Emergence of the State Constitution is the duty of all citizens of Myanmar Naing-Ngan.

Established 1914

Volume XV, Number 309 13th Waxing of Tabodwe 1369 ME Tuesday, 19 February, 2008

* Stability of the State, communitypeace and tranquillity, prevalenceof law and order

* National reconsolidation* Emergence of a new enduring State

Constitution* Building of a new modern developed

nation in accord with the new StateConstitution

* Development of agriculture as the base and all-rounddevelopment of other sectors of the economy as well

* Proper evolution of the market-oriented economicsystem

* Development of the economy inviting participationin terms of technical know-how and investmentsfrom sources inside the country and abroad

* The initiative to shape the national economy must bekept in the hands of the State and the national peoples

* Uplift of the morale and moralityof the entire nation

* Uplift of national prestige and in-tegrity and preservation and safe-guarding of cultural heritage andnational character

* Uplift of dynamism of patrioticspirit

* Uplift of health, fitness and educa-tion standards of the entire nation

Four political objectives Four economic objectives Four social objectives

NAY PYI TAW, 18Feb—Prime MinisterGeneral Thein Sein, ac-companied by Maj-GenKhin Zaw of the Ministryof Defence, the ministers,the deputy ministers, theDirector-General of theGovernment Office andheads of department, yes-terday inspected Univer-sity of Computer Studies(Sittway) in Sittway,Rakhine State, and heardreports presented byDeputy Minister for Sci-ence and Technology UKyaw Soe and Principalof the University Dr SoeHay Mar on the salient

University of Computer Studies (Sittway) opened for thenation to keep pace with changes and developments, for

youths to have easy access to information technology

Prime Minister General Thein Sein inspects Pyaing Chaung Dam inKyauktaw Township. — MNA

points of the university.In giving instruc-

tions, the Prime Ministersaid that IT is now wit-nessing rapid develop-ment and is being usedextensively throughoutthe world, adding that theuniversity was opened forthe nation to keep pacewith changes and devel-opments as well as for theyouths to have easy ac-cess to information tech-nology.

He went on to saythat Myanmar Info Techwas opened in Yangon andYadanabon Cyber Corpo-ration in Mandalay for the

people to successfully en-gage in IT based busi-nesses. Moreover, IT basedfactories were establishedin Yadanabon Myothitnear PyinOoLwin.

He said that thenumber of global nationsthat have become pros-perous through IT basedbusinesses is on the in-crease and at such a time,the government is takingsteps for the emergenceof a large number of quali-fied human resources ca-pable of building a mod-ern and developed nationwhile striving for allyouths to be able to pur-

sue modern technology atuniversities of computerstudies.

He spoke of theneed for teachers to nur-ture and train their stu-dents to become well-qualified technicians.

Next, the PrimeMinister looked into com-puter lab and attended tothe needs.

On arrival atTechnological University(Sittway), the PrimeMinister met with facultymembers and stressed theneed to train the studentsto become intellectuals

(See page 8)

Prime Minister inspects development of Sittway, Kyauktaw, MraukU in Rakhine State

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:41 PM1

2 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008

PERSPECTIVES* Oppose those relying on external elements, acting as stooges, holding negative views* Oppose those trying to jeopardize stability of the State and progress of the nation* Oppose foreign nations interfering in internal affairs of the State* Crush all internal and external destructive elements as the common enemy

People’s DesireTuesday, 19 February, 2008

Further strengthen friendly tiesbetween Union of Myanmar andRussian Federation

The establishment of Diplomatic Relationsbetween the Union of Myanmar and RussianFederation turns 60 years on 18 February 2008.

In the message from His Excellency SeniorGeneral Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peaceand Development Council of the Union ofMyanmar, to His Excellency Mr Vladimir VPutin, President of the Russian Federation, onthe occasion of the 60th Anniversary of theEstablishment of Diplomatic Relations betweenthe two nations, it said “In this new millenniumthere are many challenges that both our countrieshave to face. It is our sincere desire to jointlywork with the Russian Federation in resolvingthe common challenges bilaterally as well asmultilaterally, in the spirit of mutualunderstanding, confidence and activecooperation.”

Likewise, in the message from HisExcellency Mr Vladimir V Putin to HisExcellency Senior General Than Shwe, it said“These six decades were marked by truefriendship, mutual respect andmultidimensional cooperation. I am confidentthat fruitful interaction will be the basis forfurther development of bilateral relations,broadening of contacts and strengthening ofmutual understanding between the peoples ofour multinational countries.”

The exchange of messages of felicitationsbetween the Heads of State, the Heads ofGovernment and the Ministers for ForeignAffairs of the two countries highlights furtherstrengthening of friendly ties between the twonations, boosting of bilateral cooperation in allaspects including trade and investment andprosperity of peoples of the two nations.

The Union of Myanmar and the RussianFederation have maintained friendly relationssince the diplomatic relations were establishedin 1948. And we firmly believe that the twonations will be able to continue to maintainfriendly relations in the interest of peoples of thetwo nations.

U Thaung Tun accreditedto Belgium

NAY PYI TAW, 19 Feb — The Chairman of theState Peace and Development Council of the Unionof Myanmar has appointed U Thaung Tun,Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary ofthe Union of Myanmar to the Republic of thePhilippines, as Ambassador Extraordinary andPlenipotentiary of the Union of Myanmar to theKingdom of Belgium. —MNA

Ministry of Labour holdsHtamane-preparing contest

NAY PYI TAW, 17Feb—Families of theMinistry of Labour heldthe Myanmar traditionalH t a m a n e - p r e p a r i n gcontest in front of theSocial Security BoardClinic here yesterdayevening, attended byMinister for Labour Maj-Gen Aung Kyi, DeputyMinister Brig-Gen TinTun Aung anddepartmental heads, stafffamilies and others.

In the contest, CentralInland Freight HandlingCommittee stood first,Factories and General

Labour Law InspectionDepartment stood second,the Office of the Ministryof Labour and CentralTrade Dispute Committeestood third and the LabourDepartment and the SocialSecurity Board won theconsolation prize.—MNA

YANGON, 18 Feb—UThaung Htaik, GeneralSecretary of MyanmaOlympic CommitteeDirector-General ofSports and PhysicalEducation Departmentmet with executives ofMyanma HockeyFederation, responsiblepersons and players ofselected Tatmadawhockey team at MingalaTaungnyunt ArtificialTurf Hockey Pitch hereyesterday.

Speaking on the

Selected Tatmadaw HockeyTeam in training session

occasion, he said thatsystematic measures areto be taken for thedurability of the artificialturf hockey pitch, makingarrangements forsuccessful holding ofMyanma OlympicCommittee Chairman’sCup National HockeyLeague Tournament inMarch. He also urged theselected hockey team toredouble efforts forturning out of theoutstanding players inorder to take part ininternational armed forcestournament and domestictournament.

MNA

Staff of Ministry of

Labour participate in

Htamane-preparing

contest. — MNA

Director-General U Thaung Htaik meetingwith executives of Myanmar Hockey

Federation and Tatmadaw Hockey Team.MHF

Qualifying round of GrandRoyal Special Reserve Golf

Championship 2008 to be held

YANGON, 19 Feb —Myanmar Golf Federationorganized the qualifyinground of Grand RoyalSpecial Reserve GolfChampionship 2008,mainly sponsored byInternational BeveragesTrading Co, Ltd to be heldat Yangon Golf Club,Danyingon, here on 28 and29 February.

This tournament willbe held in accordance withSt Indrews rules andreguletions and local rulesand regulations. It will beheld through System 36(Scratch Event).

The main sponsor isInternational BeveragesTrading Co Ltd and co-sponsors, Dusit Inya LakeHotel and Srixon andAlpine (Purified DrinkingWater). Han EventManagement will takecharge of the tournament.

Amateur golfers canenlist at MGF (Tel-01-635563) not later than 26February. — MNA

Bomb blasts near Paradise Hotel in TachilekNAY PYI TAW, 18 Feb — A bomb

went off near Paradise Hotel inTachilek of Shan State (East),damaging staff quarter of the hotel at2.40 am today.

Similarly, three bombs explodednear Shwe Myanmar Tea Shop, 100feet from the staff quarter at 2.45 am,

at the foot of a tree near the tea shop,300 feet north of the tea shop at 2.50 amand in the mangrove, 150 feet west ofthe tree separately. There was nocasuality in the bomb blasts.

The incidents were underinvestigation.

MNA

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:41 PM2

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008 3

UK doctors’ leaders slamhealth centres plan

LONDON, 18 Feb—Doctors’ leaders criticizedsuggestions on Saturdaythat many GP surgeriesacross England could bereplaced by a network oflarge health centres.

Government HealthMinister Lord Darzi toldthe BBC that the dayswere over for single GPsworking alone in a smallpractice. He said the futureof patient care was in largelocal health centres or“polyclinics”, grouping

together GPs, nurses andspecialists.

But the British MedicalAssociation (BMA) saidthe plans would duplicatecare and be moreexpensive. Prime MinisterGordon Brown broughtleading surgeon Darzi intothe government last yearand gave him the task ofproducing a blueprint forthe future of the NationalHealth Service.

Darzi has already pro-posed a network of 150

polyclinics for Londonand will deliver his NHSplan in the summer,coinciding with the 60thanniversary of the state-funded service.

The BBC said Darziwanted to extend thenetwork across thecountry.

“I’m recommendingpolyclinics because thereis plenty of evidence eitherhere in this country oroutside this country, thatintegrated care around theneeds of the patient ... isthe way that healthcareshould be delivered infuture,” Darzi told BBCtelevision.

MNA/Reuters

Rioting hits town in S-E Turkeyafter boy’s death

Two Madrid Airport bombingsuspects arrested in France

Counting begins afterPakistanis vote

ISLAMABAD ,18 Feb — Counting began on Mondayafter an election in Pakistan which was far less violentthan feared, although it could result in a parliament seton driving US ally President Pervez Musharraf frompower.

The former army chief called for reconciliationafter casting his vote in the city of Rawalpindi, whereopposition leader and former prime minister BenazirBhutto was assassinated on 27 December.

