2nd Destruction of Narcotic Drugs
Ceremony – 30th April 1990, Yangon
Participants:
- Secretary-1 of the State Law
and Order Restoration Council and members - Resident Representatives of UN
agencies - Diplomats and Military
Attaches - Representatives of the UN Drug
Control Programme and PRC Drug Control Division - Foreign Media Personnel
- Local Media Personnel
- Invited Guests
Report made by the Central
Committee for Drug Abuse ControlChairman of the Central
Committee for Drug Abuse Control Secretary (1) and Members of the State Law
and Order Restoration Council,
Your Excellencies and distinguished guests,
I would like to express my
profound gratitude to all honourable guests who spare the time to attend the
Second Exhibition on Destruction of Narcotic Drugs seized by Law Enforcement
Agencies today.We usually release news
regarding drug abuse control in Myanmar Nag to the local and foreign
journalists and diplomats in our country, in order to carry out media of
narcotic drugs are also being featured in the daily newspapers. Despite
these efforts by us in the light against the danger of narcotic drugs, it is
regrettable that only a small number of countries have covered the true
information relating to our endeavours in combating narcotic drugs. For
instance, we have destroyed over four hundred million US dollars worth of
narcotic drugs by fire on 13 February 1990, at this same place. On that
occasion local and foreign journalists and diplomats were present. They not
only identified the narcotic drugs, to be destroyed to their satisfaction,
but also took photographs and recorded on video tapes. But, we are
astonished to hear that some drug enforcement authorities in certain
countries have not even heard of convening such a significant ceremony in
Myanmar.I also wish to point out the
allegations against us are that we are taking no action to tackle the
problem of’ drug abuse and are even negotiating with the insurgent in the
cultivation of poppy plants. In this regard, may I seriously say that these
are really mere exaggerations.Please permit me to present
to you today, two main things — one is related to our efforts in wiping out
drug menace and the other concerns with the destruction ,)f narcotic drugs
by fire seized by law enforcement agencies. Manual destruction of poppy
fields had been carried out from 1975 to 1988, )y launching operations such
as melon, Hnin-pan, Pauk-pait, Taung-hteik pan, Hay-man-oo, Nag-ye-pan etc.,
eradicating over 130 thousand acres of poppy fields. Aerial spraying on the
poppy fields was introduced in 1985-86 poppy growing season and continued up
to 1987-88 season, resulting destruction of over 70 thousand acres of
narcotic producing plants, on an operational basis. Thus a total of over 200
thousand acres have been destroyed by both methods — manual destruction and
aerial spraying, reducing over 910 tons of opium, (if refined, 91 tons of
heroin which could be produced from the destroyed acreage. Likewise,
Tatmadaw (Armed forces) has launched operation Moe-hein from phase I to
phase XII against the insurgents in the border areas, to destroy he
clandestine laboratories run by them. During the period from 1975 to 1988.
varieties of narcotic drugs, paraphernalia, chemicals, arms and ammunition
were seized from the insurgents in Moe-hein operations. The results in every
phase have been shown to the diplomats, military attaches, personnel from
the United Nations organs and journalists who are invited to the operation
areas by the respective authorities.In 1988, after the
disturbances in ‘the country, Tamadaw (Armed forces) is implementing the
four main tasks to reconstruct the State. That’s why, though major
operations to destroy poppy plants, refineries — in the names of Nga-ye-pan,
Taung-yan-shinn, Moe-hein etc., — could not be launched poppy fields have
been destroyed by regional operations whenever situation permits us. In
1988-89 season, we have destroyed over one hundred acres of poppy fields and
over 300 thousand marijuana plants. These have also been released to the
news media by the authorities. Plans for Ye-min-aung operation have been
drawn up and implemented to take drastic action against the trafficking in
and out of the country in early 1989. Formerly we have established five
anti-narcotic Task Forces. Then, we have extended to 14 Task Forces to
combat narcotic drugs effectively in co-operation with local populace,
Tatmadawmen and members of the local People’s Police Force. During the
operation Yemin-aung, from phase I to phase IV, over 70 kilograms of heroin,
over 400 kilograms of opium, 60 kilograms of marijuana and over 2,300 litres
of Phensedyl have been seized. Likewise, People’s Police Force in States and
Divisions has made seizures of over 97 kilograms of heroin, over 700
kilograms of opium, over 20 thousand kilograms of marijuana and over two
thousand kilograms of phensedyl during the period from 18 September 1988 to
23 April 1990. Tatmadaw (Armed forces) has also seized over 582 kilograms of
opium, over 31 kilograms of heroin, over four kilograms of marijuana and
Over .54 litres of Phensedyl. On reviewing these statistics, it is clear
that Ye-min-aung Plan is effective in the fight against internal
trafficking, although major operations could not be launched in the border
areas.Continuous action is being
taken to solve the drug problem as OUT national duty. In this regard, the
narcotic drugs can not be eliminated, by the efforts of the producing
countries only. Transit States and consuming countries are also responsible
to wipe out the drug menace. They should cooperate with each other in this
matter. The 11th. Special Session of United Nations Commission on Narcotic
Drugs held in Vienna in the last week of January, the 17th. Special Session
on Narcotic Drugs of United Nations General Assembly held in New York in
February and World Ministerial Summit to reduce the demand for drugs and to
combat the cocaine threat, recently held in London have passed concrete
resolution calling for international, regional and subregional co-operation
in the endeavours to curb the danger of narcotic drugs and elaboration of
the International Convention on Demand Reduction by the United Nations. In
line with this resolution, the leader of Myanmar delegation to the I 7th.
Special Session on Narcotic Drugs of United Nations General Assembly had
included in his presentation the Myanmar’s trend towards the co-operation
with neighbouring countries.As the second part, I would
like to present the destruction of narcotic drugs by fire.Destruction of narcotic drugs
seized by law enforcement agencies was first held on 13 February 1990 at
this same place. I wish to mention that the drugs destroyed by fire on that
occasion were 209.066 kilograms of heroin, 14.832 kilograms of opium oil,
2.391 kilograms of liquid opium and 54.4 kilograms of Phensedyl at the value
of over 418 million of US dollars. I have mentioned in my statement at the
previous ceremony on destruction of narcotic drugs that after the trial of
drug-related cases, when the narcotic drugs which are exhibits of the cases
are deposited to the Criminal Investigation Department, such ceremony will
be convened again.As stated above, the second
destruction of seized narcotic drugs becomes to hold today.The narcotic drugs to be
destroyed today for second time are 251.402 kilograms of heroin, 10.389
kilograms of liquid opium, 826.839 kilograms of marijuana and 5,292.5 litres
of Phensedyl (over 40 thousand bottles). Its value is over 503 million US
dollars. Heroin is calculated with the price of two million per kilogram.In future also, such
exhibition on destructions of narcotic drugs seized by law enforcement
agencies will be held whenever the opportunity arises. The value of narcotic
drugs destroyed by fire for two times is US$ 921,936,340 (nine hundred and
twenty one million, nine hundred and thirty six thousand and three hundred
and forty).May I invite the
distinguished guests to make on-the-spot tests on the seized narcotic drugs
including heroin for their authenticity. In conclusion may I invite you to
raise any question concerning my presentation.Thank you.