Forty major bridges already built stand witness to government’s goodwill towards local people of Ayeyawady DivisionPrime Minister attends inauguration of Kunchaung Dam in Kyangin Township

YANGON, 27 April—The opening of the Kunchaung Dam, constructed by construction group-2 of the Irrigation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, took place at the pandal near the facility in Kyangin Township, Ayeyawady Division, this morning, with an address by Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win.

Also present on the occasion were Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, Ayeyawady Division PDC Chairman South-West Command Commander Maj-Gen Soe Naing, the ministers, the deputy ministers, officials of the SPDC Office, departmental heads, local authorities, officials, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association and social organizations, teachers, students, and local residents.

In his address, the Prime Minister said that the Kunchaung Dam is a facility that will strengthen the agricultural capacity of Ayeyawady Division, the granary of Myanmar. Thanks to the facility, local farmers will be able to carry out double cropping of cold season crops and summer paddy on the 20,000 acres in Kyangin and Myanaung townships. The development of the agricultural sector, the main pillar of the State, will make the national economy strong and raise the socio-economic life of the rural folks and farmers.

That is why the government has been steadfastly encouraging reclamation of vacant land, beefing up per acre yield of crops, expansion of multi-cropping areas, and extended use of machinery and farm implements, while constructing irrigation facilities and promoting the agricultural sector.

In the Ayeyawady Division that is endowed with rivers and creeks and streams with a great deal of a rainfall, most of the land is flooded in the rainy season, and there is scarcity of water in summer. On the basis of that point, the government has also built Nankathu dam and diversion weir, Panhlaing Sluice Gate, Mezali Sluice Gate, Wadaw Sluice Gate, Htani Sluice Gate in addition to Kunchaung Dam for proper flow of water of the rivers and creeks and for prevention against entering of salty water. Moreover, it has established waterworks and canals with a length of many miles. There have emerged Ma Mya Dam Project, Kanyin Dam Project, Ngapiseik and Myogwin water pumping stations one after another in the environs of the region.

As a result, the drive has ensured adequate water supply for Ayeyawady Division along with a success in the multi-cropping. In the past, Ayeyawady Division could cultivate summer paddy in name. Now it has increased its sown acreage of summer paddy to more than 1.7 million, accounting for over half the total sown acreage of summer paddy of the entire nation.

Previously, the division could put around 3 million acres under monsoon paddy, and now the number of total acres has mounted to 3.5 million. However, Ayeyawady Division is to make continued efforts to be able to meet the target of 3.6 million acres of monsoon paddy laid down by the government.

On the whole, Ayeyawady Division has been able to stand as the granary of the State due to the effective combination of the application of modern agricultural methods and land and water resources through innovative measures. Furthermore, its another salient point is that it is extending the production of beans and pulses and edible oil crops encouragingly a year after another.

With respect to the livestock sector, it has been able to increase the area of fish breeding ponds to about 96,000 acres, and prawn breeding ponds to more than 40,000 acres. And its raising of ducks, pigs and domestic chicken is more than any other states and divisions. Thus, the dependable region has remained as the agriculture and livestock breeding zone as well as the food basket zone of the nation. All are to recognize that point as its great success.

The Prime Minister cited the speech of the Head of State, as saying Ayeyawady Division is blessed with favourable conditions for achieving success in the agriculture and livestock sector, so steps are to be taken thoroughly for considerably raising the sector.

Ayeyawady Division, whose paddy sown acreage makes up more than one fourth of that of the State, has a rich soil.

If the region is able to boost per acre yield of paddy significantly, it will help meet the target of the State’s paddy output of 1,200 million baskets of paddy.

Measures are to be taken for promotion of the breeding of fish and prawn and for extending the area of prawn breeding ponds.

Ayeyawady Division is to strictly follow and put the guidance into reality. In order to meet the target, the government has constructed the transport infrastructure close to cent per cent.

According to its topography, Ayeyawady Division had to rely mainly on the waterways for transport up to the period seven years ago.

The poor transport made the division lag behind in development. In addition that, the instability due to the internal armed struggle line caused a great hindrance to regional development undertakings.

In contrast, the region has been facilitated with a network of roads and bridges owing to the harmonious efforts of the State and the local folks. The 40 large river or creek spanning bridges have stood witness to the government’s goodwill towards local people of Ayeya-wady Division, and now one can travel by bus from one place to any other places in the region.

The Ayeyawady Division dwellers have realized that now they can travel to any other states and divisions in a short time. Indeed, it is the result of peace, tranquillity and smooth transport.

As there is peace and stability in all the regions in Ayeyawady Division with no insurgency, and gateways to the division open, economic and social conditions of the division have improved. Besides agricultural and fish and meat sectors, hotels and tourism have also improved rapidly because of Chaungtha and Ngwehsaung beaches.

Apart from traditional livelihood, the division has developed due to new economic enterprise and products.

In order to speed up the development momentum of the division, the government designated Pathein, Hinthada and Maubin as special development regions and established universities, colleges and hospitals. The government is also creating better foundations to turn out outstanding, brilliant, fit and strong human resources, he said.

He said the development rate of the entire nation is very rapid as other states and divisions of the Union have also improved with greater momentum. Rapid development has been made in economic sector according to the short-term and annual projects, he said.

He said all economic fields such as production, services and trade have developed yearly. One can witness the improvement of living standard of the people both in urban and rural regions.

The objective of the continued efforts of the government led by State leader Senior General Than Shwe is for emergence of a peaceful modern developed nation and raising the living standard of the national people, upholding Our Three Main National Causes, the government laid down the twelve objectives— four political objectives, four economic objectives and four social objectives and has been building the nation. The government is making reforms in all sectors in order to fulfill social requirements such as to be able to work with peace of mind, creating economic opportunities, longevity and well-being, learning of higher education and ensuring smooth transport.

