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ARCHIVES	Wednesday, 21 March 2007	THE MYANMAR TIMES

We have taken noble oaths to sacrifice our lives for the people and the nation. We have vowed on the conviction that there is no greater honour than sacrificing one's life for one's own country. Therefore, if you are confronted with an enemy or in need of providing security and safeguarding the life and property of the people or in consolidating the sovereigntyof the state, you must show your courage, conviction and bravery according to the motto, ?boldly advance, boldly attack and boldly annihilate the enemy.?

Senior General Than Shwe

Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council

Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services

(From address at the graduation parade of 49th Intake of Defence Services Academy)

Curriculum Vitae of Mr Choummaly Sayasone, President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic

Yangon, 21 March?His Excellency Mr Choummaly Sayasone was born on 6 March 1936 in Attapeu Province, Laos. He attended the Political School for High Ranking Cadres situated in Vietnam in 1964, and in 1978 attended the Military Academy in the Soviet Union. He also studied at the Political and Administrative School in Vietnam in 1993.

He joined the Lao Revolutionary movement in 1954 and became a member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party in 1955. From 1955 to 1956, he participated in the defense of the revolutionary bases and liberated zones and became a Deputy Chief of unit in 1959. In 1962, he served as an officer for political affairs of the 5th Battalion and in 1964 was promoted to Commander of the 2nd Battalion. From 1968 to 1975, he served as Chief of Joint Staff in Xieng Khuang Region and in 1975, he backed the Liberation of the whole country for the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic as Chief of Joint Staff in Xieng Khuang Region.

From 1980 to 1982, he was appointed as Deputy Chief of the General Staff Department of the Ministry of National Defense. He was elected as a Member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee (LPRPCC) at the 3rd Party Congress held in 1982 and in 1986 he was elected as an Alternate Politburo Member of the LPRPCC at the 4th Party Congress and also appointed as First Vice-Minister at the Ministry of National Defense.

In 1991, he was elected as a Politburo Member at the 5th Party Congress and appointed as Minister of National Defense. At the 6th Party Congress held in 1996, he was re-elected as a Politburo Member and also re-appointed as Minister of National Defense. In 2001, he was re-elected as Politburo Member at the 7th Party Congress and appointed as Vice-President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. He was elected as General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee at the 8th Party Congress and then appointed as President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic at the preliminary session of the 6th Legislative of the National Assembly.

His Excellency Mr Choummaly Sayasone is married to Major Keosaychay Sayasone and they have three sons and five daughters.

Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein attends inauguration of Pyapon Bridge Better transportation brings about both development of regions and better education, health, social and economic foundations

Yangon, 20 March ? Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein attended the opening ceremony of Pyapon Bridge in Pyapon today and unveiled the plaque of the bridge.

The bridge was constructed by the Bridge Construction Special Group-7 of Public Works was opened today hailing the 62nd Anniversary Armed Forces Day.

Also present on the occasion were Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than of the Ministry of Defence, Lt-Gen Myint Swe of the Ministry of Defence, Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West Command Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung, ministers, the Mayor of Yangon, deputy ministers officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental officials, members of social organizations and residents.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein said Pyapon Bridge located on Pyapon-Dedaye Kungyangon Roa linking southernmost parts of Ayeyawady Division, was completed in time and could be inaugurated as a gesture of hailing the 62nd Anniversary Armed Forces Day.

The government has built river crossing bridges across the country to ensure smooth transportation, to boost trade and to improve the economic and social standards of the people while building the education health and social infrastructures in the country.

Local people know disadvantages of the poor transportation and advantages of the smooth transportation.

Bridges in the country including Pyapon Bridge indicate the government's goodwill towards the people and are the milestones of the Tatmadaw Government.

Although there are hindrances to development of the country, Myanmar experts, without assistance from foreign countries, have built river crossing bridges, dams and reservoirs which are demanding a huge sum of money and advanced technology. This shows the high calibre of the national people.

It is the pride of the nation that river crossing bridges including Pyapon Bridge constructed are installed with iron beams produced by factories at home.

Therefore, out of 180-foot- and above long bridges constructed in the time of the present government, Pyapon Bridge is the 223rd one. It has also become the 43rd bridge of Ayeyawady Division.

The newly opened bridge has also become the linkage between Dedaye-Kungyangon Road and Mawla-myinegyun, Bogale and Pyapon townships.

