information sheet No C-2948-49-50-52-53-54-55-56-57-58
me-p...@wanadoo.fr
Yangon, Myanmar
N0. C- 2948 ( I) 27th February, 2004
(1) Shweli Hydro-electric Power Project
The Hydro-electric Power Department and Yunnan Machinery & Equipment Import
& Export Corporation (YMEC) has signed a contract to build the concrete dam
and tunnel and install machinery at the Shweli Hydro-electric Power Project.
At present, preliminary tasks are being carried out.
The electricity generated from the project will be supplied to Shan State
(North) through 66-kv high-tension cables. A grid including 230-mile long
double high-tension cable line from Shweli to Mandalay will be built to
supply power to other regions.
This office is presenting an article entitled "A 12th Century Cloth Painting
from Ancient Bagan" written by Dr. Khin Maung Nyunt which appeared in the
Myanmar Perspectives Vol:4/98 for you information.
On 31st March in 1984, a very rare objet d’art of antiquity was discovered
by chance in the ancient city of Bagan, Upper Myanmar. A team of
archaeologists was undertaking field work for the inventory of pagodas and
monuments in the archaeological zone of 16 square miles. When they came upon
temple No. 315, they saw a big statue of the Buddha in it. It was made of
brick and plaster and one of its hands was broken. One of the labourers who
cleared the debris saw something rolled up inside the hollow of the
remaining portion of the hand. He instantly pulled it out. In doing so the
rolled up piece was shattered into fragments. It was a cloth painting of the
Bagan period. The fragments were carefully picked up and kept for display in
a glass show case at the Archaeological Site Museum, Bagan. On examination
by experts the painting was datable- 12th century A.D.
In 1986 while the ICCROM (International Centre for Conservation of Arts,
Rome) mission was carrying out conservation of mural paintings in Bagan, the
mission members saw the fragments in the show case and Mr. Pierre Pichard,
Co-ordinator of the UNESCO/UNDP Project for Bagan proposed that the
fragments be sent to a specially equipped laboratory in Rome for
restoration. In July 1986 the proposal was accepted by the Myanmar
authorities. The fragments were carefully packed and handcarried to the
Italian Capital, on 30th August, 1986 by Mr. Pierre Pichard and delivered to
the Myanmar Embassy. A UNESCO contract for the restoration of the fragments
was concluded with Mr. Carlo Giantomassi. It took a year and two months to
complete the restoration.
The painting was executed on a piece of fine cotton cloth with "a fairly
tight perependicular weave". The cloth measures about 81.5 cm wide from
selvage to selvage, and about 138 cm long. The pigments used were natural
products from orpiment, realgar, cinnabar, vegetable lacquer, carbon black,
yellow ochre, red ochre, copper green and blue. The colours are still lively
and luminous. The painting is a composition of "five registers of
superimposed scenes, separated" by decorative strips and calligraphy... A
continous decoration frames the work on the sides."
The painting presents an exclusively frontal view with no perspective.
Details of the figures and objects, such as the outlines of the figures,
their facial expressions, the drapes and folds of the clothing, their body
ornaments, the leaves, flowers and fruits of the trees are indicated with
fine incised lines.
Why this scroll of cloth painting of the 12th century was left enshrined
inside the hollow of the hand of the Buddha statue for nearly 8 centuries is
a mystery which no archaeologist nor historian so far has been able to
solve. Conjectures have been put forward. Experts on ancient painting of
Bagan say that there are two types of mural paintings in Bagan, fresco and
tempera. Fresco is the method of painting pictures on plaster on a wall or
ceiling especially before the plaster is dry. Tempera is the method of
painting pictures on a piece of cloth and the painted cloth is glued on the
wall or ceiling of a building. It is presumed that the artist kept his
rolled up tempera inside the hollow of the hand of the Buddha statue whose
hand was not yet finished. Then before he had time to glue his cloth
painting on the wall of the temple, the mason unknowingly must have
completed the hand of the statue. Thus the rolled up tempera remained
enshrined for the last eight centuries. Another theory is that the artist
himself or the donor purposely enshrined the cloth painting inside the
Buddha statue for attaining religious merit. Usually, sacred relics and
votive objects are found enshrined in the relic chambers deep down under the
monument or in the centre of the body of the statue. But the great
earthquake of 1975 revealed relics and votive objects enshrined in different
sections of monuments, pagodas and statues. Another surmise is that it is an
unaccomplished act of vandalism. Some robbers must have detached the cloth
painting from the wall of the temple and rolled it up and stored it in the
hollow of the statue’s hand. Then they had to escape with other more
valuable treasures leaving the painting.
