Established 1914 Volume XIII, Number 1 New Year Day of 1367 ME Sunday, 17 April 2005 To bring about equitable develop- Senior General Than Shwe sends ment in all parts of the nation, meas- ures are being taken to improve all message of felicitations to Syrian the sectors such as transport, economy, education and health in Arab Republic combination with the implementation YANGON, 17 April — Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and of the five rural development tasks Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of felicitations to His and the 24 special development re- Excellency Mr Bashar Al-Assad, President of the Syrian Arab Republic, on the occasion of the National Day of the Syrian Arab Republic which falls on 17 April 2005.—MNA gions projects. With proper natural resources and population ratio, Rakhine State is blessed with promising opportunities for development Senior General Than Shwe meets military officers, other ranks, their families of Sittway Station Senior General Than Shwe gives guidance to departmental officials at the meeting hall of Sittway Station.— MNA YANGON, 16 April — Chairman of the State Peace and departmental heads. formation of the nation into a peaceful, modern and and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Before the arrival of the Senior General there, developed discipline-flourishing democratic one. Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe met General Thura Shwe Mann delivered a speech, say- At the same time, he said, efforts are being made to military officers and other ranks and their families at ing the Tatmadaw has placed emphasis on the trans- (See page 8) Bandoola Hall of Sittway Station in Rakhine State yesterday morning and gave guidance. Also present on the occasion were member of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann, SPDC members Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than and Quartermaster-General Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Soe Thein, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Myat Hein, Rakhine State PDC Chairman Western Command Commander Brig-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, ministers, deputy ministers, Rakhine State PDC Vice-Chairman Brig-Gen Than Tun Aung, Director General of the SPDC Office Lt-Col Pe Nyein INSIDE Only when a national knows Myanmar tra- ditions and customs very well, will he realize why he should cherish and adore his motherland and people. Myanmars have been able to preserve own national heritages of fine traditions, culture, and customs. USDA members and students douse Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing (Page 7) U KYAW SEIN (LIVESTOCK & FISHERIES) at Thandwe Airport.— MNA Emergence of the State Constitution is the duty of all citizens of Myanmar Naing-Ngan. 2 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Sunday, 17 April, 2005 PERSPECTIVES People’s Desire Sunday, 17 April, 2005 * 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 New Year with stronger * Oppose foreign nations interfering in internal affairs of the State resolutions * Crush all internal and external destructive elements as the common enemy Today, Myanmar New Year 1367 ME be- Maj-Gen Tha Aye inspects POEM gins after four days of joyous Thingyan revelry. Myanmar New Year adds a sombre note to the development tasks in New Year Resolution preceding merrymaking with both the young Mindat, Matupi * One year older in our age and old making their way to pagodas and mon- YANGON, 16 April — Chairman of Sagaing Diaries setting a new page asteries where they offer soon, flowers, water Division Peace and Development Council Com- We, the performers on life stage and incense to gain merit. Time to decorate with foliage On this auspicious day, the young pay re- mander of North West Command Maj-Gen Tha Aye together with departmental personnel inspected crops * Life boat’s voyage for the new year spects to elderly. They also shampoo and mani- Keeping our conscinece clear cure the aged. Religious associations of some plantations in Bawche farm in Mindat Township, For failures, we don’t fear townships set free fish and other animals such Chin State on 10 April morning. Try to maneuver and steer as cows, goats and birds. Most people take Sab- They next inspected extension of Mindat- * Temptations now-a-days so great baths. In general, New Year Day as a whole is Matupi road and bridges along the road. New gadgets and new things of late On 11 April morning, the commander met with Popping at an alarming rate marked with deeds of merit with expectations None, without a grey side to date for a better future for all. local authorities in Mindat Township and heard re- ports on development tasks in District and Town- * A little