Moreover, thanks to the bridge, Yangon-Nyaungdon-Maubin-Kyaiklat-Pyapon-Dedaye-Kungyangon-Dalla Road will become a network road. Therefore, the bridge will also felicitate smooth flow of goods and boost trade in the region.

In Ayeyawady Division, the distance of road has increased from over 400 miles in 1988 to over 1,300 miles today. Now, people can go on a day trip from Yangon to Danubyu, Zalun, Hinthada through Bayin-tnaung and Bo Myat Tun bridges, and to Pantanaw, Einme and Pathein.

Nyaungdon-Hlinethaya Road, Pyapon-Dedaye-Kungyangon Road, Ngathainggyaung-Gwa Road and Pathein-Monywa Road have been constructed to connect Ayeyawady Division and other states and divisions.

Residents had to rely on waterways to travel in the region in the past and it took them a long time to travel from one town to another in the division. Now, it is a pleasure to see vehicles including trucks running from one place to another in the the division.

At present, famous pagodas and religious buildings in the division have been visited by pilgrims while its beach resorts have been crowded with tourists and the people.

The government has given encouragement to the development of the economy in the division. Thanks to the improvement of transport infrastructure, fish and prawn breeding business, wet land cultivation and hotels and sea resorts are booming in the division.

Ayeyawady Division has become a reliable division due to its agricultural produce, livestock breeding and production of goods.

He said the State Peace and Development Council has been making endeavours for emergence of a modern developed nation in a short time for over one and half decades after laying down systematic plans. As a result of this, the entire Union including Ayeyawady Division has developed.

He said the government firmly built national solidarity for all-round development in every sector creating peaceful and tranquil conditions in the country. At the same time it also built infrastructures on development such as dams and irrigation networks, major roads, bridges and hydro-electric power projects that can promote the national development greatly, he said.

The government is implementing the border areas and national races development project, special 24-region development project and rural development project for harmonious and equitable development of all parts of the Union and for narrowing the development gap among the regions and it made arrangements for uplift of education, health and social foundations while fulfilling the requirements of each region.

Significant progress has been made in various regions in the country due to peace and tranquillity, the infrastructures on development and active participation of the people.

In the transport sector, regions in the east of Shweli and regions in the west of Ayeyawady and Chindwin that lagged behind in development in the past have developed rapidly on account of seven bridges across the Ayeyawady, two across the Chindwin and five across the Thanlwin and living standard of the people has also improved significantly.

He said a great number of strategic bridges including the Thanlwin River (Mawlamyine) Bridge and a lot of bridges in Taninthayi Division were built to link the Union Highways from the south to the north.

People in Ayeyawady Division and Rakhine State relied on only waterways as there are a lot of rivers and creeks. Now they can travel to other states and divisions by land because of the network of roads, he said.

Roads and bridges were built in cooperation with the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Rail Transportation, the Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs and the Ministry of Eletric Power. Some of the highways were built with the assistance of the private entrepreneurs. In 1988, there were 13,600 miles of roads and now there are 19,000 miles of roads.

He said Myanmar engineers built ChaungU-Pakokku-Gangaw-Kalay Railroad including 5,000 feet Pontaung Ponnya Tunnel with the use of high technology. A total of 1,140 miles of railroads were built.

The Secretary-1 spoke at length of construction of railroads linking regions and over 70 airports including two international airports.

Better transportation in the country brings about both development of the regions and better education, health, social and economic foundations.

In Ayeyawady Division, arts and science universities, technological universities, universities of computer studies, specialist hospitals and general hospitals have emerged based on three special development regions? Pathein, Maubin and Hinthada.

He urged the officials to make continued efforts for regional and national development with the use of the foundations and better transport.

He called on the officials concerned to make concerted efforts for prosperity of the regions and the nation as Ayeyawady Division contributes toward the development of agriculture and livestock breeding sectors.

Better foundations have already been laid due to community peace and tranquillity. He also urged them to safeguard the prevalence of law and order, stability in the region and better atmosphere with national awareness and to utilize these better foundations effectively for prosperity of the nation.

Next, Commander Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung made a speech. He said that the Pyapon Bridge is a transport facility linking Ohnpin Village in Dedaye Township and Ward 1 of Pyapon. The bridge has saved time and cut the length of journey. With the emergence of the bridge, people residing in the region were in joy and happiness.

