------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: November 12, 1997 Issue #866 Noted in Passing: Many of the released prisoners are suffering from permanent disabilities due to substandard care. -- see BKK POST: 98 PARDONED THAI FISHERMEN RETURN HOME FROM RANGOON HEADLINES: ========== THE NATION: ASEAN STEPS UP PRESSURE ON EU KNU REPORT: REFUGEES TO BE MOVED KNU REPORT: SLORC RESUMES DRY SEASON ACTIVITIES BKK POST: 98 PARDONED THAI FISHERMEN RETURN HOME REUTERS: FIFTEEN HURT IN CLASHES IN BURMESE REFUGEE CAMP DOW JONES: AUSTRALIAN CORPORATION AWARDED CONTRACT DPA: PHILIPPINES TO ASSIST LAOS AND BURMA BUSINESS STANDARD: UNOCAL, PAHARPUR LINK-UP FOR UNIT XINHUA: ASEAN BUSINESS FORUM DELEGATION VISITS MYANMAR XINHUA: JAPAN PROVIDES GRANT AID TO MYANMAR DOW JONES: PREMIER OIL TO ANNOUNCE NEW GAS FIND RANGOON RADIO MYANMAR: KHIN NYUNT WARNS NLD THE STRAITS TIMES: PROGEN PLANS TO EXPAND BUSINESS BKK POST: GOVERNOR TO RULE IN TEAK - IMPORT SCANDAL JEWELRY NEWS ASIA: NEWS BRIEFS SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET No.A-0205(I) THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS -------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE NATION: ASEAN STEPS UP PRESSURE ON EU November 12, 1997 Rita Patiyasevi - The Nation ASEAN has threatened to restrict the number of European Union (EU) representatives in future joint political, economic and swing meetings if it insists on excluding Burma from the upcoming Asean EU Joint Cooperation Conference (JCC), an informed source said yesterday. The sources said Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Saroj Chavanviraj told Dutch Ambassador to Thailand Laetitia van den Assum and European Commission Ambassador Michel Callouet yesterday that the EU's opposition to Burma attending the meeting could affect EU representation in the annual Post Ministerial Meeting (PMM) and the Asean Regional Forum (ARF). The Bangkok meeting, scheduled from next Monday to Wednesday, could turn into the first major international controversy to greet Chuan Leekpai's new government. Currently, three EU representatives attend the PMC, which covers political and economic issues, while two take part in the annual ARF. As a coordinator of Asean-EU relations, Thailand wants Burma, as a new member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to attend the meeting. However, in reaction to continued repression and human rights violations by Burma's ruling military junta, the EU has barred Burmese officials from entering EU member countries. It believes that Burma should be excluded from future meetings, even as an observer, until the situation there improves significantly, but has no objections to Laos' participation as an observer. Saroj said Asean decided at a recent meeting of senior officials in Manila to go ahead with the JCC by observing previous meetings when Brunei and Vietnam joined Asean. He said it was a matter of principle and that Asean's decision was carefully considered and done in good faith. Brunei became an Asean member in 1984 and Vietnam in 1995. Both initially attended the JCC meetings as observers. Saroj said Somkiati Ariyapruchya, Thailand's ambassador to Brussels, will send a letter to the EU, informing them of Asean's decision to allow Laos and Burma to attend the meeting as observers. "There will be no discrimination between the participation of Laos and Burma as observers to the meeting. They will sit with us as observers with their countries' flags hoisted. However, we will mention their status as observers in a press statement," he said. Saroj said Asean foreign ministers agreed last September in New York to accept the Asia-Europe Meeting's (Asem) requirement that each participating country agree to a new member joining the meetings. However, he said, although membership to Asem is an issue to be agreed by all participants the Asean-EU JCC is different as it is a bloc-to-bloc meeting. The source said a recent letter from the EU reminded Asean that Rangoon was not party to the 1980 cooperation agreement signed between the two blocs. Consequently, Burma should not participate in the JCC meeting in any form as it would require the explicit agreement of all participating members. However, in an effort to find a path that is mutually acceptable to both sides, the source said the EU has suggested that Burma's presence at the meeting could be arranged. According to a senior official, the EU has compromised by allowing Burma to attend the meeting in an "informal and passive" manner, which would mean a different seating arrangement and that it not display its flag. ******************************************************* KNU REPORT: REFUGEES TO BE MOVED November 12, 1997 From: A Thai officer in Tak province has indicated this week that Hway Kaloke (Wong Kha) refugee camp will be moved to Beklaw refugee camp, Mawker refugee camp will be moved to Noh Poh refugee camp in Umphang District. This follows a recent meetings between