The vote for a new National Assembly andprovincial assemblies was to have been held early lastmonth, but was delayed because of Bhutto’sassassination.

Polling stations closed their doors at 5 pm (1200GMT). Results are expected to start emerging bymidnight and trends should be clear on Tuesdaymorning.

An intelligence official said 11 people have beenkilled, seven in Punjab Province, and 70 wounded inelection violence since voting began. — Internet

MADRID, 18 Feb—Spanish Interior MinisterAlfredo Perez Rubalcabasaid on Saturday thatpolice have arrested twomen suspected ofinvolvement in the 2006Madrid Airport bombingby Basque separatistgroup ETA.

Rubalcaba confirmedthat Spanish and Frenchpolice arrested threesuspected ETA membersFriday in southern France,two of whom are theMadrid bombing suspects.

The deadly bombing on30 December, 2006 atMadrid Airport destroyeda multistorey parkinggarage and killed twopeople. Peace talks bet-ween the Spanish Govern-ment and ETA haltedfollowing the bombing, andthe group called off its 15-month ceasefire in June2007.

MNA/Xinhua

DIYARBAKIR (Turkey),18 Feb—Rioters chantingslogans in support of theKurdistan Workers Party(PKK) smashed shopwindows and damagedcars in mainly Kurdishsoutheast Turkey onSaturday after the funeralof a teenager.

The 15-year-old boydied after being hit on thehead by a stone during aprotest on Friday markingthe ninth anniversary ofthe capture of PKK leaderAbdullah Ocalan.

Some 1,000 peoplefollowed the child’s coffinin the border town of

Cizre, witnesses said. Protesters threw

stones at passing buses andtore up paving stoneswhich they used to blockthe main road of Cizre,near the Iraqi border,security officials andwitnesses said.

MNA/Reuters

Election workers count

ballots in Rawalpindi

after polls closed for

Pakistan’s general

elections on 18 Feb,

2008.— INTERNET

Suicide blast kills 80 at dog-fightingcompetition in Afghanistan

KABUL, 17 Feb—Abloody suicide bombingshocked Taliban formerstronghold Kandahar insouth AfghanistanSunday morning killingat least 80 people andinjuring many more,Kandahar’s governor

Assadullah Khalid said.The huge explosion took

place at a ground wherehundreds of people weregathering to watch dogfighting, among the fewpastimes for commonAfghans.

“Eighty innocent people

have been confirmeddead in the heinous crimecommitted by enemiestoday,” Khalid told newsreporters. He said it is tooearly to count the numberof the injured people asthey have already beenrushed to hospitals.

The official said theTaliban, fighting againstAfghan government andforeign troops since it wasoverthrew six years ago,was behind the deadlyattack. However, theTaliban militants did notsay they were responsiblefor the bomb explosion.

Internet

Afghan policemen and locals at the site of the bomb blast in Kandahar on 17 Feb, 2008.—INTERNET

Germany arrestsman suspected ofaiding al-QaedaBERLIN, 18 Feb—Ger-

man authorities said onFriday they had arresteda 45-year-old Germannational of Pakistani originon suspicion of deliveringmoney to al-Qaeda and oflearning how to makebombs for use in terroristattacks. The federal pro-secutors’ office said theman, identified as AleemN, had travelled to thePakistani-Afghan borderfour times during 2005-2007 and had each timedelivered at least 4,000euros (5,874 US dollars)to al-Qaeda operatives inthe area. The man, who wasarrested on Thursday, isalso suspected ofsupplying binoculars,radio and night visionequipment to al-Qaeda,and of recruiting membersin Germany.

MNA/Reuters

I N T E R N A T I O N A L N E W S

Protesters burn a USreplica flag during arally in front of the

military headquartersin Manila on 18 Feb,2008. The protesters

denounced the annualUS-Philippines

military exerciseswhich are taking placein the Philippines over

the next two weeks.INTERNET

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:41 PM3

4 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008

A giant cat float parades during the 124th Neice Carnival, on 17 Feb, 2008, inNiece, southern France. The carnival honours the Chinese Year of the Rat

with cats, rats and mice floats. —XINHUA

Pakistan’s security officials examine the site of Saturday’s night suicide bombingthat killed two civilians and wounded eight security personnel, in Mingora, the

main town of Pakistan’s district Swat bordering Afghanistan. —INTERNET

BEIJING, 17 Feb — China has expressed concernabout Washington’s decision to shoot down a damagedsatellite, urging the US Government to fulfill itsinternational obligation.

Responding to a question on the US plan to shootdown a damaged satellite, Chinese Foreign Ministryspokesman Liu Jianchao said on Sunday that theChinese Government is highly concerned aboutdevelopment of the situation and has urged the USside to fulfill its international obligation and avoidcausing damages to the security in the outer space andother countries. —Xinhua

MANILA, 18 Feb—More than 50 former topPhilippine Government officials, including a one-time head of the central bank, urged President GloriaMacapagal Arroyo’s Cabinet to resign on Sundayover a multi-million dollar corruption scandal.

“We call on all those who can no longer endurethis wrongful governance with its structures of eviland unmoderated greed: it is time to cut clean, it istime to go,” read the statement, signed by the ex-officials, including five former finance chiefs and aformer central bank governor.

A senate probe into allegations of 130 millionUS dollars worth of kickbacks in a state telecoms dealwith China’s ZTE Corp has revived calls for theresignation of Arroyo and opposition groups areplanning anti-government rallies next week and on 25February, the anniversary of the overthrow of dictatorFerdinand Marcos.

On Sunday, former president and democracyicon Corazon Aquino joined around 2,500 people ina Mass in Manila to honour Rodolfo Lozada, a formergovernment official whose testimony in the Senateinquiry revived the protests.

“I want all of us Filipinos to be united again. If wecan get together we will also see a bright future for ourcountry,” Aquino told the cheering congregation,who finished the Mass with a protest song and clenchedfists.—MNA/Reuters

BANGKOK, 17 Feb—Thai Foreign MinisterNoppadon Pattama saidon Saturday the ongoinginvestigation of HouseSpeaker Yongyuth Tiya-pairat’s election fraud casewould not affect foreigninvestor confidence in thecountry.

The investigation willtake some time before itcan be completed, Nop-padon said, adding that hehimself believed Yong-

KABUL, 18 Feb—President Hamid Karzaiis under the influence offoreign powers and troopsled by NATO and the USmust set a firm date fortheir departure fromAfghanistan, a govern-ment-run daily newspapersaid on Saturday.

The remarks are thefirst of their kind in anAfghan paper aboutKarzai and foreign troopsin Afghanistan, wherethere is frustration over

Afghan paper says Karzaiunder foreigners’ influence

growing insecurity andrampant corruption.

“...It should be said thatthe Afghan nation reactsseriously, despite itsdifficulties, when thenational interests of theircountry are exposed toforeign danger and havenever accepted and norwill accept a protegegovernment,” Anis said.

“If the world does notpay attention to thismatter, soon the fire ofAfghanistan will burn the

region and a situation willemerge that will beunimaginable for any-one.” Karzai has beenrunning Afghanistan sinceUS-led forces and alliedAfghan factions over-threw the Taleban Gov-ernment in 2001. The 51-year-old won the preside-ntial election in 2004 butis under pressure becauseof a steady increase inviolence and the weak-ness of his government.

MNA/Reuters

Probe of House Speaker will not affectinvestors’ confidence

yuth is innocent.Yongyuth, former

deputy leader of thePeople Power Party(PPP), which forms thecore of the six-partycoalition government,earlier said he had beenframed by a conspiracy ofunidentified persons whowished to have the rulingparty dissolved by courtaction.

The Election Com-mission is to rule on the

fate of Yongyuth nextweek. Yongyuth waselected as the HouseSpeaker last month.However, the Parliamentmember from northernChiang Rai Province wascharged of involving inseveral electoral fraudsduring the general electionon 23 December last year.

MNA/Xinhua

China expresses concernabout US bid to shoot down

damaged satelliteEx-Philippine officials urge

Arroyo Cabinet to resign

A woman chooses book at the International Book

Fair which is opened on 14 Feb in Havana,

capital of Cuba. —INTERNET

NAIROBI, 18 Feb—

Any outside attempt to

force through a political

deal in Kenya would be a

mistake and the solution

to the post-election crisis

lies with Kenyans, Foreign

Minister Moses Wetan-

gula said on Sunday. US

Secretary of State

Condoleezza Rice due in

Nairobi on Monday to

support mediation efforts

led by former UN chief

Kofi Annan.

“We encourage our

friends to support us and

not to make any mistake

of putting a gun to

anybody’s head and

saying ‘either-or’ because

that cannot work,”

Wetangula told reporters.

“Even if we get visitors

to help us in any way

possible, the answer to the

problem in Kenya lies with

Kenyans themselves.”

Later, a White House

spokeswoman said Rice

did not expect her visit to

Kenya says forcing a

deal would be a mistakeforge a deal, nor would she

be offering incentives to

encourage the feuding

sides to strike a pact.

“Secretary Rice

doesn’t expect, I don’t

think, to come away

with a final deal,” the

spokeswoman said.

MNA/Reuters

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:41 PM4

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008 5

US recalls record 65 million kg of beef

Troubled bank Northern Rockto be nationalized

The US Department of Agriculture said onSunday it had recalled 143 million pounds (65million kg) of beef produced by a California

company, marking the largest meat recall in thecountry’s history.—INTERNET

BEIJING, 18 Feb—TheUS Department ofAgriculture said onSunday it had recalled 143million pounds (65 millionkg) of beef produced bya California company,marking the largest meat

recall in the country’shistory. The departmentdescribed it as a Class 2recall, meaning there wasa low risk of illness. Therecall was ordered becausethe plant violated rulesbarring the slaughter of

Contractorsassemble a

model helicopterat the exhibition

booth ofNorthrop

Grumman at thesite of theSingapore

Airshow. Theairshow will beheld from 19-24

Feb.INTERNET

LONDON, 17 Feb—British troubled bankNorthern Rock is to benationalized, British

Finance Minister (Chan-cellor of the Exchequer)Alistair Darling an-nounced Sunday.

