Secretary

26 Jan— The third ceremony to destroy narcotic drugs, precursor chemicals

and poppy seeds seized in Shan State (North) organized by Central

Committee for Drug Abuse Control, was held at the sports ground in Lashio,

Shan State (North) on 25 January, attended by Chairman of Work Committee

for Development of Border Areas and National Races Secretary-1 of the

Lashio Township USDA Daw Than Than Htay and Daw Shwe Aye acted as masters

Chairman of Shan State (North) Peace and Development Council Commander of

North-East Command Maj-Gen Myint Hlaing delivered a speech. He said in

Shan State (North) narcotic drug elimination task was carried out with

added momentum. In 2002, efforts were made for destruction of poppy bulbs

and seeds before cultivation. Due to the cooperation of the people,

organization of national race leaders with genuine goodwill, poppy growers

handed over their poppy seeds. That leads to total elimination of growing

drugs, precursor chemicals and paraphernalia including 46,681 pyis of

dried poppy bulbs weighing 76,230 kilos, 50,755 pyis of poppy seeds

weighing 82,883 kilos, 249 kilos of raw opium and 105 kilos of morphine

were destroyed in Lashio on 7-6-2002; narcotic drugs, precursor chemicals

and paraphernalia including 672 pyis of dried poppy bulbs weighing 1,097

kilos, 8,064 pyis of poppy seeds weighing 13,168 kilos, 94.71 kilos of raw

opium, 124.13 kilos of stimulant tablets and 10 kilos of Ephedrine in

Laukkai on 8-6-2002 and narcotic drugs, precursor chemicals and

paraphernalia including 35,256 pyis of dried poppy bulbs weighing 57,573

kilos, 2,712.5 pyis of poppy seeds weighing 4,429 kilos, 44.87 kilos of

heroin, 383.18 kilos of raw opium, 10.7 kilos stimulant tablets and 115

kilos of Ephedrine in Lashio on 25-10-2002 in the presence of the

A

total of 82,183.75 pyis of poppy seeds and dried poppy bulbs weighing

134,205 kilos that would be grown on over 82183 acres of land and

production of 361 tons of raw opium or over 36 tons of heroin has been

seeds were distributed to the farmers as opium substitute crops in accord

with the guidance of the Head of State and under the arrangements of the

military command, respective State Peace and Development Councils and the

ministries. Distribution of high yield paddy and groundnuts including

establishment of pigeon pea, soybean, tea and coffee plantations in high

lands was carried out for increased income of farmers and improvement of

arrangements are being made for raising of pigs and layers and beekeeping 

on commercial scale at central breeding farms. Distribution of techniques

and pedigrees of animals to national race organizations and rural people

ceremony, 92 items of narcotic drugs, precursor chemicals and

paraphernalia including 516 pyis of poppy seeds weighing 842.63 kilos,

141.45 kilos of heroin, 100.85 kilos of morphine, 368.57 kilos of raw

opium, 71.63 litres of opium liquid, 555.18 kilos of stimulant tablets,

204.90 kilos of Ephedrine, 32.62 kilos of Pseudo-ephedrine, 11,786 litres

commander assured that there is no poppy cultivation in the regions in the

east of Thanlwin River in Shan State (North) due to participation of

national race leaders who realized the genuine goodwill of the Head of

State and implementation of the tasks with greater momentum hand in hand

with the Tatmadaw and the people based on metta and cetena in the interest

of the entire people. There are only a few regions in the east of Thanlwin

River where poppy is grown. Continued efforts are to be made for total

expressed thanks to the high-ranking officials and guests for attending

the ceremony.  Continued efforts are to be made for total elimination of

poppy cultivation in Shan State. Next, Chairman of CCDAC Minister for Home

Affairs Col Tin Hlaing said similar ceremonies were held on 7 June and on

25 October 2002 in Lashio respectively. It was the third time held in

2002 a similar ceremony was held in Laukkai. The ceremony to destroy

ceremony was held once in Kayah State in 2002, twice in Shan State

(South), once in Shan State (East) and once in Kachin State. Holding of

such ceremonies is the result of active cooperation of the government,

Myanmar has been

does not undertake the drug elimination task only through law enforcement

channel. The Head of State laid down the strategies, tactics and methods

of changing and improving morale of the local people who grow poppy,

raising socio-economic life, earning increased income and providing

assistance to regional development. Myanmar implemented the project in

commanders themselves actively participated in the project for success.

According to the New Destiny Project, the respective State Peace and

Development Councils made arrangements for conducting education talks on

cultivation of opium substitute crops, distribution of suitable crops and

animals, provision of money and other food supplies. After realizing the

goodwill of the State, the poppy growers  handed over poppy seeds of their

result of the New Destiny Project, region-wise destruction of poppy seeds

and dried poppy bulbs was held. It was a unique significant, practical

effort in the history of drug elimination project. Now the poppy growers

themselves realize danger and evil of narcotic drugs and their knowledge

altogether 82,699.75 pyis of poppy seeds weighing 135,048.69 kilos

including 516 pyis of poppy seeds to be destroyed at the ceremony. Such

quantity of poppy seeds that would be grown on over 82,699 acres (over

people with strong belief and concept participated in poppy cultivation

prevention project and anti-drug activities. Therefore, drug problem

minister called on national people to strive for total elimination of

drugs including poppy cultivation in Kokang and Wa regions in 2005 under

Secretary-1 and party, guests and national race leaders viewed the seized

drugs, poppy seeds, precursor chemicals to be destroyed in the sports

Secretary-1, member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Aung

Htwe, Commander Maj-Gen Myint Hlaing, the ministers, national race leaders

who returned to the legal fold took positions at the designated place and

members, social organizations members, students and local people took part

destroyed at the ceremony were 842.63 kilos of poppy seeds, 141.45938

kilos of heroin, 368.57609 kilos of raw opium, 100.85 kilos of morphine

powder, 555.1893 kilos of stimulant tablets, 2.14847 kilos of opium oil

solid, 71.63 litres of opium liquid, 6.72907 kilos of law-grade opium,

22.7 litres of sulphuric acid, 460 litres of ethyl alcohol, 54.4 litres of

acetic anhydride, 90.8 litres of acetone liquid, 32 litres of phosphorus

acid, five kilos of sodium chloride, 450 kilos of sodium carbonate, 107

kilos of ammonium chloric, 5,502 litres of Lysol, 24 litres of

hydrochloric acid, 1,216 litres of ebar, 32.62 kilos of budi ephedrine,

204.9 kilos of ephedrine powder, six kilos of fragrance powder, 40.7586

kilos of opium sediment, 40 litres mixture of opium and Lysol, 458.9

litres mixture of raw opium and acid, two litres mixture of acid and

morphine, 3,295 litres mixture of acid and alcohol and other

ceremony, 516 pyis of poppy seeds weighing 842.63 kilos were destroyed. In

this way, such quantities of seeds that would be grown over 526 acres of

land or 208.82 hectare of land and production of opium 2,270.4 kilos (2.27