Information Sheet N0.A-0660 (I)

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MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON
Information  Sheet

                              N0.A-0660 (I) 22nd               October 1998 

(1)		National Convention Convening Commission Meets

		National Convention Convening Commission held its meeting at the
Commission's office on 21 October afternoon. National Convention Work
Committee and Management Committee reported on the National Convention.
Members of the Commission took part in the discussions.

(2)		90,000 Reclaimed Vacant, Virgin Land Ready for Cultivation In Nyaungdon
Field

		Like Yangon Division, the vast stretch of wetlands exist in Ayeyawady
Division. It would truly be beneficial to the nation and entrepreneurs as well
if those invaluable wetlands could be reclaimed and crops cultivated there.
Vacant and Virgin lands of Ayeyawady Division welcome the entrepreneurs. Over
720,000 acres lie in the wetlands, low-lying areas and other areas of
Ayeyawady Division. Cultivation could be carried out at a stretch in most
areas. In the Nyaungdon field alone, about 90,000 acres of vacant and virgin
land could be cultivated with the help of the Ministry of Agriculture and
Irrigation. "What needs to be done is to get down to work," the Chairman of
Ayeyarwady Division Peace and Development Council said.

(3)		Construction of Bridges on Yangon-Sittway Highway in Progress

		Ramong Bridge is linking Minbya and Myebon townships in Rakhine State across
Ramong River, it is a 1,300-foot facility with 1,000-foot main structure and
two 150-foot approach roads. With a two-lane road, the bailey-type suspension
facility is one of the nine major bridges on the highway, linking Rakhine
State and other parts of the Union. Construction began on 22 August 1997 and
is projected to be  completed at the end of  June 1999. There are also other
construction project of 90-foot Sheni bridge, 147-foot Kanni Bridge, 60-foot
Chaunggyi Bridge and 100-foot Yetchaunggyi Bridge. In Myebon Township,
Yawchaung Bridge Construction Project is another major bridge on the highway,
the 1,100-foot facility with steel reinforced concrete layers will link Myebon
and An townships in the  state. Spanning across Yawchaung Creek, the bailey
bridge has a one-way lane. The project started on 17 August 1997 and is
scheduled to be completed in June 1999.

(4)		Myanmar Pilgrims to Bodh Gaya

		Myanmar pilgrims to Bodh Gaya left Yangon by air for Calcutta, India, on 21
October morning to visit sacred places and buildings under the Tour No 3/98 of
the Ministry for Religious Affairs. Myanmars who had completed Bodh Gaya
pilgrimage under the Ministry's Programme 2/98 arrived back Yangon from
Calcutta by the flight on the same day.

(5)		Myanmar Delegation Leaves for Vietnam

		A Myanmar delegation led by Director-General of Myanma Radio and Television
left for Vietnam by air on 21 October morning for mutual cooperation between
Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and Myanma Radio  and Television.

(6)		Minister for Education of Brunei Darussalam Arrives

		At the invitation of Minister for Education, President of Southeast Asian
Ministers of Education Council (SEAMEC) of the Southeast Asian Ministers of
Education Organization (SEAMEO) Minister of Education of Brunei Darussalam
Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Haji Abdul Aziz Umar and wife, accompanied
by directors of SEAMEO Regional Centres, arrived Yangon on 21 October. The
visiting minister and party will meet education officials on 22 and 23 October
and discuss educational cooperation.

(7)		Young Men's Buddhist Association Opens Anti-Narcotic Drug Course

		Young Men's Buddhist Association (YMBA) opened a course to disseminate means
to fight against the abuse of narcotic drugs in accord with Mingala Sutta, one
of the teachings of Lord Buddha. Chairman of the YMBA explained the
association's aims concerning safeguarding and promotion of the race, religion
and education. Joint Secretary of Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control
(CCDAC) and Resident Representative of the United Nations International Drug
Control Programme (UNDCP) briefed the trainees on programmes of the two
bodies. Twenty-two trainees including eight members of the Sangha led by Myoma
Sayadaw Maha Saddhammajotikadhaja Bhaddanta Kovida of Ayeyawady Division are
attaining the three-day course. Physicians specialised in anti-drug field are
giving lectures at the course which is being conducted from 21 to 23 October.

