Bahusaccañ ca, to have immensity of knowledge; this is the way to auspiciousness. Established 1914 Volume XI, Number 321 12th Waxing of Tabaung 1365 ME Tuesday, 2 March, 2004 The Peasant Day message of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe (The following is a translation of the message sent by duction industry, the Government has given continuous fields requires switching to mechanized farming that Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace priority to its success and development, while utilizing harnesses machines in harrowing land and cultivating, and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, to greater financial power to build dams and canals, sluice harvesting and threshing crops. In this regard, the Gov- the Peasants Day 2004) gates, river water pumping stations, and underground water ernment as well as the private sector are making ar- tapping projects all over he country, for, the facilities are rangements to boost manufacturing of farm machinery. Esteemed peasantry, the main requirement for the sector’s development. Instead of directly buying of paddy, the nation’s Today, the 2nd of March, is the Peasants Day hon- From 1988 to date, the Government has used over K main crop, from farmers as in the previous years, the ouring the peasantry of all Myanmar races. On this 68,881 million to build 157 dams, irrigating about 2.15 Government has permitted the free rice trade beginning auspicious day, I wish all peasantry health and happi- million acres. And plans to reinforce the irrigation sector this year in the interest of the peasants and to help ness and success of their farming business. with the river water pumping stations has led to emer- contribute to the progress of the market-oriented The State Peace and Development Council has laid gence of 265 such stations in the entire nation, benefiting economy. The introduction of the new rice trade policy down and implemented the economic objectives to de- about 300,000 more acres of crops. is a means to enhance the work capacity of the peas- velop the national economy in leaps and bounds for the The nation sees marked increase in the sown acreage ants and national entrepreneurs in accord with the as- emergence of a new peaceful, modern and developed reaching 39.9 million acres at present, and 150 per cent piration of the people, including farmers, whose busi- nation that is the national goal. rise in cultivation of various crops thanks to the Govern- ness directly or indirectly concerns the rice industry. In doing so, it has been drawing and implementing ment that takes into account various means to ensure water The Government has already made arrangements to the short-term economic plans in accord with the geo- supply for crops in the whole nation; reclaims fallow, pay special attention to extending sown acreage, ensur- graphical position and climatic condition of the nation virgin and vacant lands and wetlands, applying various ing adequate water supply for crops, and switching from and the existence of human resources, for well-rounded means; launches highland cultivation project to transform manual to mechanized farming, while providing chemi- development of all economic sectors including indus- slash-and-burn cultivation to terrace cultivation; and cal and natural fertilizers, farming techniques and crop trial, forestry, energy, mining, livestock breeding and renders assistance in multi-sectors to grow double and strains, in the interest of the entire national people, fisheries, and trade sectors, with agriculture as the base. mixed cropping. including peasants. As the agricultural sector is the nation’s giant pro- Cent per cent use of the increasing acres of cultivation (See page 7) Senior General Than Shwe inspects Lenya-Mandaing Bridge. — MNA Pyigyimandaing region will meet with success if five rural development tasks are carried out with might and main Senior General Than Shwe inspects regional development in Taninthayi Division YANGON, 1 March— General Than Shwe, accom- military officers and offi- After that, Senior Gen- Myint gave supplementary homage to Razamuni Pagoda Chairman of the State Peace panied by members of the cials of the State Peace and eral Than Shwe and party reports. in Bokpyin and made cash and Development Council State Peace and Development Council Of- arrived at Karathuri in In response to the re- donations for the pagoda Commander-in-Chief of Developement Council fice, arrived at Bokpyin Township by heli- ports, Senior General Than through members of the Pa- Defence Services Senior General Thura Shwe Mann, Kyaukhtanaung Station in copter at 3 pm. They were Shwe gave necessary in- goda Board of Trustees. INSIDE Lt-Gen Maung Bo, Lt-Gen Bokpyin by helicopter on welcomed there by Tactical structions and greeted those Afterwards, they pro- Thiha Thura Tin Aung 26 February afternoon. Operations Commander Col present on the occasion. ceeded to Atuladhipati Perspectives Myint Oo, Lt-Gen Kyaw Next, Senior General Tin Maung Nyunt and offi- In the evening, Senior