Whatever the conjectures and surmises, we are lucky to have discovered this
rare cloth painting of antiquity by chance and we are very grateful to the
UNESCO/UNDP and the art restorers of the ICCROM for the restoring and
conserving of this piece of Myanmar cultural heritage and bringing it back
to the country of its origin.
In August 1988 the restored cloth painting was brought back to its homeland.
It was handcarried by one of its restorers Donatella Zari throughout the
flight from Rome to Yangon. From that date to early 1998 this art treasure
was kept in an airconditioned cabinet of the library of the Archaeology
Department, Yangon.
After the opening of a new grand Museum Building in Bagan on 17th April
1998, the cloth painting was moved there. It is now on display, inspiring
national pride of the Myanmar people and receiving admiration and marvel of
the visitors.
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Yangon,Myanmar
N0. C- 2950 (I) 29th February, 2004
Inauguration of Shwe Hlay Sluice Gate in Kawa Township
The opening ceremony of the Shwe Hlay sulice gate was held at the sluice
gate in Bago Division. Altogether 39 dams and reservoirs including Shwe Hlay
sluice gate were constructed in Bago Division out of 157 dams and reservoirs
built across the nation from 1988 to date.
It is in this area where Yangon Division and Bago Division meet and it will
benefit the farmlands in Kawa Township, Bago Division and Kayan Township,
Yangon Division. The sluice gate will also play a crucial role in greening
the 30-mile radius of Yangon City.
Shwe Hlay sluice gate will benefit 20,000 acres of farmland in Kawa Township
and 15,000 acres of farmland in Kayan Township numbering 35,000 and
contribute to farmers in the two townships.
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Information Sheet
Yangon, Myanmar
N0. C- 2952 (I) 2nd March, 2004
(1) Prime Minister Attended Opening Ceremony of Shwe Myitta Home For The
Aged
Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt, the ministers, the deputy ministers,
officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office and heads of
departments attended a ceremony to open Shwe Myitta Home for the Aged in
Taungup township, Rakhine State on 29 February. The Prime Minister performed
rituals of golden and silver showers to mark the opening of the Home which
can accommodate 40 elderly people. The Home for the Aged was constructed at
a cost of K 75 million donated by wellwisher.
Taungup township is the gateway to Rakhine State and it is a place where
agriculture, livestock breeding and fisheries can be undertaken. The
government is building infrastructures on education, health, social and
economic sectors for development of Rakhine State including Taungup and
raising of living standard of local people. The government has built 894
miles of roads including 537 miles of tarred roads in Rakhine State.
Altogether 27 bridges including 2,513 feet long Kissapanadi Bridge and 2,003
feet Minkyaung Bridge were opened. An other five bridges including 2,704
feet Minkyaung Bridge and 1,154 feet Lonedawpauk Bridge are under
construction and arrangements have been made for construction of other four
bridges.
There are hundreds of medium and small bridges in Rakhine State. One can now
travel from Sittway to Yangon through Sittway-MraukU-An-Minbu-Magway Road,
Sittway-An-Taungup-Padaung-Pyay Road and
Sittway-An-Taungup-Thandwe-Gwa-Ngathaingchaung Road. The Yangon-Kyaukpyu
Road is being built with the use of geotextile process because there is a
marsh land on Maei-Kyaukpyu road section. Roads linking Yangon and townships
in Rakhine State have emerged. At the same time, the government is building
infrastrctures that contribute towards the development of social and
economic sectors of local people in other states and divisions. Dam and
river water pumping projects are being implemented for agricultural
development in Rakhine State and efforts are to be made for rice sufficiency
in the region and then surplus of paddy. There are a lot of fallow and
virgin lands in Rakhine State including Taungup township. Those lands are to
be reclaimed for extended cultivation and fisheries including prawn breeding
are to be extended from manageable scale to commercial scale.