(8)		Jade Sales Fetch Over $ 1.2 m

		A total of 27 jade lots valued at US $ 1,260,919 were sold under tender
system and through competitive bidding. Jewellery and jade figurines worth $
22,080 were also sold on 21 October. Sales by tender and competitive bidding
of pearl lots continue on 22 October.

(9)		MIC Chairman  Meets Hong Kong Company Executive Director

		Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission received Executive Director Mr
Matthew S K Chan of Hutchison Port Holdings of Hong Kong and party at his
office on 21 October morning. Implementation of Thilawa Port Development
Project by Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa (MITT) and future
programmes were discussed.

(10)		251 Drug-related Cases Exposed in September

		The Tatmadaw (Military), the Myanmar Police Force and Customs Department
personnel exposed 251 drug-related cases in September. The authorities seized
292.1206 kilos of opium in 27 cases, 25.2096 kilos of heroin in 113 cases,
37.4176 kilos of marijuana in 27 cases, three litres of phensedyl in two
cases, 50.7046 kilos of low-grade opium in five cases, 2,108,748 stimulant
tablets in 11 cases, 499.163 kilos of ephedrine in two cases, 546.31 kilos of
phenyl acetic acid in one case, 82 gallons of acetic anhydride in two cases,
1,641 gallons of ether in one case, 45 gallons of lysol in two cases, 0.058
kilo of opium oil, 175 kilos of liquid opium, 69,860 diphenoxylate tablets,
8.88 gallons of hydrochloric acid, 69 gallons of sulphuric acid, 18 gallons of
nitric acid, 20 gallons of chemical liquid, 1,760 gallons of alcohol, 192
gallons of chloroform, 55 kilos of charcoal, 34 kilos of ammonium chloride,
428.25 kilos of soda, 51 cases for failure to register and other seven cases.
Action was taken against 366 persons-313 man and 53 women according to
law.					
							Special Feature

		This office is presenting the letter from Mr Nicholas Greenwood to Mr Derek
Fatchett, Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the United
Kingdom for your information.

NICHOLAS GREENWOOD
36C Sisters Ave
London SW11 55Q
Tel/Fax: 0171 223 8987
14th October 1998
Mr  Derek Fatchett
Minister of State
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
Fax No: 0171 339 2417
----------------------------
Dear Mr Fatchett,

It is my understanding, from a letter you recently wrote, that the essential
reason for your call for a tourist ban of Burma (Myanmar) is to comply with
the wishes of  Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

I put it to you that Aung San Suu Kyi's call for a tourism boycott was not
part of the National League for Democracy's 1990 election manifesto. It was
purely and  simply instigated by her- in a wholly undemocratic fashion-way
after the elections  you referred to in your letter.

In effect, it is tantamount to your leader, Tony Blair, suddenly declaring a
tourist ban of the UK, something which, it goes without saying, was not part
of the Labour Party's manifesto prior to the 1997 general election. Would
there not be the most  enormous outcry should Mr Blair make such a declaration
without, at the very least, recourse to a referendum? Or are we to take it
from your comments that the unsolicited, unjustified and undemocratic demands
of one unelected person are applicable in one part of the world, but not in
another?

If the remaining 43 million citizens of Burma desire a tourist boycott of
their own country- which is not what my own research has ever shown then so be
it,  but to instigate a tourist boycott simply because of the wishes of one
person is as undemocratic as it is unjustifiable. The Foreign Office may
consider Aung San Suu Kyi to be the voice of Burma on some issues, but on the
subject of tourism, I can assure you that she is way off  beam. 

I would urge you once again, therefore, to reconsider your call for a tourism
boycott of Burma.


Your  sincerely




Nicholas Greenwood
TRAVEL WRITER & TOUR CONSULTANT (BURMA)


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