Emergence of the State Constitution is the duty of all citizens of Myanmar Naing-Ngan.

Established 1914

Volume XV, Number 336 11th Waxing of Tabaung 1369 ME Monday, 17 March, 2008

* Stability of the State, community peaceand tranquillity, prevalence of law andorder

* National reconsolidation* Emergence of a new enduring State Con-

stitution* Building of a new modern developed nation

in accord with the new State Constitution

* Development of agriculture as the base and all-round develop-ment of other sectors of the economy as well

* Proper evolution of the market-oriented economicsystem

* Development of the economy inviting participation in termsof technical know-how and investments from sources insidethe country and abroad

* The initiative to shape the national economy must be kept in thehands of the State and the national peoples

* Uplift of the morale and morality of theentire nation

* Uplift of national prestige and integrity andpreservation and safeguarding of culturalheritage and national character

* Uplift of dynamism of patriotic spirit* Uplift of health, fitness and education

standards of the entire nation

Four political objectives Four economic objectives Four social objectives

INSIDE

PAGE 7

If in no mood to help, do not disturb

PAUK SA

NAY PYI TAW, 16 March — Prime MinisterGeneral Thein Sein attended the 17th Annual GeneralMeeting of the Union of Myanmar Federation ofChambers of Commerce and Industry at Mingala Hallof the Nay Pyi Taw City Hall, here, this afternoon.

Also present at the meeting were ministers,deputy ministers, diplomats and officials, directors-general of the State Peace and Development CouncilOffice and the Government Office, departmental heads,the president, vice-presidents, advisers, CEC mem-bers, executives and members of the UMFCCI andguests.

In his speech the Prime Minister said in striv-ing for all-round development of the State, the govern-ment has attached great importance to strong nationaleconomy as a main pillar. To ensure strong economy,efforts are being exerted to enable the State and thenational entrepreneurs to improve national economywhile encouraging the development of national andprivate businesses.

As such, it is an honour for the nation to see thesuccess of UMFCCI leading the national entrepre-neurs for the development of private economic sector.

(See page 8)

Prime Minister General Thein Sein attends17th Annual General Meeting of UMFCCIStability of national economy, strength of

entrepreneurs, development of socio-economyof people can shape discipline-flourishingdemocratic nation with peace and stability

Prime Minister General Thein Sein views scale model of UMFCCI Office to be built inNay Pyi Taw.— MNA

The government issued Announcement 1/2008 and Announcement 2/2008, regarding the forthcomingreferendum to be held in May 2008 to approve the draft of the State Constitution and the multi-party democracygeneral elections to be held in 2010.

The entire people were pleased with and wholeheartedly welcomed the announcements. Every citizen isconvinced that a constitution is a must because it serves as the lifeblood of a nation.

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2 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008

PERSPECTIVES* Oppose those relying on external elements, acting as stooges, holding negative views* Oppose those trying to jeopardize stability of the State and progress of the nation* Oppose foreign nations interfering in internal affairs of the State* Crush all internal and external destructive elements as the common enemy

People’s DesireMonday, 17 March, 2008

Provide more health careservices to people

In an effort to provide full health careservices to the people the government hasbuilt hospitals and rural health care centresthe length and breadth of the nation.

The Minbu Township People’s Hospitalin Magway Division was upgraded step bystep, and now, it has already been upgradedinto a new general hospital (200-bed).

In the meantime, the Homalin TownshipPeople’s Hospital in Sagaing Division wasupgraded into a new people’s hospital (100-bed). And the facility is now able to providemore health care services to local peopleresiding in Homalin and its environs.

The government built more modernhospitals, general hospitals, specialisthospitals and teaching hospitals and hasequipped them with modern medicalequipment including disease diagnosticmachines.

Moreover, universities of medicine andother health institutions were opened in orderto produce and train qualified humanresources in the medical field.

As systematic efforts are being madefor uplift of health and fitness of the entirenation and improvement of the healthstandard of the people, all the health staffmembers are required to actively participatein the drive.

At a time when efforts are being madefor development of the health sector it isincumbent upon all the health staff includingspecialists, doctors, nurses and technicians todo their bit for the success of the task. Onlythen, will the public health care services meetwith success.

Minister Brig-Gen Thein Zaw gives instructions to departmental officials at International DHLOffice in Yangon. — MPT

Director-General of Military OperationsLieutenant-General AS Sekhon, AVSM, YSM

and wife of Indian Armed Forces visiting UnionNational Races Village in Thakayta

Township. — MNA

Deputy Administrator U Hla Shein accepts K100,000 for Jivitadana Sangha Hospitaldonated by Daw Than Than Aung (Si TawWun) Co Family of No 25 on Groundfloor onThandadar Street in Sangyoung Township inmemory of late Dr Iida Tatsuku of Japan. — H

Communication functions in Yangon inspected

NAY PYI TAW, 15 March—Minister forCommunications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-GenThein Zaw this morning inspected communicationfunctions of the External Communication Exchangein Mayangon Township, Yangon and fire preventativemeasures and gave necessary instructions.

Next, the minister met with service personnel atthe meeting hall of the International DHL and stressed

the need to improve communication functions.On arrival at the Hanthawady Auto Exchange,

Minister Brig-Gen Thein Zaw looked into theinstallation of new communication equipment.

During his inspection tour of Yangon, theminister fulfilled necessary requirements forimprovement of communication functions and firepreventative measures.—MNA

Indian delegation visits Union NationalRaces Village

YANGON, 16 March— A goodwill delegationled by Director General ofMilitary Operations Lt-GenAS Sekhon, AVSM, YSMof Indian Armed Forces andwife arrived here yesterdayevening.

They werewelcomed at YangonInternational airport by

Talks on FourthGeneration Time

Management22 March

YANGON, 16 March— The MyanmarFisheries Federation andthe Myanmar PrawnEntrepreneurs Asso-ciation will jointly stagethe talks on managementknowledge at ThiriAnnawa Hall of thefederation at the cornerof Bayintnaung Road andSethmu Hsaywah Roadin Insein Township on22 March afternoon.

General Manager ofMyanma Insurancehonorable professor DrMaung Maung Thein willgive the talks entitled“4th Generation TimeManagement”. Anyinterested person mayattend the talks.

MNA

Deputy Commander ofYangon Command Brig-Gen Kyaw Kyaw Tun andwife, senior militaryofficials, Indian MilitaryAttache to MyanmarColonel Manoj MukundNaravane and officials ofIndian embassy.

The delegationaccompanied by the

officials visited UnionNational Races Villagetoday. They wereentertained with traditionaldances.

MNA

Minbu (41ºC)

Nay Pyi Taw(40ºC)

Chauk (40ºC)

Magway (40ºC)

Aunglan (40ºC)

Bago (40ºC)

Hinthada (40ºC)

Significant daytemperatures

17-3-08 NL 8/14/18, 01:28 PM2

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008 3

Egypt says US criticism ofrights record “biased”

Sri Lanka accuses US throwslifeline to Tamil Tigers

COLOMBO, 15 March — Sri Lanka’s Governmenthas accused the United States of throwing a lifeline tothe widely banned Tamil Tiger rebels.

“The report presents a distorted view of the actualsituation in Sri Lanka during the year 2007 and isunfortunately a litany of unsubstantiated alle-gations,innuendo and vituperative exaggerations,” the ForeignMinistry said in a state-ment issued late on Friday.

“It is indeed a matter of concern that the report,based on hearsay ... has resulted in throwing a lifelineto the LTTE (Tigers) at a time when it is struggling tomaintain its position both militarily on the ground andinternationally.”

MNA/Reuters

Thousands in UK anti-warprotest march

Three killedin S Philippines blast

Clinton, Obama clashdespite plan to talk issuesWASHINGTON, 16 March — Democratic US

presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and BarackObama clashed on Saturday over his ties to anindicted Chicago businessman and her tax records,despite their agreement two days earlier on the needto focus on issues. Clinton’s campaign questionedObama’s judgment in his dealings with campaignsupporter and businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko.

Obama’s campaign fired back, calling it “theheight of hypocrisy for Senator Clinton to demandthe release of documents already on our campaignweb site” while she has refused to release her fulltax returns during her time in the Senate. Thestepped-up attacks came ahead of the crucial 22April Pennsylvania primary. —MNA/Reuters

A model displays a creation from the “SOMARTA”collection by Japanese designer Tamae Hirokawaat Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo on 14 March,

2008.—XINHUA

Thousands of anti-war protesters, holding placards, walk past the Houses ofParliament in central London, demonstrating against war, calling for troopsto be pulled out from Iraq and Afghanistan and to mark the fifth anniversary

of the invasion of Iraq, on 15 March, 2008.—INTERNET

Anti-war demonstrators march in Hollywood,California on 15 March, 2008. Protesters rallied

on the fifth anniversary of the start of the warin Iraq.—INTERNET

I N T E R N A T I O N A L N E WS

MANILA, 16 March —A grenade explosionkilled three people andwounded 19 others in thesouthern Philippines,media reports said onSaturday.

The accident occurredin the country’s provinceof Davao del Sur, where adisco session was ongoingat 10 pm Friday local time(1400 GMT), PhilippineTV network GMA Newsreported.

Initial investigation

showed that civilianvolunteer organizationmember Reto Pelonio,reportedly drunk at thetime, dropped thegrenades while dancing.

Police said it was likelyPelonio had the grenadesin his pockets becausethere was no crater formedby the explosion.

MNA/Reuters

LONDON,16 March —Thousands of anti-warprotesters joined marchesin Britain on Saturday tomark the fifth anniversaryof the start of the war inIraq. They took to thestreets in London and theScottish city of Glasgowdemanding that Britishtroops pull out of Iraq andAfghanistan.

A spokesman for theStop The War coalition,which organized themarches, said that fiveyears after the invasion ofIraq, the world had become“a much more dangerousplace”.