(2) Tuesday Club Visits Northern and Eastern Shan State
The 38-member study group comprising members of Tuesday Club who are making
investment in Myanmar and Professor Helen James from Australia and invited
guests from the United States, Japan, China, Switzerland and Singapore,
accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Defence, toured Mong Ka, Mong
Pauk, Mong-Pyan of northern Shan State Special Region-2 and Kengtung, Wang
Hong, Yang-Ka, Pa-Hlyo-Kyeik-Latt, Tachilek in the eastern Shan State on 27
February morning and arrived back on 29 February afternoon. During their
tour, they studied anti-narcotic drugs and opium substitute crops projects,
income generating projects, border trade and development in the regions.
Local authorities, officials of the national races and representatives of
the UNDOC briefed the study group, replied to their queries and exchanged
views with them.
(3) Reproductive Health Project Instructorship Course Opened
The Reproductive Health Project Instructorship Course jointly sponsored by
Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association, UNFPA and Japanese
Organization for International Cooperation in Families Planning (JOICFP) was
opened at Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association in South Okkalapa
Township, Yangon on 1 March. It was attended by President of MMCWA, Vice
Presidents and CEC members, patrons of Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare
Supervisory Committee, Resident Representative of UNFPA Mr. Rajib M Assifi,
officials of Health Planning Department, course instructors and trainees.
The five-day course is being attended by 60 trainees from Mandalay Division.
It is learnt.
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Information Sheet
Yangon, Myanmar
N0. C- 2953 (I) 3rd March, 2004
(1) Myanmar Women Entering A New Age: Their Ability Rising, Their Fine
Traditions Flourishing
Patron of the Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation Prime Minister General Khin
Nyunt met with delegates to the plenary meeting of State and Division
Organizations for Women’s Affairs in Yangon on 1 March. The Prime Minister
spoke on the occasion. The Prime Minister said: The MWAF has been founded to
organize the women mass to become a national force, while enabling them to
take part in the nation-building task in the respective sectors. At present,
the sector of Myanmar women are entering a new age: their ability rising and
their fine traditions flourishing. In this regard, the Government has been
making arrangements to promote the women’s organization as a means to
accelerate the developing momentum of the sector and enhance its essence and
leadership role.
Of the nation’s population of over 52 million, about 27 million are women,
and 15 million of them are young ones or in their prime age. Thus, such a
large volume of human resources should be united to become a single mighty
force. The MWAF has been formed with the fine traditions __ to promote the
women’s sector in building a peaceful, modern and developed nation; to
protect the rights of women; to develop the economy, health and education of
women and to ensure a secure life for them; to nurture train them to promote
their spirit of cherishing and valuing the traditions and culture; to
systematically carry out the task of preventing violence against them and
rehabilitation; to launch the task to eliminate trafficking in women and
children; and to cooperate with international, regional and local bodies in
ensuring the rights of women in accord with the traditions and culture and
customs of the national races.
Moreover, the basic principles of the federation are: to serve only the
national interest with the united strength of the entire nation based on Our
Three Main National Causes; the ethnic basic principle of giving serious
attention to love, friendship, respect and unity of the national races; the
social basic principle of contributing to the community peace, food,
clothing and shelter needs, and health, education and cultural development;
and the basic women’s affairs principle of promoting the women’s sector and
ensuring a secure live for the womenfolk. The womenfolk will have to
discharge their duties in accord with the basic principles. The Federation
is the main organization to boost the morale of women, and manage the
health, education, organization and other affairs. It is also the highest
body of the women’s sector helping realize the State’s policies and aims of
the sector.
President of the Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation reported on formation of
the federation. The federation was formed on 20 December, 2003. It includes
two honorary patrons, 12 members of Patrons, 44 central executives and 332
members of central organization for women’s affairs. The federation will
carry out 16 major tasks based on policies on women’s development and
ensuring secure life laid down by the Government for Myanmar National
Committee for Women’s Affairs and sectors designated by The Fourth World
Women’s Conference. The sectors are education, health, economy, prevention
of violence against women, culture, conservation of environment, information
and communication, young girls and women, international communications,
scrutiny of laws, prevention of human trafficking, nurturing and
resettlement, organizing, national races affairs, discipline and finance and
administration. Organizational set-up and functions, fundamental rules were
compiled. Central executive members led by President and Vice-President of
the MWAF made field trips to states and divisions. They met members of state
and division organizations for women’s affairs and explained procedures on
finance and expenditure, indicators needed in compiling reports and
fundamental rules of the federation. They also replied to the queries.