“Northern Rock is to bebrought under temporarypublic ownership,” Dar-ling said in a statement ata Press conference at 11Downing Street.

“The move meets theobjective of protectingtaxpayers’ money. Private

proposals did not deliversufficient value formoney,” he said.

Neither of the two privateproposals delivered “suf-ficient value for money tothe taxpayer,” Darling said.Sir Richard Branson’sVirgin Group and a rivalin-house managementteam had both tabled offersfor the lender.

“Myself and the primeminister feel this is theright option,” the Chan-cellor said, adding “Thisis a temporary measure.The long-term future ofthe bank must lie in theprivate sector.”

He said “market con-ditions will improve” andit would be wrong to“abandon the asset.”

Darling said “confidenttaxpayer will get backevery penny paid by theBank of England (thecentral bank).”—Internet

Buildings are reflected in the windows of NorthernRock’s Leicester branch, central England in this

4 Feb, 2008 file photograph.—XINHUA

UK supermarkets withdraw tainted salmon products

“downer” cattle in almostall cases as a precautionagainst Bovin SpongiformEnce-phalopathy (BSE),commonly known as mad-cow disease. Downerrefers to cattle unable towalk. Westland/HallmarkMeat Co of Chino is takingback all raw and frozenproducts it has producedsince 1 Feb, 2006, becausethe cattle didn’t receivecomplete and properinspection, according to adepartment statement.

The department toldreporters it was not surehow much of the recalledmeat had been consumed,but that there was a veryremote chance of anyonebecoming ill from con-suming these products.

Internet

Chavez says may createwindfall oil tax

CARACAS, 18 Feb— Venezuela may create a windfalltax on oil profits generated by rising oil prices, PresidentHugo Chavez said on Sunday, extending the OPECnation’s efforts to increase revenue from the oilindustry. The leftist leader said Venezuela could sueExxon Mobil for unpaid oil taxes, just days afterrevelations that Exxon won court orders freezing up to12 billion US dollars in Venezuelan assets to ensurecompensation for a nationalized oil project.

Chavez also repeated threats to cut oil sales to theUnited States if Washington attacks the South Americannation. The windfall tax would represent the fourthincrease in oil taxes in as many years as part of Chavez’sdrive to increase revenue from the oil industry andincrease state control over oil fields, a crusade thatsparked the current legal tussle with Exxon.

“If the price of oil continues to strengthen between80 US dollars and 100 US dollars per barrel, I think itis necessary to apply this tax,” Chavez said during hisweekly broadcast held at the Cerro Negro oil projectonce run by Exxon.—MNA/Reuters

E C O N O M I C N E W S

Mexico, Cuba to boost trade after debt deal

LONDON, 18 Feb—Tensupermarkets havewithdrawn fresh salmonproducts because of fearsthey could be tainted bydiesel, the Food StandardsAgency (FSA) said.

In a statement, theagency said the affectedproducts could have anunpleasant “white spirit”taste but were unlikely tobe a risk to health as thechemicals causing theproblem were at lowlevels.

The salmon had beensupplied by seafoodcompany Marine Harvestto retailer Morrisons andto food firm Young’sSeafood, which suppliesfish products for other

supermarkets. Marine Harvest is

investigating the cause ofthe contamination, whichit believes is diesel, theFSA said.

The following super-markets have taken the

affected salmon productsoff their shelves: Asda,Booths, Budgens, theCo-op, Nisa-Today’s,Sains-bury’s, ShopRite,Somerfield, Tesco, as wellas Morrisons.

MNA/Reuters

MEXICO CITY, 18 Feb—Mexico on Sunday agreedto restructure 400 millionUS dollars in Cuban debtand re-open credit lineswith Havana after a six-year hiatus to boostbilateral trade amid im-proving diplomatic ties.

Officials from Mexico’sforeign trade bankBancomext, who signed

the deal in Havana, saidthe agreement would lifttrade flows that fell to ahistoric low of 200 millionUS dollars in 2007, lessthan half the levels of the1990s.

“With the signing of thisagreement ... a great stephas been made tonormalize financial andcommercial ties between

both countries,” Ban-comext said in a statement,without giving details ofthe restructuring plan.

No one at Bancomextwas immediately avai-lable for comment.

Traditionally closeties between Mexico andCuba hit a low in 2004when Mexico criticizedCuba’s human rightsrecord at the UnitedNations and former Pre-sident Vicente Fox with-drew Mexico’s ambas-sador to Havana.

MNA/Reuters

Trademark of Blu-Ray

DVD technology is

displayed at an

electronic shop in

Tokyo on 17 Feb,

2008.—INTERNET

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:42 PM5

6 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008

Earthquake hits NewZealand’s South Island

WELLINGTON, 17 Feb — New Zealands SouthIsland’s Fiordland and the West Coast were shakenby an earthquake measuring 5.0 on Richter Scale onFriday, but caused no damages, the GNS Sciencesaid.

The tremor struck the area at 06:32 p m local time(0532 GMT). It was centred 60 kilometres northwest of the Milford Sound and was five kilometresdeep. The quake was likely to have been felt bypeople in the Fiordland and southern West Coastregions, GNS said. — MNA/Xinhua

Kenya elders demand goatfrom Kibaki

90 militants surrender toPakistani security forces

ISLAMABAD, 17 Feb — Up to 90 militants laiddown their arms before the security forces innorthwestern Pakistan on Saturday.

The 90 militants surrendered to the authorities ata ceremony attended by some local administrationofficials in Swat District of North West FrontierProvince, the official Associated Press of Pakistanreported, adding that the militants vowed to remainpeaceful in the future.

Meanwhile, security forces arrested another eightmilitants in Tehsil Kabal of Swat District, said thereport. The security forces launched a major operationagainst local militants in Swat district in Novemberlast year, vowing to clear the area of militants.

MNA/Xinhua

China, Lao FMs in discussion topromote ties

Chinese automotive workers build Chery brand QQ6 cars on the assemblyline at their factory in Wuhu, Anhui Province in December 2007. Chinasuffered its first defeat at the World Trade Organization after it upheld acomplaint by the United States, European Union and Canada over import

tariffs on car parts, sources close to the case said.—INTERNET

A boy from the Kikuyutribe, displaced duringpost-election violence,sits near a cooking potat a police station in

Bahati, on theoutskirts of Nakuru,

west of Nairobi, on 15,Feb, 2008.INTERNET

BEIJING, 17 Feb —Chinese Foreign Min-ister Yang Jiechi andLao Deputy Prime Minis-ter and Minister ofForeign Affairs ThonglounSisoulith exchanged viewson strengthening enhancingties between the two nationshere on Friday.

China and Laos havewitnessed a sound mo-mentum of bilateralties featuring frequenthigh-level exchanges,economic cooperation and

coordination on inter-national and regionalaffairs, Yang said.

He expressed ap-preciation for Lao’s supportof the one-China policy,adding China is willing tomake joint efforts with Laosto push the two-way ties toa new high.

Thongloun said Laohighly emphasized itsrelationship with China,consistently pursued theone-China policy, andhoped the cooperation

between the two countrieswould produce new fruitsin various fields.

The two sidesexchanged views onthe Third Summit ofthe Greater MekongSubregion EconomicCooperation Programme tobe hosted by Laos.

The Greater-Mekongsubregion comprisessix countries, namelyCambodia, China, Laos,Myanmar, Thailand, andVietnam.

MNA/Xinhua

NAIROBI, 18 Feb—Kenyan elders havedemanded a goat fromPresident Mwai Kibaki ascompensation for analleged assault by FirstLady Lucy Kibaki, localmedia said on Sunday.

The governmentdenies the allegation bymember of ParliamentGitobu Imanyara who hadthreatened to sue Kibaki’swife. Imanyara said hewas assaulted last monthat State House.

The Sunday Standardnewspaper said a councilof traditional elders, theNjuri Cheke, met onFriday and decided to takeup the legislator’s case.

“They have demand-

ed a fine of a he-goat andan unreserved apologyfrom the First Family.”The paper said the elderswanted the matterresolved according toMeru tribal customs.

Kibaki is wrestlingwith a crisis over hisdisputed re-election thathas triggered widespreadethnic bloodshed.

The Presidential PressService said Lucy’slawyers would take actionagainst Imanyara’s “wildallegations”, which it saidbordered on characterassassination, blackmailand were part of a widerpolitical scheme aimed attarnishing her office.

MNA/Reuters

Projectile hits Egyptian building on Gaza border ISMAILIA (Egypt), 18

Feb— A locally madePalestinian rocketexploded on the Egyptianside of the crossing pointwith Gaza on Sunday,damaging an Egyptianadministrative building,security sources said.

There were no injuries.The rocket, about 50

centimetre (20 inches)long, knocked outcommunications at theEgyptian border post butthe building was desertedbecause it landed early inthe morning, they said.

“Maybe it landedthere by mistake and wasmeant to go into Israel.We have informed thePalestinian side and askedfor explanations,” said asecurity source who askednot to be named.

The Rafah crossing iswhere tens of thousandsof Palestinians brokethrough into Egypt lastmonth to seek relief fromthe blockade imposed byIsrael.

Egypt has sinceresealed the border but ithas been holding talkswith the PalestinianIslamist movementHamas, which controlsGaza, on how the bordermight reopen.

MNA/Reuters

Workers repair a power line on a steel tower withthe help of a line-laying airship, in Guiyang,

capital of southwest China’s Guizhou Province,on 17 Feb, 2008.— INTERNET

Mortars hit Somali presidentialcomplex, Yusuf safe

MOGADISHU, 18 Feb—Somali PresidentAbdullahi Yusuf was unharmed on Sunday aftersuspected Islamist insurgents hit his officialpresidential complex in Mogadishu with mortarbombs for a second day, one of his aides said.

Witnesses said the shelling wounded at leastfive people, but a presidential aide told Reuters thatYusuf was safe and the mortars did not land anywherenear his private quarters.

