7th Destruction of Narcotic Drugs Ceremony

7th Destruction of Narcotic Drugs
Ceremony – 29th August 1993 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
  • Invited Guest

     


    Report made by the Central Committee for Drug Abuse
    Control

     

    Presentation By Pol. Col.
    Ngwe Soe Tun, Joint Secretary of CCDAC at The Seventh Destruction Of
    Narcotic Drugs Seized By Law Enforcement Agencies

    Esteemed Chairman and Members
    of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control. -Secretary-1 of the State
    Law and Order Restoration Council, heads of departments, Resident
    Representatives of the UN Agencies in Yangon, Ambassadors, Military taches,
    local and foreign journalists and specially invited guests from the United
    States of America.

    I am Police Colonel Ngwe See
    Tun, Join( Secretary of the Central committee Drug Abuse Control and
    Director of the Narcotics Division of the People’s Police force.

    I would first of all like to
    express, on behalf of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control, our
    thanks to all for spending their time in attending the seventh exhibition to
    destroy seized narcotic drugs being held in Yangon today.

    Esteemed guests,

    I will clarify matters in two
    portions— the first being the policy on narcotic drugs being practised by
    our country and the activities relating to drug abuse control work,
    committees which are practically engaged in it, the duties and the work
    carried out them and a summary of the significant points regarding the
    situation on Myanmar cooperation with our neighbouring countries and the
    United Nations Agencies related to drug abuse control work.

    As for the second part it is
    connected with the situation of narcotic drugs which will be destroyed at
    the present Seventh Exhibition.

    Esteemed guests,

    Dealing with the first
    portion, the main policy of our country regarding narcotic drugs is—

    “To fight against the
    danger of drug abuse in all aspects with high intensity a national
    campaign”

    Esteemed guests,

    The committee which is mainly
    implementing this policy in Myanmar is the Central Committee for Drug Abuse
    Control formed with the Minister for me Affairs as Chairman.

    Under this Central Committee
    for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) there are committees or sectors which are
    formed Ministry wise. The two main tasks being implemented by this Central
    Committee and work committees are:-

    – Supply Reduction and

    – Demand Reduction.

    There are four committees
    responsible for supply reduction. They are:

    – Law Enforcement Supervisory
    Committee,

    – Law Enforcement Sector,

    – Crop Substitution Sector
    and Livestock Breeding Sector.

    Esteemed guests,

    The committees responsible
    for demand reduction are Medical Treatment Sector, Rehabilitation Sector,
    Sector for Educating the Students and Youths and Mass Media Information
    Sector.

    Esteemed guests,

    In addition to these
    committees, the International Relation Sector and administrative Committee
    were also formed separately. Regarding the activities of these committees
    they will not be dealt with in detail due to the limited time. However, it
    11 be seen when viewing the central level exhibition on narcotic drug abuse
    education. Priority will be given in presenting the promulgation of the
    Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law.

    Esteemed guests,

    The most significant point in
    1993 was the promulgation of Narcotic Drugs d Psychotropic Substances Law
    No. 1/93 (The
    Narcotics drug and Psychotropic Substance Law (27th January 1993)
    ) , by
    the State Law and Order Restoration Council. It was enacted on 27 January,
    1993. The main objectives of promulgating this law are;

     

    • Myanmar became a state party to the 1988
      Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
      Substances.
    • the need to amend the formerly promulgated
      Narcotic and Dangerous Drugs Law of 1974, so that it would be in accord
      with the Provisions contained in the 1988 UN Convention.
    • as more cases of drug abuse regarding
      psychotropic substances were found in Myanmar, in addition to the abuse
      of medicines in the form of tablets, pills, capsules and liquids which
      contain narcotic drug effects.
  • Due to these points, the existing
    Narcotic Drugs Law of 1974 was repealed and the 1993 Narcotic Drugs and
    Psychotropic Substances Law was enacted.

    The prime objectives of
    promulgating this Law are:-

     

  • to prevent the danger of
    narcotic drugs and psychotropic ubstances which can cause degeneration of
    mankind, as a national responsibility;
  • to implement the provisions
    of the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs
    and Psychotropic Substances;
  • to carry out more effective
    measures for imparting knowledge and education on the dangers of narcotic
    drugs and psychotropic substances and for medical treatment and
    rehabilitation of drug users;
  • to impose more effective
    penalties on offenders in respect of offences related to narcotic drugs
    and psychotropic substances;
  • to co-operate with the State
    Parties to the United Nations Convention, international and regional
    organizations in respect of the prevention of the dangers of narcotic
    drugs and psychotropic substances.

Esteemed guests,

This Law contains nine
chapters and 31 sections. The formation of the Central Committee for Drug
Abuse Control and the functions and duties of the Central Committee in
Chapter III and explicitly prescribed in Section 4, 5 and 6.

Among the duties of the
Central Committee, the provision to manage and direct as may be necessary in
matters concerning the exhibits of moveable and immovable property involved,
money derived from transfer, financial records and data are also prescribed.

Moreover, in chapter IV are
included provisions on formation of Sectors and Regional Committees. In the
previous Law, the Regional Committees were formed based on townships, but
now this has been changed and based on Wards and Village Tracts. Chapter V
includes provisions on registration, medical treatment and deregistration of
drug abusers. Chapter VI includes provisions relating to the rehabilitation
work. The law also includes provisions on imposing more effective punishment
on those who are guilty of the offence for the second time and provisions on
making a person who habitually commits or is notorious of committing any
offence to live under a bond for good behaviour during a period not
exceeding three years.