(2) Myanmar Trade Fair 2004 to be Held
With the encouragement of the Ministry of Commerce, the Myanmar Trade Fair
2004 will be held from 2 to 5 April at the Yangon Trade Centre in Yangon by
the Quartz International Co Ltd. Local and foreign-made cosmetics, consumer
items, clothes and textiles, plasticwares, food stuff, electric & electronic
items, construction materials, household goods, stationery and packing
materials, traditional medicines and modern medicines, etc will be put on
display together with entertainment programmes.
(3) Delegation Leaves for Vietnam
At the invitation of Vietnamese Trade Minister, Myanmar delegation led by
the Deputy Minister for Commerce left Yangon for Vietnam on 2 March to
attend the opening ceremony of GMS Trade Fair to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam,
from 4 to 7 March, being a meeting of the executive members of the Greater
Mekong Sub-regional economic forum and trade promotion conference. UMFCCI
Vice-Presidents, Joint-Secretary, CEC member and executive also left Yangon
on 2 March to attend the Trade Fair.
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Information Sheet
Yangon, Myanmar
N0. C- 2954 (I) 4th March, 2004
(1) Seminar on TB in Myanmar
The opening of the Seminar on Tuberculosis in Myanmar took place at the
Health Staff Training School in Dagon Township in Yangon on 3 March. Also
present on the occasion were heads of departments under the Ministry of
Health, medical superintendents, specialists, officials, the presidents of
social organizations, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Research
Institute of Tuberculosis (RIT) of Japan Dr Nakamura. Myanmar is using the
WHO recognized most effective DOTS Strategy to combat TB. The WHO set Global
TB Target By 2005 identify 70 per cent of all people with active TB and
cured 85 per cent of those detected. In 2002, Myanmar case detection rate
was 70 per cent and treatment success rate is 82 per cent which is very
close to WHO target. The achievement is due to high political commitment,
efforts of health personnel, and community involvement and participation of
NGOs and INGOs hand in hand. The seminar was held under the third joint
programme of RIT and JATA (Japan). At the seminar the papers on anti-TB
including the JATA project which covers six townships — Mingala Taungnyunt,
Thanlyin, Kyauktan, Chanmyathazi, Amarapura and Aungmyethazan townships were
submitted. The seminar continues till 4 March.
(2) Press Conference on Narcotic Drugs Reports of INCB Held
The press conference related to the narcotic drugs reports of International
Narcotic Control Board-INCBN was held at the hall of United Nations Office
on Drugs and Crime-UNODC in Mayangon Township, Yangon on 3 March. Present
were Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club members, officials of periodicals,
resident representative Mr. Jean-Luc Lemahieu of UNODC and officials.
At the press conference, Resident Representative Mr. Jean-Luc Lemahieu said
that as illegal cultivation areas of poppy plantation continued to decline
in east and south-east Asia regions in 2003, there was the two-thirds
decline of poppy cultivation in Myanmar in 2003 compare with the cultivation
in 1996 due to endeavours in narcotic drugs elimination being undertaken by
the Government of the Union of Myanmar. Similarly, it was obviously seen
that seizures of production and trafficking of amphetamine stimulant tablets
declined in Myanmar in 2002.
He welcomed Myanmar and Mongolia which joined as members in the narcotic
drugs control treaty (1988) and drug eradication treaty (1982). Cambodia,
China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, members of Mekong Basin
Countries, signed the MoU on cooperation in drugs elimination in 1993 and
approved to implement that MoU in September 2003. He supported regional
cooperation such as control of transnational smuggling of narcotic drugs,
matters related to amphetamine tablet and prevention against HIV infection.
In addition, he was satisfied with eradication of narcotic drug production
jointly carried out in April 2003 by Myanmar and Chinese police forces. As
there were 81,400 hectares of poppy plantations in Myanmar in 2002 and
62,200 hectares in 2003, cultivation of poppy plantation was obviously
reduced by 24 per cent.
UNODC, on its part, is carrying out drugs elimination tasks in Myanmar with
the assistance being provided by the US, Germany, Japan and Italy. It is
estimated that out of US$26 million which will be spent on drugs elimination
in Kokang and Wa regions, UNODC has already fetched about US $ 6 million.
