DIRECTOR-GENERAL U Zaw Htay of the Ministry of Office of State Counsellor, New Mon State Party (NMSP) central executive member Nai Aung Ma Ngay, and Sai Kyaw Nyunt, Joint-Secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), held a press conference on the 19th meeting of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) at Myanmar International Convention Center-I in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

U Zaw Htay first said this meeting produced 9 points of agreement and a topic put on record. He said they discussed the days the peace conference will be held, number of representatives attending, placing full responsibility on UPDJC members according to its rules and regulations, and putting the decisions made at the 9th JCM on the UPDJC’s record.

The Director-General said they also discussed the three sections to Part III of the Union Accord which will be submitted to the peace conference. He said they reached an agreement on the role of political parties outlined in the first section of Part III in addition to the reports from UPDJC and JMC that will be submitted.

They also approved of the moderating group for the peace conference, distribution of duties during the conference, and rules for representatives to follow during the conference.

Nai Aung Ma Ngay said this UPDJC meeting discussed the programme of the upcoming Union Peace Conference and the content of the Union Accord.

He said they also changed the assigned duties of representatives from ethnic armed organizations and divided overall duties for the peace conference. He said they reached 9 points of agreement and put one matter on record.

U Sai Kyaw Nyunt who said the political parties did something unique at this meeting. He said the agreements chosen to be added into the Union Accord in this session of the peace conference were written for both sides of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) but that made it look like political parties were left out. He said there wasn’t enough time to recall the JICM to address this issue but the content in the Union Accord may take a different form later on. He said they thus decided to adopt a model where the government, Hluttaw and Tatmadaw as one group, EAOs as another group and political parties as one group will handle the implementation of UPDJC-related agreements.

U Zaw Htay, Nai Aung Ma Ngay and Sai Kyaw Nyunt responded to questions from journalists present.

After the press conference, U Zaw Htay went to the Nay Pyi Taw City Development Committee Guesthouse and explained the programme, rules for representatives to follow, and the formation of the next part of the Union Accord to Pyithu and Amyotha Hluttaw representatives who will be attending the Fourth Session of the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong. Peace Commission member U Hla Maung Shwe also explained the daily programmes of the peace conference to the Hluttaw representatives.

Myo Han Soe

(Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)

Photo: Htike Gyi

#The_Global_New_Light_of_Myanmar

THE Ministry of Information is conducting the fifth course on research methodology, public relations and information management at the Max Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

Deputy Minister U Aung Hla Tun made an opening remark on the course, saying which ‘is essential’ for civil service staff at any level and department to have developing knowledge.

Amidst the increasing momentum of Fourth Industrial Revolution (or Industry 4.0) of digital technology, people have largely relied on online platform for access to information, entertainment programmes and communications, he added. The number of Facebook user in Myanmar has skyrocketed from 22 million at the end of January to over 28 million after 6 months. He also suggested the trainees to apply the knowledge from the course into the changing technologies for their departments and the country and to share with their colleagues. Dr Tin Maung Maung Than, the academic advisor to the Panna Institute, and Dr Thomas Knirsch, the representative at the KAS Myanmar office, explained the course, and objectives and activities of the KAS. The five-day course is attended by 30 officers and other ranks from Union-level organizations and the ministries.

The MoI will conduct two such courses this year.

MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

Photo: MNA

#The_Global_New_Light_of_Myanmar

THE 27th meeting of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) Secretariat was held at the Myanmar International Convention Centre I (MICC-I) in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

Present at the meeting were Government officials, Peace Commission Secretary Retired Lt-Gen Khin Zaw Oo, Maj-Gen Soe Naing Oo and Brig-Gen Ye Yint Win, Pyithu Hluttaw MP U Pyone Cho (a) U Htay Win Aung, Peace Commission advisory board member U Hla Maung Shwe and U Moe Zaw Oo, Director-General U Zaw Htay of the Ministry of the Office of the State Counsellor, and Pado Saw Tar Do Moo (KNU), U Myo Win (ABSDF), Saw Mra Yazar Lin (ALP), Khun Myint Tun (PNLO) and Nai Aung Ma Ngay (NMSP) from the ethnic armed groups, and U Naing Ngan Lin (NLD), U Myint Soe (USDP), Sai Kyaw Nyunt (SNLD), Tar Hla Pe (Ta’ang – Palaung), and U Thein Tun (NUP) from the political parties.