Gen. Chettha Thanajaro and SLORC officials in Rangoon and a meeting between Thai 3rd Army Region commander and Burmese Southeast command commander Maj. Gen. Ket Sein and the 33 LID commander in Myawaddy this week. Shoklo refugee camp has also been told it will move to Beklaw in December. Once Skoklo and Hway Kaloke have moved to Beklaw camp, its population will be around 40,000.This will undoubtedly cause difficulties with sanitation and water supply. The relocations also mean that the refugees will have to rebuild their houses and start all over again. For the refugees from Mawker it also means a long and dangerous journey over the mountain road to Umphang district. The result will be more refugees will return to Burma. The Thai officer also made it clear that any KNU leaders found in Thailand will be arrested. More news on this situation will be posted as new information comes in. *************************************** KNU REPORT: SLORC RESUMES DRY SEASON ACTIVITIES November 12, 1997 From: Now that the rainy season has ended, a column from LIR (35) form Shwegyin has returned to Mae Way village, in Mu Traw district to rebuild their post there. They are also constructing a rice barn for themselves at their post. On 18/11/97 and 25/11/97 column commander Myo Myint Thein took 1,024 tins of rice from a trader from the village. Once this rice is finished, the column intends to take the paddy from the villagers. They will then thresh it themselves to keep in their new rice barn. Fifty porters which were seized in town came along with the column. The villagers have been ordered to provide food for the porters every day. Mae Way villagers will be held for any porters which escape and punished. ********************************* BKK POST: 98 PARDONED THAI FISHERMEN RETURN HOME FROM RANGOON November 12, 1997 Ninety-eight Thais jailed in Burma returned to Bangkok yesterday after being pardoned by the ruling junta. Their release follows talks between' Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro and Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council's First Secretary Khin Nyunt, who agreed to release the prisoners to commemorate His -Majesty the King's birthday. On hand to welcome the inmates were Gen Chettlia, Air Force Commander-in-Chief ACM Thananit Niamthan, the Army's Civil Affairs Directorate's Col Chongrak Panichkul, and some 500 relatives who thronged the Air Force runway. Three freed women held portraits of Their Majesties' and led their male colleagues in single file. Some used wheel-chairs because they were too weak to walk. All were housed in Rangoon's Insein Prison and flew into Thailand on board an Air Force C-130. Gen Chettha told the Thais not to commit further offences on Burmese territory fearing it could touch off a diplomatic row. Most had been charged with illegal logging or encroaching on territorial waters. The army chief said it had not been easy to get them freed. One inmate called Klin Thongprachote, could not be released as he had been unable to pay the US$100,000 fine. Mr Klin was arrested for fishing illegally. Another inmate, Thawee Thongkham, who had served a three-year jail term for smuggling fake Burmese currency, was released instead. Many of the released prisoners are suffering from permanent disabilities due to substandard care. Chan Phungao, 50, who lost the sight of his right eye, said he was praying for those left behind. Perm Pimpo, 29, who was jailed for crossing into Burmese waters, said his legs became emaciated after he was given injections to fight off the flu. He spoke of harsh living conditions where more than 100 prisoners were cooped up in a small cell. Mr Perm had no relatives to return to having lost contact with them. Sophee Insee, 43, caught for possessing amphetamines, said she was transferred from a prison in Moulmein, lower Burma, a few days before learning about the planned release. Rachen Plengvithaya, who coordinated the release, said he was surprised that a number of sick prisoners were not pardoned. ******************************************************* REUTERS: FIFTEEN HURT IN CLASHES IN BURMESE REFUGEE CAMP November 11, 1997 COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, Nov 11 (Reuters) - At least 15 people were injured in clashes between police and inmates at a camp for Burmese refugees in southeastern Bangladesh on Tuesday, police said. They said one of the injured was a police officer. Others were refugees. The fighting broke out after one group of Moslem refugees, called Rohingyas, prevented an attempt by others to shelter Burmese ``militants'' in the Nayapara camp, police said. They did not identify the militants. The Nayapara camp, not far from the Burmese border, houses over 12,000 of the 21,000 Rohingyas which have been awaiting repatriation to Burma for years. They were among 250,000 Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh in early 1992 to escape alleged military persecution in west Burma's Moslem-majority