Performing Arts Competitions continue for third day on grand scale

Yangon, 15 Oct — The 13th Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions continued at the designated places, here, the third day today.

Present on the occasions were members of the panel of patrons of Organizing Committee for the Performing Arts Competitions, Chairman of the Leading Committee for Organizing the Competitions Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myint Swe, Member of the Panel of Patrons Minister for Culture Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Htay Oo, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and for Immigration and Population Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Vice-Chairman of the Leading Committee Deputy Minister for Culture Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung, Deputy Commander Brig-Gen Wai Lwin, Chairman of the Work Committee No 3 Military Region Commander Col Tint Hsan and members, officials of sub-committees, maestros and enthusiasts.

At 9 am, Chairperson of the Panel of Judges Assistant Director (Music) Daw Tin Tin Mya, Assistant Engineer Daw May Pyone Khaing and members supervised the singing contest at the National Theatre.

Seven contestants from States and Divisions took part in the professional level men’s classical song contest, and 11 persons in the basic education level (aged 15-20) girls’ classical song contest. On 16 October, the basic education level (aged 10-15) girls’ religious song contest and the professional level men’s classical/modern song contest will be held at the same venue.

At the National Theatre, 13 competitors took part in the amateur level men’s dancing contest, and 16 students in the basic education level (aged 10-15) girls’ dancing contest. Chairman of the Panel of Judges Wunna Kyaw Htin U Sein Aung Min and members supervised the contest. The higher education level men’s dancing contest and the basic education level (aged 5-10 ) girls’ dancing contest will continue tomorrow. A total of nine contestants took part in the basic education level (aged 15-20) song composing contest at the State School of Fine Arts, and 11 persons in the higher education level song composing contest. The contest was supervised by Chairman of the Panel of Judges Bogale U Tint Aung and members. On 16 October, the basic education level (aged 5-10) and the professional level song composing contests will be held.

Similarly, the music contest continued at Padonma Theatre. Three teams competed in the higher education level men’s orchestra team contest, and eight teams in the amateur level men’s orchestra team contest. U Sein Sten and members of the panel of judges made supervision for the contest. The amateur level men’s dobet contest and the basic education level (aged 10-15) men’s dobet contest will be held at the same venue tomorrow.

Six contestants participated in the professional level men’s donmin contest at Kanbawza Theatre, two women in the professional level women’s donmin contest, four students in the basic education level (aged 15-20) boys’ donmin contest, and the two girls in the basic education level (aged 15-20) girls’ donmin contest, three boys in the basic education level (aged 10-15) boys’ donmin contest, and seven persons in the basic education level (aged 10-15) girls’ donmin contest. Chairman of the panel of judges Gita Lulin U Ko Ko and party supervised the contest. On 16 October, the amateur level men’s xylophone contest and the basic education level (aged 10-15) girls’ xylophone contest will be held.

Annual General Meeting 2005 of Yangon Division USDA held

Yangon, 15 Oct — Yangon Division Union Solidarity and Development Association held the Annual General Meeting 2005 at its hall this morning, with an address by Patron of Yangon Division USDA Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myint Swe.

Also present on the occasion were USDA CEC member Mayor Brig-Gen Aung Thein Lin, Secretary of Yangon Division USDA U Aye Myint and executives. secretaries and executives of township USDAs in the division, members of social organizations and wellwishers.

First, Commander Maj-Gen Myint Swe delivered an address. Next, CEC member (in-charge of Yangon Division) Mayor Brig-Gen Aung Thein Lin gave a speech.

Afterwards, the commander gave away prizes to outstanding persons — Acting Secretary of Mingala Taungnyunt Township USDA U Zaw Lin, Organizer U Htein Win, Daw Soe Soe Moe and Daw Mar Mar Cho of Twantay Township, Deputy Commanding Officer Ye Kyawswa Aung Hla of Auxiliary Fire Brigade of Latha Township, and Regimental Sergeant Major Cho Mar Than of Shwepyitha Township Red Cross Brigade.

At the ceremony to honour offspring of executives at division, district and township levels, the commander presented prizes to five distinctions winner Maung Hat Htet Min, four distinctions winner Maung Hein Pyay Sone, three-distinction winners Maung Thant Zin Soe and Ma Yin Yin Shwe, two-distinction winners Ma Ni Ni Tha Win, Maung Kyaw Sithu and Maung Pyay Phyo Kyaw and one distinction winner Ma Zar Zar Oo.