There emerged minion organizations that would destroy the nation, opposing Our Three Main National Causes. The attitude towards them is clear. They are to be warded off in accord with the four-point People’s Desire. The Prime Minister urged the people to fight against any destructive act or hindrance at a time when the objectives of high living standard of the people are realized.

With equal development in border and rural areas, seven-point Road Map which is practical and reasonable were laid down for transforming the nation into a genuine democratic one smoothly. As is known to all, the government is implementing it systematically. Basic principles needed for future State Constitution were laid down at the National Convention to a certain extent.

He said transitional tasks cover political, economic, administrative, education and health sectors. The State, the people and the Tatmadaw are to participate in the transitional tasks for success in accord with work programmes laid down.

He urged the people of Ayeyawady Division to work hard by making good use of better foundations established by the Head of State and the government with goodwill and to boost production.

In conclusion, he also urged them to safeguard the Union of Myanmar with Union spirit and national solidarity spirit, upholding Our Three Main National Causes.

Next, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Htay Oo said that the Kunchaung is the 173rd dam of the nation and the eighth of Ayeyawady Division. With the leadership of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe, the Tatmadaw Government has been striving for harmonious development of all their regions of the nation. The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation has been building dams, water pumping stations, tube-wells in regions with less rainfall, and sluice gates and dams in the areas which receive a lot of rain annually. It is reclaiming more land for cultivation. In addition, it is providing assistance to the agricultural sector for introducing machanized farming. The Kunchaung Dam will benefit 21 village-tracts. In the past, the region grew 33,000 acres of crops including over 21,000 acres of monsoon paddy, 2,700 acres of summer paddy and over 9,300 acres of beans and pulses. Thanks to the dam it will now cultivate over 21,000 acres of monsoon paddy, 16,000 acres of summer paddy and 5,350 acres of beans and pulses totalling over 42,000 acres of crops.

Commander Maj-Gen Soe Naing said that Ayeyawady Division will put 3.6 million acres of land under monsoon paddy in 2005-2006, up from 3,508,291 acres in the previous fiscal. It cultivated 1.42 million acres of beans and pulses in 2003-2004 and 1.528 million acres in 2004-2005. The division has 40,274 acres of prawn farms and 94,732.88 acres of fish ponds in addition cage breeding of fish in Ngawun River and fish-plus-paddy cultivation. It has raised over 10 million chicken. In accord with the guidance of the Head of State, rubber plantation of the division will reach 100,000 acres in 2007-2008. A local thanked the Government for building the dam.

Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win unveiled the stone plaque of the dam, and Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, Maj-Gen Soe Naing and Maj-Gen Htay Oo formally inaugurated the dam. The Prime Minister and party then inspected the dam. At the briefing hall of the dam project, the Prime Minister heard a report on arrangements to extend irrigated crops in the division presented by Minister Maj-Gen Htay Oo. The Prime Minister said that thanks to the irrigation facilities, crops can be cultivated on 100,000 acres of contiguous land all year round in the division. It is a significant progress and an example for other states and divisions. The Government has been providing all-round assistance to farmers to use farm machines and to entrepreneurs to play a role in the farm mechanization process.

Kunchaung Dam is located three miles from Pathein-Monywa Highway near Tatkon village, Kyangin Township, Hinthada District, Ayeyawady Division. The earth dam is 16,720 feet long, and 135 feet high. Its surface area is 98,400 acre-feet at highest water level. It can irrigate 20,000 acres of crops. It is now irrigating 1,500 acres of summer paddy.

Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm/
 

SNLD opposes acts, aims of renegade Sao Hkam Hpa, his group, cohorts

YANGON, 27 April — Social organizations, political parties and armed groups that have returned to the legal of the Union of Myanmar have been issuing their declarations totally condemning and opposing the acts of the group led by renegade Sao Hkam Hpa and cohorts disturbing and endangering the stability of the State, law enforcement, and peace and tranquillity of the entire people. The following is a translation of the full text of the declaration issued by the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD).

Declaration of SNLD

Dated: 23 April 2005

1. On 17 April 2005, we heard a news report on the announcement of the formation of the Shan State provisional government in a certain foreign country, and the declaration of independence of Shan State.

2. The announcement is against the SNLD’s policy and stance, and the SNLD has no connection at all with the group that issued the announcement.

3. The SNLD has never accepted and practised the policy of secession, nor will it in the future.

4. Thus, the SNLD declares that it totally opposes the formation of the Shan State provisional government and the declaration of independence of Shan State as the announcement is totally unacceptable to us.

Central Executive Committee
Shan Nationalities League for Democracy

Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm/
 

Foreign Minister leaves for PRC

YANGON, 27 April— At the invitation of Mr Li Zhaoxing, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, the Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win left here for the People’s Republic of China by air this afternoon to pay a goodwill visit.

The delegation was seen off at the Yangon International Airport by Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Thein Swe, Minister for Culture Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, officials and Ambassador of the PRC to Myanmar Mr Li Jinjun. The Foreign Minister was accompanied by Deputy Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Aung Tun, Deputy Minister for Electric Power U Myo Myint and officials.

Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm/
 

Deputy FM to attend ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Consultations

YANGON, 27 April— At the invitation of Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wu Dawei, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Thu left for PRC to attend the 11th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Consultations to be held in Shanghai from 28 to 30 April. The Deputy Minister was seen off at the airport by Ambassador of the PRC to Myanmar Mr Li Jinjun and officials.

Director-General of the Consular and Legal Department of MOFA U Nyan Lynn, Assistant Director of the Minister’s Office U Kyaw Sithu and Second Secretary of the Myanmar Embassy in Beijing U Aye Ko Ko will also be attending the meeting together with the deputy minister.

Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm/

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