Esteemed guests,

According to this law, an
offender is liable to receive imprisonment ranging from a minimum of three
years to a maximum of death sentence. Moreover, Section 22 is a new
provision. Under this section an offender shall be liable to the maximum
punishment on any of the acts provided in the respective sections have been
committed by being a member of organization or group which commits crime
involving narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances or communicating with
and participating in such organizations or groups; handling and using arms
or explosives in committing the offence; making use of children who have not
completed the age of 16 years in committing the offence; or committing or
causing to commit an offence by making use of the influence or power of
public servant.

Therefore, this law is
effective not only in taking more action against individual offenders of
crimes related to narcotic drugs but also against group offenders.

Esteemed guests,

Regarding the steps taken in
co-operating with our neighbouring countries and United Nations Agencies in
combating the danger of narcotic drugs abuse, at present cooperation in this
field is being carried Out between Myanmar/ China/ Thailand/ United rations
International Drug Control Programme. The unklertakings include Regional
rejects, Law Enforcement Project and Demand Reduction Project. Work such as
making field trips to collect and gather records and data required in
implementing these projects; co-ordinating with the departments concerned;
opening of offices and camps, gathering f materials and motor vehicles and
appointing of service personnel is being carried out. Arrangements are being
made to start implementing the three years project soon.

Yesterday, we went to look
into the practical aspect of regional development and drug abuse prevention
project in the Silu area of’ Monyang Township, Keng tung diistrict.

The American study group
visited the nationals in the opium poppy cultivation area of Silu-Pankang
and ascertained their true nature. They were of the opinion that he regional
development and anti-drug action would have to be undertaken in all poppy
cultivating areas including Silu-Pankang in order to achieve desired
eradication with the effective assistance of the United Nation Drug Control
Programme and with firm commitment and project.

Therefore, eradication will
be possible only it’ the uplift of the low standard ,f living of the
cultivators is made possible through short- and long-term plans. Today, ,our
nation has accepted this fact and has been making endeavor toward
development if the national races and the border areas with the
establishment of a separate Ministry or that express purpose.

Esteemed guests,

An agreement to co-operate in
narcotic drug abuse control work with our neighbouring country, India was
signed on 30 march 1993 in Yangon. It is reported that i co-ordiantion
meeting will likely be held soon in India.

Esteemed guests,

A series of’ coordinations
with the Laos People’s Democratic Republic were reached and agreements
reached and soon coordinations will be carried out with the United Nations
International Drug Control Programme and afterwards it is expected that
agreements will be signed.

The above agreements will be
projects on co-operating with the neighboring countries. In Myanmar also,
with the technical and financial assistance provided by the UNDCP, plans are
a foot to implement a small project for assessment drug addicts in the
country during this year.

In February this year, under
the Joint co-operation of Department of Agriculture the United States of
America, the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control and Departments
Concerned successfully carried out opium poppy sampling in Shan State. If h
opium yield survey is carried out using modern techniques, the exact figures
can shown with ample proof. Members of the Central committee for Drug Abuse
Control -departmental personnel attended the conferences, seminars and
courses conducted by United Nations and International Drug Abuse Control
Agencies and from time to time with diplomats and foreign journalists and
explained to them the drug abuse control isures carried out in the country.
Some members of the diplomatic corps and members he United Nations Drug
Control Programme were taken to the project areas and were ‘nitted to study
the prevailing situations of the areas.

Esteemed guests,

I will now clarify the second
part which deals with the situation of the narcotic drugs seized by the drug
enforcement agencies and which will be destroyed at the Current enth
Exhibition.

The narcotic drugs to be
destroyed are;

  • Opium – 1838.338 Kilos
  • Heroin – 221.431 Kilos
  • Opium Oil – 14.971 Kilos
  • Liquid Opium – 1.518 Kilos
  • Marijuana – 201.166 Kilos
  • Phensedyl (One litre 25
    bottles) – 25.000 Litres
  • Phensedyl 60 ml. 46
    bottles – 2.760 Litres
  • Phensedyl 100 ml. 24
    bottles – 2.400 Litres
  • Phensedyl 125 ml. 10773
    bottles – 1346.625 Litres
  • Glycodine 60 ml. 11
    bottles – 0.77 Litres
  • Promedyl 100 ml. 100
    bottles – 10.00 Litres
  • Teradyl Cough Linctus –
    91.986 Litres

Esteemed guests,

The narcotic drugs to be
destroyed to day are those seized by the Tatmadaw, People’s Police Force and
the Customs Department casses of which were tried and completed at the
courts and deposited to the Criminal Investigation Department. In the also,
destruction of such drugs which are deposited after completion of cases will
irried out at similar exhibitions whenever opportunity arises.

Esteemed officials and
guests,

Our country is one which
presents matters as they are and correctly, most honestly and frankly
accoring to what has been carried out. We do not blame, criticize have wrong
impression of others. The dangers posed by narcotic drugs today is faced
only by one human being, one family, or race or one country, but by the
entire mankind over the world and all the nations of the world to some
extent. Therefore, the cooperation and active participation of all the
people and nations of the world is necessary combat and totally wipe out the
danger of narcotic drugs.

Esteemed guests,

The motto “Join hands to
combat the scourge of narcotic drugs, the nation’s ,enemy” which
represents only our country singularly should be replaced with the motto,
ountries unite to combat the scourge of narcotic drugs mankind’s enemy”
which represents all mankind and all nations. I would like to conclude by
urging all to unit according to this motto.

Thank you.