Later, the resident representative answered the queries raised by
Journalists.
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Information Sheet
Yangon, Myanmar
N0. C- 2955 (I/L) 4th March, 2004
US PRAISES MYANMAR SUCCESS IN WAR ON DRUGS
The United States this week praised Myanmar’s dramatic accomplishments in
the international war against narcotics, noting that opium production had
been slashed by more than 81 percent over the past seven years. Moreover,
Myanmar has taken a leadership role in the regional war on drugs,
intensified its co-ordination with neighbouring countries, and has one of
the lowest rates of drug addiction in Asia. Given these successes, the State
Department recommended a "large scale and long term" international
assistance to Myanmar. The State Department report, titled the 2003
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, was released on March 1,
2004. In it, the State Department acknowledged that:
1. Overall opium production in Myanmar in 2003 declined substantially for
the seventh straight year. According to the joint U.S./Myanmar opium yield
survey, opium production in Myanmar totalled no more than 484 metric tons in
2003, down more than 23 percent from a year earlier, and down 81 percent
from the 2,560 metric tons produced in Myanmar in 1996.
2. Myanmar has taken a leadership role in the regional war on drugs. Myanmar
’s official 15-year counternarcotics plan calls for the eradication of all
narcotics production and trafficking by 2014, one year ahead of an
ASEAN-wide plan of action that calls for the region to be drug-free by 2015.
3. The Myanmar Police, Army, and the Customs Service together seized massive
amounts of narcotics, including approximately 1,247 kilograms of raw opium,
488 kilograms of heroin, 78 kilograms of marijuana, 102 kilograms of
methamphetamine powder, 156 kilograms of morphine, and 4.5 million
methamphetamine pills in the first ten months of 2003.
4. Myanmar’s opium is grown predominantly in areas controlled by the former
insurgent groups. Since the mid-1990s, the Government has elicited
"opium-free" pledges from each group and has stepped up law enforcement
activities in areas controlled by these groups. The US Government noted that
involvement by the United Wa State Army in drug production and trafficking
"remains a serious concern."
5. Cooperation with regional partners increased during 2003, particularly
with China and Thailand. The Chinese and Thai governments stepped up
bilateral counternarcotics cooperation efforts and established joint Border
Liaison Offices with Myanmar along their respective borders to facilitate
the sharing of intelligence.
6. Myanmar has been actively cracking down on corruption. Noting that there
is "no reliable evidence that senior officials in the Myanmar Government are
directly involved in the drug trade", the report noted that the Government
has arrested and prosecuted hundreds of low-level officials, particularly
army and police personnel posted in outlying areas, in its fight against
corruption.
7. Myanmar has successfully fought drug abuse within its own borders, with
the result that "the overall level of drug abuse is low in Myanmar"
according to the US State Department.
8. New regulations against money laundering were put in place during 2003.
These victories in the war on drugs are particularly impressive, as Myanmar
has fought the drug war with virtually no help from the United States. The
State Department report acknowledged Myanmar's commitment, and noted that
the United States was not helping Myanmar in the war on drugs for political
reasons unconnected with narcotics.The Government of Myanmar encourages the
United States to reconsider this counterproductive approach. Myanmar
encourages the United States to become an active partner in the war against
drugs, and to join with Myanmar in this common cause.
The State Department noted that "large-scale and long-term international
aid — including development assistance and law-enforcement aid — is
necessary to help curb drug production and trafficking in Myanmar."
Remarkable successes in the war against narcotic drugs mentioned above are
being outstandingly achieved thanks to the combined efforts of the
Government and the people. Likewise, the Government welcomes sincere
cooperation, support and help from its international partners. As the Asian
countries work together in the fight against illegal drugs, we urge the
United States to join in the effort. By way of working together, the global
narcotics industry, which is a serious threat and menace to mankind, could
be defeated sooner than later.
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Information Sheet
Yangon, Myanmar
N0. C- 2956 (I) 5th March, 2004
(1) Intellectuals and Intelligentsia Play a Crucial Role in Building a
Modern and Developed Nation
Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe
and party arrived at Mawlamyine University in Mawlamyine Township, Mon State
on 2 March and met with rector, pro-rectors, professors, associate
professors, lectures, assistant lecturers, tutors and demonstrators of
Mawlamyine University, Mawlamyine Education College, Government Technical
College and Government Computer College at Mawlamyine University.
