Region    

Yangon, 28 April -Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Aung Htwe of the Ministry of Defence, yesterday morning arrived at Tamoenye which is 17 miles from Kutkai.

They then attended the opening ceremony of Tamoenye-Hophyet region rural development road. It was also attended by Kaungkha National Race Leader U Mahtu Naw of Shan State North Special Region 5, Tamoenye Region national race cultural troupe Leader U Myint Lwin and members, officials of departments and social organizations, national races and band troupes.

Director of Shan State (North) Development Affairs Department U Kyi Myint and U Myint Lwin formally opened the rural road.

Then, Lt-Gen Aung Htwe, Maj-Gen Myint Hlaing, Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein inspected the earthen road. Shaukmoenye-Hophyet (Shwedwin) Road is 30 ft wide and 10 mile long. It was built at a cost of K 4,263,000.

Lt-Gen Aung Htwe and party went to gold mining site of Shweli Yadana Co Ltd.

Col San Shwe Tha reported on exploitation of the mineral resources including gold in Muse District in cooperation with national race entrepreneurs. Commander Maj-Gen Myint Hlaing also gave a supplementary report.

Then, Lt-Gen Aung Htwe gave necessary instructions on development of the region and inspected Hophyet gold mine site. The gold mine was carried out by the local nation races in the past. Now, machinery is being used in mining.

Later, they inspected piggery of local people at Shaukmoenye Ward in Tamoenye.

Afterwards, they proceeded to Manjel Village 10 miles from Tamoenye and attended the opening ceremony of Namhsa Hydel Power Plant Station.

At the ceremony, Muse District Peace and Development Council Chairman Lt-Col Soe Win and Tamoenye Region national race leader U Myint Lwin formally opened the power station.

Next, Lt-Gen Aung Htwe unveiled the signboard. Tamoenye Region national race leader Namhsa Hydel Power Plant construction committee member U Myint Lwin reported on self-reliance power plant built with the help of the Ministry of the Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs.

Then, U Myint Lwin presented commemorative pennants of the opening ceremony to Lt-Gen Aung Htwe.

Then, national race leader U Myint Lwin presented commemorative pennants to Minister Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein, Commander Maj-Gen Myint Hlaing, Kachin national race leader U Ma Htu Naw of Shan State (North) Special Region-5 and officials.

Lt-Gen Aung Htwe and party inspected Namhsa Hydel Power Plant. Next, Lt-Gen Aung Htwe and party had the documentary photo taken with the national race leader and local people.

Namhsa Hydel Power Plant is located near Manjel Village in Tamoenye and it is generating 800 kilowatts of electricity at Namhsa Creek with the use of two 400 kilo watt generators. The embankment is 18.22 metres long, 5.9 metres wide and 5.1 metres high. The canal is 1,833 metres long, 1.5 metres wide (upper) and 1.3 metres (lower) and 1.5 metres deep. The pre-stressed pile is 120 metres long and 0.8 metre diametre. The construction tasks started on 1 March 1998 and completed on 1 July 2000. It cost K 4.80 million on the construction tasks.

Afterwards, Lt-Gen Aung Htwe and party arrived back Tamoenye and inspected Tamoenye-Monsi Motor Road. At 11.45 am, they arrived in Monsi.

Then, Lt-Gen Aung Htwe and party inspected Monsi-Tapa road and arrived at the construction site of Tapa Bridge crossing Thanlwin River on Kutkai-Tamoenye-Monsi-Tapa-Tashwehtan motor road.

At the briefing hall, Shan State (North) Superintending Engineer U Kyaw Min Thein reported on survey works for the axis road to Tapa Bridge, land preparations and others and Brig-Gen Than Win of Laukkai Station on the roads from Laukkai-Tashwehtan to Tapa Jetty. The commander gave a supplementary report.

Lt-Gen Aung Htwe urged the ministries concerned and local authorities to cooperate construction of Monsi-Tashwehtan-Tapa Road, being an important road for development of border areas. Then, he gave instructions on arrangements to be made for upgrading Kutkai-Tamoenye-Monsi-Tapa-Tashwehtan Road.

Next, Lt-Gen Aung Htwe and party inspected the site for construction of Tapa Bridge and gave necessary instructions to officials.

Kutkai-Mawhan-Tamoenye-Naway-Manpeinlon-Nawam-Monsi-Tapa Jetty-Tashwehtan road is 78 miles long. Kutkai-Tapa Jetty is 66 miles long and Laukkai-Tapa Jetty is 12 miles long. In Kutkai Township, 20 miles long tarred road, 44 miles long gravel road and two miles earth road have been completed.

In Laukkai section, 12 miles long gravel road has been completed and upgrading task is being carried out.

Afterwards, Lt-Gen Aung Htwe and party left the jetty and arrived back at Tamoenye at 5 pm. He met departmental officials and administrative bodies in Tamoenye. At the meeting, Minister Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein said that emphasis is to be placed on cultivation of paddy for local food sufficiency. In the meat and fish sector, benefits will be achieved if a household breeds at least one fowl and nine hens. Assistance will be provided by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. It is necessary to breed not only chicken but also pig and to give vaccines to the animals.

Then, Commander Maj-Gen Myint Hlaing said that the Head of State manages to undertake equitable development of the entire nation. After realizing goodwill of the State, the local national races are to take part in the construction tasks of the State. It can be seen that highland cultivation projects are being implemented for meeting food, clothing and shelter of the local people. In doing so, the local people, peace groups and service personnel are to join hands in rural development tasks with Union Spirit.

Next, they cordially met with local national race leaders and town administrative members.

Afterwards, Lt-Gen Aung Htwe and party proceeded to the site of 300 acres of highland cultivation project at mile post 15/6 on Tamoenye-Kutkai Road in Tamoenye Township. U Myint Thein of Shan State (North) Agricultural Mechanization Department reported on land utilization in Tamoenye region.

The commander gave a supplementary report. Lt-Gen Aung Htwe gave necessary instructions to officials.

Then, they arrived in Lashio in the evening.