“Estimates suggest asmany as one million peoplehave died violent deathsas a result of the occupation

of Iraq,” spokesman PaulCollins said.

He said Prime MinisterGordon Brown wassending more troops toAfghanistan and claimed“this hidden war is fastbecoming a disastermirroring Iraq”.

But the Foreign Officedisputed Stop the War’sconclusions. “In Iraq, thereis clear evidence we aremaking steady progress,particularly in terms ofsecurity,” a spokesman toldReuters. — MNA/Reuters

CAIRO, 16 March —Egypt struck back at a USGovernment reportcriticizing its humanrights record on Friday,saying the report wasbiased and neglectful ofthe social situation in themost populous Arabcountry.

Egypt, a US ally,also said a White Housestatement expressingconcern at a “campaignof arrests” of oppositionmembers reflected a “lackof understanding” of

Egypt. In an annual report

released this week, the USState Department saidEgypt, a major recipient ofUS aid, sought to “thwart”opposition activities,journalists and civil societygroups.

Egyptian authoritiescontinued to hold formerpresidential candidateAyman Nour as a“political prisoner,”detained Internet bloggersand charged independentjournalists with libel and

other crimes, includingdefaming PresidentHosni Mubarak, thereport said.

“The report wasunfortunately a mix ofnon-objectivity and non-science in presenting thebiased views of somen o n - g o v e r n m e n t a lorgani-zations,” Egypt’sForeign Ministry said. “Itneglects the socialcomponents surroundingthe human rightsdevelopment process.”

MNA/Reuters

EU sayssaving planetmust not cost

the earth

BRUSSELS, 16 March — European Union leaders pledged on Friday to agreelaws within 12 months to implement their ambitious goals for combating climatechange but promised to soften the blow for heavy industries.

A final statement at a two-day summit set a tight timetable for adoptingmechanisms to curb greenhouse gas emissions and promote green energy sourcesbut stressed they must be affordable at a time of economic downturn and marketturmoil.

Concerns about slowing growth and financial instability prompted the 27leaders to add the tell-tale phrase “so as to avoid excessive costs for member states”to the statement. — MNA/Reuters

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4 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008

In this undated image released by the SITE Intelligence Group, a man whoSITE identified as Austrian hostage Wolfgang Ebner (L) is seen next toanother person which SITE says could be the second Austrian hostage

Andrea Kloiber (face blurred), somewhere in Tunisia. Al-Qaeda’s NorthAfrica branch called for the release of prisoners in Tunisia and Algeria in

exchange for freeing the two hostages.—XINHUA 4 dead, many injured in NY crane collapseMinister denies Germans complicit

in US renditionNEW YORK, 16

March— A constructioncrane snapped Saturdayfrom a 25-storey buildingin Manhattan, killing atleast four people andinjuring many others, NewYork City authorities said.

All four known deathswere of constructionworkers at the site and someof the injured are in seriousor critical condition, Mayor

Michael Bloom-berg told aPress conference. The cranesnapped into two parts,damaging three nearbybuildings and completelydestroyed a fourth,Bloomberg said.

The building that wasdestroyed was a five-storeybrownstone with a popularbar in the first floor which,fortunately, was not openat the time.

Over 300 firefi-ghters,150 police officers andmany other emergencyworkers are working at thesite. Police dogs andlistening devices weredeployed to looking forvictims trapped in therubbles. Several blocks inthe vicinity of cranecollapse remain cordonedoff to traffic. Severalbuildings nearby are beingvacated and occupants aretold to go to a shelter set upin a school.—MNA/Xinhua

BERLIN, 15 March —Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier deniedon Thursday Berlin hadadvance knowledge of a2001 US operation to seizea German citizen inMorocco and transfer himto Syria where he wasallegedly tortured.

Steinmeier wastestifying before a specialparliamentary committeeset up to investigateGerman cooperation withthe US “war on terror”,particularly its knowledgeof secret CIA transfers ofterror suspects known as“renditions”.

Thursday's hearingfocused on the case ofMohammad al-Zammar, aSyrian born man withGerman citizenship whohad links to the Hamburgal-Qaeda cell that led theSeptember 11, 2001,attacks on the UnitedStates. — MNA/Reuters

Rescue workers work atthe scene of a crushedbuilding on 50th Streetnear Second Avenue

Saturday, on 15 March,2008 in New York. Agiant crane toppled

over at a constructionsite and smashed into a

block of residentialkilling four people andsetting off a scramble

for survivors.INTERNET

Police arrest dozens afterclashes in Iraqi cityKUT (Iraq), 16 March — Iraqi police arrested

dozens of members of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’sMehdi Army militia on Saturday, hours after twopolicemen were killed in gunbattles in the southern cityof Kut, police said. Clashes this week between Iraqisecurity forces and the militia in Kut, 170 kilometres (105miles) southeast of Baghdad, have raised fears a ceasefirecalled by Sadr may unravel, although the violence has sofar been confined to Kut. It is the first major violation ofthe seven-month-old truce, which has been credited bythe US military with helping to reduce violence betweenmajority Shiite and Sunni Muslims that has killed tensof thousands of Iraqis.— MNA/Reuters

Clinton defends role in N Irelandpeace process

PITTSBURGH, 16 March— Democratic USpresidential hopefulHillary Clinton defendedher role in the NorthernIreland peace process onSaturday and accused rivalBarack Obama of“nitpicking” her record onthe issue. Clinton, aSenator from New York,and Obama, a Senatorfrom Illinois, have madeexperience and judgmentkey arguments in theirrespective quests tobecome the Democratic

Party’s White Housenominee.

Clinton has citedrepeatedly her involvementin the peace process as FirstLady during formerPresident Bill Clinton’sAdministration as anexample of her foreignpolicy credentials. Obamaadvisers have said her rolewas minimal at best.

“I helped with thepeace process in NorthernIreland,” Clinton toldreporters on her campaignplane on Saturday. “That’s

been validated in manydifferent settings by manydifferent people who werepart of the process.”

Her husband helpedbroker the 1998 GoodFriday peace accord thatpaved the way for a power-sharing government inBelfast and a greater rolefor Dublin.

She said she continuesto be engaged with leadersfrom Northern Ireland andquestioned whetherObama could say thesame. — MNA/Reuters

Actors in historical Ottoman outfits attending a promotional event for afestival walk past Turkish riot police watching demonstrators protesting theUS-led invasion in Iraq in a main shopping street in Istanbul on 15 March,

2008.—INTERNET

Chad, UNICEF repatriatekidnapped children to families

N’DJAMENA, 16 March— Chadian authorities andthe United NationsChildren’s Fund (UNICEF)Friday officially launchedthe process of restitutingthe 103 children at the centreof child trafficking scandalback to their families,according to officialsources.

After a ceremony atan orphanage in Abeche,eastern Chad, where thechildren have been stayingsince the arrest of six

members of a French aidZoe’s Ark on October 25,83 of the children boardedtwo buses bound for Andre,about 150 kilometres furthereast, where they wereeagerly awaited by theirfamilies. The remainingchildren are expected be sentto Tinah-Chad and Biltine,250 kilometres north-eastand 75 kilometres north ofAbeche respectively incoming days. Five childrenoriginally from Sudan, whoare yet to be identified have

been assigned to theInternational Committeeof the Red Cross (ICRC)temporarily.

“My organization iscommitted to support thesechildren even after theyare taken back to byrespective families,”UNICEF country repre-sentative for Chad MariamNdiaye said whilelaunching the operation,calling on other partners to“support” the initiative.

MNA/Xinhua

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THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008 5

China posts double-digit growthin LPG import in 2007

UAE tries Jordanian for trade innuclear component

Nestle wins trademark suit overDumex in Chinese court

DUBAI, 15 March — AJordanian man on trial inthe United Arab Emiratesfor trading in a metal usedin nuclear reactors toldthe court on Thursday thathe did not realise he wasbreaking the law.

The suspect, who is

48, remains in custody andthe magistrate scheduledthe next hearing in the casefor 25 March.

The Gulf Arab tradehub foiled an attempt toimport for re-export 240kilos (529 pounds) ofzirconium as part of its

efforts to keep the regionclear of weapons of massdestruction, the officialWAM news agency saidon Wednesday.

It did not say wherethe shipment wasdestined for but Dubai issituated across a shortstretch of water fromIran, which is locked ina standoff with the Westover its nuclear pro-gramme.

The United Statesaccuses Iran of planningto build bombs butTeheran says its nuclearprogramme is aimed atgenerating electricity.

MNA/Reuters

BEIJING, 15 March —China imported 6.98million tons of liquefiedpetroleum gas (LPG) at acost of 3.09 billion USdollars in 2007, a year-on-year growth of 15.2 per centand 2 per cent, respectively.

Of the total, liquefiednatural gas accounted for

41.7 per cent, or 2.91million tons, up 320 percent, sources with theGeneral Administrationof Customs said onSaturday.

Foreign-funded com-panies made up 83.4 percent, or 5.82 million tons,of China's total LPG

imports, up 37.5 per cent. Last year saw China buy

3.38 million tonsof LPG, or 48.5 per centof the total, from Australia,up 100 per cent, and 2.83million tons, or 20.6 percent of the total, from theMiddle East, down 23.5 percent. —MNA/Xinhua

Philippine Airlines makes firstflight to west China

Workers collect rubber gloves at Top Glove’s factory in Klang, outside KualaLumpur, on 11 March, 2008.—INTERNET

Thai customers viewgold jewelry at a gold

shop in Bangkok,Thailand, on 14 March,2008. After soaring to

record levels in the pastyear gold reached a new

milestone Thursday,rising to $1,000 an

ounce for the first timein futures trading, a

boon for investors, but adeterrent to consumersshopping for jewelry.

INTERNET

BEIJING, 15 March —Nestle has won atrademark infringementsuit in a Beijing courtagainst its powdered milkcompetitor RoyalNumico Dumex andreceived 200,000 yuan

(28,129 US dollars) incompensation.

Dutch firm RoyalNumico Dumex was alsoordered to stop using thetrademark of a shielddevice on its powered milkproducts and stop sellinginfringing products in theXizhimen branch of theItoyokado Mall, accordingto a Beijing Municipal No1 Intermediate People'sCourt ruling on Wed-nesday afternoon.

Swiss-based Nestlesued Royal NumicoDumex in September 2007for trademark infringe-ment and requested thedefendant to immediatelystop selling the infringingproducts and compensateNestle 500,000 yuan.

Nestle alleged that ithad already globallyregistered the figurativetrademark of a shielddevice and the othertrademark “Golden shieldtrademark in Chinesecharacter” of Nestle hadalso been applied forregistration with theChinese trademarkauthority and thistrademark had beenwidely used on its milkpowder product.

Nestle found that,without its authorization,the defendant used adevice which was similarto its registered figurativemark on the packages of aseries of Royal NumicoDumex milk powder.

MNA/Xinhua

Trade volumes between Cambodia,Thailand up 10% in 2007

PHNOM PENH, 16 March— The trade volumesbetween Cambodia andThailand showed anincrease of 10.56 per centin 2007, with total tradefigures reaching 1.404billion US dollars,Cambodian CommerceMinister Cham Prasidhsaid here on Friday.

The amount of 49million US dollarsrepresented the cost ofgoods exported fromCambodia to Thailand,Cham Prasidh said at theopening ceremony ofThailand Exhibition 2008,which is being held inPhnom Penh from 14 to 18March. With the steadyincrease of trade volumes,

the Cambodian Ministryof Commerce has beenmaking efforts to continueits activities of improvingtrade between the twocountries, he said.Cambodia has been activelypromoting opportunities for

Thai manufactures to investin Cambodia in order toproduce goods for exportto the world's major market,where Cambodia has beengranted trade preferences,he added.

MNA/Xinhua

E C O N O M I C N E WS

CHONGQING, 16 March— Philippine Airlines(PAL) completed itsmaiden voyage intowestern China on Fridaywith a flight from Manilato Chongqing Muni-cipality.

The country's flagshipcarrier has begun to offertwice-weekly flights to the

southwestern city via anAirbus A320 on Tuesdayand Friday.

A round-trip ticket forthe 3.5-hour flight isaround 1,400 yuan (197US dollars), a PAL officialsaid.

Previously, passengershad to transfer at HongKong if they were

travelling to the city fromthe Philippine capital.

Starting on Tuesday,the carrier will also beginoffering flights toneighbouring Chengduwith a similar frequency.On 1 May, it will launchfive weekly flights tothe Macao SpecialAdministrative Region.

MNA/Xinhua

ADB funds Asia’s sea, rainforestpreservation project

MANILA, 16 March — The Asia Development Bankon Friday said it will fund a regional project to protectthe shrinking seas and rainforests in Southeast Asia.

The region is home to the Coral Triangle, which hasthe highest marine biodiversity in the world, as well asthe Heart of Borneo, rainforests covering 22 millionhectares that are some of the last refuges for orangutans,Asian elephants, and Sumatran rhinos, the regionallender said.

Each year logging, mining and farming destroymillions of hectares of forests. Global warming alsohad its shares of damage, the ADB said.

The ADB grant, amounting to 1.5 million USdollars, will provide funding for the World WildlifeFund for Nature to undertake an environmental andsocio-economic profile of the region, GIS (geographicinformation system) mapping and stakeholderconsultations in the region.

The grant will also allow the countries to assesspolicies and institutional capabilities in managingnatural resources, address cross-border environmentalissues and implement policies through the setting ofminimum standards, monitoring and self regulation.

MNA/Xinhua

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6 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008

Li Jianguo elected S-G ofNPC Standing Committee BEIJING, 15 March — Li Jianguo was elected

secretary-general of the Standing Committee of the11th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s toplegislature, Saturday morning at the ongoing NPCannual session.

Li was concurrently elected one of the 13 vice-chairpersons of the 11th NPC Standing Committee.

Xinhua

Death toll in Baghdadcar bombing rises to 10

BAGHDAD, 15 March — The death toll from a carbomb attack in central Baghdad on Thursday rose to10, with 50 others wounded, an Interior Ministrysource said on Friday.

“The final toll from the Bab al-Sharji area carbombing rose to 10 killed and 50 others injured,” thesource told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The attack took place at about 2:00 p.m. (1100GMT) when a booby-trapped car parking near thecommercial building of al- Khaiyam in the crowdedarea of Bab al-Sharji detonated, the source said.

Earlier, the source put the toll at seven civilianskilled and 20 others wounded. Violence and bloodshedin Iraq have increased recently, despite the US military’sannouncement of a 60-per-cent drop in attacks sincelast June. — Xinhua

Vietnam to host int’l network,data security conf

Engine fault grounds over 300aircraft in New Zealand

Health authorities sayno novel flu virus in HK

Police and military officials survey the site of a bomb explosion at theentrance of the CS Pattani Hotel in South Thailand’s Pattani Province on 15March, 2008. A bomb killed one man and wounded 12 people in Thailand’s

south on Saturday, police said. The bomb, hidden in a car, exploded near theentrance of a hotel in the city of Pattani, one of three far south provinces

where more than 2,300 people have been killed in a separatist insurgency thaterupted in January 2004.— XINHUA

A police officer monitors demonstrators during a march after a rally in Sydneymarking the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq on 16 March, 2008.—XINHUA

HONG KONG, 16 March– Hong Kong healthauthorities said on Fridaythat gene sequencing onflu viruses from twochildren who died amid arecent outbreak showedno novel flu virus.

The Centre for HealthProtection of the De-partment of Health of theHong Kong SpecialAdministrative RegionGovernment said in astatement that the fluviruses from the twovictims match the geneticmakeup of viruses that arealready circulating.

The two children whodied were a seven-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl. “Gene sequencingresults available todayconfirmed that the H1N1virus found in this boy hasthe same genetic makeupas the circulating H1N1(Brisbane) strain inHong Kong,” said thespokesman of the centre.

Xinhua

HANOI, 15 March —Vietnam will organize aninternational conferenceand showcase christenedSecurity World 2008, thebiggest of its kind, withthe participation of 30prestigious speakers andover 20 well-knowninformation technologycompanies from 19-20March, organizers saidFriday.

During the eventthemed “StrengtheningSecurity Awareness andDeployment” and held by

the General Department ofTechnology under theVietnamese Ministry ofPublic Security and theInternational Data Group,the speakers fromVietnamese ministries andorganizations, and suchforeign firms as CiscoSystems and Symantecwill touch current statusand trends of, and solutionsto network and datasecurity in the Asia-Pacificregion in general andVietnam in particular.

Delegates to the two-

day event in Hanoi willfocus their discussionson implementation ofdata security systems instock and e-commercetransactions, solutions toprevent and deal withhackers’ attacks targetedat mobile phones andcomputers, and ex-periences in carrying outsurveillance activitiesbased on the employmentof advanced camerasand alarm equipmentin enterprises and urbanareas.—Xinhua

WELLINGTON, 16 March— More than 300 smallplanes and helicopterswere grounded on Fridaydue to fears they may havea faulty part that can causeloss of power and enginefailure, Radio NewZealand reported onSaturday.

The problem wasdiscovered in the UnitedStates, where 18 incidentswere recorded of gasketfailure inside the fuelinjection system of someaircraft engines.

The New Zealand CivilAviation Authority (CAA)issued an emergencydirective to 225 operatorsand owners of single andtwin-engined, piston-engined aircraft about apossible fuel injector fault.

The authority says 326aircraft could be affected.

The CAA Spokes-person Bill Sommer saidaircraft affected by the

directive cannot be flownuntil a plug in the fuelinjector is checked and, ifnecessary, replaced.

Xinhua

All Items from Xinhua News Agency

China names premier,top judge, prosecutorBEIJING, 16 March —

China’s Parliament re-elected Wen Jiabao asPremier on Sunday, but anext-generation leaderwas passed over forpromotion to a top militaryjob. The National People’sCongress gave Wen,ranked third in theCommunist Partyhierarchy, a second five-year mandate with 2,926votes for, 21 against and12 abstentions.

People’s LiberationArmy Generals Xu Caihouand Guo Boxiong wereelected vice-chairman ofthe decision-makingCentral MilitaryCommission.

A Hong Kong

newspaper had said next-generation leader XiJinping would become thethird vice-chairman of themilitary commission, buthe was not on the ballot onSunday.

If Xi, who waselected vice-president onSaturday, had been giventhe military portfolio, itwould have cemented hisrole as heir apparent toPresident Hu Jintao, whodoubles as CommunistParty and military chief.

Parliament alsoendorsed the nominationsof Wang Shengjun as thecountry’s top judge andCao Jianming as the topprosecutor.

Xinhua

Japanese students and Chinese students pose for a group photo in a highschool in Beijing, capital of China, on 14 March, 2008.

XINHUA

17-3-08 NL 8/14/18, 01:28 PM6

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008 7

Current comments provoked me to write thisarticle. The government issued Announcement 1/2008 and Announcement 2/2008, regarding theforthcoming referendum to be held in May 2008to approve the draft of the State Constitution andthe multi-party democracy general elections to beheld in 2010.

The entire people were pleased with andwholeheartedly welcomed the announcements.Every citizen is convinced that a constitution is amust because it serves as the lifeblood of a nation.However, a particular party and person that aredesperate to monopolize the process of drawing aconstitution are not happy with and are criticizingthe announcements.

NLD central executive committee members arenow uneasy with the knowledge that the government’sAnnouncement No 1/2008 and AnnouncementNo 2/2008 imply that the constitution they havewritten unilaterally has gone down the drain. Theyare so agitated for the announcements that they areopposing them by issuing various forms of objectionflyers and by conducting prearranged interviewswith some foreign radio stations such as BBC andVOA.