Senior General said that the earlier education standard of Myanmar lagged
far behind when compared with that of international community, adding that
at a time when there have been changes and developments in leaps and bounds
in the field of world education there should not be a series of weak points
in Myanmar education. There will be no progress in Myanmar education if
review and reform are not made in an effective way in the education system
in time.
The vision of ASEAN is "all member nations must become modern and developed
ones in 2020" , and it is imperative to swiftly reform the Myanmar education
system and efforts are to be made for development in the field of education.
Therefore, transformation is being introduced with added momentum in the
education system under the motto "building a modern and developed nation
through education" and education infrastructures were established after
laying down the national education promotion special 4-year project.
Universities and colleges were set up in the 24 development zones and
opportunities to pursue the higher learning within the reach were created.
Human resources needed for the region will emerge if the opportunity to
pursue education is created in the region, thereby contributing to ensuring
regional development and narrowing development gap between one region and
another. Intellectuals and intelligentsia play a crucial role in building a
modern and developed nation. The government is doing its best in promoting
the national education standard and continued efforts are to be made for
successful realization of the national education promotion goal.
In the process, the qualified teachers are to provide well-rounded education
with the effective use of teaching aids in accord with the curricula. The
government will provide necessary assistance with goodwill and the teachers,
on their part, are to strive to become highly qualified ones while teaching
the students to become outstanding ones.
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Information Sheet
Yangon, Myanmar
N0. C- 2957 (I) 6th March, 2004
(1) Prime Minister General Receives French Publisher of Faits & Projects
Magazine
The Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Khin Nyunt received Faits
& Projets Magazine publisher Ms. Delphine Evmoon of France in Yangon on 5
March.
(2) Thai Minister of Sports and Tourism Arrives
At the invitation of Minister for Hotels and Tourism, Minister of Sports and
Tourism of Thailand Mr. Sontaya Kunplome and party arrived Yangon on 5
March. The Thai Minister and party met with the Minister for Communications,
Posts and Telegraphs and for Hotels and Tourism in Yangon and discussed
promotion of tourism industry between Myanmar and Thailand.
(3) Upgrades Draw Crowds to Inya Lake Levee Banks
A K4.2 million project to beautify levee banks on Inya Lake along Kaba Aye
Pagoda Road is proving popular with city residents, the head of the Yangon
City Development Committee’s playground, parks and gardens department, U
Nyunt Pe, said last week. Hundreds of people a day were enjoying the
facilities provided under the project, which has upgraded the levee bank
between University Avenue and Inya Yeik Thar Street, U Nyunt Pe said.
Hundreds of flowers and shrubs have been planted on the side of the levee
bank, which has also been planted with grass. Benches shades by colourful
umbrellas, flower containers and lamp posts have been installed on a
concrete path along the top of the bank, which has been widened to nine feet
to provide more space for people stroll or jog.
The project, due to be completed later this month, involves two sections of
the levee bank. U Nyunt Pe said the completion date for the project, which
began early last year, had been extended to allow for additional
improvements, such as the concrete path. Work is also nearing completion on
a beautification project on the levee bank along Pyay Road which has
involved extensive landscaping and the building of a concrete path that is
10 feet wide and about 3000 feet long. The path is halfway up the levee
bank. The YCDC’s water and sanitation and roads and bridges engineering
departments are also involved in the projects.
Meanwhile, U Nyunt Pe said the YCDC plans to spend about K600 million in the
coming fiscal year on greening and beautification projects throughout the
capital. This was an increase of K200 million on the budget for greening
projects in 2003-2004, he said. The decision to increase the budget was in
line with a campaign to improve the city’s environment by 2006, when Myanmar
is due to host the annual ASEAN summit. U Nyunt Pe said the extra spending
would go towards planting trees and flowers along roads as well as
maintenance activities in the capital’s 56 public parks.
About 100,000 trees and 100,000 seasonal flowers would be planted throughout
Yangon during the coming year, he said. He said the YCDC had planted about
2.5 million trees throughout Yangon since 1989 as part of a garden city
program. The YCDC raises seedlings at two nurseries: the Myakanthar nursery
farm at the 6.5 mile junction on Pyay Road and a nursery at Thuwanna park in
Thingyangun township. U Nyunt Pe said the planned budget would not cover the
cost of large scale projects, such as the redevelopment of Kandawgyi Lake
Park.