During the meeting, they discussed the Part III in the Union Accord to be signed in the fourth session of Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong, implementation framework for the NCA, stepby-step procedures in Table-1 of implementation plans for post-2020, guiding principles for establishing the Democratic Federal Union, the submission of UPDJC and JMC reports at the conference, programmes and system on each day of the conference, plans for the first day of the conference, patrons for the conference, distribution of work for UPDJC secretariat, substitute of UPDJC members and plans for 19th UPDJC meeting.

Myo Naing Han

(Translated by Khine Thazin Han)

Photo: Ko Htain

#The_Global_New_Light_of_Myanmar

A ceremony to present cash donations for Eternal Peace Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw was held at the State Pariyatti Sasana University, Mandalay yesterday.

The event was attended by Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko and wife, Mandalay Region Shan Ethnic Affairs Minister U Sai Pan Saing, Religious Affairs Department’s Director-General U Myint Oo and wife, State Pariyatti Sasana University (Mandalay)’s Director U Aung Thein Oo, officials, and donors.

U Maung Ko and wife Siri Sudhamma Singi Daw Shwe U ( Eternal Group of Companies, Shwe Oakaw Gold Shop) donated K20 million, and U Myint Naing and wife Siri Sudhamma Singi Daw Khin Shwe (Asia Naing Enterprise Ltd.) K15 million. Siri Sudhamma Singi Daw Htay Htay Thein ( Mya Thitsar Fruit Mart) and family, Siri Sudhamma Singi Daw Khin Ohn Myint (Thamardi Gold Shop, Aung Soe Moe Electronics and Aung Soe Moe Store) and family, Dr Win Hlaing and wife Sudhamma Singi Daw Mya Sanda Win (Royal Diamond & Jewellery House) and family, U Win Pe Myint (Mya Tagon & Aung Than Su Lottery Ticket Sales Agent) and family, Sudhamma Mani Jotadhara Dr Kyaw Thet Naing Well-wishers donate cash to Eternal Peace Pagoda (Aung Theikdhi Condensed Milk and Shwe Myanmar Butter) and family, U Tin Ko Ko and Daw Aye Thida (Shining Star Gem & Jewellery) and family, U Ba Yan Maing (Shan Restaurant) and family, Daw Khin Hnin Oo (a) Ma Su Yin (Myanmar Nan Htike Gems & Jewellery) and family, Sudhamma Singi Daw Aye Aye Myint and family, Sudhamma Mani Jotadhara U Maung Soe (Sein Sun Nyo Wrought Iron Business) and family, U Nyi Maw Kun and wife Daw Yupa Aye Than Win (Thitsar Gems & Jewellery and Khit Yazar Gems Company) family, Daw Win Win Khaing (a) Daw A Lin (Champion Bakery) and family, Sudhamma Singi Daw Khin Moe Moe Win (Immortal Moe Co., Ltd.) and family donated K10 million each.

U Aung and wife Siri Sudhamma Singi Daw Aye Maw Si (Aung Thamardi Gold and Jewellery), Sudhamma Singi Daw Than Than (Myanma Thura Gems Co., Ltd.) and family, Sudhamma Singi Daw Mya Mya Than (Merchant) and family, U Than Htay Aung (U Ba Yin Iron Wares) and family, U Myo Chit (Aung Than Wai Machinery, Electronics, Shwe Wah Win Wedding Hall and Bakery) and family, Daw Ohma Saw Win (Myanma Ala Silk and Fabrics, Hello Energy) and family, U Kyaw Than Zaw and family, Daw Nyunt Nyunt Aung (Mya Gone Yaung Shwe Khit Store) and family, U Aung Aung and wife Agga Maha Siri Sudhamma Singi Daw Hla Hla Wai, U Myint Aung and wife Siri Sudhamma Singi Daw Myint Myint Yi (Aung Myint Moe Hotel and Thar Si Trading), and Dr Hla Kywe and Siri Sudhamma Singi Daw Aye Aye Aung (Aung Wint Htae Business Group Co., Ltd.) donated K5 million each.

Daw Htwe Htwe (a) Daw Hla Htwe (San Win Myint Industrial) and family donated K3 million, and Daw Nyunt Yin Win (Rich Life Co., Ltd) and family K2 million.

The Union Minister, the Mandalay Region Shan Ethnic Affairs Minister and the Director-General accepted the donations and presented back certificates of honour to the donors. The Union Minister also expressed words of thanks.

Twenty-eight well-wishers from different regions and states donated a total of K225 million to the Eternal Peace Pagoda at the ceremony.

MNA

(Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)

Photo: MNA

#The_Global_New_Light_of_Myanmar

Mr Maruyama Ichiro, Ambassador of Japan signed and exchanged Notes with Ms Dawn Del Rio, Officer-In-Charge/ Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Myanmar, regarding Japan’s grant aid for Electoral Assistance with a maximum provision of 181 million Japanese Yen.

With Myanmar’s third General Election under the current constitution scheduled for November this year, holding a fair and transparent election is an important step toward the consolidation of democracy in Myanmar.

Under these circumstances, this assistance will provide indelible ink to all polling stations across Myanmar to prevent double-voting for all voters in cooperation with UNDP, thereby contributing to holding a fair and transparent election. This is the second time that the Government of Japan has assisted the conduct of Elections in Myanmar, following the assistance of necessary items and the deployment of Election Observation Team in the previous General Election in 2015.

GNLM

Photo:MNA

# The Global New Light of Myanmar

The Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) Secretariat met with representatives from political parties of Myanmar at the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre (NRPC) in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

Government officials and representatives from ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) who have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), who comprise the UPDJC Secretariat, first explained the points of agreements that will be included in Part III of the Union Accord which will be signed during the Fourth Session of the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong. They then replied to queries from the political party representatives.

Present at the meeting from the government’s side of the UPDJC were Lt-Gen Khin Zaw Oo (Rtd), U Pyone Cho (a) U Htay Win Aung, U Hla Maung Shwe, and Director-General U Zaw Htay of the Ministry of the State Counsellor’s Office while the NCA Signatories of the UPDJC included U Myo Win (ABSDF), Saw Mya Yazar Lin (ALP), Nai Aung Ma Ngay (NMSP), and Khun Myint Tun (PNU).

Representatives of political parties who attended the meeting include U Thu Wai (Democratic Party-Myanmar), U Naing Ngan Lin (NLD), U Myint Soe (USDP), Sai Kyaw Nyunt (Shan Democratic Party), Tar Hla Pe (Ta’ang National Party), U Thein Tun (National Unity Party), U Aung Kyi Nyunt (NLD), Dr Aung Myat Oo (USDP), U Oo Hla Saw (Arakan National Party), U Khun Tun Shwe (Pa-O National Organization), U Shwe Min (Lisu National Development Party), Dr Tu Ja (Kachin State People’s Party), Daw Yin Yin May (Kokang Democracy and Unity Party), U Saw Tun Aung Myint (Kayin People’s Party), U Sai Nap (Wa National Party), Sai Naing Naing Htwe from (Kayah State Democratic Party), Nang Khin Sein Myint (Tai-Leng Nationalities Development Party), Daw Aye Thida Myint (Lahu National Development Party), U Sai Bo Aung (Shan Nationalities Democratic Party), U Ngi Sa (Chin National League for Democracy), and U Tun Aung (Arkhar National Development Party).

MNA

(Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)

Photo: MNA

# The Global New Light of Myanmar

The 11th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Caucus was held through videoconferencing yesterday morning.

The meeting carries the theme “We Heal As One: Parliamentary Cooperation Towards Mitigating Risks and Strengthening Economic Resilience in the Period of Pandemic”, aims to deepen the parliamentary coordination on the economic impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Southeast Asia.

Myanmar Parliamentary Representatives led by Pyidaungsu Hluttaw AIPA Joint Committee Chairman U Zaw Thein joined the meeting.

At the meeting, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Alan Peter S. Cayetano delivered the opening speech.

The representatives of each country presented the implementation reports on decisions made at the 40th General Assembly of AIPA last year and the reports on the topic of “improving economic recovery and mitigating the impact during the COVID-19 period”.

Amyotha Hluttaw representative Daw Shwe Shwe Sein presented the report of Myanmar on the status of implementation of the resolutions adopted during the 40th AIPA General Assembly held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2019.

Pyitthu Hluttaw representative U Naing Htoo Aung discussed the ‘Mitigating Risks and Strengthening Economic Resilience in the Period of Pandemic.’

The session ended with the virtual signing of the 11th AIPA Caucus Report by heads of AIPA delegations.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Hon. Raneo Abu made a concluding remark on the assembly.

MNA

(Translated by Ei Phyu Phyu Aung)

Photo: MNA

# The Global New Light of Myanmar

A relief flight of Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) brought back 122 Myanmar nationals stranded in India, and it landed at Yangon International Airport yesterday evening.

As they arrived in Yangon, officials from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Ministry of Health and Sports, and the Yangon Region government helped for their 21-day quarantine period in line with the regulations of immigration and medical checks.

To bring back the Myanmar citizens who were stranded in foreign countries in relief flights and chartered flights in accordance with the instructions from National-Level Central Committee for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperated with the relevant ministries and Myanmar embassies from respective countries. The government also has arranged to repatriate the remaining Myanmar nationals from India on 29 August.

MNA

(Translated by Khine Thazin Han)

Photo: MNA

# The Global New Light of Myanmar

The Sub-regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution in the Mekong Sub-region held its 9th meeting online yesterday.

Representatives from Mekong Sub-Region countries – Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam – joined the virtual meeting.

Vice -Minister for Natural Resources and Environment of Laos PRD Dr Saynakhone Inthavong chaired the video-meeting, and Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Dr Ye Myint Swe acted as the deputy chair of the meeting.

At the meeting, Vice-Minister Dr Inthavong made an opening remark, followed ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre (ASMC)’s discussions on haze pollution conditions in Mekong region. The meeting approved the report discussed at 15th Meeting of the Technical Working Group on Tranboundry Haze Pollution.

They also discussed the extension of the targets of hotspot counts in Mekong Sub-region countries not going beyond the limit of 50,000 up to 2025.

Cooperation among Mekong Sub-region countries and with international organizations on haze control management preceded the meeting.

They also reviewed the Roadmap on ASEAN Cooperation towards Transboundary Haze Pollution Control with Means of Implementation (2016-2020) (Haze-free Roadmap) and ASEAN Pealand Management Strategy –APMS (2014-2020).

Myanmar, in cooperation with EU, IUCN, GIZ, GEC, CIFOR, and IFAD, will implement Sustainable Management of Pealand Ecosystems in Mekong Countries, ASEAN-EU Sustainable Use of Pealand and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN-SUPA), and Measurable Action for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management in Southeast Asia-MAHFSA) for pealand sustainability and reduction of haze pollution in ASEAN region.

Myanmar will host 16th Meeting of the Technical Working Group on Transboundry Haze Pollution and 10th Meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution in the Mekong Sub-Region in 2021.

The meeting was concluded following the speeches of Mekong Sub-region countries and ASEAN Secretary-General Office.

The 15th Meeting of the Technical Working Group on Tranboundry Haze Pollution was held at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation in Nay Pyi Taw on 11 August.

MNA

(Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)

Photo: MNA

# The Global New Light of Myanmar

A signing ceremony on a framework agreement for delegating tasks between Sarpay Beikman, under the Printing and Publishing Department, and Tun Foundation concerning the republishment of the Myanmar encyclopaedia was held at the Sarpay Beikman building on Merchant Street of Kyauktada Township, Yangon, yesterday.

Union Minister for Information Dr Pe Myint delivered the opening speech at the signing ceremony while U Thein Tun, chairman of Tun Foundation, and librarian Sithu Dr Thaw Kaung gave separate addresses. Acting Director-General of the Printing and Publishing Department U Ko Ko Naing and Dr Tin Hlaing from Tun Foundation signed the agreement and exchanged the documents in the presence of the Union Minister.

MNA

(Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)

Photo: MNA

# The Global New Light of Myanmar