The New Light of Myanmar (Wednesday, March 8, 2000)
Okkar
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(1) Chairman of State Peace and Development Council
Senior General Than Shwe receives Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister for Finance of Lao PDR
(2) General Maung Aye tours Lahe and Namyun Townships
(3) Daw Kyaing Kyaing and family attend consecration for
Buddha image, merits sharing for Thantithukha Dhammayon
in South-East Command
(4) LPDR Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance visits
Shwedagon Pagoda, Hlinethaya
(5) Minister for Health attends opening ceremony of
Second National Seminar on Tuberculosis
(6) Quadripartite Meeting of Working Group on Draft
Agreement on Commercial Navigation on Lancang-Mekong
River successfully concludes
(7) Minister for Sports inspects booth of Ministry of Sports
(8) Minister meets official of Kyushu University
(9) 14,690 stimulant tablets seized in Mongshu
(10) 25 Pyay Township NLD members resign of own accord
(11) WEATHER
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(1) Chairman of State Peace and Development Council
Senior General Than Shwe receives Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister for Finance of Lao PDR
YANGON, 7 March - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe
received Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Boungnang
Vorachith of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and goodwill
delegation members at the Credentials Hall of the Pyithu Hluttaw
Building.at 9.30 am today.
Also present at the call were Secretary-1 of the State Peace and
Development Council, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Military
Affairs, Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman’s
Office, Minister for Finance and Revenue, Minister for Forestry, Deputy
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Director-General of the Protocol
Department.
The guests were accompanied by Ambassador of the Lao PDR Mr Ly Bounkham.
_______________________________
(2) General Maung Aye tours Lahe and Namyun Townships
YANGON, 7 March - Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-
Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, accompanied by State Peace and
Development Council Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win
Myint, State Peace and Development Council Members Commander-in-Chief
(Navy) Vice-Admiral Nyunt Thein and Sagaing Division Peace and
Development Council Chairman Commander Maj-Gen Soe Win, Ministers,
Deputy Ministers and officials, left Hkamti by helicopter for Lahe in
Sagaing Division at 8 am on 6 March.
The General and party proceeded to the border areas and national races
development training school of the Ministry of Progress of Border Areas
and National Races and Development Affairs and they were welcomed there
by trainees of the national races.
Next, the General and party met with officials and townselders at the
hall of the training school. Township Peace and Development Council
Chairman U Soe Myint Win reported matters on area and population of
Lahe Township, annual rainfall and agricultural undertakings, welfare
activities for service personnel, dissemination of modern terrace
cultivation methods to local populace, construction of new road under
the border areas development programmes, efforts for upgrading roads in
the town and requirements for ensuring better condition of the Hkamti-
Hsinthay-Lahe motor road.
In delivering a speech, General Maung Aye said that it was his second
trip to Lahe and he fulfilled the requirements for development during
his first trip. As a result, the town was seen developed due to efforts
of authorities and officials concerned, he noted. This trip too is to
fulfil the requirements for development of Leyshe, Lahe and Hkamti
regions, he stressed. He urged regional battalions, departments and
people to strive for their regional development based on the help of
the State. The General continued to say that necessary machinery and
funds had been provided to turn the Lahe-Hkamti road into all weather
road and it is incumbent upon the responsible personnel and officials
concerned of the two town ships to actively take part in the
implementation of the project. Likewise, the Htammathi-Leyshe road will
be turned into all-season road, he said. As regards the development of
Lahe and Leyshe townships, agriculture is the base and cultivation of
suitable crops such as paddy, corn and so on should be extended not
only for self-sufficiency of the region but also for surplus, he said.
As the geographic conditions of the region are suitable for growing
tea, efforts must be made for growing tea on commercial scale in Lahe
and Leyshe regions, he pointed out. He also said that in this regard,
the State will provide necessary assistance.
Then, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo presented medicines and
medical equipment to Township Medical Officer Dr Soe Win. Minister for
Education U Than Aung presented teaching aids for the township to
Township Education Officer U Myint Shwe. Minister for Progress of
Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt
presented necessary provisions to Headmaster of the Border Areas and
National Races Development Training School U Thaung Dan. Next, Deputy
Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office U
Zaw Myint Pe presented provisions for the township to the Township
Peace and Development Council chairman. Afterwards, leader of Naga
nationals U Hutti presented traditional gifts to General Maung Aye,
Secretary-2 Lt- Gen Tin Oo and Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint.