state of Arakan, which borders Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district. Nearly 230,000 refugees had returned home under supervision of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) before the process was abruptly halted last April. Bangladeshi officials said they were discussing with Burma's military junta how to resume the repatriation process. They gave no details. *********************************************** DOW JONES: AUSTRALIAN CORPORATION AWARDED GAS PIPELINE CONTRACT November 12, 1997 Energy Service News Summary Australia's McConnell Dowell Corp., a construction and engineering concern, said Wednesday it has been awarded a US$75 million contract to construct a gas pipeline in Burma. [63469] ********************************************** DEUTSCHE PRESSE-AGENTUR: PHILIPPINES TO ASSIST LAOS AND BURMA November 12, 1997 Manila (dpa) - President Fidel Ramos announced Wednesday the Philippines was preparing development and technical assistance packages to Laos and Burma, newest members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Ramos said the programmes aim "to help Laos and Burma in harnessing the potentials of their respective peoples" on such areas as management, education, public health, agriculture, women, finance and infrastructure. A journalists' training programme will also be added to the technical package for Burma on the request of the editor of its only English-language newspaper. Ramos noted there are currently six Burmese and five Laotian diplomats attending an eight-week training about the regional grouping, the ASEAN Free Trade Area, and the World Trade Organisation. The diplomats also will receive special instruction on the English language under the Department of Foreign Affairs Service Institute. ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. Laos and Burma were inducted into the regional group in July, despite criticism from Western governments. *************************************** BUSINESS STANDARD: UNOCAL, PAHARPUR LINK-UP FOR RS 1580CR HALDIA UNIT November 11, 1997 Pradeep Puri NEW DELHI-- The multinational integrated energy resource company, Unocal, has tied up with Paharpur Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, a subsidiary of Paharpur Cooling Towers Ltd, and the West Bengal state government to set up a Rs 1580-crore ammonia-urea plant at Haldia. While both Paharpur and Unocal will each have a 45 per cent stake in the project, West Bengal will hold the balance 10 per cent. The project will have a capacity to produce 1350 tonnes per day of ammonia and 2200 tpd of urea. Being governed by the retention price scheme, the promoters will be paid a cost-plus price for the urea produced at the plant. The project would be based on import of natural gas "from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar " where Unocal has substantial presence. However, till the arrangements for the import of gas are tied up, it is proposed to use naphtha as feedstock, managing director of Paharpur Fertilisers and Chemicals A K Mukhopadhyay told the Business Standard yesterday. He said the project proposal has already been submitted to the Central government and the promoters have sought the requisite clearance and naphtha linkage. Mukhopadhyay emphasised that naphtha would be used as a feedstock only for a year or two 'till we start getting gas'. However, he said, even this option would work out quite economical for the government since the plant could be given naphtha from the 'refinery next door'. This way the government would be making a saving of Rs 15 crore every year on transportation of naphtha which would help it cut down on ballooning fertiliser subsidy. Besides the proximity to the source of naphtha, Haldia has the advantage of being located in a state that does not have any worthwhile urea-manufacturing facility. Therefore, the project would have a ready market. Unocal has set up a wholly-owned subsidiary, called Unocal Bharat Ltd, in India. Besides supplying gas and liquid fuel in the country, the Indian subsidiary also plans to develop low-cost power projects and set up energy related infrastructure. Unocal Corporation has 87 million tonnes of oil and 192,000 million cubic metres of gas reserves all over the world. It produces 31,200 tonnes of oil per day and 50 million cubic metres of gas per day. Moreover, its power plants produce 4,500 mw across the globe. Unocal is also the world's largest producer of geo-thermal energy for electricity generation. ****************************** XINHUA: ASEAN BUSINESS FORUM DELEGATION VISITS MYANMAR November 10, 1997 YANGON (Nov. 10) XINHUA - A 43-member ASEAN Business Forum delegation led by Ajit Singh, secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), arrived here today to explore business cooperation between the regional grouping and Myanmar. It is the second time for Singh to visit Myanmar since the country was admitted into the ASEAN along with Laos in July. Singh