MOFA holds friendly golf tournament...

4 Jan —A friendly golf tournament of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign diplomats was held at Nay Pyi Taw golf course here this morning, to mark the 61st Anniversary of the
Independence Day.Among the participants were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Deputy Minister U Maung Myint,foreign diplomats led by MOFA holds friendly golf tournament Dean of Diplomatic Corps of Myanmar Ambassador of People’s Republic of
China Mr Guan Mu, UN Resident Coordinator Mr Bishow Parajuli and officials concerned of the ministry.Before the tournament, documentary photos were taken, and then Minister U Nyan Win and Deputy Minister U Maung Myint awarded the participants.

On behalf of Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Vice-Senior General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San host reception and dinner to mark 61st Anniversary Independence Day

On behalf of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing
Kyaing, Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San hosted reception and dinner to mark the 61st Anniversary Independence Day at the City Hall here this evening.At 6.30 pm, Vice-Senior General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San arrived at the City Hall where reception and dinner to mark the 61st Anniversary Independence Day was to be hosted. Accompanied by member of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann of the Ministry of Defence, Prime Minister General Thein Sein, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, Vice-Senior General Maung Aye and wife cordially greeted
diplomats led by Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Mr Guan Mu and their spouses.Also present at the reception and dinner were member of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann of the Ministry of Defence
and wife Daw Khin Lay Thet, Prime Minister General Thein Sein and wife Daw Khin Khin Win, Secretary-1 of the SPDC Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo and wife Daw Khin Saw Hnin, members of the SPDC and their wives, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy), the Commander-in-Chief (Air) and senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence and their wives, the Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, the ministers and their wives, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, the Auditor-General, the Chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board, the Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Development Committee Nay Pyi Taw Mayor, the deputy ministers and their wives, the directors-general of the State Peace and Development
Council Office, the Government Office, the President Office, the Pyithu Hluttaw Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomats led by Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Mr Guan Mu and their spouses, resident representatives of UN agencies and their wives, members of the Central Committee for Observance of the 61st Anniversary Independence Day, chairmen of the subcommittees and invited guests.
Before and during the dinner, those present were entertained with songs presented by vocalists to the accompaniment of the Myanma Athan modern music band.

Independence Day State Flag Hoisting and Saluting ceremony…

The 61st Anniversary Independence Day State Flag Hoisting and Saluting ceremony took place at the square in front of Nay Pyi Taw City Hall this morning with more than 4000 people attending it.First, departmental staff of the State Peace and DevelopmentCouncil Office, Prime Minister’s Office, Supreme Court, Attorney-General’s Office, Civil Service Selection and Training Board Office and ministries, members of Union Solidarity and Development Association of Nay Pyi Taw Drstrict and the townships of Nay Pyi Taw District,Independence Day State Flag Hoisting and Saluting ceremony take place in Nay Pyi Taw members of Red Cross Society and fire brigade and local people took position at the square at 6 a.m.Maj-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Lt-Gen Tha Aye and senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence,Chairman of the Subcommittee for holding the ceremony Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command Maj-Gen Wai Lwin, the USDA secretary-general, joint secretary-general, secretariat members and CEC members,ministers, deputy ministers, senior military officers,departmental heads, heads of office of theministries, USDA regional coordinators, members of the subcommittee and work committee, members of Nay Pyi Taw Development Affairs Committee,rectors, district and township USDA members,representatives of social organizations and national race representatives took position.The Stage Flag Hoisting ceremony was held at 4.20 am. The State Flag Saluting ceremony started at 7 am and the Guard of Honour (Army, Navy and Air Force) marched and took position at the square.Chairman of the Central Committee for Organizing the 61st Anniversary Independence Day Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo took position on the dais. The Secretary-1 took the salute of the Guard of Honour. While the Secreatry-1 and the attendees saluted the State Flag, the Guard of Honour played the National Anthem.Next, they saluted the fallen heroes and recited the four oaths.Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo read out the Independence Day Message of Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council. Afterwards,the Secreatary-1 took the salute of the Guard of Honour and left the square.As a gesture of marking the 61st Anniversary Independence Day, the ministries in Nay Pyi Taw,Nay Pyi Taw City Hall, Thabyegon roundabout,Kyapan oundabout,azathingaha roundabout, Nay Pyi Taw Myoma Market, Thabyegon Market, houses and staff quarters were illuminated tonight.