Thence, General Maung Aye and party proceeded to the monastery,
presented offertories to members of Sangha and paid obeisance. General
Maung Aye made supplications on religious affairs to members of the
Sangha and gave necessary instructions to the officials concerned Next,
General Maung Aye and party went to the regional battalion and met with
Tatmadawmen and their family members. Meanwhile, Ministers and
officials who accompanied the General on the trip went to respective
township offices and met with service personnel.
Afterwards, General Maung Aye and party posed for a documentary
photograph together with Naga nationals.
At 11.30 am, General Maung Aye and party proceeded by helicopter to
Namyun and they were welcomed there by State Peace and Development
Council Member Kachin State Peace and Development Council Chairman
Northern Command Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw Win and responsible personnel.
General Maung Aye then met and discussed with responsible personnel of
the region at the hall of the regional battalion. At the discussions,
General Maung Aye said that efforts are to be made to develop Namyun
like other border towns in the future. At present, the requirements for
enabling Namyun to possess characteristics of a town will be fulfilled,
he said. He also said that especially the requirements for upgrading
education health standards of the township will be fulfilled.
As better transportation is needed for regional development, t,he 73-
mile Tanai-Namyun road will be upgraded into all-season granite road,
he said. The Government is striving for equitable development of all
the regions of the Union with genuine goodwill and the local national
peoples are to make efforts for speedy and effective development of
their respective regions, he stressed. Success will surely be achieved
in developing the regions as the Government, the people and the
Tatmadaw are making collective efforts actively, noted the General.
Next, Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw
Tun and Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and
Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt reported matters on construction of
Tanai-Namyun road. General Maung Aye gave necessary instructions.
Afterwards, General Maung Aye and party met with township authorities,
service personnel and townselders at the town hall. Township Peace and
Development Council Chairman Capt Kaung San Oo reported matters on
township development and agricultural under-takings. General Maung Aye
urged local people to extend cultivated acreage of paddy for self-
sufficiency of rice in the region: The General also urged them to grow
garlic, onion, chilli, potato and other vegetables and to make efforts
for regional development collectively. Next, Minister U Than Aung
presented teaching aids to Namyun high school headmaster U Yawn Yam.
Deputy Minister Dr Mya Oo presented medicines and medical equipment to
Township Medical Officer Dr Lin Thant Aung. Minister Col Thein Nyunt,
Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw Win and Commander Maj-Gen Soe Win presented
necessary items, to the Township Peace and Development Council
Chairman. Then, General Maung Aye greeted depart mental personnel and
local people and inspected the town. Meanwhile, Secretary- 2 Lt-Gen Tin
Oo and Ministers inspected the basic education high school and gave
necessary instructions to officials concerned. Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win
Myint and Ministers offered offertories to Namyun Monastery Sayadaw
Bhaddanta Tezinda at the Township Union Solidarity and Development
Association office. Likewise, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung
inspected the television re-transmission station in Namyun.
Afterwards, General Maung Aye and party proceeded by helicopter to
Tanai and they were welcomed there by Command Staff (Colonel) Col Win
Myint and Tactical Operation Commander Col Kyi Win of Northern Command
and officials. General Maung Aye met with Tatmadawmen and their family
members of Tanai Station at the Aungthura Hall of regional battalion.
Next, General Maung Aye and party met with township authorities,
service personnel and local people at the Hukaung Hall. General Maung
Aye said that Kachin State has now become self-sufficient in rice. He
urged the local national people of Tanai region to extend cultivation
of paddy and other crops for Kachin State as Tanai region has fertile
land conditions. In this way Tanai region will develop, he pointed out.
Next, Ministers presented teaching aids, medical equipment and other
provisions for Tanai Township to officials concerned. Afterwards,
General Maung Aye warmly greeted officials, service personnel and the
local people. General Maung Aye and party then went to construction
site of Tanai Creek Bridge and inspected progress of work in rebuilding
the bridge.
State Peace and Development Council Secretary-2 Lt- Gen Tin Oo together
with Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw Win and Ministers at 6.15 am today attended
the ceremony to make donations for building school annex to No 2
primary school in Hsemsa Ward in Tanai. Engineer U Khin Maung Oo
explained matters on building the school annex. Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw
Win and Ministers also spoke matters relating to the school annex.
Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo gave instructions on formation of respective
committees systematically for building the school annex; and to
complete the construction works in time. Chairman U Yu Zau Khawn of
Jade Land Co handed over 20 million kyats for construction of the
school annex to Minister for Education U Than Aung. Then, Secretary-2
Lt-Gen Tin Oo and Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw Win drove commencement stakes
for building the school annex. It is learnt that the school annex will
be built with the donation of 20 million kyats made by U Yu Zau Khawn,
wife Daw Shadawn Khong Toung and family of Jade Land Co of Myitkyina.
Union Solidarity and Development Association Central Executive
Committee members Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Brig-Gen Ohn Myint and U Aung Khin
also met with the Township USDA secretary, executives and organizers at
7 am this morning in Tanai.
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(3) Daw Kyaing Kyaing and family attend consecration for
Buddha image, merits sharing for Thantithukha Dhammayon
in South-East Command
YANGON, 7 March - A ceremony to consecrate the Buddha image at
Thantithukha Dhamayon in South-East Command donated by Chairman of the
State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence
Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing and
family, was held in conjunction with the merits-sharing ceremony for
Thantithukha Dhammayon at the Dhammayon on 5 March morning.
Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vijayabhivamsa and members of the Sangha consecrated
the Buddha image which will be kept in Thantithukha Dhammayon of South-
East Command.
Then, a ceremony to share merits for donation of Thantithukha Dhammayon
was held.
The congregation recited Namo Tassa three times.
Daw Kyaing Kyaing, wife of Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than
Shwe, Chairman of Mon State Peace and Development Council Commander of
South-East Command Maj-Gen Myint Aung and wife Daw Thazin Khaing and
congregation received the Five Precepts from Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita
Bhaddanta Obhasa.
Afterwards, members of the Sangha recited the Parittas. Then, Daw
Kyaing Kyaing and family and officials donated rice, edible oil and
provisions to the Sayadaws.
Then, Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Obhasa delivered a sermon.
Daw Kyaing Kyaing and family and officials shared merits of pious
deeds.
After the ceremony, Daw Kyaing Kyaing and family performed the rituals
of golden and silver showers to mark successful completion of the
ceremony and offered ‘soon’ to members of the Sangha.
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(4) LPDR Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance visits
Shwedagon Pagoda, Hlinethaya
YANGON, 7 March - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr
Boungnang Vorachith of Lao People’s Democratic Republic and members,
currently on a goodwill visit to Myanmar, accompanied by Minister for
Forestry U Aung Phone, Ambassador of LPDR Mr Ly Bounkham and officials
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited Shwedagon Pagoda this
morning.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr Boungnang
Vorachith of LPDR and members observed the bell of King Thayawady at
the north-east corner on the pagoda platform. They paid obeisance to
Htidaw design pagoda.
The guests paid obeisance to golden pagoda in Shwezedi Tazaung and jade
Buddha image in jade image Tazaung. They offered flowers, lights and
incense sticks to the Buddha images in the prayer hall of the western
archway.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister signed in the visitors’ book and
made donations. The Pagoda Board of Trustees accepted the donation and
presented the photo of Shwedagon.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister poured water on Buddha image and
paid obeisance to the pagoda.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and party visited Hlinethaya City of
Industry at 10.30 am. They were welcomed by Deputy Minister for
Construction U Tint Swe, Director-General of Department of Human
Settlement and Housing Development U Arnt Kyaw and officials.
Deputy Minister U Tint Swe extended greetings and reported on facts
about Hlinethaya City of Industry and housing projects of DHSHD.
The deputy minister presented gifts to the visiting Deputy Prime
Minister.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and members, accompanied by Deputy
Minister U Tint Swe visited FMI City. They were conducted round by
Director of FMI SPA Group of Co U Soe Myint.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and members visited Tai Yi Shoe
Factory where officials of Tai Yi International Co Ltd reported on
production process.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister signed in the visitor’s book.
Officials of Tai Yi International Co Ltd presented gift to the Deputy
Prime Minister.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and members visited garment factory
of Myanmar Apparel Co Ltd. They went to Bo Myat Tun Bridge in Nyaungdon
Township where they were welcomed by Chief Engineer (Bridges) of Public
Works U Pe Than and officials.
Deputy Minister U Tint Swe and Chief Engineer U Pe Than reported on
construction of Bo Myat Tun Bridge.The visiting Deputy Prime Minister
then passed the bridge.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and members went to construction
site of Aung Zeya Bridge linking Hlinethaya and Insein Townships. They
were welcomed by Superintending Engineer (Project) of Public Works U
Khin Maung Aye and officials. Deputy Minister U Tint Swe and
Superintending Engineer U Khin Maung Aye reported on construction of
the bridge.