Before the announcements came out, they madecomments that it took 14 years for the government tocomplete the National Convention, and they wonderedhow long it would take for the government to completethe drafting of the State Constitution. The army, theysaid, was deliberately prolonging the processesbecause it was unwilling to hand over power. Whenelections would be held was difficult to guess, andthe process lacked a time frame, they added. However,nowadays, they said that the completion of the draftingof the State Constitution in a short time lackedhonesty; that the Pyithu Hluttaw would be formedwith the representatives elected at the constituenciesaccording to Law No 14/89 or Pyithu Hluttaw ElectionLaw; and they did not accept or recognize theprocesses to hold elections according to theconstitution the government had drafted, and theprocesses would not be legitimate.

NLD is in the habit of easily forgetting what ithas said and done. The government issuedAnnouncement No 1/90 offering to write aconstitution in order to form a hluttaw in accordancewith the Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law.

The Multi-party Democracy General ElectionCommission scrutinized the representatives-elect andannounced its approval. Then, the government madean offer through Announcement No 1/90 to write aconstitution with representatives of legal political

If in no mood to help, do not disturbPauk Sa

parties, representatives of national races andrepresentatives of the people from all walks of lifeincluding representatives-elect to form Pyithu Hluttawin line with the constitution.

NLD won the votes of 31 per cent of the number ofeligible voters. But, it said as if it won the votes of thegreat majority of the entire people. In addition, it askedwhen power would be handed over and a hluttawwould be convened. On 28 and 29 July 1990, NLD helda meeting in Gandhi Hall and issued GandhiAnnouncement. Through the announcement, NLDcalled for holding Pyithu Hluttaw by September 1990,and handing over power with the constitution drawn byitself. Late NLD Central Executive Committee MemberU Kyi Maung declined the government’s offer throughAnnouncement No 1/90 to cooperate with thegovernment and to make collaborative efforts inbuilding a new democratic nation.

During the period to coordinate plan to laydown fundamental principles and detailed basicprinciples, NLD attended the National Conventionbeing held by the government with representativesfrom various parties, national races, and all strataof life, and representatives-elect to draw an enduringState Constitution. Nevertheless, NLD madeunreasonable accusations of the discussionsincluding the ratios of NC delegates and proceedingsand gave unreasonable excuses that did not concernthe National Convention and walked out of theNation Convention on 28 November 1995.

Fulfilling the demands of NLD as far as it couldand expressing its magnanimity and great patience, thegovernment invited NLD to the National Conventionthat resumed on 17 May 2004. NLD replied that itwould attend it, and when it was close to the NationalConvention, NLD announced that it would not attendit, giving excuses that the government could not fulfilits demands that were not in conformity with theprevailing situations.

The government held the National Conventiontogether with representatives-elect, representatives ofvarious parties, national races, and the people from allwalks of life to draw a constitution to be able toconvene a Pyithu Hluttaw session in accordance withPyithu Hluttaw Election Law. NLD failed to attend theNational Convention of its own volition and made itschoice. However, it is now levelling accusations againstthe government that the processes do not meet theElection Law and that are against Announcement No1/90.

Frankly speaking, if NLD had assumed itself to bea standard political party, it would have realized that ithad to cooperate with the ruling government to draw a

constitution because a hluttaw could not be convenedif the nation lacked a constitution.

Instead, NLD chose the way of confrontationwith the government. It is resorting to variousmeans in complicity with the colonialist bloc to putpressure politically on and impose economicsanctions against the nation. At the same time, itprovoked riots, after forming so-called hluttawrepresentative committee. It tried to destabilizethe nation. In consequence, its members resignedfrom it in groups, and so did representatives-elect. Itspolitical organizing work went down to the bottom.Initially, the number of NLD representatives-electwas 392, and so far, the number has decreased to 80due to the fact that some committed crimes, someviolated the existing law, and some have fled thenation and are living abroad as expatriates orabsconders. Some have become independentrepresentatives-elect, some have died, and someresigned from the party as members andrepresentatives-elect. Now, the number of NLDrepresentatives-elect is only 80.

According to the international hluttaws, a hluttawcan be called at least one-third of the total number ofhluttaw representatives so requisition. The totalnumber of remnant NLD representatives-elect, therepresentatives-elect of other parties and independentrepresentatives-elect is less than one-third of the totalnumber of hluttaw representatives.

I wonder if NLD thinks it still wins the support ofthose who voted for it in the 1990 elections. If NLDassumes that winning once in the election will helpwin the support of the public always, I would say it iscrazy about something.

NLD has constantly demanded the approval ofthe 1990 election results. However, it did not cooperatewith any forces when the government invited it todraw a constitution to approve the 1990 electionresults to convene a Pyithu Hluttaw session. It persistedin making a demand for handing over power throughthe constitution it had drawn alone. It is claimingdemocracy, but practising one-party dictatorship.Any citizen will not accept that a single partymonopolizes the process of drawing a constitutionthat should be done through coordination by manyrepresentatives. If NLD had attended the NationalConvention and worked together with otherrepresentatives in drawing the constitution, theNational Convention would have been completedearlier, State Constitution would have been approvedand the Pyithu Hluttaw would have been about twoterms.

Now, the government and the people are workingtogether with might and main to hold elections inaccordance with the forthcoming State Constitutionafter approving the constitution through a referendum.I do not think it is wise that NLD is criticizing thatholding new elections is not legitimate and persists inmaking demands that are no longer in line with thepresent time and present way of life of the people. So,I would like to say that if NLD is in no mood to extenda helping hand, it does not matter, but it is requestednot to disturb the processes.

Translation: MSMyanma Alin, Kyemon: 16-3-2008

NLD is resorting to various means in complicity with

the colonialist bloc to put pressure politically on and

impose economic sanctions against the nation. At the

same time, it provoked riots, after forming so-called

hluttaw representative committee.

17-3-08 NL 8/14/18, 01:28 PM7

8 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008

(from page 1)Looking to the international community, all

nations are found to be vying for the development oftheir economy keeping in the fore their national inter-ests. At the World Trade Conferences also, globalnations are placing emphasis on national interests.They are always arguing for creating more economicopportunities and lifting of economic restrictions.

A glance at the condition of global economyreveals that some big nations that monopolized theworld’s economy are trying to revive their economy astheir economic powers have come to a downgradingsituation while new economic forces are emergingextensively. And as a consequence, there has beenmore competition between the global countries.

At the same time, more economic cooperationis being forged between the nations or the associationsin order to surmount the challenges. So the developingnations like Myanmar has to face such challenges.What’s more, some economically powerful nations arediscriminating against others economically with theintention of influencing the developing nations. Theyare trying to widen the gap between rich and poor moreand more.

Particularly, they are imposing economic re-strictions against Myanmar designing to affect theeconomy of national entrepreneurs. This is why all thepeople are to make more efforts for the improvementof national economy keeping the national interest inthe fore.

To ensure strong economy, national entrepre-neurs are required to work hard side by side with thegovernment. The government on its part is buildingmore economic infrastructures and has granted per-mission to the private national entrepreneurs to investin the State projects. Opportunities have been createdfor them to build roads, airports, seaports, interna-tional container yards and to carry out international airand water transport services. Besides, private sectorhas expanded to engage in forest, mineral and gemsbusinesses.

In the strategic regions, industrial zones havebeen established and State-owned factories have beenprivatized to improve the industrial sector. Depart-mental work is being carried out systematically andspeedily for the establishment of new companies,investments and trade services.

Import and export activities, financial activi-ties and trade and revenue services are also beingcarried out smoothly. And as a result, the State hasbeen able to increase its trade volume.

The geographical conditions of the countrycreate good opportunities for conducting not only thetransit trade and re-export but also the trade services.As such, merchants and entrepreneurs are to grasp thegood opportunities for promotion of the trade sector.

Nowadays, private entrepreneurs who play akey role in bringing about the national economy are toextend their businesses in line with the State economic

Prime Minister GeneralThein Sein attends…

policies. They are to strive for exporting quality prod-ucts meeting international set standards, seeking newmarkets and manufacturing new quality export items.

Likewise, the entrepreneurs are to avoid theimporting of dangerous goods of poor quality that mayharm the interests of the State and the people. Inaddition, they are to import the commodities for theinvestment and development of local industries.

The brokerage plays an important role in sys-tematically controlling the internal trading, the exter-nal trading and other commercial tasks in States andDivisions. Therefore, the brokerages in States andDivisions are to adjust the benefits of the State and thepeople to that of the merchants. In doing so, thefederation needs to supervise the tasks to minimize thefluctuations of commodity prices and the acts to harmthe local and international trades.

The role of equitable development for thetrade services and industries is very important in theeconomic sector of the nation. It is necessary to de-velop the industries for economic growth of the Statein long term.

Therefore, the entrepreneurs earning foreignexchange are to make investment in the industrialsector with a view to creating job opportunities for thepeople, increasing the per capita income, establishingvalue-added products industries that can effectivelyapply human resources and setting up new industries.

At present, the government is ready to priva-tize the State-run workshops and factories. The na-tional entrepreneurs are to try hard to have moreabilities to penetrate the international economic sector.While the government is joining the ASEAN,BIMSTEC, GMS and ACMECS to promote regionaland international economic cooperation, the privatesector is also to make concerted efforts to penetrate theinternational economic sector.

The government is giving encouragement to

the entrepreneurs to have experiences and the widerange of knowledge to become those who have thecapabilities to do businesses at world level. TheUMFCCI is to organize its members to participate inthe international economic cooperation of the Stateand to realize the international commercial laws, rulesand regulations, ethics, traditions and economic andcommercial news.

To overcome challenges stemming from glo-bal market changes and hardships resulting from out-side political instigation, long-term plans should bemade to protect the interests of the State, the peopleand the national entrepreneurs. Social standards of thepeople can be raised through the improvement ofnational economy.

