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Lt-Gen Soe Win, Lt-Gen Ye Myint present New Year gifts to heads of Naga nationals in Lahe

Yangon, 16 Jan - Members of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Soe Win and Lt-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defence attended the Naga Traditional New Year Festival for 2003 in Lahe on 15 January morning and presented gifts to Naga national race leaders.

U Ki Shi Mu of Leshi Township presided over the ceremony together with co-chairmen U Tin Ohn of Lahe Township, U Ye Aung of Nanyun Township, U Naung Khun of Khamti Township and U Maung Win of Homalin Township. Daw Sha Na Maing and U Hsay Baraw acted as masters of ceremonies and U Say Ba Rok ads co-emcee. First, Lt-Gen Soe Win, Lt-Gen Ye Myint, the commander, the ministers, the representatives of Naga ethnic groups and cultural troupes and guests saluted the State Flag. Then, Meeting chairman U Ki Shi Mu gave a speech.

Next, Lt-Gen Ye Myint delivered an address. He said members of the State Peace and Development Council among Naga national brethren of Naga regions and foreign guests attend today's auspicious festival. He added he would like to explain measures for the national unity and development of the State being undertaken by the Tatmadaw Government. National brethren have not only warded off various dangers of the country but also preserved culture, prestige and nationalism.

They have also safeguarded sovereignty of the country with the Union Spirit. The Government is striving day and night for ensuring peace and building a modern and development of the nation. Especially, efforts are being made for economic development of the State and the people as well as uplift of living standard. Development projects are being implemented in respective sectors. In doing so, not only 141 dams and reservoirs have been opened but also river water pumping projects extended for supplying water to farmlands and ensuring availability of drinking water. In the road and bridge sector, altogether 149 bridges which are over 180 feet long have been built.

A total of 28 hydel power projects are being implemented in the electric power sector. One hundred and fifty universities and colleges as well as a lot of basic education schools have been opened in the education sector. With regard to the health sector, 750 hospitals have been constructed. Tasks are being carried out for development of the economic infrastructure in States and Divisions. A large sum of money have been spent on development of border areas including the Naga region. Altogether 24 development zones were designated in the country and tasks of the regions are being implemented. For development of the border areas, Regional Work Committees for Development of Border Areas and National Races have been formed in States and Divisions. Likewise, five rural development tasks have been laid down and are being undertaken.

In Sagaing Division, the Government has spent over K 79.9 million to date on roads and bridges, health, education, agriculture, livestock breeding, energy, public relations, communications, housing estates, religious, social welfare and cooperative tasks for development of Kabaw region connecting with the region of Naga national races. Similarly, the Government has spent over K 85.2 million on development tasks in the Naga region. In conclusion, Lt-Gen Ye Myint said the Government is providing assistance for all-round development tasks throughout the country with goodwill as well as the Naga region.

National races are urged to ensure durability and improvement of existing peace, unity and development results of the country. And strenuous efforts are to be made to carry out local development tasks with national unity and the Union Spirit.

Then, Commander Maj-Gen Soe Naing and Central Executive Committee Member of the Union Solidarity and Development Association in-charge Sagaing Division Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint extended greetings.

Next, Naga national Ma Ei Lwe reported on history of the festival. Then, Naga national race leaders presented traditional Naga clothes as new year's gifts to Lt-Gen Soe Win, Lt-Gen Ye Myint, Commander Maj-Gen Soe Naing, Ministers Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint and Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan and Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Thura Aung Ko. Afterwards, member of the Panel of Patrons of USDA (Central) Lt-Gen Soe Win presented K 1 million to Lahe Township Education Officer U Tin Aung and Headmaster U Thet Maung of Lahe BEHS. Then, Lt-Gen Soe Win, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and Maj-Gen Soe Naing gave away gifts to Naga national race leaders U Hla Pe, U Hat Hti and U Hsa Mu. Next, CEC member Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint, Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan and Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Thura Aung Ko presented K 300,000 and gifts each to Naga national race leaders U Shi Thee, U Kyawt Na and U Par Hsei. Then, Commanding Officer Lt-Col Rue San Kyu of the local battalion and the Naga national race leaders presented prizes to 102 outstanding students from Lahe, Khamti, Nanyun, Leshi and Homalin townships in 2001-2002 matriculation examination.

After the ceremony, Lt-Gen Soe Win, Lt-Gen Ye Myint, the commander, the ministers and the deputy minister had the documentary photo taken together with heads of Naga nationals, representatives and cultural troupes. Then, the guests were served with Naga traditional food.

Next, Lt-Gen Soe Win and Lt-Gen Ye Myint, the commander and the ministers visited the exhibition at the festival. In the evening, the commander, the ministers and the deputy minister attended the sports competitions and presented prizes to the winners. The Naga Nationals' traditional bonfire to mark successful completion of the festival was held at the sports grounds at 5 pm. It was attended by Lt-Gen Soe Win, Lt-Gen Ye Myint, the commander, the ministers and the deputy minister, Naga national heads, Naga traditional dance troupes, local people, tourists, people of Naga ethnics in townships and villages in Hkamti District, departmental officials and guests numbering over 10,000.

First, Commander Maj-Gen Soe Naing launched the bonfire. Then, those present joyfully participated in the festival. Cash prizes were presented to the traditional dance troupes and the festival concluded successfully. On 14 January morning, the ceremony to erect the banner post was held at the sport grounds.

At the festival, New Year's gifts over 3,000 clothes, exercise books, towels, blankets, soap, sports gears, calendars and personal goods, 200 bags of rice and 6,150 viss of salt donated by the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Sport, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Religious Affairs Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council and North-West Command Headquarters were presented to local people in Hkamti, Leshi, Homalin, Nanyun and Lahe townships through heads of Naga nationals.