5th Destruction of Narcotic
Drugs Ceremony – 4th February 1992, Yangon
Participants:
- Secretary-1 of the State Law
and Order Restoration Council and members - Department Heads and Invited
Guest - Resident Representatives of UN
agencies - Diplomats and Military
Attaches - Foreign Media Personnel
- Local Media Personnel
Statement given by the Central Committee for Drug
Abuse ControlRespected Chairman of the
Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control and members. Secretary-1 of the
State Law and Order Restoration Council and heads of departments, Resident
representatives from the United Nations agencies. Diplomats and Military
Attaches and invited guests.On behalf of the Central
Committee for Drug Abuse Control, I would like to appreciate your presence
on this occasion, convened today.The occasion held today is
the Fifth Exhibition on Destruction of Narcotic Drugs seized by Law
Enforcement Agencies. Please permit me to present two parts.The first part deals with the
international relation programme, one of the efforts taken by Myanmar in
drug abuse control.There are four types of
international relationship regarding narcotic control measures in Myanmar.The first types is dealing
with the United Nations organizations such as United Nations International
Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), International Narcotic Control Board (INCB),
United Nations Division of Narcotic Drugs (UNDND), and United Nations
Commission on Narcotic Drugs (UNCND). Apart from them, supply and demand
reduction programmes are being carried out in collaboration with Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization (ILO),
World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Education, Science and
Culture Organization (UNESCO) and etc. The second type is bilateral
co-operation with other countries. For instance, the United States, Germany
and Norway had formerly offered to assist in our fight against narcotic
drugs as they met satisfaction with our anti-narcotic efforts. Then,
bilateral project agreements has been signed between the governments of
Myanmar and United States and they had provided assistance willingly to
Myanmar. The third one is co-operation with the commensurate organizations
of the neighbouring countries. For example, Myanmar is collaborating with
the National Narcotic Control Commission (NNCC) of the People’s Republic of
China, Narcotics Control Board (NCB) of Thailand, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
of India which are neighbours to us. The last one is the Organizations inch
as International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO), Colombo pland Drug
Advisory Programme (DAP) and etc.Honourable and Invited
Guests,After signing the 5-year
project agreements with UNDCP for three phases since 1976, the UNDCP
provided assistance in law enforcement, income substitution, — crop
substitution and livestock breeding, medical treatment, rehabilitation,
education and information activates. The third phase began in 1986 and
lasted in June 1991. But, UNCIDP has extended the term of third phase up to
the end of December 1991. During the 15 years project period, UNDCP has
contributed assistance of materials and expertise at the slue of 22.5
million US dollars and Myanmar has put 201.79 million kyats in the project.
It is also intended to continue fourth phase project with UNDCP.
drugHonourable and Invited
Guests,I am going to present our
relationship with the United States of America, one of the countries which
met satisfaction With OUT drug control efforts and gave support The United
States, giving full contentment to our endeavours in drug abuse control, had
offered to provide aids to us. Then, the bilateral project agreement had
been signed between the governments of Myanmar and United States. Under the
agreement, United States had allocated funds for Myanmar from 1974 to 1988 A
total of 86.6 million US dollars had been assisted during the project
period. The funds allocated were utilized in requisition of aircrafts, and
helicopters for transportation, THRUSH aircrafts, herbicides and spareparts
for aerial spraying telecommunication equipment, vehicles and motorcycles
for five Task Force units and in abroad training facilities for pilots and
law enforcement officers.Honourable and Invited
Guests,In the fight against narcotic
drugs, 109 Tatmadaw (Armed Forces) men had been sacrificed for the country
and the other 572 had been wounded despite United States had assisted 86.6
million US dollars worth materials and expertise. These can be vividly seen
in the records of anti-narcotic measures in Myanmar.Actually, we have lost the
blood and lives of our comrades, inspire of only material assistance by
United States. Their opinions on our endeavours in combating narcotic
problem were recorded in our files. Among them, the opinion given by Mr.
Charles B. Rangel, Senator and leader of the United States delegation to
Myanmar on 20 January 1988 revealed as follows;
drug“Myanmar’s fight against
narcotic drugs as operational basis is a war not for the people in Myanmar
and United States but for the international community. We appreciate
Myanmar’s anti-drug activities and the international community should take
lessons on it and regard Myanmar as model country. Please pay our regards to
the relatives of Tatmadawmen who have lost their lives in launching drug
enforcement campaign and we also regret as they suffer.”Honourable and Invited
Guests,Please consider why they
misunderstand today on our intensive drug control measures, carried out on
self-help basis without depending on others though the Senator praised our
efforts during his visit to Myanmar on 20 January 1988.Honourable and Invited
Guests,It is required to control
demand to narcotic drugs in the consuming States, instead of pointing out
the producing countries. If there is no consumer, will there be no producer.
Another thing to consider is who are really traffickers, at which airport
and sea port a hundred pounds of narcotic drugs are seized.Honourable and Invited
Guests,Discussion has been made to
co-operate with the neighboring countries in reducing supply and demand to
narcotic drugs. In near future, project documents will be signed between
Myanmar and her good neighbours such as People’s republic of China and
Thailand. Necessary assistance will also be provided by UNDCP. We have plan
to join hands with the other neighbours in future.Honorable and Invited Guests,
Regarding international
relation in drug abuse control, Secretary-I of the State Law and Order
Restoration Council has included in his address as follows, delivered on !4
December 1991;
drug“Instead of making
accusations against each other, they should co-operate in Myanmar’s fight
against drugs, if they really wish to see the eradication of drugs. If they
are sincere, have genuine cetana (good will) towards Myanmar, are willing to
co-operate with it, Myanmar is also ready to reciprocate. The fight against
drugs will be more effective.”This is the policy to follow
in carrying out international relationship of drug control programmes. I am
presenting the second part delat with the narcotic drugs to be destroyed
today.The destruction of poppy
fields, refineries and narcotic drugs in Shan State ad been held for six
times–3times each of destroying poppy fields and refineries, narcotic
drugs. They are valued at 9,238.5 million US dollars.This is the Fifth time in
Yangon and narcotic drugs to be destroyed today are:
- Heroin 109,716 kilograms
- Opium Oil 7,806 kilograms
- Liquid Opium 0,687
kilograms - Marijuana 419,811
kilograms - Phensedyl 7,085,250 litres
- Corex 39,780 litres
- Glycodine 8,050 litres
The value is over 278.5
million US dollars, The total value of narcotic drugs p to fifth destruction
is over 1,789 million US dollars. -
The total destruction, therefore,
carried out in Myanmar is 11 times- 6 in Shan State and five in Yangon and the
drugs are valued at 11,027.5 million US dollars.In conclusion, as stated in the
motto which reflects the Myanmar’s drug abuse Control programme, “Let’s
Join Hands in the Fight against Narcotic Drugs– the Menace of Mankind,”
I would like to urge to co-operate and co-ordinate each other in this matter.Thank You.