“Five mortars were fired at the president’shouse, one of them landed outside the gate of thepalace wounding two women and three men,”witness Abdulahi Mohamed told Reuters by phone.

MNA/Reuters

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:42 PM6

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008 7

People in Chin State raise mythum as a traditional

business. In Chin State, the number of mythums

belonging to a family indicates its wealth.

Traditionally, Chin nationals serve their guests

mythum dish and pay mythums to those with

grievances for compensation.

Mythum is a member of the Gavarus family,

together with Gaur and Banteng. Commonly, they are

found in southeast Asia, eastern India, Bhutan, and

northwestern part of Myanmar.

These three wild cow species have no hump, a flat

shape between the two horns, a depression in the

forehead, a short nose, a short neck, and a plump back

along dorsal spine. They eat young grass, young

leaves, creepers and bamboo and are resistant well

enough to harsh weather.

Mythum lives in groups in regions especially

around pastures at an altitude between 3000 and

10,000 feet above sea level. In Myanmar, mythum is

Mythum farming with promising trendMaung Aung (LBVD)

found in Chin State, northern Sagaing Division, and

northern Kachin State. According to the census

collected in 2003-2004, the mythum population of

Naungmon, Machanbaw and Khaunglanphu regions

in Kachin was 938, that of Chin State, 32,491, and

that of Leshi Township 759.

With short and big legs, Mythum is bigger than

Myanmar cow. On average, a mythum weighs from

800 to 1300 lbs. Its growth rate is higher than that of

a cow and it is fully-grown between one and a half and

two years, earlier than a cow.

On average, a female mythum gives birth once a

year for 15 times.

When born, a baby mythum is reddish and then it

becomes dark gradually. A female mythum weans

when its baby is at the age of about 4 months.

Mythum eats natural plants and grows fast. When

it is at the age of one year, its meat can be consumed.

Its growth is on a par with that of cows of foreign

species. About 80 to 120 viss of meat can be got from

a 3-to-4 year-old mythum.

In Chin State, mythums are kept naturally in

forests from January and beyond, and in farms from

May to December. It likes salt. And in an area about

30 out of 50 households keep mythum.

In general, mythum is resistant to diseases.

However, it may suffer from foot and mouth disease,

anthrax, and blackleg. So, in the period of keeping

mythums in farms, they should be vaccinated.

A farmer can make profits in a short time,

keeping mythums at minimum cost. Its growth rate

gets better if it is fed with a mixture of corn and salt.

The Head of State gave guidance on measures for

development of mythum farming in Chin State for

improving the socio-economic life of Chin nationals.

In its bid to putting the guidance into reality, the

Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries provided K 110

million as a farming loan to Chin State in 2003. And

the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department

gave talks on animal infectious diseases and gave

treatments to ill mythums in the region. Moreover,

prizes for outstanding performances in breeding

mythums are presented to the winners on the World

Food Day to help increase the population of mythums.

In recognition of the progress in mythum farming

and response to the report of Chin nationals, the

government provided a loan of K 150 million to Chin

State and K 12 million to Sagaing Division through

the Livestock and Fisheries Bank in 2006-2007.

As a result, Myanmar’s mythum population

increased from 34,188 in 2003-2004 to 52,981 in

2007—50,988 in Chin State, 1024 in Kachin State,

and 969 in Sagaing Division. The Ministry of

Livestock and Fisheries is now taking steps for

development of mythum farming, improving living

conditions and development of Chin State.

Translation: MS

The Head of State gave guidance on measures for

development of mythum farming in Chin State for improving

the socio-economic life of Chin nationals. In its bid to putting

the guidance into reality, the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries

provided K 110 million as a farming loan to Chin State in 2003.

And the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department gave

talks on animal infectious diseases and gave treatments to ill

mythums in the region. Moreover, prizes for outstanding

performances in breeding mythums are presented to the

winners on the World Food Day to help increase the population

of mythums.

DAMASCUS, 18 Feb—Syrian Minister ofPetroleum and MineralResources Sufian al-Alawsaid on Sunday that theSyrian PetroleumCompany has completedwork of the Arab GasPipeline within the Syrianlands, the official SANAnews agency reported.

“The pipeline is nowready to transport gasfrom Egypt throughJordan and to the stationsof Tishreen and Deir Ali”of Syria, Alaw said during

Syria completes first stage of Arab gas pipelinea field visit to the gasreception station on theSyrian-Jordanian bor-ders.

He said that the Arabpipeline was connected tothe Syrian gas network inTishreen station and thegas pressure is enough forcalibration and tests,expressing hope that theJordanian side willfinalize work on thepipeline in Jordan withindays.

The Syrian Petro-leum Company will begin

work on the second stageof the pipeline, whichextends from north-western Syrian city ofAleppo to the Turkishborders, estimating thatthe work will be taken ayear and a half, he noted.

He added that Egyptwill pump 900 millioncubic metres of gas toSyria within the first yearand the amount willincrease gradually to meetSyria’s increasingdemand.

MNA/Xinhua

LOS ANGELES, 18Feb—A Chinese garden,named Liu Fang Yuan orFlowing Fragrance, wasformally opened to thepublic Saturday aftermany years of work.

The garden, locatedon the grounds of theHuntington Library in LosAngeles, brings one of thelargest classical Chinesegardens outside China toSouthern California.

“The garden is amagnificent window thatthe people of California

Chinese garden opens in Los Angelesnow have into the Chineseculture, which doesn’texist anywhere else,”Huntington boardchairman Stewart R.Smith said at an invitation-only event for hundredsof dignitaries, donors andsupporters.

The garden’s 18.3-million-dollar first phasewas powered by alandmark partnershipbetween the Huntingtonand the region’s fast-growing and increasinglyinfluential Chinese

American community.The Huntington

Library, long seen as astaid and largelyEurocentric institution,recognized that ethnicChinese were rapidlychanging the neighbour-hood — and the world —and sought the ethniccommunity’s help inbringing a 20-year gardenvision to fruition,according to Suzy Moser,the library’s assistant vice-president for advance-ment.—MNA/Xinhua

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:42 PM7

8 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008

(from page 1) and technocrats at a timewhen the nation is in theprocess of training andproducing human re-

University of Computer Studies (Sittway) opened…

sources and to make a con-stant study in order to keepabreast of the internationalcommunity.

Next, the PrimeMinister and party pro-ceeded to Pyaing ChaungDam in Kyauktaw Town-ship where they inspectedflow of water into the damand water supply of thedam and fulfilled the re-quirements.

At the briefinghall, Director of IrrigationDepartment U Tun AungLwin reported on the sali-ent points of the damproject to the Prime Min-ister who spoke of the needto strive for extended cul-tivation of summer paddyand for the use of electric-ity to be generated from

the dam.On arrival at

Kyauktaw by helicopter,the Prime Minister andparty were welcomed by

Brig-Gen Ye Aung ofKyauktaw Station and de-partmental officials.

First, the PrimeMinister inspectedKissapanadi Bridge andgave instructions of main-tenance of the facility.

At the office ofKyauktaw TownshipPDC, the Prime Ministermet with departmental of-ficials, entrepreneurs, so-cial organizations andtownselders. At the meet-ing, the Chairman ofKyauktaw Township PDCreported on area and loca-tion of the township, or-ganizational set-up, culti-vation of ten major cropsincluding paddy, self-suf-ficiency in rice and edibleoil, cultivation of new item

crops, perennial crops andphysic nut, cultivation ofquality strain crops to meetthe target, extended breed-ing of prawns, develop-

ment of education andhealth sectors, implemen-tation of national devel-opment tasks in line withthe guidance of the Headof State and requirementsto be fulfilled.

The Prime Min-ister said that the wholeRakhine State includingKyauktaw Township hasseen unprecedented devel-opment and has been insurplus of rice and urgedofficials and local peopleto make continued effortsfor the economic devel-opment.

Blessed withnatural resources, RakhineState is to make relentlessefforts for improvementof socio-economic life ofthe people, making betteruse of infrastructures cre-ated by the government,he noted.

The Prime Min-ister stressed the need toensure community peaceand prevalence of law andorder, to nurture youths tobe morally upright and tobecome those who abideby rules and regulations,to effectively carry outhealth care services for thepeople and to take part inthe process of transitionto democracy togetherwith the government.

Afterwards, thePrime Minister presentedgifts provided by the re-spective ministries for so-cial organizations to offi-cials concerned.

Next, he cordiallygreeted those present onthe occasion.

Later, the PrimeMinister and party arrivedat Kyauktaw TownshipPeople’s Hospital (25-bed) and heard a report onoutbreak of diseases,

medical treatment, avail-ability of medicines andsetting up of trust fundsfor the hospital and re-quirements and called ondoctors, nurses and hos-pital staff to dischargetheir duties with goodwill,to impart health knowl-edge and give educativetalks to the people in co-operation with local au-thorities and social or-ganizations.

After presentingK 500,000 to the trustfunds of the hospital, thePrime Minister inspectedmedical wards, operationtheatre and medical store.

On arrival at MahaMuni Pagoda inKyauktaw, the PrimeMinister and party werewelcomed by Chairman ofthe Pagoda Board ofTrustees U San Hla andmembers.

(See page 9)

Prime Minister General Thein Sein pays homage to Buddha Image at Yanaung Zeya (a) Shitthaung Patodawgyi in MraukU. — MNA

Prime Minister General Thein Sein donates cash to members of boardof trustees for Maha Muni Buddha Image in Kyauktaw Township.

MNA

Prime Minister General Thein Sein inspects lecture room of University of Computer Studies.MNA

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:42 PM8

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008 9

(from page 8)They offered flowers, lights, water and

Shwethingan to the Buddha image. They also donatedcash to the Chairman of the Pagoda Board of Trusteeswho presented the picture of the Buddha image.

The Prime Minister and party went to MraukUwhere they visited Yanaung Zeya Pagoda or ShitthaungPagoda built by Rakhine King Minbargyi.

They were conducted round the works of artdepicting the lives of the Buddha at the pagoda byDeputy Director U Saw Lwin of cultural heritagepreservation division in MraukU. They donated cashand signed in the visitors’ book.