last visited the country in September. ************************************** XINHUA: JAPAN PROVIDES GRANT AID TO MYANMAR ORGANIZATIONS November 10, 1997 YANGON (Nov. 10) XINHUA - Japan will give nearly 200,000 U.S. dollars to local Myanmar organizations in grant aid to help rural development projects and agricultural education, according to a press release by the Japanese embassy here today. Contracts were signed here today between the Japanese ambassador to Myanmar and these organizations. According to the contracts, some 57,000 U.S. dollars was provided to associations of Baptist churches for their integrated rural development projects in the Thantlang and Kalaymyo areas of Sagaing division. The rest of the money was extended to the OSICA-International and Education Uplifting Association of Greater Pakhangyi for their agricultural education training program and construction project in Pakhangyi. Japan also extended to Myanmar in June about 16.5 million U.S. dollars used for debt relief. ********************************** DOW JONES: PREMIER OIL TO ANNOUNCE NEW GAS FIND IN BURMA November 10, 1997 Premier Oil Shares Gain 4% To Trade At New Record High LONDON (AP-Dow Jones)--Positive comment in the weekend press on future prospects for oil exploration company Premier Oil PLC (U.PMO) helped the FTSE 250 stock rise more than 4% Monday morning. The share's gain on volumes just over 1 million follows a recent 'buy' reiteration from broker Robert Fleming. That note was featured in The Sunday Times newspaper. At 1127 GMT, the stock was trading at 55.5 pence, up 2.25 pence at new record high. Fleming analysts rated the stock 'cheap relative against the sector.' The group has been judged on its past performance rather than its future prospects, especially on the exploration side, they conclude, and they set an 80 pence price target by the end of 1998. Premier shares were languishing at 30 pence at the beginning of the year. For a long time, the company was considered to have the worst exploration record in the sector. Indeed, last year the group failed to strike oil in 35 exploration wells. Over the last year Premier has made strides refocusing its business, with some successes, particularly in Asia. For example last week, rumors suggested that the group was poised to announce a potentially significant natural gas find in the Yetagun field area, around 150 miles off the coast of Burma, industry sources have revealed. ************************************* RANGOON RADIO MYANMAR: KHIN NYUNT WARNS NLD NOT TO ENGAGE IN UNDESIRABLE ACTS November 5, 1997 The closing ceremony of Special Refresher Course No.29 for basic education teachers was held at the Mingalar Hall of the Central Institute of Civil Services in Hlegu Township at 1500 this afternoon. Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, chairman of Myanmar [Burma] Education Committee and Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council [SLORC], attended the ceremony and delivered an address. SLORC Secretary-1 Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt remarked, recently the so-called party leaders from a major political party [National League for Democracy -- NLD] have put personal matters at the forefront of party politics. The secretary-1 pointed out that recently officials of a major political party have started acting randomly disregarding the government's systematic and legal arrangements. He remarked such acts that implied confrontation and opposition to the government must not be committed and reminded the so- called party leaders placing their personal affairs in the fore should not commit such undesirable acts. He told the teacher trainees to guide the students to participate in the movements of the Union Solidarity and Development Association [USDA] that is creating opportunities for youths to take active part in nation-building tasks. In conclusion, he asked the teachers to participate fully in the successful implementation of the political, economic, and social objectives of the State; to strive for bringing about intellectuals and technocrats on whom the State could rely for materializing a peaceful, modern, and developed nation; to guide the student youth to prevent with patriotic spirit the various acts conspired by internal elements in collusion with external elements to destabilize the State and to hinder and obstruct nation-building tasks; and to organize the student youth to take part in successful implementation of programs of national interests of the USDA. ************************************** THE STRAITS TIMES: PROGEN PLANS TO USE LISTING PROCEEDS TO EXPAND BUSINESS November 8, 1997 [abridged] By Patrick Tan AIR-CONDITIONING and ventilation systems supplier Progen Holdings plans to use the proceeds from its planned Sesdaq listing to fund business expansion. Market sources expect the company to offer fewer than 25 million shares in its initial public offering which will be launched on Monday. DBS Bank