul-ture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Htay Oo, Minister forNational Planning and Economic Development U SoeTha, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Ministerfor Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Thein Zaw, MyanmarAmbassador to the Philippines U Tin Tun, and Director-General of the Political Department of the Ministry ofForeign Affairs U Thaung Tun. — MNA

INSIDE

PERSPECTIVES

The main purpose of Myanmar’s foreign policyis to keep good relations with all nations of theworld, especially its neighbours and membernations of the ASEAN.(Page 2)

PRIME M INISTER LT-GEN SOE WIN

c

senior general than shwe and wife daw kyaing kyaing … guru abhidhaja agga maha saddhammajotika...

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