University of ComputerStudies (Sittway) opened…

As a house ill-thatched the rain pierces through so does lust piercethrough the uncultivated mind.

Lust pierces throughthe uncultivated mind

Dhammapada 13

The Prime Minister met officials and towneldersat the Township Peace and Development CouncilOffice. Chairman of Township PDC U Tint Naing Ooreported on measures undertaken for regionaldevelopment.

The Prime Minister said he would promptly fulfillrequirements and the government has been providingnecessary assistance to economic, health and educationsectors with the intention of achieving equitabledevelopment in all regions.

He urged the service personnel to organize thepeople, to utilize the better foundations and to makeendeavours for raising the living standard of the people.

Next, the Prime Minister presented provisions andgifts to social associations through officials concernedand he cordially greeted those present.

The Prime Minister visited 25-bed hospital inMraukU and urged the staff to make efforts to becomea hospital on which the people rely and provide widerhealth care services to the patients. He donated K500,000 to the fund through Medical SuperintendentDr Shwe Thein. The Prime Minister visited wards formen and women, X-ray unit, operation theatre andmedical store.—MNA

Minister Maj-Gen Aung Min inspects Loco-motive Shed in Insein Township. — MR

NAY PYI TAW, 16 Feb — The opening ceremonyof the 7th Medical Education Seminar of the Departmentof Medical Science under the Ministry of Health wasopened at the meeting hall of the ministry, here, thismorning.

Deputy Minister for Health Dr Paing Soemade an opening speech on the occasion.

Afterwards, Director-General of theDepartment of Medical Science Professor Dr ThanMyint, deputy directors-general, rectors, directors andfaculty members took part in the discussions to considerthe entrance system for pursuing medical science andits related subjects.

The seminar continues tomorrow. —MNA

7th Medical EducationSeminar opened

Prime Minister General Thein Sein donates K 500,000 to the fund of 25-bed hospital inMraukU. — MNA

YANGON, 18 Feb — Minister for RailTransportation Maj-Gen Aung Min, together withDeputy Minister U Pe Than and Myanma RailwaysManaging Director U Min Swe, met officials concernedof the Myanma Rialways Locomotive Shed in InseinTownship this morning.

The minister inspected work site where diesellocomotives are being repiared to improve theircapacity, assembling of diesel locomotives and coaches.

He also inspected upgrading of Insein Stationand extending of its yards. He also went to No 7 DieselEngine Factory and inspected maintenance of coachesand RBE Rail Bus.

In the afternoon, Deputy Minister U Pe Thaninspected Mahlwagon-Setsan Goods sheds. — MNA

Minister inspects Insein Locomotive Shed

NAY PYI TAW, 18 Feb—Minister for Immigrationand Population Maj-Gen Maung Maung Swe receivedDirector Ms Lim and Senior Desk Officer Mr JeanMarie Garelli to Asia-Pacific Region of the UnitedNations High Commissioner for Refugees at theformer’s office here this afternoon.

MNA

YANGON, 18 Feb—Chairman of Yangon CityDevelopment Committee Mayor Brig-Gen Aung TheinLin inspected Yangon City Water Supply Project(Ngamoeyeik) Water Purification Plant nearNyaunghnapin camp in Hmawby Township this morn-ing.

The officials briefed the mayor on undertak-ings being carried out for supplying 45-million-gallonmore drinking water to Yangon daily and the mayorattended to the needs.

It is learnt that about 40 per cent of the projecthas been completed.

Next, the Mayor inspected the road works inMingaladon Township.—MNA

Mayor inspectsNgamoeyeik WaterPurification Plant

Minister receivesUNHCR representatives

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:42 PM9

10 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008

NAY PYI TAW, 18Feb — Minister for ElectricPower No 1 Col Zaw Mininspected the Yeywa hydroelectric power project beingimplemented on Myitngeriver near Ye-Yamanvillage 31 miles south-eastof Mandalay on 16February morning. At thebriefing hall, ConstructionGroup 2 Director U MyintZaw reported on progress

NAY PYI TAW, 18 Feb — Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung yesterday inspected Cotton SeedsGrinding Factory and Dyeing Factory in Myingyanand Vest Factory in Taungtha of Myanma TextileFactory and fulfilled the needs.

He viewed storage of Bonezin Dam to extendlywater supply to Taungtha and its environs, and thrivingof local farmers’ onion plantations on the banks ofSintewa Creek near Welaung Village in the town.

MNA

YANGON, 18 Feb —Lt-Gen Myint Swe ofMinistry of Defence, accompanied by Chairman ofYangon Division Peace and Development CouncilCommander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Hla HtayWin, inspected No 5 Agricultural Machinery Factoryof Agriculture Mechanization Department inYwathagyi in Dagon Myothit (South) Township today.

During the inspection tour, Lt-Gen Myint Sweand Commander Maj-Gen Hla Htay Win inspectedproduction of machinery parts for power tillers at thefactory.

At the briefing hall of the factory, Director-General of Agriculture Mechanization Department UWin Maw reported on matters related to production ofpower tillers.

Machinery produced by the factory are sent tofactories of Agriculture Mechanization Department inKyaikalo and No 1 Agricultural Machinery Factory inMayangon Township to assemble power tillers there.

After hearing reports, Lt-Gen Myint Swe calledfor exceeding the manufactured target of the factory.

No 5 Agricultural Machinery Factory(Ywathagyi) has mainly manufactured engines andmachinery parts for Leya 22 power tillers.

Agriculture Mechanization Department setsits target of producing 6,000 power tillers in the 2007-2008 fiscal year, and so far, it has already manufactured5,000 power tillers.

Lt-Gen Myint Swe also visited the IndustrialTown in Dagon Myothit (East) Township today andmet with industrialists.

Lt-Gen Myint Swe inspects No 5 Agricultural MachineryFactory in Dagon Myothit (South)

At the meeting, Chairman of the ManagementCommittee for the Industrial Town U Nay Win Swereported on production of import-substitute materialsincluding foodstuff, forest products, stationery,household goods, steelware, vehicles and machineryby 29 factories in the town.

Afterwards, Lt-Gen Myint Swe visitedDiamond Star Flour Mill, Myanmar Star FeedstuffFactory, Top Choice Stationery Factory, Summit PlasticFactory and Finished Wood Factory of National WoodIndustry Co Ltd.

MNA

Minister inspectsfactories in Myingyan,

Taungtha

Yeywa hydro electric powerproject inspected

of the project, future plans,arrival of machinery andarrangements for deliveringthem to the project.

The ministerstressed the need tocomplete the task in timeand fulfilled therequirements.

Next, the ministerlooked into the installationof pen stocks pipes,concrete works andconstruction of flit bucketand spillway.

After that, theminister inspected theundertakings to install theBottom Outlet GateChamber and constructionof power station, concreteworks, earth works,production of steel pipesand test-production of brickblock.

In meeting withengineers and staff, theminister fulfilled therequirements.

Upon completion,the project will be able togenerate 3,550 millionKWH—MNA

Painting donated toNational Museum

YANGON, 18 Feb—The ceremony to donate apainting to the National Museum under Ministry ofCulture was held at the National Museum on PyayRoad, here, this afternoon.

First, Japanese artist Ms Yoko Yamada,chairperson of Asian artists association and memberof Japanese artists association explained the purposesof the donation and presented the 162x130 cm oilpainting, Ceremony of the Full Moon to the NationalMuseum through U San Win, Director-General ofDepartment of Archaeology, National Museum andLibrary.

The director-general presented certificate ofhonour to her and spoke words of thanks.

MNA

Lt-Gen Myint Swe inspects No 5 Agricultural Machinery Factory (Ywathagyi) in Dagon Myothit(South) Township. — MNA

Minister U Aung Thaung inspects Vest Factory in Taungtha.

INDUSTRY-1

Artist Ms Yoko Yamada presents oil paintingto National Museum through an official.

MNA

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:42 PM10

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008 11

Japan’s MizuhoSakaguchi, left,

battles the ball withNorth Korea’s Kil Son

Hui during the EastAsian Football

Federation Women’sFootball

Championship 2008Final Competation inChongqing, China, on

18 Feb, 2008.INTERNET

Minke whales in the Southern Ocean. The longest continuous record of temperature changes in theSouthern Ocean has found that Antarctic waters are warming and sea levels are rising, an

Australian scientist said on Monday.—INTERNET

A Czech doctor performs in-vitro fertilization at the Clinic of ReproductiveMedicine and Gynaecology, in Zlin.—INTERNET

A resident dressed as “Zhu Bajie”, a character from the Chinese classic“Journey to the West”, dances during the Shehuo performance in

Changzhi, Shanxi Province on 18 Feb, 2008.—INTERNET

HANOI, 18 Feb — Vietnam and Laoshave agreed to plant 59 border markersalong neighbouring provinces this year,local newspaper Vietnam News reportedon Monday.

During a four-day meeting in Laosconcluding on Sunday, the two sidesagreed upon a detailed plan for a projecton planting and upgrading the Vietnam-Laos border marker system with a totalof 826 border markers along theneighbouring provinces. They also

Vietnam, Laos set border markergoal in 2008

agreed upon a 2008 estimated budgetfor the project, which will be reportedto the two governments.

Vice chairman of the NationalBorder Committee under theVietnamese Ministry of ForeignAffairs, Nguyen Hong Thao, and headof the National Border Committeeunder the Lao Foreign Ministry,Phoukhao Phommavongsa, attendedthe meeting.

MNA/Xinhua

The Moon as seenin Jakarta duringthe start of a totallunar eclipse in2007. The Moonwill turn an eerieshade of red for

people in thewestern

hemisphere late 20February and

early 21 February.INTERNET

Qatar firm to build oilrefinery in MalaysiaKUALA LUMPUR, 18 Feb — A company from

Qatar will build a 15 billion ringgit (4.55 bllion USdollars) oil refinery in Manjong, Malaysian nothernPerak state, local media reported on Monday.

The Perak government and Gulf Petroleum(Malaysia) Sdn Bhd signed a memorandum ofunderstanding in Ipoh, capital of Perak on Sunday.