is the issue's lead manager. Progen managing director Lee Eng said more than $1.5 million from the net proceeds would be invested in a manufacturing joint venture to make low-noise fans, cooling towers and control panels in Singapore. "We would now like to concentrate more on manufacturing," he told The Straits Times yesterday. The funds would also be used to pay off part of the costs of building a $22 million plant in Woodlands. The plant was completed last month and it would be used to house all of Progen's operations under one roof. The homegrown company plans to expand its operations in Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar to capitalise on the region's infrastructure demands. Progen started in 1981 as a contractor involved in the installation of air-conditioning and ventilation systems for public and private industrial and commercial buildings. Over the years, it has expanded into Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Brunei, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. It has also ventured into providing after-sales maintenance services, and distributing its products in Australia, South-east Asia, Japan and Europe. **************************************** BKK POST: GOVERNOR TO RULE IN TEAK - IMPORT SCANDAL November 12, 1997 Integrity of customs officials under doubt Mae Hong Son --The provincial governor will decide whether customs officials had observed legal procedures in allowing the recent imports of processed teak wood worth millions of baht from Burma. Pol Col Amnuay Disdayadej, superintendent of Muang police station, said he has asked the governor to rule on the matter. He said access was being sought to documents involving timber imports from the provincial forestry office, the customs office and the commerce department for consideration. Muang district police last week confiscated 2,800 cubic feet of processed teak wood from four trucks near the border. The wood was being ferried from Ho Mong in Burma's Shan State via Ban Ton Phuneng in Muang district by the SPA Richwood Co and some customs officials. However, the company and the officials were found to be carrying no certificates of origin or other documents to verify the imports, according to police. The officer said the wood would be returned to the customs office if it can be proved the timber was being imported legally. But he insisted that customs officials had failed to observe the legal procedures. "Although they insisted they were following proper procedures they could not produce any documents to back their claims," Pol Col Amnuay said. Suwachai Sarukul, one of the customs officials escorting the teak trucks, remained adamant that the processed teak was being legally imported from Burma. Meanwhile, angry villagers blocked roads and threw stones at police and reporters after local authorities seized a large quantity of illegally processed wood found in their villages yesterday. Some 300 villagers of Ban Koko and Ban Namdip in Mae Sot district of Tak province protested against the seizure by using farm trucks and tents to block two main roads leading to their villages. The protesters demanded that the authorities withdraw their men from the areas and stop taking action against log poachers. The protest followed raids by some 100 forestry officials and local police who seized a large quantity of illegally processed teak wood from 12 families in the two villages. According to police, the villagers have been making their living by illegally felling teak trees in the Mae Lamoh reserve forest. The logs would be processed into wood which they would use to build teak houses for sale, the police said. The protest turned violent when some villagers threw stones and other hard objects at the police. ******************************************** JEWELRY NEWS ASIA: NEWS BRIEFS [excerpts only] STUDY FARM TO CULTIVATE SOUTH SEA IN MYANMAR May 1, 1997 A trial farm to cultivate South Sea pearls has been set up in Myanmar by Tasaki Shinju Co Ltd in Kobe, Japan. "A contract was signed in March 1997 with the government in Myanmar to set up a study farm for the cultivation of South Sea pearls," president of Tasaki Shinju, Shunsaku Tasaki, said. "The farm is situated in western Myanmar in the Indian Ocean. Water quality is ideal for pearl cultivation because the area is rich in plankton. "The trial project will take two years and if results are positive, we plan to set up a company in Myanmar," Mr Shunsaku said. Myanmar used to produce South Sea pearls in good quality until the past 20 years when pearl production decreased in quantity, quality and size, South Sea pearl wholesalers said. Pearls from Myanmar are white to pinkish in colour and pinkish pearls are rare and highly price in the market, they said. ------------------------ MYANMAR May 1, 1997 In Myanmar, estimated production increased 25.7 percent to 4.33 kan and quality improved in 1996 compared with 1995, director of Myanma Pearl Enterprise (MPE) in