Nay Pyi Taw inter-ministry sport activities held in commemoration of Independence Day

4 Jan — Chairman of Myanmar Olympic Committee Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint watched the 61st Anniversary Independence Day commemorative Nay Pyi Taw inter-ministry open marathon, novice marathon and mini-marathon held in front of Nay Pyi Taw Myoma Market this morning.Next, he watched the inter-ministry final matches of Sepak Takraw and tug-of-war. After the competitions, Director-General U Thaung Htaik of Sports and Physical Education Department presented prizes to the winners. Later, the minister awarded the first, second,third and consolation prize winners in men's open marathon and women's
open marathon.

Yangonites salute State Flag on 61st Anniversary Independence Day

The 61st Anniversary Independence Day State Flag Hoisting and Flag Saluting Ceremony of
Yangon Division was held at the People’s Square on Pyay Road, here, this morning.First, the flag hoisting platoon of Yangon Command hoisted the State Flag at 4.20 a.m.Present on the flag saluting ceremony were departmental personnel of districts and townships in Yangon Division,members of Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association, social association members teachers, students and the people totalling over 2,300.It was also attended by senior military officers of Yangon Command Headquarters, servicemen of regiments and units,division, district and township level authorities,departmental officials,rectors, principals,
representatives of social organizations and national races of University of Culture (Yangon).
At 7 a.m, the Guard of Honour of Yangon Command took the designated position aftermarching from the Pyithu Hluttaw compound to the People’s Square.Chairman of the
Yangon Division Leading Committee for Organizing the 61st Anniversary Independence Day
Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Brig-Gen Win Myint took the salute of the Guard of Honour. Next,the people saluted the State Flag together with the Guard of Honour.Meanwhile, the band played the National Anthem.After paying tribute to the fallen leaders and soldiers, the Guard of Honour recited four oaths.The commander read the message sent by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe on the 61st Anniversary Independence Day Ceremony.After saluting the commander, the Guard of Honour together with the people left the People’s Square.

School Family Day commences in Nay Pyi Taw BEHS No. 1

The School Family Day for 2008-09 academic year of the Ministry of Education was launched
at No. 1 Basic Education High School in Nay Pyi Taw this morning, attended by Commander of
Nay Pyi Taw Command Maj-Gen Wai Lwin.First, 14 outstanding students representing
States and Divisions formally opened the ceremony.The commander and party visited the booth on education development and enjoyed the musical entertainment of the basic education students. Students of No. 3 Basic Education Department and Nay Pyi Taw BEHS No. 1
performed dances and songs entertainments to the guests.Later, gold medalist students of No. 3 BED demonstrated their skills in Wushu sport.Also present on the occasion were ministers,
deputy ministers, members of the school board of trustees, departmental heads, school heads,
teachers, students and guests.The School Family Day will continue up to 3 January 2009.

Health Dy Minister and Kayin State PDC Chairman inaugurate Hlaingbwe Township People’s Hospital

Secretary of National Health Committee Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo and Chairman of Kayin State Peace and Development Council Brig-Gen Zaw Min attended the opening
ceremony of Hlaingbwe Township People's Hospital in Kayin State on 28 December.
The deputy minister and chairman of Kayin State PDC viewed the hospital and met with
members of health committee, members of social organizations,townselders and staff.
Likewise, after looking into Shwegon Station Hospital, the deputy minister and the chairman also met with members of health committee and social organizations.Afterwards, their tours ended with the inspection of State Hospital and station hospital of Tayoathla model village in Hpaan.

The Government opened new Pyawbwe- Phayangahsu railroad for smooth transportation in the nation

Thongwa creek bridge …

Jan—Thongwa Creek Bridge (Kyondainggyi) on Pantanaw-Einme road in Pantanaw Township of Ayeyawady Division, built by Bridge Construction Project Special Group-5 of Public Works
of the Ministry of Construction, was opened at the pandal near the bridge this morning.
It was attended by Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council commander of South-West Command Maj-Gen Kyaw Swe, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, departmental officials at division, district and township levels, officials of Public Works, members of social organizations, teachers, students and local people.Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw Swe made a speech on the occasion, saying that in the time of the State Peace
and Development Council, a host of motor roads were built and therefore the public were convenient for traveling from one place to another smoothly in Ayeyawady Division in a short time. Thongwa creek bridge (Kyondainggyi) was opened to mark the 61st Anniversary Independence Day. It is the pride of the local people living in Ayeyawady Division as the opening of the bridge coincided with the New Year day. The bridge is the 217th one in the country and the 44th one in Ayeyawady Division. The newlyconstructed bridge will contribute much toward economic,education, health and social fields. In addition,developments will be seen in the rural and urban areas. He urged the local people to make more efforts in their
livelihoods than in the past.Next, Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun explained the aims and data of the bridge. Afterwards, a local spoke words of thanks. At the auspicious time, Commander
Maj-Gen Kyaw Swe, Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun and Brig-Gen Zin Yaw of Pathein Station formally opened the bridge.The commander and party sprinkled scented water on the stone plaque and walked on the bridge.The bridge is of reinforced concrete type and it is 24 feet wide and 270 feet long and it can withstand 60 tons of load.