The project will be developed over theree phases.It will comprise an oil refincry, a petrochemical plantand storage facility. It is expected to be completed inthree years.

The project, located on a 400-hactare site, willfuther boost the in vestment climate in Perak.

MNA/Xinhua

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890

I m a g e sI m a g e so f t h eo f t h e

D a yD a y

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:42 PM11

12 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

CLAIMS DAY NOTICEMV XIANG FENG VOY NO (8009 )

Consignees of cargo carried on MV XIANG FENGVOY NO (8009 ) are hereby notified that the vessel willbe arriving on 19.2.2008 and cargo will be dischargedinto the premises of A.W.P.T where it will lie at theconsignee’s risk and expenses and subject to the byelawsand conditions of the Port of Yangon.

Damaged cargo will be surveyed daily from 8 amto 11:20 am and 12 noon to 4 pm up to Claims Day nowdeclared as the third day after final discharge of cargofrom the vessel.

No claims against this vessel will be admitted afterthe Claims Day.

SHIPPING AGENCY DEPARTMENTMYANMA PORT AUTHORITY

AGENT FOR: M/S CHINA SHIPPING(MALAYSIA) AGENCY SDN BHD

Phone No: 256908/378316/376797

Militants blow up threepolling stations in Pakistan

French NGOs urge Sarkozyto rethink France-African ties

PARIS, 17 Feb—Several French NGOshave appealed toPresident Nicolas Sarkozyto implement the newpolicy that he hadpromised on Africa.

“A new policy isnecessary,” Fabrice Tarrit,a senior official with theAssociation for Survival,said on the eve of Sarkozy'ssecond visit to sub-SaharanAfrica that is set to takehim to Angola and SouthAfrica in late February.

During his speech,Tarrit made particularreference to the “malaise”that had been caused byParis’ “intervention” tosave the regime ofChadian President IdrissDeby Itno during a recent

rebel uprising.“The policy that was

promised is taking toolong to come true,” saidJean Merckaert, whoworks for the CatholicDevelopment Committeeagainst Hun-ger, listing anumber of “worryingsigns”. Among them, hecited the first trip to Africaby the President that“began in Libya and endedin Gabon”, with thefamous “Dakar speech”,which has been very badlyperceived by Africans, orthe recent move by Frenchcourts not to followthrough with investiga-tion into complaints over“African wealth stashedaway in French banks.”

MNA/Xinhua

Pakistani town undercurfew after blast kills 39

PARACHINAR (Pakis-tan), 18 Feb —Authorities imposed acurfew in a northwesternPakistani town on Sundaya day after a suicidebomber attacked sup-porters of assassinatedprime minister BenazirBhutto killing 39 people,an official said.

Saturday’s blast inthe town of Parachinarnear the Afghan border

was the most deadlyduring a campaign for a18February general electionthat nuclear-armed Pakis-tan’s allies hope will helprestore stability.

“We haved imposed acurfew to avert any riots. Ifthe situation remains calmthen we may relax it,”Zaheer-ul-Islam, the dis-trict’s top governmentadministrator, told Reuters.

MNA/Reuters

Clashes erupt in Beirutbetween rival supporters

Israeli tanks maneuver on their way back from an

operation in the Gaza Strip, Israel, on 17 Feb,

2008. Israeli troops backed by aircraft and tanks

clashed with Palestinian militants firing mortars

and machine guns near Gaza’s former

international airport on Sunday, killing three

gunmen and a civilian, health officials said.

INTERNET

BEIRUT, 18 Feb —Clashes broke out inBeirut on Saturday nightbetween supporters fromrival political camps,leaving 14 people injured,local New TV reported.

The TV footageshowed that knives, stonesand rods were used in thedispute, broken glasseswere spread in the areas ofRas Al Nabeh and BourjAbi Haidae in the westernside of Beirut, as shopsand buildings were setablaze in the area.

The Lebanese Armyintervened and fired intothe air to separate the twosides, but they were bothchanting against eachother. Prior reports saidthat the fighting involvedsupporters of ruling

majority leader SaadHariri and rivals in theopposition Shiitemovement Amal. But theofficial National NewsAgency reported that Amaldenies any of its supporterswere involved in the

violence. Similar clasheshave been taking placealmost every nightbetween pro-governmentSunni supporters andopposition supporters inthe western part of Beirut.

MNA/Xinhua

26 Chinese rescued from cargooff Philippine coast

MANILA, 18 Feb—Twenty-six Chinese seamen havebeen rescued from a cargo that is sinking off thenorthern coast of the Philippines, a Chinese Embassyofficial in Manila said on Monday morning.

The Panama-registered cargo, with 28 crew memberson board, started to go down near the coast ofPhilippines’ Ilocos Norte Province at Sunday night,said Huang Li, the consulate official with the embassy,quoting sources of Chinese and Philippine marinerescue teams.Twenty-six seamen, before being trappedin the ocean, were quickly picked up by a passingJapanese crude vessel while the captain and a technicianinsisted staying on the sinking cargo to rescue thegoods.— MNA/Xinhua

ISLAMABAD, 17 Feb—Suspected militants onSaturday blew up threepolling stations inPakistan's tribal region,local TV channel Georeported.

Three polling stationswere destroyed in Khar,the centre of Bajur tribalagency, said the report.

There is no claim ofresponsibility of the attackon polling stations.

Elections werepostponed in the restiveSouth Waziristan tribalagency due to securityconcerns.

The Secretary ofElection CommissionKanwar MuhammadDilshad said allarrangements had beenfinalized to hold polls intransparent and peacefulmanner. He said therewere around 12,000sensitive polling stationsacross the country wherethe security would be tight.

MNA/Xinhua

Some 77 kilos ofheroin seized in

TurkeyANKARA, 18 Feb —

Turkish police confiscated77 kilos of heroin innorthwestern province ofKocaeli and AegeanProvince of Denizli, thesemi-official Anatolianews agency reported onFriday.

Acting on a tip-off,the police stopped a carthat was heading to thebiggest city of Istanbul inKocaeli’s Gebze Townand seized 50 kilos ofheroin.

Meanwhile, the policeseized 27 kilos of heroinin a vehicle in Denizli andtook into custody threepeople in suspectedconnection with the haul.

MNA/Xinhua

Thai police seizespeed pills on

train bound forBangkok

BANGKOK, 18 Feb —Thailand’s railway policeSaturday seized 100,000pills of methamphetamine,or called “speed pills”, ona train bound from northerncity of Chiang Mai for thecapital Bangkok. Accordingto the report of official ThaiNews Agency, following atip, railway police found thespeed pills in a bag stowedabove a passenger seat of atrain running from ChiangMai to Bangkok.

The report said thedrugs are as much as100,000 pills.

However, no arrestswere made since the policecould not associate thebaggage with a particularpassenger. No passengerswere sitting near where thebag was found but railwaypolice were able to collect afinger print and hope to beable to trace it.

MNA/Xinhua

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:42 PM12

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008 13

This image provided by NASA shows astronaut Rex Walheim, missionspecialist, as he translates along the outside of the Columbus laboratory, the

newest piece of hardware on the International Space Station,on 15 Feb, 2008. —INTERNET

A Gentoo penguin feeds two recently hatched chicks by regurgitating a snackon Ardley Island, Antarctica, in this file photo.—INTERNET

A boy stands next to his mother as she holds a picture of their detainedrelative during a ceremony at the Iraqi National Theatre in Baghdad

on 16 Feb, 2008.—INTERNET

HANGZHOU, 17 Feb —More than 90 per cent offemale netizens in Chinasee men around age 30 asideal husbands,according to the country’sfirst online love andmarriage survey.

One-third of womenwere willing to say “I do”to 35-year-old men andmen around age 40 couldstill win the hearts of 15.2per cent of female neti-zens, said the survey.

The poll covered154,386 netizens, among

TOKYO, 17 Feb — Twelve globally famouscompanies signed a declaration here on Friday with theWorld Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), pledging tomake joint efforts to fight against global warming.

The Tokyo Declaration, endorsed by companiessuch as Sony Corp, Nokia Corp, Nike Inc and Hewlett-Packard Co, calls for more than 50 per cent cut ofworld’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to “limitthe global average temperature increase to a maximumof two degrees Celsius compared to pre-industriallevels”. —MNA/Xinhua

LOS ANGELES, 17 Feb—US researchers havedeveloped a substance thatcan absorb C02 (carbondioxide) out of smoke-stacks and tailpipes,according to a new study.

The researchers at theUniversity of Californiain Los Angeles (UCLA)developed the CO2 suckerby synthesizing a newclass of sponge-likecrystals that can soak upcarbon dioxide, the pri-mary greenhouse gas in

GENEVA, 17 Feb —Nearly 130 countries havetaken the first stepstowards a new treaty tocombat tobacco smug-gling, blamed for higherconsumption and up to 50billion US dollars in losttax revenues each year,officials said on Friday.

The officials, from

Most Chinese female netizensfavour men around 30

whom males accountedfor 57.7 per cent. Womenaged 25 to 28 were themost popular choices formen. About 25.5 per centof male respondents werewilling to marry womenaged 30 but only 12.5 percent would accept womenaround 35, said the survey,released on Thursday.

Women face morepressure since their idealage for marriage is usuallylower than men’s, saidProfessor Jiang Qianjin, apsychological expert on

love and marriage atZhejiang University.

The one-monthsurvey, consisting of anoff-line questionnaire,online inquiry andprofessional analysis,was jointly conductedby a wedding servicewebsite (www. hon-gniang.com) andthe Beijing-basedCommittee of WeddingService Industries ofChina Association ofSocial Workers.

MNA/Xinhua

WHO takes aim at tobacco smugglingwith new pactseveral internationalagencies, were speakingafter the first negotiationsunder the World HealthOrganization (WHO).

They called for the pactto be ready for adoptionby 2010, adding politicalwill was needed.

They discussed a pro-tocol to the WHO inter-

national treaty on tobaccocontrol, which alreadybans sales to minors andtobacco advertising andsponsorship.