The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and members went to the construction
site of Maha Bandoola Bridge linking Pazundaung and Dawbon Townships.
Deputy Superintending Engineer of Public Works U Ohn Han and officials.
They were welcomed by Deputy Minister U Tint Swe and Deputy
Superintending Engineer U Ohn Han reported on construction of Maha
Bandoola Bridge.
They left the construction site at 4.25 pm.
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(5) Minister for Health attends opening ceremony of
Second National Seminar on Tuberculosis
YANGON, 7 March - A ceremony to open the Second National Seminar on
Tuber-culosis co-organized by the Ministry of Health and the Research
Institute of Tuber-culosis (RIT) of Japan was held at the hall of
Myanmar Medical Association on Theinbyu Road this morning.
First, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein delivered an address. He
said:
First of all, may I wish good health and happiness to Dr Nobukatsu
Ishikawa and Dr Takashi Yoshiyama of the Research Institute of Tuber-
culosis, Japan. Members of Maternal and Child Welfare Association,
Myanmar Medical Association, Myanmar Red Cross Association, Myanmar
Nurses Association, Myanmar Health Assist- ant Association, Officer
concerned of various departments.
The Seminar we are holding today is the 2nd Seminar held in
collaboration between Minister of Health, Myanmar and the Research
Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan.
With the aim to foster peace, economic, social and human development
which are pre-requisites to attain the goal of a peaceful, prosperous,
modern and developed nation, the Government has set four political,
four economic and four social objectives.
From Health aspect “Health, well-being and human development” have been
assigned high priority in our national development endeavours.
In order to provide guidance for health development in the country the
National Health Committee has been founded and the Government; has
adopted systematic programme for the enhancement of health in the
nation.
Tuberculosis is still a problem in Myanmar, and other South-East Asian
Countries re-emerging infectious disease.
World Health Organization estimate that one third of the world
population are infected with tubercle bacilli and each year eight
million people are suffering from this disease and among them two
million people die of TB.
Among these tuberculosis patients, 80% of them are from the 22 high
burden countries. More than half of them were reported from South-East
Asia Region namely India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand.
TB patients are not taking proper and adequate treatment, not
completing the course of treatment which give rise to multi-drug
resistant tuberculosis and TB/HIV co-infection are the main reasons for
the re-emergence of tuberculosis in the world.
One sad point is that 75% of these TB patients are within the age group
of 15 to 59 year which is the most active working group.
But nowadays there are potent anti-TB drugs which can cure TB, if they
strictly follow the WHO guidelines of DOTS strategy. Most of the
countries has adopted DOTS as a policy and has begun implementing it,
covering more than 16% of the global populations.
Although, South-East Asia Region accounts for 25% of world population,
TB morbidity is 38% in this region and yearly there is 0.7 million
deaths due to TB. In the region 27% of the population is covered with
DOTS.
TB is one of the major public health problems in Myanmar, and it is
considered as the second priority disease in the National Health Plan.
In Myanmar, it is estimated that annually one hundred thousand people
develop tuberculosis. Half of them being infectious with positive
sputum smears.
HIV infection among TB cases is found to be 4.5% and 60-80% of AIDS
cases are suffering from tuberculosis. This HIV/AIDS will become one of
the challenges for TB Control Programme in the near future.
We have followed the WHO guidelines using Short Course Chemotherapy in
implementing DOTS strategy and have 223 DOTS townships which covered
80% of total population.
At present, Myanmar have achieved case detection rate of 44% and cure
rate of 74% with success rate of 82%. We still need to work more to
meet the targeted 70% case detection and 85% cure rate.
In 1999, Myanmar has hosted two important Health meetings. One is the
Regional meeting on Stop TB Initiative and the other is the Seventh
meeting of Health Ministers WHO South-East Asia Region. Myanmar has
followed the recommendation laid down from these important meetings.
With the aids of WHO, UNDP, JFAP and JATA we have conducted many
training courses in the country and also send health workers abroad for
capacity building.
In this seminar, there will be presentations and discussions of global
TB situation, Myanmar situation as a whole and also of State/Divisional
level TB/HIV problems MDR-TB, Supervision Reports and Inter and Intra
sectorial linkages done in DOTS implementation .