People in Ayeyawady Division had to rely mostly on waterways in the past. At present, they are able to travel from one place to another by land with the emergence of a string of bridges in the division, he added.

He quoted the guidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe as saying that better transport is a must for development of a region. Only when there is better transport in a region, will its economic, social and administrative sectors develop, he disclosed.

More roads and bridges were built and the old ones upgraded for development of the whole division. So, the length of roads has increased to 1,281 miles and 3 furlongs up to date from 461 miles and 7 forlongs in 1988. In 1988, there were 11 bridges large and small, but there are now 43 including the Pyapon Bridge. Those transport facilities were able to bring about harmonious development and ensure swift and smooth flow of commodities in the region, he stressed.

As the strength of local people plays a leading role in developing a region, concerted efforts are to be made for boosting producion making better use of resources available in the division.

After that, the Minister for Construction made a speech. He quoted the guidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe during his inspection tour of Anawratha Bridge across Ayeyawady River saying that priority was to be given to development of regions on western bank of Ayeyawady River as they lagged behind in development. At present, people in different parts of the division were able to move about with the emergence of a large number of roads and bridges.

He said that the emergence of Pyapon Bridge brought immediate benefits to local peopel as well as to the State. The 3,933 feet long bridge is 203rd of its kind which were opened after 1988. The construction of the bridge started on April 2003 and it was able to be opened today. Altogether seven bridges across Ayeyawady River have been opened and Yadanabon Bridge across Ayeyawady River will soon be opened. Now, the development of regions on east bank of Ayeyawady River and that of regions on west bank of Ayeyawady River is nearly the same as roads and bridges have emerged there.

Next, U Win Myint of Pyapon Township, on behalf of local people, spoke words of thanks.

Later, Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, Commander Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung and Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun formally opened the bridge.

The Secretary-1 and party had a documentary photo taken together with local people in front of the archway of the bridge.

Next, Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, Lt-Gen Myint Swe, Commander Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung and Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun sprinkled scented water on the stone inscription.

After that, the Secretary-1 and party and officials strolled along the bridge and inspected it.

After the ceremony, the Secretary-1 and party looked into development of Pyapon by car.

Nay Pyi Taw, 20 March ? Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defence on his inspection tour of Myitkyina, Kachin State, accompanied by Chairman of Kachin State PDC Commander of Northern Command Maj-Gen Ohn Myint, senior military officers, officials concerned of the SPDC Office and departmental heads arrived at mile post No 12/0 on Akye-Hsinbo-Peinkhunyan-Myohla road on 18 March.

Upon arrival at the district-to-district road, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party looked into a road map and a signboard and passenger mini buses running on No 3 district-to-district road and gave necessary instructions. After asking condition of floods on the road in the rainy season, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party cordially greeted local people of Phayaw Village near the mile post No 15/0 and inspected durability of the Malisutyan Bridge near the mile post No 24/0.

Next, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party oversaw Tokat village Basic Education Primary School and condition of the road section near the mile post No 32/0 and steel bridge on Mokaung Creek in Nantainlone Village. Afterwards, Commander Maj-Gen Ohn Myint presented reports on construction of the bridge and condition of flow of water in the creek.

Afterwards, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party looked into situation of first defile of Ayeyawady River and earth work with the use of heavy machinery. Next, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party arrived at Northern Royal Diamond Co Ltd on Wegyi-Nalon road section and inspected teak plantations and Namhsanyan bridge on Bhamo-Myitkyina road.

Next, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party oversaw plantations of rubber, pepper, avocado pear and physic nut plants at local battalion in Waimaw Township.

After inspecting conditions of bridges on Bhamo-Myitkyina road and plantations on either side of the road they arrived Myitkyina in the evening.

Lt-Gen Kyaw Win attends opening of new tarred road in Kengtung of Shan State (East)

Nay Pyi Taw, 20 March ? Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Kyaw Win of the Ministry of Defence on his inspection tour of Kengtung in Shan State (East) together with Chairman of Shan State (East) PDC Commander of Triangle Region Command Maj-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and officials concerned of the SPDC Office and departmental heads arrived at No 3 Ward of Kengtung on 17 March, and attended a ceremony to open Cherry tarred road to hail the 62nd Anniversary Armed Forces Day.

First, Executive Officer of Kengtung Township Development Affairs Committee Deputy Director U Khin Kyaw briefed Lt-Gen Kyaw Win and party on building of the tarred road.