The United Nationsagency estimates fivemillion people die eachyear of tobacco-relateddiseases.

MNA/Reuters

12 big firms signdeclaration to fight

global warming

US researchers develop carbon dioxidesucker

industrial emissions, saidthe study published onFriday in the journalScience. The crystals,dubbed zeolitic imidazo-late frameworks, or ZIFs,are grids of metal atomsand organic molecules thatloosely trap carbon dio-xide as it drifts into micro-scopic pores.

The researchers beli-eve that atomic chargeshold the gas in place sothat the gas could then beburied, thus preventing it

from contributing to cli-mate change. One variety,called ZIF-69, is soabsorbent that a single litreof the material can hold 83litres of carbon dioxide,according to the study.

The crystals could betailored to capture carbondioxide emissions fromcoal-fired power plants,factories and other indus-trial sources, said UCLAchemist Omar Yaghi, wholed the study.

MNA/Xinhua

LONDON, 18 Feb—British scientists aredeveloping a treatmentwhich could allow dam-aged nerve fibres to rege-nerate within the spinalcord.

Researchers from theUniversity of Cambridge

British scientists developingspinal injury treatment

have identified a bacteriaenzyme called chondroi-tinase, which is capableof digesting moleculeswithin scar tissue to allowsome nerve fibres toregrow, according to theBBC on Sunday.

Spinal injuries are

difficult to treat becausethe body cannot repairdamage to the brain orspinal cord.

Nerves could regen-erate, but they are blockedby the scar tissue thatforms at the site of thespinal injury.

The enzyme alsopromotes nerve plasti-city, which potentiallymeans that remainingundamaged nerve fibreshave an increasedlikelihood of making newconnections that couldbypass the area ofdamage, said the report.

Preliminary tests showthat combining chondroi-tinase with rehabilitationproduces better resultsthan using either techni-que alone. However,trials have yet to begin inpatients.

MNA/Xinhua

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:42 PM13

14 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008

S P O R T S

Bundesliga match reportsBERLIN, 18 Feb —Brief reports of Bundesliga

matches played this weekend: Played on Sunday:

Hamburg SV 3 VfL Bochum 0 Hamburg won in the league for the first time since

November as they made light of the absence of Dutchplaymaker Rafael van der Vaart.

Ivica Olic gave them the lead five minutes beforethe break with a neat finish. In the second half DavidJarolim made sure by tapping in the second on therebound and side-footing in the third from 10 metres.

Hanover 96 0 Bayern Munich 3 Luca Toni scored a virtuoso hat-trick in the second

half to restore Bayern's three-point lead at the top ofthe table. Toni beat the offside trap to control a Markvan Bommel header and sweep the ball past RobertEnke on the turn in the 58th minute.

Six minutes later the Italian was too alert for theHanover defence once again, as he raced on to BastianSchweinsteiger's pass and finished calmly.

Toni completed the hat-trick by heading over Enkeafter the unfortunate keeper had saved a shot with hislegs, only to see the rebound go straight back to thestriker.

MNA/Reuters

Wenger denies Barca talkcelona.

Reports emanatingfrom Spain earlier thisweek suggested Barcawere lining up a move forWenger in the summer.

Barca are consideringreplacing Frank Rijkaardat Camp Nou and are be-lieved to have madeWenger their number onetarget to succeed theDutchman.

Wenger has shruggedoff the latest rumours andsays he is happy at Arse-nal.—Internet

LONDON, 17 Feb—Ar-senal boss Arsene Wengerhas rejected talk linkinghim with a move to Bar-

Arsene Wenger

Rooney hails United’s optionsLONDON, 17 Feb—

Wayne Rooney believesManchester United haveriches in abundance intheir bid for the treble.

The dream is still alivefollowing the 4-0 defeatof title rivals Arsenal inthe FA Cup.

Next up is a UEFAChampions League matchagainst Lyon on Wednes-day followed by a Pre-mier League clash withNewcastle three days later.

Rooney feels United'sstrength in depth couldhold the key in the comingweeks.

Certainly they havemarvellous options in themiddle of the park.

There lies a cast list ofCristiano Ronaldo, RyanGiggs, Paul Scholes,Michael Carrick, Owen

Wayne Rooney believesManchester United.

PL push ahead with39th game talks

Gilberto issues Naniwarning

Hargreaves, Nani,Anderson, Ji-Sung Park,and Darren Fletcher.

"Last season we had toplay all the players inevery game," said Rooney.

"But this season you seeScholesy getting a rest–and at the end of the sea-son that (resting players)could be very crucial.

Internet

Benzema set to snubUnited

LONDON, 18 Feb—Pre-mier League chairman SirDave Richards has con-firmed that the league ispressing ahead with itsplans for the '39th game'.

The league confirmedearlier this month that theywanted to add an extragame to the top flight cal-endar in England. Theplan would see all extragames (one each for everyteam) played abroad invarious cities around theglobe.

Reaction to the planswere mixed, but the likesof Fifa and the Asian Foot-ball Confederation werequick to denounce thescheme.

The Football Associa-tion have been lukewarmin their response, whichhas been unanimouslybacked by all 20 memberclubs of the Premier

League who have beenenticed by the reputed£5million payment for theone game.

It was believed theplans would have to beshelved, but Richards in-sists that the PremierLeague are confident theirscheme will get the back-ing of both the FA andFifa once they have dis-cussed their proposals indetail with them.

Internet

Karim Benzema

Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh (bottom) is congratu-lated by team mates after scoring their fifth goal duringtheir French Ligue 1 soccer match at the Louis IIstadium in Monaco on 17 Feb, 2008.—INTERNET

North Korea's Jong Tae Se, right, is challenged byJapan's Mizumoto Hiroki during the East AsianFootball Championship 2008 Final Competation

in Chongqing, China, on 17 Feb, 2008.INTERNET

Dave Richards

LONDON, 17 Feb—Karim Benzema claims hewould reject a possiblesummer move to Man-chester United because hewants to win the UEFAChampions League withLyon.

Manchester Unitedmanager Sir AlexFerguson has been linkedwith a bid for the Frenchinternational striker at theend of the season as hebids to bolster his attack-ing ranks.

Ferguson currently haslimited attacking optionswith only Wayne Rooney,Carlos Tevez and LouisSaha recognised as expe-rienced strikers in theUnited squad.

And Ferguson — whohas also been linked witha move for Benzema'sLyon team-mate HatemBen Arfa— is understoodto be on the look-out forattacking reinforce-ments.

Internet

LONDON, 18 Feb—Ar-senal star Gilberto Silvahas warned ManchesterUnited winger Nani hecould get a kicking if hedoes cut out hisshowboating.

Nani's showboatingantics during United's 4-0win over Arsenal in theirFA Cup clash on Satur-day infuriated the Arse-nal squad who felt thePortuguese internationalwas showing them a lackof respect.

United boss Sir AlexFerguson and Arsenalchief Arsene Wenger bothcondemened Nani foroverstepping the mark.

The summer signingfrom Sporting Lisboncame in for some roughtreatment following hisshowboating and Gilbertohas warned he could comein for the same if he contin-ues his antics.—Internet

Gilberto Silva

Italy's Flavia Pennetta hits a return to KlaraZakopalova of the Czech Republic during the final

of the Cachantun Cup WTA tour tennis tournamentin Vina Del Mar city, 75 miles (120 km) northwest

of Santiago,on 17 Feb, 2008.—INTERNET

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:42 PM14

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Tuesday, 19 February, 2008 15

WEATHER

R 489 Published by the News and Periodicals Enterprise, Ministry of Information, Union of Myanmar. Edited and printed at The New Light of Myanmar Press,No 22/30 Strand Road at 43rd Street, Yangon. Cable Newlight, PO Box No. 43, Telephones: Editors 392308, Manager 392226, Circulation 392304, Advertisement 392223,Accounts 392224, Administration 392225, Production/Press 392369

Monday, 18 February, 2008Summary of observations recorded at 9:30

hours MST: During the past 24 hours, rain or thunder-showers have been isolated in Kachin State andTaninthayi Division, weather has been partly cloudy inRakhine State, and upper Sagaing Division and gen-erally fair in the remaining areas. Night temperatureswere (3ºC) to (4ºC) below February average tempera-tures in Kachin, Shan, Rakhine and Mon States, upperSagaing Division, (5ºC) to (6ºC) below February aver-age temperatures in Kayah and Kayin States, upperSagaing ,Mandalay, Magway and Bago Divisions, (8ºC)below February average temperatures in Chin State,(4ºC) above February average temperatures in TaninthayiDivision and about February average temperatures in theremaining areas. The significant night temperatures wereHaka (-2ºC), Loilem (-1ºC), Namhsan (0ºC) andPinlaung (2ºC). The noteworthy amount of rainfall re-corded was Myeik (0.19) inch.

Maximum temperature on 17-2-2008 was 90ºF.Minimum temperature on 18-2-2008 was 59ºF. Rela-tive humidity at (09:30) hours MST on 18-2-2008was 70%. Total sunshine hours on 17-2-2008 was(8.8) hours approx.

Rainfall on 18-2-2008 was (Nil) at Mingaladon,Kaba-Aye and Central Yangon. Total rainfall since1-1-2008 was (0.67) inch at Mingaladon, (0.47 ) inchat Kaba-Aye and (0.35) inch at Central Yangon.Maximum wind speed at Yangon (Kaba-Aye) was(5) mph from Northwest at (12:30) hours MST on17-2-2008.

Bay inference: Weather is partly cloudy in theAndaman Sea and the South Bay and generally fair else-where in the Bay of Bengal.

Forecast valid until evening of 19-2-2008: Like-lihood of isolated rain or thundershowers in Kachin Sateand Taninthayi Division, weather will be partly cloudyin Rakhine State, upper Sagaing and Mandalay Divi-sions and generally fair in the remaining areas. Degreeof certainty is (60%).

State of the sea: Seas will be moderate in Myanmarwaters.

Outlook for subsequent two days: Likelihood ofslight increase of night temperatures in the southernMyanmar areas.