discipline to keep There are fine traditions which we in To remind us, we need a beep ship. The commander attended to their needs and Myanmar have observed since time immemo- Like a brake, not to overeat, rial. In Myanmar, there reigns goodwill towards presented the officials stationery, sports gear and Nor overuse and oversleep one another. Overwhelmed by this positive at- cloths. * Individual self-control titude, we have been able to surmount hard- They inspected development tasks in Matupi To improve own family role ships and difficulties. Township and tea plantation implemented by To help in community goals Should be resolutions to hold Upholding these values, we in Myanmar Myanma Agriculture Service. After hearing the re- Aye Phyu encompassing the public, the government and port, they fulfilled requirements.—MNA the Tatmadaw are building today a new mod- ern and developed nation while implementing Maj-Gen Myint Hlaing participates in the four political, the four economic and the Maha Thingyan Festival four social objectives in all seriousness. Determined and dedicated efforts of the trio YANGON, 16 April — The opening ceremony wife Daw Khin Thant Zin, the deputy commander have already produced tangible results in nu- of 1366 Myanma Traditional Maha Thingyan and senior military officers and local people. merous sectors. The rule of law, smooth and Festival was held in front of the city hall of Lashio First, Chairman of Lashio District PDC Lt- secure transport, national reconsolidation and Township in Shan State (North) on 13 April morn- Col Than Htun formally opened the ceremony. better living conditions have already been in ing. Next, the commander, his wife and place. It was attended by Chairman of Shan State the audience merrily douse the scented water on Much headway has been made by the Na- (North) Peace and Development Council Commander each other and they brought the celebration to a close. tional Convention to formulate fundamental of North East Command Maj-Gen Myint Hlaing and MNA principles to serve as the base in drafting the State Constitution, and prospective contents of Int’l singing festival to be Foreign Affairs Minister some chapters have already been agreed on. held in June on Yellow River Common weal and lasting peace and sends felicitations to Syrian TAIYUAN, 16 April — The first international progress are on the chosen path which will not counterpart be strewn with roses. There still exist elements singing festival on Yellow River will be held at with hostile intent. Be that as it may, all are to the Yellow River’s Hukou Waterfalls in north YANGON, 17 April — On the occasion of the march on with due vigilance against overt and China’s Shanxi Province from June 10 to 12, the National Day of the Syrian Arab Republic which covert attempts of destructive elements. festival’s organizing committee announced here falls on 17 April 2005, U Nyan Win, Minister for Time and again, the government, the peo- on Thursday. organizing committee. Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar, has sent ple and the Tatmadaw have proved to be a The festival is de- The festival will be a message of felicitations to Mr Farouk Al Sharaa, strong and united force to tackle all kinds of signed to mark the 60th held simultaneously with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Re- problems effectively. Given the vigour, dedica- anniversary of the victory a ceremony of mixing public.—MNA of the War of Resistance tion and cooperation, all brethren of the Union water taken from eight Against Japanese Aggres- can look forward to a brighter future for the provinces along the Yel- sion (1937-1945) and the citizen and the State in the Myanmar New Year low River into a big bot- centennial birth anniver- Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint which begins today, and in the years ahead. tle, symbolizing the union sary of Xian Xinghai, a presents a certificate to a newly-completed With unity of purpose and unity of action, of the Chinese nation, an great Chinese musician. all are bound to have a more peaceful and pros- official from the organiz- trainee at the conclusion of Kokkaing Swimming The organizing com- perous New Year. ing committee said. mittee has sent letters of Club’s summer swimming course (2004-2005) on MNA/Xinhua invitation to professional 11-4-2005. — NLM © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © ¡ ¡ ¢ ¢ ££ ¤ ¤ ¥ ¥ ¦ ¦ § § ¨ ¨ £ £ ¡ ¡ ¨ ¨ ¦ ¦ £ £ ¡ ¡ ¨ ¨ ¡ ¡ ¨ ¨ ££ ¦ ¦ ¡ ¡ § § ¨ ¨ ¡ ¡ ¢¢ ¦ ¦ £ £ ¡ ¢ £ ¤ ¥ ¦ § ¨ £ ¡ ¨ ¦ £ ¡ ¨ ¡ ¨ £ ¦ ¡ § ¨ ¡ ¢ ¦ £ ¡ ¡ ¢ ¢ ££ ¤ ¤ ¥ ¥ ¦ ¦ § § ¨ ¨ £ £ ¡ ¡ ¨ ¨ ¦ ¦ £ £ ¡ ¡ ¨ ¨ ¡ ¡ ¨ ¨ ££ ¦ ¦ ¡ ¡ § § ¨ ¨ ¡ ¡ ¢¢ ¦ ¦ £ £ and amateur choruses in more than 10 countries, © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © ¦ ¦