Mahamuni Shwethalyaung Let's strive for Win and Lt-Gen Tin Aye, Than Shwe and party met cials, departmental officials General Than Shwe and Buddha Image and paid regional development Commander-in-Chief with Tatmadawmen and and local people. party arrived in Bokpyin homage to the image. and self-sufficiency (Navy) Rear-Admiral Soe their families of At the guest house in where they were welcomed Next, they made cash (Page 2) Thein, Commander-in- Kyaukhtanaung Station at Karathuri, the Secretary of by General Staff Officer donations there. Article Chief (Air) Maj-Gen Myat the hall of the station. At Bokpyin Township Peace (Grade I) Lt-Col Khin On 27 February morn- The new Myanmar and Hein, Chairman of the meeting, General Thura and Development Council Maung Cho of Bokpyin ing, Senior General Than her pleasant environs Taninthayi Division Peace Shwe Mann gave a speech. and officials reported on the Station, Chairman of the Shwe greeted the (Page 7) and Development Council Next, Senior General salient points of Karathuri Township Peace and De- Tatmadawmen and their Commander of Coastal Re- Than Shwe gave necessary to Senior General Than velopment Council U families of battalions and Circulation gion Command Brig-Gen instructions and greeted the Shwe and party. Thein Win and officials. units under Bokpyin Sta- Ohn Myint, the ministers, Tatmadawmen and their Lt-Gen Maung Bo and Next, Senior General tion. 22,714 the deputy ministers, senior families. Commander Brig-Gen Ohn Than Shwe and party paid (See page 16) HONOURING THE 2004 PEASANTS DAY 2 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 2 March, 2004 PERSPECTIVES 59th Anniversary People’s Desire Armed Forces Day Objectives * Oppose those relying on external elements, Tuesday, 2 March, 2004 — To strive hand in hand with the people for suc- acting as stooges, holding negative views Let’s strive for regional cessful realization of the State’s seven-point development and policy programme * Oppose those trying to jeopardize stability self-sufficiency — To crush internal and external destructive ele- of the State and progress of the nation ments hindering the stability and progress of The State Peace and Development Coun- the State through people’s militia strategy cil is taking all the possible measures to create * Oppose foreign nations interfering in a favourable environment for higher national — To implement border area development tasks internal affairs of the State economic life and for parallel development of and the five rural development tasks hand in various regions across the Union. The Head of hand with the entire people * Crush all internal and external destructive State himself occasionally goes on inspection — To build up a strong and efficient Tatmadaw to elements as the common enemy tours of states and divisions, meets with the uphold ‘Our Three Main National Causes’ grassroots and fulfils the needs of the regions concerned. Chairman of the State Peace and Devel- State Central Working Committee of the Sangha meets opment Council Commander-in-Chief of De- YANGON, 1 March — fence Services Senior General Than Shwe and The fifth State Central Work- party on 26 and 27 February visited Kawthoung ing Committee of the Sangha and Khamaukkyi in Taninthayi Division, in- of the Union of Myanmar held specting the development work and giving guid- its fourth meeting in the Maha Pathana Cave on Kaba Aye ance on all that is necessary. In his meeting Hill here this morning. with members of the Division, District and Present on the occa- Township Peace and Development Councils, de- sion were State Ovadacariya partmental personnel, members of social or- Sayadaws, member Saya- ganizations and entrepreneurs, Head of State daws of the State Sangha Senior General Than Shwe emphasized that a Maha Nayaka Committee, region could enjoy development in form as well Minister for Religious Affairs as in essence only if it was self-sufficient and Brig-Gen Thura Myint its economy was constantly growing and that it Maung, Deputy Minister Brig- was necessary for each and every region to meet Gen Thura Aung Ko, Adviser these two requirements. U Arnt Maung, Director-Gen- The Government has been building all eral of the Religious Affairs Department Dr Myo Myint, the necessary infrastructures for less developed The fifth State Central Sangha Committee holds its fourth meeting in the Maha Pathana Director-General of the De- Cave, Kaba Aye. — MNA regions including border areas. For example, partment for Promotion and Kawthoung, which had only three or four hun- Propagation of the Sasana U gious matters to Sayadaws. meeting continues tomorrow. cines. Duyinthee U Soe Myint- dred households in 1962, has now become a Sann Lwin, deputy directors- Next, the report concerning Sandi herbal medicines shop Daw Khin Ma Yi and family district headquarters. It is developing as all the general of the two depart- the tasks carried out during offered ‘soon’ to Sayadaws offered ‘soon’ to Sayadaws at requirements in education, health, transport ments, directors, and officials.