This being the case, stability of the nationaleconomy, strength of the national entrepreneurs andthe development of socio-economy of the people canshape a discipline-flourishing democratic nation withpeace and stability. The principles that can guaranteesound economic foundations for a future democraticnation have been inscribed in the draft constitution ofthe Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Those princi-ples include the points that all economic forces such asState cooperatives, joint-ventures and private sectorare permitted to engage in economic affairs, thatprivate business are not to be nationalized and that thedenominations issued legally are not to be demonatized.In addition, the approval of the draft constitution of theRepublic of the Union of Myanmar is the national dutyof all citizens.

Like the general people, UMFCCI and its mem-bers are to unitedly participate in the drive for theapproval of the constitution without sidelining the rightto cast their votes. In conclusion, the Prime Ministerurged UMFCCI to actively participate in building apeaceful, modern and developed nation while strivingfor the improvement of the private economic sector asit is the biggest NGO across the nation.

After the first session of the meeting, PrimeMinister General Thein Sein posed for documentaryphoto together with the ministers, the deputy minis-ters, the president, CEC members, executives andadvisers of the UMFCCI.

The Prime Minister cordially greeted theattendees to the meeting. Next, the Prime Minister andparty viewed the scale model of the UMFCCI Buildingto be constructed in Nay Pyi Taw, documentary photosof the federation and its brother associations.

MNA

The principles that can guarantee sound economic foundations for afuture democratic nation have been inscribed in the draft constitution of theRepublic of the Union of Myanmar. Those principles include the points thatall economic forces such as State cooperatives, joint-ventures and privatesector are permitted to engage in economic affairs, that private business arenot to be nationalized and that the denominations issued legally are not tobe demonatized. In addition, the approval of the draft constitution of theRepublic of the Union of Myanmar is the national duty of all citizens.

Prime Minister General Thein Sein browses documentary photos of UMFCCI activitiesperformed at home and abroad.— MNA

17-3-08 NL 8/14/18, 01:28 PM8

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008 9

Viewing the non-essential as the essential and the essential as the non-essential they, nourished on false thinking, do not arrive at the essential.

False thinking does not arrive atessential

Dhammapada 11

NAY PYI TAW, 16March — A Myanmardelegation led by Ministerfor Education Dr ChanNyein arrived back here byair this morning afterattending the 43rd South-East Asian EducationMinisters OrganizationCouncil Conference and the3rd ASEAN Education

Education Minister arrived backfrom Kuala Lumpur

Minister Dr Chan Nyein being welcomed back by Ministers at Nay PyiTaw airport.— MNA

Commander Maj-Gen Hla Htay Win inspects construction of a newoperation room at Htantabin Hospital.—MNA

Three dead, 27 injured asgarment factory ferry

turns overNAY PYI TAW, 16 March — A ferry with

Number Plate Za/1221 carrying 33 staff of TashinGarment Factory in Mingaladon Industrial Zone anddriven by Win Nyunt veered onto the wrong side ofthe road and turned over near Nwekhway Village inMingaladon Township at 7 am yesterday when it wason its way from Hlegu to Mingaladon IndustrialZone along Highway No 3.

Of the staff, Ma Than Htay, 34, Ma Soe SoeAye, 28 and Ma Phyo Phyo, 25, were dead and 27others injured in the accident. Of the injured, tenwere admitted to North Okkalapa General Hospitaland 17 others received medical treatment as out-patients.

Action is being taken against the driveraccording to the law.—MNA

Volunteers for regionaldevelopment honoured in

Htantabin TownshipYANGON, 16

March — A ceremony tohonour departmentalpersonnel and members ofsocial organizations whoparticipated in the regionaldevelopment tasks washeld at the office ofHtantabin TownshipPeace and DevelopmentCouncil this morning.

Chairman ofYangon North DistrictPDC U Thein Naingreported on participationof the departmentalpersonnel and members ofsocial organizations in theregional developmenttasks in HtantabinTownship from 24February to 8 March. UThan Mani of KaleinVillage spoke words ofthanks.

Chairman ofYangon Division PDCCommander of YangonCommand Maj-Gen HlaHtay Win presentedcertificates of honour tothose who participated inthe regional developmenttasks.

In his instruction,the commander explainedendeavours of thegovernment for ensuringequitable development of

the rural and urban areas.Next, the

commander and partyvisited HtantabinTownship Hospital andviewed progress inconstruction ofBayintnaung circular roadstretching 1,580 feet long,thriving maize andsummer paddy plantationsin the region. — MNA

Minister attends setting up of TaungthaTownship Association (Mandalay)

NAY PYI TAW, 16March —The ceremonyof setting up the TaungthaTownship Association(Mandalay) was held at

MOC Chairman’s CupNational Hockey LeagueTournament continuesYANGON, 16 March — The Myanmar Olympic

Committee Chairman’s Cup National HockeyLeague Tournament for 2008 continued at theArtificial Turf Hockey Pitch in Mingala TaungnyuntTownship today.

Yangon Command beat South-East Command3-0 this morning and Tatmadaw Hockey CommitteeTeam edged out South-West Command 10-0.

A total of 11 hockey teams are taking part in thehockey league. Till today, Yangon Command is topon the chart on 10 points, Tatmadaw HockeyCommittee and Central Command on 9 points each,Navy on 7 points, No 11 LID and Air Force on 6points, Triangle Region Command and South-WestCommand on 3 points each, MPF and YangonYouth on one point each and South-East Commandwith lack of point.

The Hockey League Tournament will be heldup to 31 March. Hockey fans may enjoy the matchesfree of charge. — MNA

Ministers Meeting in KualaLumpur of Malaysia from12 to 15 March.

The Myanmardelegation was welcomedback at Nay Pyi TawAirport by Minister forHealth Dr Kyaw Myint,Minister for ReligiousAffairs Brig-Gen ThuraMyint Maung, Deputy

Ministers for Educationand departmental officials.

At the meetings,Minister for Education DrChan Nyein explainedprogress in the educationsector of Myanmar, tasksof the education for all andapplication of informationand technology in theeducation sector. — MNA

Waizayanta MahaBandoola Dhammayon ofThakkyathiha Pagoda inMandalay yesterday.

Patron of theassociation SecretariatMember of the UnionSolidarity andDevelopment AssociationMinister for Industry-1 UAung Thaung gave aspeech on the occasion.

Wellwishers collec-tively donated K 3.35million to the funds of theassociation throughChairman of theassociation (Mandalay) USoe Myint.

At the hall ofMandalay ZaygyoMarket, Minister U AungThaung and Chairman ofMandalay CityDevelopment CommitteeMayor Brig-Gen PhoneZaw Han met with

shopkeepers of the marketand gave necessaryinstructions. — MNA

Take FirePreventiveMeasures

Bewareof

Fire

17-3-08 NL 8/14/18, 01:28 PM9

10 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008

People celebrate theHindu festival of Holi(Festival of Colours)

in Barsana, in thenorthern Indian stateof Uttar Pradesh,on15 March, 2008. The

tradition of Holiheralds the beginning

of spring and iscelebrated all overIndia.—INTERNET

Firefighters check an area after a truck crashed into a passenger and cargotrain near the town of Pyrgos in the western Peloponnese region, 320 kilo-metres (200 miles) southwest of Athens on 15 March, 2008. The truck driverkilled and two passengers were injured, the Fire Service said. — INTERNET

Albanian people wait for news of relatives after an explosion at an Army basesome 16 km (10 miles) from the capital Tirana on 15 March, 2008.—INTERNET

50 feared dead in Albanian Armydepot explosion

TIRANA, 17 March — At least 50people working at the site of an Armydepot have been feared dead in anexplosion which occurred Saturday nearthe Albanian capital Tirana, it wasreported.

The depot is located near Vora, about15 kilometres west of Tirana. Theexplosion can be heard in Tirana andDurres, the biggest port city of Albania.

A witness told a local TV that therewere at least 50 people working at thesite, dismantling weapons, and they werefeared killed in the explosion.

Albanian Prime Minister SaliBerisha said they still have not got thefull information about the situation, and

the country’s President Bamir Topi saidthat the exact casualties cannot beestablished yet.

Albania has destroyed some 46,000tons of ammunition it has inherited fromthe past, and is continuing to scrap excessweaponry, hoping this might help thecountry get the ticket to a NATOmembership at the alliance’s April 2-4summit in Bucharest, Romania.

Albania was the first country todestroy 16,000 tons of chemical agentsin July last year through the Nunn-Lugarprogramme, which was launched by twoUS Senators for the elimination ofchemical weapons and othersubstances.—MNA/Xinhua

SAN FRANCISCO, 16March — Meg Whitman,eBay Inc.’s outgoing chiefexecutive officer, will co-chair the nationalpresidential campaign ofUS Senator John McCain,the presumptiveRepublican nominee.

The organization saidon Friday Whitman, 51,would play a lead role inthe campaign’s financingand policy development.

Since Whitman joined

Meg Whitman to co-chairMcCain’s campaign

eBay in 1998, the 30-employee start-up hasbeen transformed into aFortune 500 companywith nearly eight billionUS dollars in revenue.

This success madeWhitman one of the mostpowerful women inbusiness and earned her aranking among TimeMagazine’s list of theworld’s most influentialpeople.

MNA/Reuters

Indonesia raisesfuel prices forindustrial uses

JAKARTA, 16 March —Indonesia’s state-run oil andgas firm Pertaminaannounced on Saturday ithas increased fuel prices bybetween 1.1 per cent and4.6 per cent for corporatecustomers effective fromthe same day.

Under the new price list,low-grade gasoline forindustrial uses sells atbetween 7,000 rupiah and7,385 rupiah (between about77 US cents and 81 US cents)per litre, depending on thedistribution areas in the hugearchipelago.

Diesel fuel is priced upto 8,192 rupiah (90 cents)per litre and kerosene 8,111rupiah (89 cents) per litre,the company said in astatement.

MNA/Xinhua

Overweight women haveworse breast cancer

WASHINGTON, 16 March — Breast cancer patientswho are overweight have more aggressive disease andare likely to die sooner, US researchers reported onFriday.