Forecast for Nay Pyi Taw and neighbouringarea for 19-2-2008: Fair weather.

Forecast for Yangon and neighbouring areafor 19-2-2008: Fair weather.

Forecast for Mandalay and neighbouring areafor 19-2-2008: Partly cloudy

8:30 am Brief news8:35 am Music

-Kiss from arose

8:40 am Perspectives8:45 am Music

-Time aftertime

8:50 am National news9:00 am Music

-You may beright

9:05 am International news

9:10 am Music-Any way youwant me

1:30 pm News/ Slogan1:40 pm Lunch time

music-Don’t fadeaway-Save your love

9:00 pm EnglishSpeakingCourse

9:10 pm Article9:20 pm Weekly sports

reel9:35 pm Listening

pleasure-Bring me tolife-Like a stone

9:45 pm News/Slogan10:00 pm PEL

Tuesday, 19 FebruaryTune in today

Tuesday, 19 FebruaryView on today

7:00 am1. Recitation of Parittas

by Missionary Saya-daw U Ottamathara

7:25 am2. To be healthy

exercise7:30 am3. Morning news7:40 am4. Nice and sweet song7:50 am5. kb¥apn\;Uy¥aU\kb¥apn\;Uy¥aU\kb¥apn\;Uy¥aU\kb¥apn\;Uy¥aU\kb¥apn\;Uy¥aU\

8:00 am6. AkAkAkAkAk“pioc\p∑´“pioc\p∑´“pioc\p∑´“pioc\p∑´“pioc\p∑´8:05 am7. Song of yesteryears8:15 am8. d∑n\Bn\tMta; d∑n\Bn\tMta; d∑n\Bn\tMta; d∑n\Bn\tMta; d∑n\Bn\tMta;8:30 am9. International news8:45 am10. Let’s Go4:00 pm1. Martial song4:15 pm2. Song to uphold

National Spirit4:30 pm3. Aew;qc\tk˚qiul\pvaer;Aew;qc\tk˚qiul\pvaer;Aew;qc\tk˚qiul\pvaer;Aew;qc\tk˚qiul\pvaer;Aew;qc\tk˚qiul\pvaer;

Rup\�mc\qMÂka;qc\Kn\;saRup\�mc\qMÂka;qc\Kn\;saRup\�mc\qMÂka;qc\Kn\;saRup\�mc\qMÂka;qc\Kn\;saRup\�mc\qMÂka;qc\Kn\;sapTmN˙s\pTmN˙s\pTmN˙s\pTmN˙s\pTmN˙s\(Rukebd'qt†ebdAT̈;‘pm¥a;)(Rukebd'qt†ebdAT̈;‘pm¥a;)(Rukebd'qt†ebdAT̈;‘pm¥a;)(Rukebd'qt†ebdAT̈;‘pm¥a;)(Rukebd'qt†ebdAT̈;‘pm¥a;)(Rukebd)(Rukebd)(Rukebd)(Rukebd)(Rukebd)

4:45 pm4. Dance of national

races4:55 pm5. KMsa;na;Sc\et;zat\wc\KMsa;na;Sc\et;zat\wc\KMsa;na;Sc\et;zat\wc\KMsa;na;Sc\et;zat\wc\KMsa;na;Sc\et;zat\wc\

5:05 pm6. Sing and Enjoy6:00 pm7. Evening news6:30 pm8. Weather report6:35 pm9. Âky\p∑c\.m¥a;r´>rc\Kun\qMÂky\p∑c\.m¥a;r´>rc\Kun\qMÂky\p∑c\.m¥a;r´>rc\Kun\qMÂky\p∑c\.m¥a;r´>rc\Kun\qMÂky\p∑c\.m¥a;r´>rc\Kun\qM6:50 pm10. qutsuMlc\eRWUa%\R˙c\qutsuMlc\eRWUa%\R˙c\qutsuMlc\eRWUa%\R˙c\qutsuMlc\eRWUa%\R˙c\qutsuMlc\eRWUa%\R˙c\7:15 pm11. Niuc\cM�Ka;zat\lm\;t∑´Niuc\cM�Ka;zat\lm\;t∑´Niuc\cM�Ka;zat\lm\;t∑´Niuc\cM�Ka;zat\lm\;t∑´Niuc\cM�Ka;zat\lm\;t∑´

{{{{{K¥s\ty\ K¥s\ty\K¥s\ty\ K¥s\ty\K¥s\ty\ K¥s\ty\K¥s\ty\ K¥s\ty\K¥s\ty\ K¥s\ty\}}}}}(Apiuc\;-(Apiuc\;-(Apiuc\;-(Apiuc\;-(Apiuc\;-11111)))))

8:00 pm12. News13. International news14. Weather report15. Niuc\cM�Ka;zat\lm\;t∑´Niuc\cM�Ka;zat\lm\;t∑´Niuc\cM�Ka;zat\lm\;t∑´Niuc\cM�Ka;zat\lm\;t∑´Niuc\cM�Ka;zat\lm\;t∑´

{{{{{emt†am¥U\;‘pic\emt†am¥U\;‘pic\emt†am¥U\;‘pic\emt†am¥U\;‘pic\emt†am¥U\;‘pic\}}}}}(Apiuc\;-(Apiuc\;-(Apiuc\;-(Apiuc\;-(Apiuc\;-55555)))))

16. The next day’s programme

Snow blocks highwaysin Yunnan, 12,000

people affectedKUNMING, 18 Feb—

Consecutive snow andfreezing weather haveblocked about 14,000kilometres of highways inthe southwestern provinceof Yunnan and more than12,000 passengers will beaffected on Sunday alone,according to a spokesmanof the provincial transportdepartment.

Since late January,snow storms hit Yuannan,and in the northern part ofthe province, roads wereseriously damaged.

From 19 January toSaturday, the interruptedroads have amounted to14,000 kilometres, of whichexpressways are 265kilometres and trunk roadsmore than 5,000 kilometres.

The disaster left about178,000 people and 20,000motor vehicles stranded,and caused an economicloss of 154 million yuan(about 20.5 million USdollars).— MNA/Xinhua

In memoriamFamily shares merits gained

Lt-Gen Tin OoIn memory of benefactor Phay Phay Gyi Lt-Gen Tin Oo who

suddenly left us seven years ago, we family members have made donationsand offered ‘soon’and provisions to the members of the Sangha today on 19-2-2008.We family members share with you the merits gained.

Wife Daw Khin Than NweSons and daughters —

— Major Maung Maung Kyaw (Retd) (BSI) -Daw Cho Leh Oo— Phyu Phyu Tin Oo— Dr Myat Noe - Yin Mar Oo— Zaw Tun Oo - Khin Thida— Nay Tun Oo

Grandchildren —

— Maung Hein Htet, Yin Myat Noe, Phu Ngon Kyaw,Thant Thi Han Zaw (Po Thila)

Blackouts in China city as snowyweather revisits

BEIJNG, 18 Feb— More than two million people have been hit by power cuts inChina’s Qujing city and thousands have been stranded on highways as snowy weatherrevisits the southwest region, state media said on Saturday.

China has yet to recover from the worst power shortages in recent years that have hitcentral and southern parts since late January, as the coldest winter in decades damagedpower cables and crippled coal deliveries to power stations.

Power plants at Qujing, the second-largest city in Yunnan province, have barelyenough coal reserves for three days and snow has blocked roads, Xinhua news agencysaid, citing local government officials.

By Saturday, 80 per cent of the city’s population suffered blackouts, and residentshad to use candles, kerosene or charcoal for light and heat, Xinhua said.

Six highways had been closed for two days, stranding more than 30,000 passengers,as road travel began to pick up earlier this week with the end of the Lunar New Year break.

China said on Thursday it aimed to complete repairs to power lines and restorenormal power supply by the end of March, after millions of families spent the LunarNew Year in the dark while facing soaring prices for food and other necessities.

MNA/Reuters

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:42 PM15

13th Waxing of Tabodwe 1369 ME Tuesday, 19 February, 2008

People’s Desire� We favour stability.� We favour peace.� We oppose unrest and violence.

� RFA, VOA and BBC airing skyful of lies� RFA, VOA and BBC saboteurs, watch your step!� The public be warned of

killers in the air waves —RFA, VOA and BBC

YANGON, 18 Feb —Secretary-1 of the StatePeace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thiha ThuraTin Aung Myint Oo and wife Daw Khin Saw Hninattended the ceremony to mark 60th Anniversary ofEstablishment of Diplomatic Relations betweenMyanmar and the Russian Federation at the RussianEmbassy on Sagawah Road in Dagon Township herethis evening. They were welcomed there by RussianAmbassador to the Union of Myanmar Dr MikhailMgeladze and wife and embassy staff.

Also present on the occasion were Chairman ofYangon Division PDC Commander Maj-Gen Hla HtayWin and wife, ministers and their wives, senior militaryofficers of the Ministry of Defence and their wives,heads of departments, foreign ambassadors to Myanmar,charges d’ affaires ai, military attachés, officials of UNagencies and their wives and guests. — MNA

Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo attendsceremony to mark 60th Anniversary of Establishment of

Diplomatic Relations between Myanmar and Russia

Significant Night TemperaturesWeather forecast for 19-2-2008INSIDE

Haka (-2ºC)Loilem (-1ºC)Namhsan (0ºC)Pinlaung (2ºC)

Nay Pyi Taw and neighbouring areaFair weather.

Yangon and neighbouring areaFair weather.

Mandalay and neighbouring areaPartly cloudy

Myanmar’s mythum population increased from 34,188 in2003-2004 to 52,981 in 2007—50,988 in Chin State, 1024 inKachin State, and 969 in Sagaing Division. The Ministry ofLivestock and Fisheries is now taking steps for development ofmythum farming, improving living conditions and developmentof Chin State.

MAUNG AUNG (LBVD)PAGE 7

Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Ooand wife being welcomed by Ambassador of Russia toMyanmar Dr Mikhail Mgeladze at a reception to mark

60th Anniversary of Establishment of DiplomaticRelations between Myanmar and Russia.—MNA

19-2-08 NL 8/26/18, 04:42 PM16