Likewise, Commander Maj-Gen Myint Swe gave away certificates of honour to U San Maung-Daw Kyi Kyi Than and family, U Than and family, Daw Lwin Lwin Oo and family and U Myo Min Zaw-Daw Kyi Kyi Mar and family who accepted and accommodated Japanese youth at their homes.

Next, the cash donation ceremony followed. CEC member Mayor Brig-Gen Aung Thein Lin, Yangon Division USDA Secretary U Aye Myint, Joint-Secretary U Tha Win and officials accepted K 3,440,000 from wellwishers.

Afterwards, the second session of the Annual General Meeting followed. Division Secretary U Aye Myint presided over the meeting together with members of the panel of chairmen Joint-Secretary U Tha Win and Division Executive U Tin Maung Win. First, Meeting Chairman U Aye Myint gave an opening address. Division Executive U Min Thein submitted the Yangon Division USDA Executive Committee report, and Daw Lin Lin Naing of Dawbon Township the report on prevention against dangers posed by internal and external destructive elements through the united strength of the people.

Representatives of districts and townships took part in the discussions, and Division Executive U Aung Myint reviewed their suggestions. The meeting passed four resolutions, approved one matter and put four matters on record. Later, the meeting chairman gave the concluding remarks and the meeting ended with the chanting of the slogans.

Sales of jade lots attract gems merchants

Yangon,15 Oct — Patron of the Leading Committee for Myanmar Gems Emporium Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint and Chairman of the Leading Committee Deputy Minister U Myint Thein visited the sales of jade lots of the Mid-Year Myanmar Gems Emporium at Myanmar Gems Mart on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road here this morning for the fifth day.

Gem merchants purchased 78 jade lots through competitive bidding from 3 pm to mid-night yesterday. A total of 114 jade lots were sold yesterday and another 55 jade lots today. MNA New Rainfall Record Yangon, 15 Oct—The amount of rainfall 66 mm (2.60 inches) observed at (09:30) hours MST on 15th October 2005 at Pakokku is the 24 hours new maximum rainfall record of the station for the month of October during last (9) years. The former record was 60 mm (2.36 inches) on 15th October 2003.

Minister U Aung Thaung attends 2nd China-ASEAN Eminent Persons Group Meeting

Yangon, 15 Oct—Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung left here by air for Malaysia on 11 October to attend the 2nd China-ASEAN Eminent Persons Group Meeting (EPG) to be held in Kuala Lumpur on 12 and 13 October.

That evening, the minister attended the dinner hosted by Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hamid Jaafar Albar in honour of EPG members at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

On the occasion, the Malaysian minister and meeting joint-chairman former Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Mr Qian Qichen extended greetings.

Minister U Aung Thaung attended the preliminary meeting of the EPG member held at 8 am and the 2nd China-ASEAN Eminent Persons Group (EPG) held at 10 am on 12 October at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Seri Dato Musa Hitam and Mr Qian Qichen jointly presided over the EPG meeting. At the morning session, EPG members dealt with the report (draft) that was compiled based on resolutions passed at the first China-ASEAN EPG meeting and was to be submitted to the ASEAN-China Summit. Minister U Aung Thaung presented the Myanmar delegation’s attitude to the report (draft).

In the afternoon, the members with one voice approved of the report to be submitted to ASEAN and Chinese heads and signed it.

The ex-Malaysian PM and the ex-Chinese PM delivered concluding remarks.

The Malaysian EPG member and the Malaysian co-chairman hosted a dinner in honour of the attendees at KLCC Petronus Twin Tower on 12 October evening.

Myanmar delegation arrives back

Yangon, 15 Oct — A Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung, who had attended the 2nd China-ASEAN Eminent Persons Group (EPG) held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 12 and 13 October, arrived back here by air this morning. They were welcomed back at Yangon International Airport by Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, Minister for Education Dr Chan Nyein, Deputy Minister for Industry-1 Brig-Gen Thein Tun, directors-general and managing directors of departments and enterprises.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Thu, advisor U Kyaw Myint to Ministry of Industry-1, deputy factory manager U Phyo Myint Swe of Myanma Textile Industries and head of session Daw Myat Thida Aye also arrived back at the same flight.