The youth of today to realize the value of independence

“The young generation born as independent citizens who are well convinced of the value of and taste of independence, are duty-bound to safeguard the independence and sovereignty of the motherland through the might of unity and armony.”
Senior General Than Shwe
Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
(From message sent on the occasion of the 59th Anniversary Independence Day)
The guidance to the youth, who will shoulder State’s duties as the saying, “The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow”, stated in the message of the Head of State inspired me to clarify what the value and taste of independence is for the youth of the nation. First and foremost, I would like to explain some points about the value of independence. Now, the world has seen 192 independent and sovereign countries. However, about 100 years ago, two-thirds of those countries were under the rule of one colonial empire or another.The majority of the countries that had stood with own monarchs and sovereign for thousands of years were trampled underfoot by colonialists who had
transformed themselves from pirates with the opinion that those who conquered the sea could conquer the world.One of the victimized countries was Myanmar that had stood tall continuously with own monarchs since the time of King Abhiraja of Tagaung Period. Myanmar people smouldered for many years with the incident in which King Thibaw was taken away abroad in 1247 Myanmar Era (AD 1885). As the saying that goes,“Great events are relayed from one generation to the next”, senior citizens shared painful experiences with young ones at green tea parties in villages at moonlit nights that the Myanmar king had to yield to the oppressions of alien invaders due to the great arm superiority; that he was conveyed to Gawwein port only by bullock cart instead of being sent on an elephant, on a horseback, or by coach flanked by troops; and that the Myanmar monarch had to get onboard the ship through a small gangplank. On contrast, today it is not much possible for younger generations to learn such events from their forefathers due to the fact that parents do not have much time to have a long conversation with their children in consequence of pressure on them to catch up with rapid technological advancements and hustle and bustle social life along with a variety of entertainment equipment such as TV, video, Internet games, Internet chatting,and karaoke. To make things worse, books are completely under the domination of the media that produce pictures and sound simultaneously. Decreasing popularity of reading among the youth may be described that they are following the trends of modern times.However, it is feared that due to decreasing popularity of reading, later the people may not be equipped themselves as much as they should with nationalistic spirit and fervour based on fine traditions of their ancestors and historic events, and the youth of Myanmar do not know well about their motherland.Accordingly, I feel obliged to write this article in order that those without knowledge of independence struggles would come to realize the value of independence, and those with knowledge recall them in the run-up to Independence Day.Myanmar’s sacrifices for independence were very costly if compared with that of other colonies. Many countries fell victim to colonialism. Some of them yielded to the attacks of the colonialists, concealing their loss without showing much tenacity. In some regions, natives were uprooted by huge floods of aliens, and later they became the minority under a variety of oppression in the new country established by the foreign immigrants. Some countries are too large to be colonized by a colonial country alone. So, each of their commercial port cities and islets at the mouth of the sea was manipulated by a first-comer colonial country under the agreement of many colonial countries that none of them would have to manipulate the whole colony.Eventually, such a country became a common colony.A certain country was colonized by two colonial owers at the same time but it did not lose its ruler and sovereignty. However, the country was reduced to a land in a way that a woman who got married to two men at the same time.Myanmar stood as a country that its citizens showed unwavering spirit in the fights to repulse the attacks of the colonialists. Only after the three wars that took place in 1824, 1852 and 1885, for about 60 years, could the colonialists occupy the whole country.Even though the entire country had fallen under alien subjugation, the people did not take things lying down. They rose against the colonialist government for many decades through guerilla warfare, arming themselves with whatever arms they got. Their independence struggles came to a halt due to a great gap of arm power, and so they started to exert independence struggles based on mental prowess.Only few of the colonies under the British Empire,which was said to be the one where the Sun never set,persisted in opposing the colonial governments.Myanmar became a battlefield two times in the World War II, and its people went through the hell of the war. Nevertheless, Myanmar patriots launched
