Information Sheet No. A-0667 (I)

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON
Information  Sheet

                                No. A-0667 (I)                        27
Oct.'98

(1)		Senior General Gives Guidance for Expeditious Completion of Special
	Projects 	

		Special Projects Implementation Committee held its meeting No 1/98 at the
Ministry of Defence  on 26 October. Chairman of the Special Projects
Implementation Committee Chairman of 	the State Peace and Development Council
Senior General Than Shwe gave guidance. The committee has been approving and
permitting suitable projects to serve national interests; the special projects
permitted by the committee could not be implemented efficiently by a single
ministry concerned through conventional methods and those being major
projects, there involved a great volume of work and substantial funds. Hence,
concerted efforts should be made to complete the projects speedily. Specific
duties and rights should be assigned to the staff implementing the projects
and efforts should be made to see that they concentrate on the assigned tasks.

		Afterwards, Minister for Energy reported on granting approval to the signing
of contracts with foreign companies on exploration and production of oil and
gas in Pyay west area in Shwedaung Township and Padaung Township in Bago
Division, Rakhine offshore area and Mottama offshore area. 

		Minister for Construction reported on the work on the bridges under
construction such as Aungzeya Bridge (Insein) across the Hline River, Maha
Bandoola Bridge, Ngamoeyeik Bridge (Thingangyun) and Hline River Bridge
(Shwepyitha) and the planned projects such as Thanlwin Bridge (Mawlamyine),
Pikauk Bridge near Kyauktaw on Yangon-Sittway Road in Rakhine State, Kaingshay
Bridge on Taunggup-Ann Road in Rakhine State and No 2 
Yangon-Thanlyin Bridge near Kyweguseik in Seikkan Township, Dagon Myothit
(South) which will link Yangon and Thanlyin. 

		Minister for Transport reported on implementation and progress on Mandalay
International Airport Project, the programme to improve the waterways in the
Ayeyawady and Chindwin Rivers for better Transport and stability of waterways,
and the plan to make ports of the respective towns usable in all seasons,
preventing erosion of river banks at towns and villages and efficient use of
river water. Director-General of the Waterways Department reported on the plan
to improve the Ayeyawady River waterways in five stages on priority basis and
with the first priority given to the section between the confluence of
Chindwin River and Mandalay. He also reported on the plan to improve the
Chindwin River water in three stages on priority basis, the first priority to
be between the Chindwin confluence and Monywa. 
		Minister for Rail Transportation reported on Taungdwingyi-Magway Railroad
Project. In giving guidance in connection with the presentations, Senior
General Than Shwe said that in response to greater flow of traffic from one
region to another, there is the  need to enhance the strength of the future
bridges to bear the load of increased traffic. Priority would have to be given
to improvement of bridges on Yangon-Bago-Mandalay Highway and Yangon-Pyay-
Mandalay Highway. He pointed out that the existing Sagaing Bridge across
Ayeyawady River is very old and surveys should be conducted to build a new
bridge near the existing one for motor vehicles. He spoke of the need to try
to implement airport projects by Myanmar nationals themselves based on the
experiences of Mandalay International Airport Project. 

		The country's rich water resources and land resources are most basic for
national progress. Waterways Department had been expanded to preserve these
resources. He then called for drafting of specific projects on proper
preservation of water resources in the States and Divisions. 

		Of the four bridge construction projects presented at today's meeting, the
ThanLwin Bridge ( Mawlamyine) will link Mawlamyine in Mon State with Mottama.
The bridge will be 3,224.84 metres long, the two-lane motorway 8.5 metres wide
and railroad 4.3 metres wide. The walkway on either side will be 1.8 metres
wide each. The Pikauk Bridge near Kyauktaw on Yangon-Sittway Road in Rakhine
State will be 360 feet long and 12 feet 4 inches wide. The motorway will be 10
feet and 10.5 inches wide. Reinforced concrete piers will support the bridge.
The upper structure will be a bailey bridge. The Kaingshay Bridge on Taunggup-
Ann Road in Rakhine State will be 540 feet long and 12 feet and 4 inches wide.
The motorway will be 10 feet and 10.5 inches wide. Reinforced concrete piers
will support the bridge. The upper structure will be a bailey bridge. No 2
Yangon-Thanlyin Bridge (Seikkan Township) will be 800 metres long and 22
metres wide. The four-lane motorway will be 16 metres wide. Reinforced
concrete piers will support the bridge. The upper structure will be built with
steel beams.

(2)		Masses of Chin State Vow to Safeguard State's Stability,  Peace,
Tranquillityand Economic Progress

		21,000 people from various strata of life from Chin State expressed their
genuine desire at a mass meeting held at Vamthumaung Sports Ground in Haka
Township on 26 October morning. Present were members of Chin Traditional
Cultural Troupe, Chin State Union Solidarity and Development Association, Chin
State Working Committee for Women's Affairs, Chin State Maternal and Child
Welfare Association and Chin State Women Sports Association, Medical
Association, Nurse Association, Health Assistant Association and Merchant
Association of Chin State,members of Red Cross Society and Auxiliary Fire
Brigade and people of Kanpetlet, Tonzang, Tiddim, Thatlang, Falam, Matupi,
Mindat and Haka Townships. The meeting unanimously passed two motions calling
for safeguarding and maintaining economic development and ensuring food,
clothing and shelter needs of the people maintaining and safeguarding the
stability of the State which has already been chieved.

More NLD Members Return Home After A Successful Exchange of Views on
Maintaining and Safeguarding National Peace and Stability

		Members of the National League for Democracy has been meeting with the
Government since September, in an effort to build a stable, multiparty
democracy and to preserve the prevailing peace that Myanmar enjoys.
		Many of those invited for the talks have returned home in recent weeks after
a successful exchange of views on safeguarding national security.   On 26
October,   U Soe Than, U Sein Lwin, U Tint Lwin, U Kyaw Myint, U Khin Zaw, U
Than Win,    U Lwin Nyein,    U Win Shwe,   U Khin Htun,   U Myint Swe,    Daw
Khin Aye Mu,     U Hla Chaw, U Sein Win, U Kyaw Myint, U Aye Maung, U Kyaw and
Daw Nyunt Nyunt returned home.   On 27 October,  U Yin Htwe,   U Than Naing,
U San Maung,   U Saw Win, U Kyaw Soe, U Kyaw Myint, U Than Lwin, U Myint Lwin,
U Win Kyi,  U Kyaw Naing, U Maung Maung, U Win Maung, U Tin Soe, U Tin Aung, U
Hla Win, U Tin Soe and U Thein Han returned home.

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