Yangon, Win Maung, said. "The increase is mainly because more oysters were collected from natural oyster beds in open waters and fewer oysters died. Quality of South Sea pearls improved mainly because of the better water quality. "Production in 1997 is expected to increase 27 percent to 5.5 kan," he said. General manager of MPE, Khin Nyunt, said: "Most of the production ranges from 12mm to 17mm. As the quality is better, the average price of a gram increased to US$160. In good quality South Sea pearls, rounds account for 10 percent; baroque, 20 percent; and drops, 70 percent. In colour, South Sea pearls in silver account for 60 percent and gold 40 percent. Pearls with a clean surface are 40 percent." Mr Win Maung said Myanmar has six pearl farms, mostly located in the Taninthayi Archipelago, previously known as Mergui, in the south of Myanmar, near the border with Thailand. Three of the farms are state-owned and three are joint ventures between companies in Myanmar and companies in other countries including Japan. Most of the farms collect oysters for cultivation from natural oyster beds in open waters. "MPE is part of the Ministry of Mines in Yangon. We provide training for technicians and divers and we have established a laboratory to develop farming techniques. "To increase production of South Sea pearls in Myanmar, the government in Myanmar has invited investment from companies in Myanmar and overseas," he said. ---------------------- SWAROGEM ADDS RUBIES, SAPPHIRES June 1, 1997 A line of machine-cut natural coloured gemstones has been launched by Swarogem, a division of D. Swarovski & Co in Wattens, Austria. "The new products are round sapphires and rubies 1mm to 3mm in 56-facet brilliant cut," product manager of Swarovski, Stephen Kahler, said. "Plans are to expand to princess-cut sapphires and rubies from 1.75mm to 3mm." Supply of ruby rough is from Myanmar and sapphires from Australia and Madagascar. "We have reliable suppliers and are increasing and diversifying sources of rough supplies," he said. -------------- DEGUSSA AG JOINT JEWELRY VENTURE IN BURMA August 1, 1997 A 650-square-metre plant for refining and assaying precious metals in Gemopolis in Bangkok, JJ-Degussa (T) Ltd, was established as a joint venture between Degussa AG in Frankfurt, Germany and Jebsen & Jessen (SEA) Pte Ltd in Thailand in November 1996 and is scheduled to begin production in August 1997, managing director of JJ-Degussa (T), Volker Schmidt, said. Degussa chose Thailand to establish a refinery because the country had a developed industry but lacked good refining and assaying services of international standard; and also because of Thailand's proximity to manufacturing centres in Asia including Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. "The joint venture has trading offices in Vietnam and Myanmar which will help us enter those markets. While Laos and Cambodia are new markets, potential for sales growth is high," Mr Schmidt said. --------------------- LOTUS DIAGEMS: SELLING MORE IN US WITH DIRECT MAIL November 1, 1996 To increase sales in the United States, diamond manufacturer, Lotus Diagems in Hong Kong, plans to expand its sales office in New York in 1997. "The United States is a potential market for coloured diamonds and we plan to increase sales through direct mail and other marketing campaigns," owner of the company, Vikas Jain, said. Lotus Diagems buys polished from wholesalers in India and treats the diamonds at its laboratory in New York to produce the desired colours. Lotus Diagems also supplies rubies from Myanmar in beads and cabochons. ************************************************* SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET No.A-0205(I) November 12, 1997 [excerpts] From: OKKAR66127@AOL.COM (3) 1997 Annual Programme Review Meeting of Myanmar-UNICEF Country Programme of Co operation 1996-2000 The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and its Myanmar partner agencies are holding the 1997 Annual Programme Review meeting of the Myanmar-UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation 1996-2000 at the Department of Medical Research on 11 and 12 November. The Myanmar-UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation for the Period 1996-2000 consists of six programmes and 17 projects with the total budget of US $ 32.5 million from UNICEF General Resources and an additional US $ 23.5 million to be raised in Supplementary Funds for the five-year programme cycle. (4) CSO Dy D-G Leaves for Thailand U Aung Myint Thein, Deputy Director-General of Central Statistical Organization, Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development left Yangon for Thailand on 11 November to attend the working group meeting of statistical experts sponsored by the ESCAP. The meeting will be held from 11 November to 14 November. (5) 38 Fishermen Rescued by Total Myanmar Ships Thirty-eight fishermen were rescued by ships of companies working with Total Myanmar Exploration