A dangerous type of breast cancer, known asinflammatory breast cancer, was seen in 45 per cent ofobese patients, compared with 30 per cent of overweightpatients and 15 per cent of patients of healthy weight.

“The more obese a patient is, the more aggressivethe disease,” said Dr Massimo Cristofanilli of theUniversity of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre,who led the study.

“We are learning that the fat tissue may increaseinflammation that leads to more aggressive disease.”

Writing in the journal Clinical Cancer Research,Cristofanilli and Colleagues said they studied 606women with breast cancer that had spread within thebreast.

They classified them according to body massindex or BMI, a globally accepted measure of obesity.People with BMIs of below 25 are considered normal,while 25-29 marks overweight and 30 or above isclinically obese.

After five years, 56.8 per cent of obese womenand 56.3 per cent of overweight women were stillalive. But 67.4 per cent of the normal weight womenhad survived.

More than 56 per cent of women of normalweight survived 10 years, compared to 42.7 per centof obese women and 41.8 per cent of overweightwomen.—MNA/Reuters

Rain, floods kill 73 inBolivia since NovemberLIMA, 16 March —

Heavy rain and floods havekilled 73 people, made fivemissing and affected 95,000families in Bolivia sinceNovember, Bolivia’s CivilDefence Department saidon Friday.

Bad weather caused by

“La Nina”, or the extensivecooling of the central andeastern Pacific, has mainlycaused damages in Chuqui-saca Province in southernBolivia, according to repor-ts from La Paz, Bolivia’sadministrative capital.

A total of 22 deathsoccurred in Chuquisaca,followed by Santa Cruz,Cochabamba and La Pazwith 14 deaths each.

January was the mostfatal month, and theinternational communityhas sent emergency aid toBolivia.

Germany, Spain,Argentina, Brazil, Japan,Chile, the United Statesand some other countries aswell as organizations likethe United Nations and theWorld Bank have providedaid for Bolivia.

Bolivia’s NationalWeather Service reports“La Nina” phenomenon hasstarted to decrease and willdisappear in April.

MNA/Xinhua

17-3-08 NL 8/14/18, 01:28 PM10

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008 11

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Images

of

the

Day

Potatoes and sweet potatoes cultivated at the International Potato Centre inLima, Peru. The United Nations is seeking photographers to ‘capture the

spirit of the spud’ as part of a competition aimed at raising the profile of thehumble tuber for International Year of the Potato.—INTERNET

Models present creations from Indian designerMonapali’s Autumn/Winter 2008 collection at theWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in New Delhion 15 March , 2008. More than 80 designersare showcasing their creations on the runway orin stalls at the five-day fashion week. — INTERNET

A Hello Kitty balloon floating at a parade. The Japanesecartoon figure popular with teenagers around the world.

INTERNET

Alligators canstealthilymaneuver

through thewater leavingnary a ripple,despite having

neither fins norflippers likeother adeptswimmers.

Instead, theyuse special

muscles to shiftthe position of

their lungs,researchers said

on Thursday.INTERNET

Fishermensearch forfish in the

Matan FadaRiver duringthe Argungu

fishingfestival inNigeria’s

Kebbi stateon 15 March,

2008.INTERNET

Dancers of International Akram Khan Group performing‘Bahok’ dances at Dar al-Assad for Culture and Arts in

Damascus on 15 March. 2008.—INTERNET

17-3-08 NL 8/14/18, 01:28 PM11

12 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008

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Sinopec denies report of projectedQ1, Q2 losses

BEIJING, 15 March —China Petroleum andChemical Corporation(Sinopec) has denied areport that it wouldprobably suffer losses inthe first two quarters dueto high crude prices, theChina Securities Journalreported on Friday.

“Such reports aregroundless and untrue,”an unnamed companyofficial was quoted assaying in reference to anarticle in Thursday’s 21stCentury Business Herald.

Refining businessundoubtedly lost money,but that was not the casefor the whole company,

he said. “Sinopec’s oiland gas exploitation, gasstations and chemicalsegments are veryprofitable.”

It was also untrue thatSinopec booked aJanuary profit of only onebillion yuan (140.8million US dollars),about a sixth or a seventhof the level in the samemonth of the past twoyears, he said. But herecognized that profits inthe first quarter declinedcompared with the year-earlier period. Sinopec isscheduled to release itsfirst quarter financialresults in late April.

“The company’srefining profitabilitydepends on the marketcondition and thenational policy,” he said.“The current 110 USdollars per barrel on theinternational market is anappalling price.”

MNA/Xinhua

A man in a military uniform takes part in a demonstration inMadrid, on 15 March, 2008 marking the fifth anniversary of

US led war in Iraq. The demonstrators were protesting againstthe current occupation of Iraq, Palestinian territories and

Afghanistan.—INTERNET

Five bodies found in Peruhelicopter crash

LIMA, 15 March —Rescue teams found onThursday five of the 10bodies of the helicopterthat crashed on Tuesdayin northwestern Peru.

The preliminaryreports said the rescueteams discovered five yetunidentified bodies atChiriato hill in Santa CruzProvince, some 800kilometres northwest ofPeru's capital Lima.

The Bell 412Bhelicopter, belonging tothe Helinka-Evergreencompany, lost contact withthe ground at 11 am localtime (1600 GMT)Tuesday while offeringtransportation services forthe Rio Tinto miningcompany. The wreckageof the helicopter, whichdisappeared while flyingover a mountainous areadifficult to get access withheavy rainfalls and fog,was found in a precipiceWednesday.

The 10 people aboardincluded two pilots andeight passengers beingtransferred by thehelicopter rented by anmining exploration firm.

MNA/Xinhua

Bomb kills foreign womanin Pakistan restaurant

ISLAMBAD, 16 March— A foreign woman waskilled and US Embassystaff were wounded in abomb attack on a restaurantin the Pakistani capital ofIslamabad on Saturdaynight, police said.

Police DeputyInspector General ShahidNadeem Baloch said thevictim was a Turkishwoman who worked for arelief agency. Baloch said11 people were wounded,eight of them foreigners.

Doctors at thehospital where the deadwoman was taken gaveconflicting accounts,identifying her as anAmerican nurse workingat the US Embassy.

“US Embassy staffwere among thosewounded,” US Embassyspokeswoman Kay

Mayfield said, but shecould not confirm anydeath.

Pakistan has beenbattling Islamist militancysince joining the US-ledcampaign againstterrorism after theSeptember 11 attacks onthe United States.

More than 500 peoplehave been killed this yearin militant-relatedviolence, including a waveof suicide bombings.

Bombers havetargeted US diplomatsseveral times in the past.A suicide bomber killed asecurity guard outsideIslamabad’s Marriott hotellast year, but attacks onsoft targets likerestaurants frequented byforeigners would mark achange in militant tactics.

MNA/Reuters

Japan starts environmentassessment on US Marines’ siteTOKYO, 16 March — Japan’s

Defence Ministry on Saturdaylaunched comprehensiveenvironmental assessment on aUS Marine Corps’ relocationsite, said reports from thesouthern Japanese port city ofNaha, capital of Okinawa Island.

The assessment work, whichincludes the evaluation ofweather conditions, the impacton the ecological environmentand noise levels from the aircraft,is conducted by the OkinawaDefence Bureau of the ministryat the US Marines’ Camp Schwabin Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, aplanned relocation site for theMarine’s Futemma Air Station

in Ginowan. Under an implementation

agreement reached by Japan andthe United States in May 2006,the Japanese Government agreedto build a new airfield at CampSchwab in Nago by 2014 torelocate the Futemma Air Stationfrom the densely-populated areaof Ginowan.

The local governments,however, have repeated asked thedefence authorities to considerthe impact of aircraft noise onthe neighbouring residentialareas and the potential negativeeffect on local biologicalenvironment.

MNA/Xinhua

Afghan mobile phonescut after Taleban attacks

KANDAHAR , 16 March— Mobile phone operatorshave shut down theirnetworks at night in partsof Afghanistan afterattacks by Talebanmilitants who say troopsuse the signals to track themdown, residents and aphone company officialsaid on Saturday.

Residents in parts ofsouthern Afghanistanreported their mobiletelephones no longerworked at night and anofficial from one of thecompanies confirmed itsnetwork had been shut

down from dusk till dawnin some areas of the country.

The Taleban lastmonth ordered mobilephone operators to switchoff their networks from 5p.m. till 7 a.m. and haveattacked and destroyedaround 10 mobile phonetowers since then to drivehome their threat.

The latest attack on amobile phone tower camejust before dawn onSaturday in the southernprovince of Kandahar, amobile telephonecompany official said.

MNA/Xinhua

Pakistani security

officials arrive to

examine the site of a

bomb explosion in

Islamabad, Pakistan

on 15 March, 2008.

INTERNET

17-3-08 NL 8/14/18, 01:28 PM12

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008 13

Feelin’ groovy even a 10-minuteworkout can help

Software “hiccup” undermines trippast Saturn moon

Japan’s space state lab section opensfor business

CHICAGO, 15 March—Exercising as little as 10to 30 minutes a day canmake overweight or obeseolder women get moredone and feel better abouttheir lives, US researcherssaid on Thursday.

They said even womenwho only exercised 10minutes a day sawsignificant improvementsin quality of life — theyhad more energy, lessanxiety and were simply

happier. The study isamong the first to examinehow exercise can improvethe quality of life ofpostmenopausal womenwho were extremely outof shape but otherwisehealthy, said Dr TimothyChurch of the PenningtonBiomedical ResearchCentre in Baton Rouge,Louisiana.

“This is by far thelargest exercise trialwhich has ever looked at

quality of life,” Churchsaid in a telephoneinterview. The results,which were presented atthe American HeartAssociation’s Con-ference on Nutrition,Physical Activity andMetabolism in ColoradoSprings, Colorado,update a 2007 study byChurch and others in theJournal of the AmericanMedical Association.