Next, Executive U Khin Kyaw presented commemorative flags to Lt-Gen Kyaw Win, Commander Maj-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and chairman of No 3 ward PDC U Sai Hsi Nwan.

Afterwards, secretary U Mya Aung of Shan State (East) PDC, director U Hla Myo of Shan State (East) DAC and chairman U Sai Hsi Nwan formally opened the newly-built tarred road. Commander Maj-Gen Min Aung Hlaing then formally unveiled the signboard of the road.

Next, Lt-Gen Kyaw Win, accompanied by patron of Shan State (East) Maternal and Child Welfare Association Daw Kyu Kyu Hla and members, visited Dhamapon monastery in No 1 Myothit Ward of Kengtung, and oversaw vaccination against measles aiming at the infants aged between nine months and five years. The collective vaccination against measles was launched in 54 designated places from 17 to 30 March. The programme is to vaccinate a total of 22,080 infants against measles.

Afterwards, Lt-Gen Kyaw Win and party inspected Kengtung Home for the Aged and presented souvenirs to the aged. Next, they viewed collective vaccination against measles at 300-bed hospital and presented refreshments to the children. Before the departure for Nay Pyi Taw Airport, Lt-Gen Kyaw Win was seen off by the commander, senior military officers, departmental heads and members of social organizations.

Yangon, 20 March? The second cash donation ceremony for the Fourth Renovation of Shwephonepwint Pagoda was held in conjunction with the meeting of the Leading Committee for the Fourth All-round Renovation of the Pagoda yesterday at the pagoda in Pazundaung Township, here. Chairman of the Leading Committee Secretariat Member of the Union Solidarity and Development Association In-charge of Pazundaung Township Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan accepted donations and presented certificates of honour to wellwishers.

The cash donation ceremony was held at the new Dhammayon of the pagoda. The minister and congregation recited Namo Tassa three times to open the ceremony.

Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan briefed on benefits of the renovation of religious buildings and the five tasks carried out for the fourth renovation of the pagoda.

Afterwards, Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, members of the Leading Committee, departmental heads and Chairman of the Pagoda Board of Trustees U Tint Lwin accepted K 25,774,000 donated by 68 wellwishers including State Ovdacariya Abhidaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Bhaddanta Sobhana, Member of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Shwebontha Monastery Sayadaw Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadaja Bhaddanta Varama and Myatheindan Monastery Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Kesara.

After the cash donation ceremony the meeting of the Leading Committee for Fourth All-round Renovation of the Pagoda was held.

Chairman and officials of the respective sub-committees presented work done and future plans. After attending to the needs, Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan stressed the need to complete the renovation tasks before monsoon for the convenience of pilgrims, ensure worksite safety and renovate the pagoda without damaging the original style. After the meeting, Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan paid homage to the pagoda strolling clockwise and inspected renovation tasks.

Yangon, 20 March?Patron of Myanma Gems Emporium Central Committee Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, accom-panied by secretary of the Committee Managing Director U Thein Swe of Myanma Gems Enter-prise and members, arrived at the 44th Myanma Gems Emporium held at Myanmar Convention Centre on Mindhamma road in Mayangon Township this morning, and viewed sale of jade lots through competitive bidding system and cordially greeted local and foreign gem merchants.

Lots of jade, gem and pearl were sold through competitive bidding and tender system at the 44th Myanma Gems Em-porium from 8 to 20 March. The local and foreign merchants bought a total of 3652 lots of jade, gem and pearl.

A total of 3421 merchants? 2069 from foreign countries and 1352 local merchants? visited the emporium.

Yangon, 20 March ? Patron of Myanmar Gems Emporium Central Committee Minster for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint met with Myanma Gem entrepreneurs and executives at the Myanmar Convention Centre today.

Also present were directors-general and managing directors of the departments and enterprises under the ministry and executives of the Myanmar Gem Entrepreneur Association.

At the meeting, the minister called for more efforts to be able to create a firmed market, to penetrate international gems markets and to expand the gems industry to increase the revenue of the country.

Yangon, 20 March ? Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Tin Naing Thein and officials concerned met with merchants and fish breeders at Myintzuthaka hall in Kawthoung on 17 March.

During the meeting, the minister said the State is giving encouragement to enhance the private sector. The merchants are to focus on cooperative measures in breeding sector. The entrepreneurs are to participate in respective production fields because an increased production plays a key role. Next, the minister replied to the queries raised by the entrepreneurs.

Upon arrival at the border trade point (Kawthoung), the minister inspected functions of One Stop Service and gave instructions on cooperative measures to be taken for rapid flow of commodities in exports and import services.

In the afternoon, the minister looked into breeding tasks and production of rubber in Kawthoung.

Yangon, 20 March?The Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department today announced that at a chicken farm in Nyaunghnapin agriculture and livestock zone (1) in Hmawby Township, Yangon Division, 1645 of the 22,337 layers were dead due to H5N1 on 17 and 18 March. The remaining 20,692 layers were thus culled.

The chicken, ducks and quails in suspected farms one kilometer around the affected area are being watched and culled systematically. And sales and transport of fowls and fowl products in the farms six kilometers radius of the restricted zone are now prohibited.

Between 28 February and 18 March, the virus was found at a farm of layers, ducks, pheasants or quails each in Mayangon, Hlaingthaya, North Okkalapa, Mingaladon and Hmawby townships. In the cases, 1863 fowls were dead due to the virus, 37,883 were culled, and 39,746 were dead or culled.

The outbreak in the Nyaunghnapin might be due to the virus carried by trays used to carry eggs, feedstuff bags or other small birds or visit of people, and at four farms in Mayangon, Hlanethaya, North Okkalapa and Mingaladon townships, the keeping of pigs, ducks and chicken of local species closely in an area, unrestricted visit of people or visit to chicken and duck markets.

Regarding the bird flu outbreak in Yangon, conclusive evidence is not available yet. Despite preparedness and designating restricted zones and controlled zones, there can be more bird flu outbreaks in the other regions. So, those engaged in the fowl breeding and sales are urged to raise awareness.

Nay Pyi Taw, 20 March? The new office of Myanmar Insurance was opened at the office here today in the presence of Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command Brig-Gen Wai Lwin and Minister for Finance and Revenue Maj-Gen Hla Tun.

Also present on the occasion were Vice-Governor U Than Nyein of Central Bank of Myanmar, directors-general and managing directors of the departments and enterprises under the ministry.

First, Managing Director U Thein Lwin of Myanmar Insurance and Chairman of Pyinmana District Peace and Development Council U Khin Maung Zaw formally opened the new office.

The commander unveiled the signboard of the new office. The managing director explained facts about the new office. Afterwards, the commander and the minister visited the new office.

Yangon, 20 March? Tea Cocktail Competition Myanmar was held at Thamada Hotel here on 17 March.

The competition was organized by Myanmar Chef As-sociation and sponsored by Hotels and Tourism Ministry.

Deputy Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu presented first prize to Ma Lai Ram Chann of the Governor Residence, second prize to U Hla Myint of Strand Hotel, third prize to Saw Min Min Aye and Moe Moe Aung of Manis Restaurant & Bar.

The competition aimed at improving of hotel services and introducing a combination of tastes of Myanmar green tea.

Yangon, 20 March ? The Myanma Motion Picture Academy Award winners for 2005 were honoured by the Myanmar Motion Picture Assiayon at the building of the Asiayon here today.

Present on the occasion were Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, departmental officials of the ministry, officials of the Myanmar Motion Picture Scrutinizing Board, Myanmar Film Censor Board and Video Censor Board, patrons of the Asiayon and academy award winners.

Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan cordially greeted those present on the occasion. Patron U Khin Zaw delivered an address. Patrons of MMPA presented cash awards to the winners.

Yangon, 20 March ? Hailing the 62nd Anniversary Armed Forces Day, a teleplay entitled ?A-phay-tu-thar (Like Father, Like Son)? will be telecast on MRTV and Myawady TV at 9 pm daily from 23 to 26 March.

The teleplay directed by Academy Award winner Bagyi Soe Moe is based on the novel of Tin Aung Soe (Panmyodaw). The script writer is Academy Award winner Nyein Min.

The play features the Tatmadaw formed with offspring of the people regained the independence.It also features the Tatmadaw that safeguards the independence and wards off the danger and capabilities and sacrifice of the Tatmadaw members and assistance of their wives, sons and daughters and relatives.

Academy Award winners Lu Min, Min Mawgun, Zin Waing, Panphyu, Nanda Hlaing and May Thinza Oo, Tun Tun (Examplez), Thet Mon Myint and Tatmadaw members starred in the play.