So, I encouraged all those attending this seminar to participate
energetically giving comments and discussions so as to obtain great
benefit for TB programme as well as our nation.
I would like to express my gratitude for donation Anti-TB drugs to
Nations Tuberculosis Programme Myanmar.
Last, but not the least would like to acknowledge
my great thanks to the Research Institute of TB, Japan anti-TB
Association for helping us in conducting this seminar. I hope that you
will continue working with us giving technical and financial support
when needed.
Then, Nobukatsu Ishikawa of Japan Anti-Tuber-culosis Association of the
Research Institute of Tuberculosis of Japan gave a speech.
Afterwards, officials of Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association of the
Research Institute of Tuberculosis of Japan presented medicines for TB
disease worth US$ 3,000 to the National Tuberculosis Control Project of
the Union of Myanmar.
The seminar continues tomorrow.
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(6) Quadripartite Meeting of Working Group on Draft
Agreement on Commercial Navigation on Lancang-Mekong
River successfully concludes
YANGON, 7 March - The Quadripartite Meeting of the Working Group on the
Draft Agreement on Commercial Navigation on Lancang-Mekong River among
the Governments of the People’s Republic of China, the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, the Union of Myanmar and thc Kingdom of Thailand
was successfully concluded this morning with the adoption and
initialing of the text of the draft Agreement at the Wungyi
Padethayazar Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The closing
session was addressed by Deputy Minister for Transport U Pe Than and
attended by the delegations of the four countries.
The Quadripartite Meeting of the Working Group resumed its session for
the second day under the chairmanship by U Kyaw Tint Swe, Co-Leader of
Myanmar delegation and Director-General of International Organizations
and Economic Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar.
After thoroughly reviewing and verifying the amendments made by the
delegations, the meeting reached an agreement and adopted the revised
draft Agreement on Commercial Navigation on Lancang-Mekong River.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the record of the meeting was signed
and the text of the draft Agreement was initialed by the heads of the
delegation, Mr Ju Chengzhi, Deputy Director-General, Department of
International Cooperation, Ministry of Communications of the People’s
Republic of China, Mr Math Sounmala, Director-General of Cabinet of the
Ministry of Communication, Trans port, Post and Construction of the Lao
People’s Democratic Republic, Captain Chit Khin (Navy), Director-
General, Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River
Systems, Ministry of Transport of the Union of Myanmar and Mr Krit
Kraichitti, Deputy Director-General, Department of Economic Affairs,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
The meeting also agreed to submit the initialed draft to their
respective Governments for approval with a view to proceeding with the
convening of the signing ceremony at the Ministerial level in Myanmar
at the earliest date mutually convenient to all parties.
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(7) Minister for Sports inspects booth of Ministry of Sports
YANGON, 7 March - Chairman of Myanmar Olympic Committee Minister for
Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint arrived at the Defence Services Museum
on Shwedagon Pagoda Road this afternoon.
Minister Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint inspected the booth of the ministry
and nation-building endeavours and twelve political objectives booths
of the 55th Anniversary Armed Forces Day and left there.
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(8) Minister meets official of Kyushu University
YANGON, 7 March - Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin met
Project Secretary Professor Dr Takashi Sakai of Kyushu University
(IGCP) of Japan who called at his office this afternoon.
_________________________________
(9) 14,690 stimulant tablets seized in Mongshu
YANGON,7 March - A combined team comprising members of local
intelligence unit and Myanmar Police Force, acting on a tip-off, on 21
February, waited at Aungthaya block, Wantan Ward, Mongshu Township,
Southern Shan State, and searched one Maung Myint, son of U Lawlu,
Aungthaya block, Wantan Ward, Mongshu Township, and seized 14,690
stimulant tablets of WY brand, in 54 packets, from his knapsack.
According to his confession, they arrested the owner Soe Myint, son of
U Shwe Wa, Wantan Ward, Mongshu Mine, Mongshu Township.
Action is being taken against them under the Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances Law.
_________________________________
(10) 25 Pyay Township NLD members resign of own accord
YANGON, 7 March - Twenty-five members resigned from the National League
for Democracy of Pyay Township, Bago Division.
Twenty-five members of Pyay Township NLD, Bago Division, of their own
accord, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Pyay Township
Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the party
concerned on 22 October 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in
party politics of NLD.
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(11) WEATHER
Maximum temperature on Mar 6-3-2000 was 37.0°C (99°F)
Minimum temperature on Mar 7-3-2000 was 20.0 °C (69°F)
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