MNA/Reuters

WASHINGTON, 15 March— A software malfunctionprevented a key piece ofequipment on the Cassinispacecraft from recordingdata as it flew through theplume from a geysershooting off a moon ofSaturn, NASA said late onThursday.

NASA called theproblem “an unexplainedsoftware hiccup” that cameat a very bad time,preventing Cassini’sCosmic Dust Analyzerinstrument from collectingdata for about two hours asit flew over the surface ofthe moon Enceladus on

Wednesday. A key objective of the

fly-by was to determine thedensity, size, compositionand speed of particleserupting into space fromthe moon’s south pole in adramatic plume.

Bob Mitchell, Cassiniprogramme manager, saidthe problem meant that theinstrument did not collectdata as the craft flew

through the plume — aprocess lasting under aminute.

“When it went throughthe plume, it wasnot working properly,”Mitchell said in a telephoneinterview, expressingdisappointment. “We hadtested that software verycarefully. We don’t knowwhy it didn’t workproperly.”— MNA/Reuters

HOUSTON, 15 March— A key component of ahuge new orbital researchlaboratory was installedby spacewalking astro-nauts on Friday, launchingconstruction of Japan’ssignature contribution tothe International SpaceStation.

Wearing protectivemasks and goggles,

station commander PeggyWhitson, Japaneseastronaut Takao Doi andlead shuttle spacewalkerRichard Linnehan floatedinto an equipment-jammed storage closetthat will be hooked up inMay with Japan’s mainlaboratory, named Kibo,or “hope”.

“This is a small step

for one Japaneseastronaut, but a giantentrance for Japan to agreater and newer spaceprogramme. Congratula-tions,” Doi radioed to theJapan’s new space controlcentre outside Tokyo.

“We love our newroom already,” addedWhitson. “It looksgreat.”— MNA/Reuters

Fumigation against Aedes Aegypti, the mosquito which transmits denguefever. A top Thai health official Friday warned of a surge in dengue fever

after the mosquito-borne disease killed six people and infected nearly 6,000this year.—INTERNET

An Arowana dragonfish, a king red type,

swims during anexhibition in Jakarta inFebruary 2008. Whilethe so-called “super

red” arowana isdisappearing in nature,

demand for theundulating fish is

booming in the tanks ofAsia’s rich.—INTERNET

People walk through the debris in front of CNN Center in downtown Atlantaon 14 March, 2008. A severe windstorm ripped through downtown Atlanta

Friday night, downing trees, breaking windows and tearing holes in the roofof the Georgia Dome while the Southeastern Conference basketball

tournament was in progress.—XINHUA

Two dead as fresh storms spawntornado near Atlanta

ATLANTA, 16 March— A tornado in northwestGeorgia killed two peopleand left others seriouslyinjured on Saturday, oneday after a twister batteredAtlanta’s downtown,officials said.

One person died inPolk county and a seconddied in Floyd county, saidBuzz Weiss of the Georgia

Emergency ManagementAgency. Both counties areon Georgia’s border withAlabama.

The NationalWeather Service issued astring of tornado warningsmoving east across northGeorgia throughout theday. It said there was arisk of “isolated tor-nadoes” across central

Georgia and SouthCarolina, where localmedia said storms leftthousands without power.

Workers wereclearing debris in the heartof Atlanta followingFriday night’s storm,which damaged landmarkbuildings, overturned carsand injured dozens ofpeople. — MNA/Reuters

Scientists discover gene thatcontrols tomato shape

WASHINGTON, 16 March— US scientists haveidentified a gene that controlsthe shape of tomatoes, adiscovery that could helpunravel the mystery behindthe huge morphologicaldifferences among ediblefruits and vegetables.

The discovery wasreported, as the cover article,in the March 14 issue of thejournal Science.

The gene, dubbedSUN, is only the second everfound to play a significantrole in the elongated shape ofvarious tomato varieties, said

Esther van der Knaap, leadresearcher in the study atOhio State University.

As one of the mostdiverse vegetable crops interms of shape and sizevariations, tomatoes haveevolved from a very small,round wild ancestor into thewide array of cultivatedvarieties — some large andsegmented, some pear-shaped, some oval, someresembling chili peppers —available through most seedcatalogs and for sale insupermarkets.

MNA/Xinhua

17-3-08 NL 8/14/18, 01:28 PM13

14 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008

S P O R T S

Answers to yesterday’sCrosswords Puzzle

M A K E R 8 B L O O M E R

I 8 H 8 E 8 R 8 B 8 I 8 A

G R A N D E E 8 E S S E N

R 8 K 8 R 8 T 8 S 8 T 8 C

A N I S E 8 O P E R A T E

N 8 8 8 S A N E 8 8 K 8 8

T H R U S T 8 S T R E A M

8 8 E 8 8 O B O E 8 8 8 Y

W E L C O M E 8 L O C U S

H 8 E 8 U 8 N 8 S 8 A 8 T

E X A C T 8 I N T E N S E

A 8 S 8 D 8 T 8 A 8 E 8 R

T R E M O L O 8 R U D D Y

Terdsak Jandaeng (L) of Thailand and WBOfeatherweight champion Steven Luevano of the US

exchange punches during their title fight at theMandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas,

Nevada, on 15 March, 2008. Leuvano won byunanimous decision.—INTERNET

Sunderland’s Roy O’Donovan (R) tackles Chelsea’sMichael Ballack during their English Premier Leaguesoccer match at The Stadium of Light in Sunderland,northern England on 15 March, 2008.—INTERNET

Real Madrid’s Raul Gonzalez tries tocontrol the ball during their Spanish

first division soccer match againstDeportivo Coruna in Coruna

on 15 March, 2008.—INTERNET

Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo (C) scoresagainst Derby County during their English Premier

League soccer match at Pride Park in Derby,central England on 15 March, 2008. —INTERNET

Arsenal’s William Gallas (R) takes a shot at goalagainst Middlesbrough’s Luke Young and goal-

keeper Mark Schwarzer during their EnglishPremier League soccer match at the Emirates

stadium in London on 15 March, 2008.—INTERNET

United back on topafter Arsenal stumble again

Kezman pleasedto draw former

club ChelseaBELGRADE, 16 March —

Serbia striker MatejaKezman was happyFenerbahce drew hisformer club Chelsea in theChampions League quar-terfinals.

“I am glad we are upagainst Chelsea, they weresecond on my wish listbefore the draw (on Fri-day),” Kezman told Bel-grade’s B92 Website(www.b92.net).

“I would have preferredGerman side Schalke be-cause they might be some-what easier opposition butI'll be delighted to play atStamford Bridge again.”

Kezman was a disap-pointment in his onlyseason at Chelsea in2004-05. He moved on toAtletico Madrid beforejoining Fenerbahce in2006. — MNA/Reuters

Bayern stunned byLowly Energie Cottbus

Real lose 1-0 to Depor as Riazorjinx strikes again

MADRID, 16 March — Real Madrid lost 1-0 against DeportivoCoruna in the Primera Liga on Saturday as they failed to breaktheir jinx at the Riazor.

The Spanish champions have not won in La Coruna sinceNovember 1991 and never looked like breaking the sequenceafter losing to a second-half own-goal by Portugal defenderPepe. Real stay eight points clear of second-placed Barcelonabut Frank Rijkaard’s side can close to within five with a winin Almeria on Sunday.

The match between Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao at theManuel Ruiz de Lopera was suspended in the second half withthe score at 2-1 after Bilbao goalkeeper Armando was hit in theface by a bottle thrown from the stands.

At the foot of the table, Real Murcia’s chances of avoidingrelegation suffered a blow when they were beaten 4-2 at fellowstrugglers Recreativo Huelva. In Saturday’s late game, Valen-cia host Sevilla at the Mestalla.— MNA/Reuters

Olympiakos go two pointsclear in Super League

ATHENS, 16 March — Olympiakos Piraeus beatAtromitos Athens 2-0 thanks to second half goals onSaturday to move two points clear at the top of theSuper League.

Slovenian midfielder Mirnes Sisic opened the scor-ing four minutes into the second half when he got onthe end of a cross from Predrag Djordjevic and fired infrom close range. Julio Cesar scored the second fiveminutes from time when he scuffed home anothercross from the right-hand side.

The win gives Olympiakos 58 points from 25 games,two ahead of Panathinaikos who will reclaim top spotif they win at Xanthi on Sunday. — MNA/Reuters

LONDON, 16 March —Champions ManchesterUnited went back to thetop of the Premier Leagueon Saturday after they won1-0 at Derby County andArsenal were held to a1-1 draw by Middles-brough at the EmiratesStadium. Arsenal lookedset for a rare home defeatuntil Kolo Toure’s headerwent in off defender Mat-thew Taylor and goal-keeper Mark Schwarzerfour minutes from time.

Former Arsenal for-ward Jeremie Aliadiere

marked his return from afour-match ban by scor-ing against his old clubafter 25 minutes with avolley into the roof ofManuel Almunia’s net.

It was Arsenal’s fourthsuccessive draw in theleague and allowed Unitedto move above them ongoal diference.

United have 67 pointsfrom 29 matches, Arsenalhave 67 from 30 whileChelsea kept the pressureon the top two with a 1-0win at Sunderland. Theyhave 64 points from 29matches and face Arsenalat Stamford Bridge nextweekend.

Cristiano Ronaldo wasUnited’s hero at PridePark, scoring with just 14minutes to go as Derby,bottom of the table withonly one league win allseason and beaten 6-1 atChelsea on Wednesday,offered far tougher resist-ance than United expected.

MNA/Reuters

BERLIN, 16 March —Lowly Energie Cottbusstunned Bayern Munich2-0 on Saturday, handingthe Bundesliga leadersonly their second defeat in24 matches this season.

Serbian striker BrankoJelic scored two first-halfgoals to lift the home sideoff the bottom of the tablewith only their fourth winof the season.