and Production (TMEP) in Myanmar waters following a storm in the Bay of Bengal early on 11 November. ******************************************** THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS [excerpts only] From: OKKAR66127@AOL.COM November 4, 1997 EFFECTIVE, TIMELY REPAIR OF ROADS, BRIDGES DESTROYED BY HEAVY RAINS STRESSED YANGON, 3 NOV - A meeting was held today for effective and timely repair of roads and bridges in Bago Division destroyed by heavy rains. Secretary-2 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo said efforts should be made to effectively repair some of the sections of Bago-Zeyawady Road of Yangon-Mandalay Highway destroyed by heavy rains. Damaged bridges and damaged sections of Zaungtu-Taikkyi Road and Letpadan-Hinthada Road should be rebuilt, he said. The two roads are under construction at present. He urged them to strive to complete Myitmakha River Bridge as scheduled and to put forward requirements. They also briefed the meeting on allotment of funds and progress in building Zaungtu-Taikkyi Road, joined in by Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun. Director-General U Pe Than of Waterways Administration Department reported on measures to be taken to prevent bank erosion at Myitmakha during the rainy season and future programmes. Secretary of Bago Division Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Col Htein Win and Chairman of Thayawady District Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Col Myint Than explained plans to repair damaged parts of Zaungtu- Taikkyi Road and Letpadan-Hinthada Road in cooperation with PW beginning first week of January 1 998. November 7, 1997 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION TO BUILD 2,000-TON SUGAR MILL NEAR TABUHLA DIVERSION WEIR YANGON, 6 NOV - Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Lt-Gen Myint - Aung inspected cultivation and production of crops and departmental functions in the townships west of Bago Division today. On his way to Tabuhla Diversion Weir east of Okkan, Taikkyi Township, he inspected monsoon paddy fields. After inspecting the weir's regulation of water, he selected the site for construction of a sugar mill of Myanma Sugarcane Enterprise. Meeting the managing director of MSE and officials, the minister gave suggestions on the plans for water supply to the new sugar mill and sugarcane farms, reclamation of land for expansion of sugarcane cultivation acreage, use of machinery in farming and distribution of quality strains. The new sugar mill capable of milling 2,000 tons per day to be built near Tabuhla Diversion Weir is covered by the ministry's project to establish nine new sugar mills this year. November 8, 1997 CHIEF OF STAFF (ARMY) RECEIVES COMMANDER OF LANZHOU MILITARY COMMAND OF CHINESE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY YANGON, 7 NOV Chief of Bureau of Special Operation Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo received Commander of Lanzhou Military Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Liu Jingsong and goodwill delegation at Zeya Thiri Beikhmam on Konemyittha at 2 pm today. Present also were Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Chief of Staff (Navy) Commodore Nyunt Thein, Chief of Staff (Air) Brig-Gen Kyaw Than, Director of Artillery and Armour Brig-Gen Lun Thi and Director of Defence Industries Brig-Gen Khin Maung Win. The guests were accompanied by Ambassador of PRC Mr Liang Dong and Military Attaché Senior Col He Yaokui. MINISTRY FOR PBANRDA TO PURCHASE $ 6.4M MACHINERY FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS YANGON, 7 Nov-The Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs today signed a contract with Kanematsu Corporation of Japan and Xuzhou Construction and Machinery Group Import and Export Co Ltd of the People's Republic of China for hire-purchase of heavy machinery for border region development projects. The Ministry for PBANRDA will purchase 30 bulldozers and three excavators from Kanematsu Corporation and 30 rollers, 100 tippers, 10 water carriers and 10 bowsers from Xushou Construction and Machinery Group Import and Export Co Ltd. The total value of machinery will be $ 6.4 million. November 10, 1997 SECRETARY-L ATTENDS OPENING CEREMONY OF MYANMAR INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL THILAWA (MITT) YANGON, 9 Nov - The opening ceremony of Myanmar International Terminal Thilawa (MITT) was held at the Terminal Thilawa in Kyauktan Township at 3.45 pm today, attended by Secretary:1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. ------------------------------------ to view with photos, pls browse at: English - http://www.myanmar.com/nlm French -http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/fnlm German - http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/gnlm Myanmar - http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/mnlm Pls use Win Myanmar fonts. *************************************************