anti-colonialist battles and Anti-Fascist Resistance to regain independence, sacrificing many of their lives.From the First Anglo-Myanmar War that occurred in 1824 to the pre-independence time in 1948, Myanmar saw sacrificing a lot of lives, limbs, blood and sweat, and tears of Myanmar revolutionaries and people. So, the drive to regain independence was very costly for Myanmar.In some way, it was worth it because Myanmar is a gifted country. It is blessed with impressive geographical features, natural resources in abundance,and rivers with fertile deltas, that ensure security of the basic needs of the people, mountain ranges that serve as natural walls in protecting it against alien intrusion, favourable climate pattern, gems such as ruby, jade and pearl, oil, teak, crops, and marine resources. So, unlike some other countries, Myanmar has never suffered chronic consequences of any crises up to now.Moreover, it was also very costly to maintain independence. In the post-independence period, the nation saw disintegration of national unity and sectarian and racial instigations, so it was said that the nation was newly-independent but political conflicts were violent. And many revolutionaries of independence struggles turned their backs on their comrades, followed by a struggle for power within political elite. Therefore, the people did not get any opportunities to test the taste of independence. To make matters worse, the nation faced an alien intrusion of its border areas. The nation thus had to sacrifice a large number of lives to restore the costly independence.It would be impossible for the youth of today to realize how hard it is to restore independence if they do not have knowledge of historic battles and military operations such as Insein battle in which bullets of small arms and shells of heavy weapons were like drops of rainfall in the time when Myanmar was ironically branded Yangon government as its administrative machinery stretched just to Thamaing Junction; the Operations “Yanggyi Aung” and “Mekong” in which servicemen, risking their lives at a high degree, had to occupy strong fortresses built of huge teak logs to drive out alien intruders; and antiinsurgent battles launched with tenacity such as the 40-day Kunlon battle, Chushwepankok, Ciciwan Tarpan, Mongyang and Methawaw.Making a study of the conditions of the global community, it can be noted that some developed countries were split into many pieces, resulting in armed conflicts between same nationals; some
countries were invaded by other countries, following disunity of the people and they have not been able to put out the blazing infernos of armed revolts that caused casualties of many innocent people every day and hundreds of thousands of people had to flee their homes. Moreover, famine and hunger stemming from climate changes in some countries and crises due to sky-high prices of food in some countries receive coverage of international media daily.Comparing prevailing conditions of Myanmar with that of such countries, a citizen can know well the taste of independence and peace, and the value of sovereignty and independence. While internal armed insurgency was raging in the nation, local people of many regions had to stay hiding just it got dark, local people had to sleep hidden under their houses or in paddy barns in fear of attacks of insurgents. The youth of today are very fortunate because the nation no longer sees such hard times. Now, even border areas that used to be reverberated often with fires of arms and weapons in the past have got schools. Battlefields and minefields have been changed into paddy fields. The whole nation including rural areas has seen dam clusters, river water pumping stations, underground water tapping stations,agricultural farms. Sufficient irrigation supply has led to boosting production of crops. And State-owned and private-owned factories can boost production of goods several times.Many new railroads, roads and bridges, each of which is more than 1000 feet long, throughout the nation and remarkable development in the trade,communication and transport sectors are, indeed,fruitful results of independence and peace.In the colonial days, the colonialists were very active in doing things from which they could gain maximum benefits and make profits, but they did not spend even a penny on any matters that were not beneficial to them, culminating in a great development gap between hilly regions and plains and between rural and urban areas. Theirs was a political scheme cleverly designed to drive a wedge among national
races. As a result, the nation lacked peace and stability owing to internal armed strife following disintegration of unity among national races and people in the postindependence period.So, it can be deduced from the above-mentioned
points that the nation cannot develop without independence and peace. And without development,independence and peace cannot be maintained in the long-run. It is because independence and peace are interrelated with development. Unity is essential for independence and peace and development.The youth of today are mainly responsible for safeguarding of independence for which many of their forefathers had to sacrifice their lives, and generating freedom, peace and development of their motherland.In that case, I would like them to study the nation’s history, broaden their horizons, and continue to work hard with nationalistic fervour to be able to realize the duties. Instead if they do not take anything serious, put ostentation to the fore, and indulging themselves in festivities, the people are likely to become again slaves who have to rely a lot on aliens for their living because today every sector is very challenging. And without patriotic spirit and national cohesion, the nation-building tasks will not work. In conclusion, I would, therefore,like to exhort the youth of today who will have to shoulder State’s duties to work hard with a sense of national unity for ensuring perpetual existence of very costly independence and the mother country.