With 10 matches remain-ing, Bayern have 50 points,five more than HamburgSV, who moved in frontof Werder Bremen intosecond with a 1-0 winagainst Borussia Dort-mund. Bremen host VfLWolfsburg on Sunday.Bayern sorely missed de-fender Martin Demichelis,who was disciplined byOttmar Hitzfeld and left be-hind in Munich on Fridayafter refusing the coach'srequest to play in midfield.

“It was a disastrousday,” Hitzfeld told Pre-miere Television. “I had afeeling after 10 minutes it’dbe difficult. We weren't ag-gressive enough and letthem have far too muchspace. There were just toomany defensive lapses.”

Jelic put Cottbus in frontin the 18th minute, slip-ping in unmarked betweendefenders Lucio and Dan-iel van Buyten to tap in anErvin Skela cross from theright. — MNA/Reuters

17-3-08 NL 8/14/18, 01:28 PM14

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Monday, 17 March, 2008 15

WEATHER

R 489 Published by the News and Periodicals Enterprise, Ministry of Information, Union of Myanmar. Edited and printed at The New Light of Myanmar Press,No 22/30 Strand Road at 43rd Street, Yangon. Cable Newlight, PO Box No. 43, Telephones: Editors 392308, Manager 392226, Circulation 392304, Advertisement 392223,Accounts 392224, Administration 392225, Production/Press 392369

Sunday, 16 March, 2008Summary of observations recorded at 9:30 hours

MST: During the past 24 hours, rain or thundershow-ers have been isolated in Kachin State, TaninthayiDivision, weather has been partly cloudy in RakhineState, Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway and Yangon Di-visions and generally fair in the remaining States andDivisions. Day temperatures were (3ºC) above Marchaverage temperatures in Shan State, Magway and BagoDivisions, (5ºC) below March average temperaturesin Mandalay and Taninthayi Divisions and aboutMarch average temperatures in the remaining areas.The significant day temperatures were Minbu (41ºC),Nay Pyi Taw, Chauk, Magway, Aunglan, Bago andHinthada (40ºC) each. The noteworthy amount of rain-fall recorded was Myeik (1.14) inches.

Maximum temperature on 15-3-2008 was 102ºF.Minimum temperature on 16-3-2008 was 71ºF. Rela-tive humidity at (09:30) hours MST on 16-3-2008was 83%. Total sunshine hours on 15-3-2008 was(8.3) hours approx.

Rainfall on 16-3-2008 was (Nil) at Mingaladon,Kaba-Aye and Central Yangon. Total rainfall since1-1-2008 was (0.67) inch at Mingaladon, (0.47 ) inchat Kaba-Aye and (0.35) inch at Central Yangon.Maximum wind speed at Yangon (Kaba-Aye) was(7) mph from South at (12:30) hours MST on15-3-2008.

Bay inference: Weather is partly cloudy in theAndaman Sea, North and South Bay and generallyfair elsewhere in the Bay of Bengal.

Forecast valid until evening of 17-3-2008: Like-lihood of isolated rain or thundershowers in Kachin,Chin and Northern Shan States, Sagaing andTaninthayi Divisions and weather will be partly cloudyin the remaining areas. Degree of certainty is (40%).

State of the sea: Seas will be moderate inMyanmar waters.

Outlook for subsequent two days: Isolated rainor thundershowers are likely in the extreme Northernand Southern Myanmar areas.

Forecast for Nay Pyi Taw and neighbouringarea for 17-3-2008: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Yangon and neighbouring areafor 17-3-2008: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Mandalay and neighbouring areafor 17-3-2008: Partly cloudy

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Betis game abandoned afterkeeper hit by bottle

MADRID, 16 March — Real Betis’s Primera Ligamatch against Athletic Bilbao was abandoned on Saturdayafter visiting goalkeeper Armando was struck by a bottlethrown by a fan.

Bilbao were leading 2-1 during the second half at theManuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium when a fan behind thegoal threw what looked like a small plastic bottle full ofliquid at Armando.

The keeper, who had gone to get the ball for agoalkick, was treated on the pitch and taken off on astretcher. Referee Carlos Clos Gomez stopped the gamewith about 18 minutes left. — MNA/Reuters

Nigeria qualify forwomen’s soccer tournament

JOHANNESBURG, 16 March — Nigeria beat Ghana 2-0 on Saturday in Abuja to book a place in the women’stournament at the Olympic Games in Beijing later thisyear.

Cynthia Uwak opened the scoring in the 38th minuteand made sure of top place in the African qualifyinggroup with a second goal two minutes from time.

Ghana, who finished runners-up in the group, playoff against Brazil for the last place in the 16-teamtournament at the August 8-24 Games.

The playoff will be on April 19 in Beijing, the daybefore the draw for the men’s and women’s tournaments.

MNA/Reuters

Jankovic breezes into 3rd round atwindy Indian Wells

Katsiaryna Kulpo and

Olga Nesterovich of

Belarus compete in the

synchronised swimming

preliminary duet

technical routine at the

European Swimming

Championships in

Eindhoven on 14

March, 2008.—XINHUA

INDIAN WELLS

(California), 16 March —Serbia’s world numberfour Jelena Jankoviccrushed Americanwildcard Ahsha Rolle 6-0,6-2 to reach the third roundof the Pacific Life Open onSaturday.

Jankovic overcamethe gusting winds at theIndian Well Tennis Garden

to break her opponent threetimes in each set and sealvictory in just under anhour.

“The first rounds arealways tough, especially inthe windy conditions, andyou have to be reallyfocused and try to moveyour feet,” she toldreporters.

“That’s what I didtoday so I’m really gladwith my performance. I’mhappy to get through.

MNA/Reuters

Ronaldinho to missAlmeria game with injury

MADRID, 16 March — Ronaldinho was added toBarcelona’s lengthy injury list ahead of the trip to Almeriain the Primera Liga on Sunday.

The Brazil forward has a groin strain and wasleft out of the squad along with Lionel Messi, Giovani dosSantos, Deco, Yaya Toure and Rafael Marquez.

Fullback Gianluca Zambrotta is suspended socoach Frank Rijkaard included three B team players forthe trip south.

Leaders Real Madrid, who have an eight-pointadvantage over second-placed Barca, were at DeportivoCoruna on Saturday. —MNA/Reuters

17-3-08 NL 8/14/18, 01:28 PM15

11th Waxing of Tabaung 1369 ME Monday, 17 March, 2008

Coord meeting of Rakhine State Sub-commission for HoldingReferendum for Approval of Draft Constitution organizedNAY PYI TAW, 16

March — Rakhine StateSub-commission forHolding Referendum forApproval of Draft Con-stitution of the Republicof the Union of Myanmarheld the meeting 1/2008at the hall of RakhineState General Adminis-

tration Department inSittway on 8 March af-ternoon.

Chairman of theRakhine State Sub-com-mission U Ye NaingAung, who presided overthe meeting, delivered anaddress. Those presentdiscussed the law, the by-

law and directives for ap-proval of draft constitu-tion and setting up of thesub-commissions at dif-ferent levels.

Later, the meet-ing ended with the con-cluding remarks by themeeting chairman.

MNA

Meeting 1/2008 of Rakhine State Sub-commission for Holding

Referendum for Approval of Draft Constitution in progress.

MNA

Kayin State Sub-commission for Holding Referendum forApproval of Draft Constitution meets

NAY PYI TAW, 16March — Members ofthe commission forHolding Referendum forApproval of Draft Con-stitution of the Repub-lic of the Union ofMyanmar U Saw BaHlaing and U Lan Zonepresided over the coor-dination meeting of theKayin State Sub-com-mission Holding Refer-endum for Approval ofDraft Constitution at thehall of Kayin StatePeace and DevelopmentCouncil on 12 March

noon.Commission Mem-

ber U Saw Ba Hlaing de-livered an openingspeech. The chairman ofKayin State Sub-com-mission discussed thelaw, the by-law and di-rectives for approval ofdraft constitution.

Commission Mem-ber U Lan Zone ex-plained matters related tothe Ward and Village-tract Sub-commissionsand Commission Mem-ber U Saw Ba Hlaing,matters related to the in-

charge of the pollingbooth and its members.The Secretary of theKayin State Sub-commis-sion reported on forma-tion of the District andTownship Sub-commis-sions.

Those present tookpart in the general roundof discussions.

Later, the meetingended with the conclud-ing remarks by Chairmanof the Kayin State Sub-commission U MaungMaung.

MNA

Kayin State Sub-commission for Holding Referendum for Approval of

Draft Constitution meets. — MNA

Magway Division Sub-commission for Holding Referendum forApproval of Draft Constitution holds meeting 1/2008

Magway Division Sub-commission for Holding Referendum forApproval of Draft Constitution holds coordination meeting

1/2008. —MNA

NAY PYI TAW, 16March — Magway Divi-sion Sub-commission forHolding Referendum forApproval of Draft Con-stitution of the Republicof the Union of Myanmarheld the meeting 1/2008at the hall of Magway Di-vision Peace and Devel-

opment Council on 8March morning.

It was attendedby members of the Com-mission for Holding Ref-erendum for Approval ofDraft Constitution of theRepublic of the Union ofMyanmar Dr Aung HsanWin and U Khet Htein

Nan, Chairman of theMagway Division Sub-commission U MyintThein and members,chairmen and secretariesof district and townshipsub-commission inMagway Division.

The meeting ap-proved the setting up ofdistrict and township sub-commissions in the divisionand discussed the law, by-law and manuals for ap-proval of draft constitution.

Those presenttook part in the generalround of discussions, andthe meeting came to a closein the afternoon. —MNA

Weather Forecast for(17-3-2008)

Nay Pyi Taw and neighbouring area: Partly cloudy.

Yangon and neighbouring area: Partly cloudy.

Mandalay and neighbouring area: Partly cloudy.

17-3-08 NL 8/14/18, 01:28 PM16