(Source- The Myanmar Times, Volume 11, No.206, March 1-7, 2004)
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Information Sheet
Yangon, Myanmar
N0. C- 2958 (I) 7th March, 2004
(1) Academics Argue Sanctions Detrimental to US Interests
An international group of scholars argue in a book due to be released that
week that sanctions imposed on Myanmar by the United States are detrimental
to the interests of both countries. Reconciling Burma / Myanmar: Essays on U
S Relations with Burma is due to be published on March 3 by an American
think tank, the National Bureau of Asian Research. It contains contributions
from seven specialists on Myanmar, including its editor, Dr. John Badgley,
who began working on the book after the Prime Minister, General Khin Nyunt,
unveiled the seven-point road map for a transition to democracy last August.
Doctors Robert Taylor and David Steinberg, Daw Seng Raw, a program director
at Yangon’s Metta Development Foundation, and a doctoral candidate at the
Australian National University, Mr. Morten Pederson, are among the other
contributors to the book. The executive summary in the books says its
contributors share "uniform agreement that United States sanctions on
[Myanmar] are not achieving their goal."
The summary reflects suggestions by some of the contributors of ways in
which the West can constructively engage Myanmar and encourage the
democratic process. "Involving states and societies in the web of
international trade and finance is the best way to link them to the norms of
transparency and the rule of law," the summary says. The seven essays also
address ways in which US policy has harmed Western interests in the region.
In his contribution, Dr. Taylor argues that Myanmar’s strategic importance
to the West has been heightened by the global campaign against terrorism.
The US should regard Myanmar as a potential ally in the campaign, he says.
Dr. Taylor also says that "real and enduring interests are at stake" because
of Myanmar’s strategic geopolitical significance. Myanmar is critical to the
balance of power in Southeast Asia as it shares borders China and India, the
world’s two most populous nations, Dr. Taylor says.
Another contributor, Dr. Helen James, a senior official in the Australian
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, concurs with Dr. Taylor on the
issue of Myanmar’s strategic importance. She writes that continued sanctions
against Myanmar might result in a resource-rich country in a geo-politically
sensitive region that is aligned with non-western interests."
Mr. Pederson argues in his essay that intelligently distributed foreign aid
offers the most promising way for effecting progress in Myanmar. "Foreign
aid could be a powerful tool for change if it could be used to build rather
than destroy," he says. Mr. Pederson believes that monetary aid would
encourage moderates, strengthen cease-fire agreements and help facilitate a
stable transition to democracy.
Daw Seng Raw told Myanmar Times last week that she contributed to the book
because she wanted to make Americans more aware of the complex situation in
Myanmar. "I believe stability and sustainable development in Myanmar is a
reasonable goal of the US," Daw Seng Raw said in an email message. "Only
when [US lawmakers] have a good understanding of the complexities in our
country will they be able to act responsibly."
Dr. Badgley told Myanmar Times by email last week that the book’s
contributors had been invited to speak at hearings of the US Congressional
Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on Southeast Asia late this month or in early
April. "The primary purposes in writing these essays was to alert Congress
as to changes under way in Myanmar, as well as all of Asia," Dr. Badgley
said.
All of the book’s contributors felt that strategic shifts among the Asian
powers, as well as their relations with the US following the terror attacks
in September 2001, had created a need to reconsider relations with every
Asian country, Dr. Badgley said.
(Source- The Myanmar Times, Volume 11, No.206, March 1-7, 2004)
(2) Poppy-Substitute Crops Cultivation and Livestock Breeding Training
School Opened in Laukkai
A ceremony to open the Poppy-substitute Crops Cultivation and Livestock
Breeding Training School for the purpose of drug elimination, built by the
Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Myanmar, was held at the
school in Laukkai, Shan State (North) Special Region-1, Kokang Region, on 3
March.The donation of the Ambassador was used to build the training school
by the Regional Committee for Drug Abuse Control Chairman Commander of
North-East Command.
Due to opening of the training school, local farmers in Laukkai can get an
opportunity to systematically pursue agricultural and livestock breeding
technologies as well as to apply the technology in their farms.
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strixbubo
me-p...@wanadoo.fr a écrit: