12th Destruction of Sized Narcotic Drugs

Lashio Degree College and Daw Than Than Htay of Lashio Basic Education Middle

School No 3 acted as masters of ceremonies. CCDAC Chairman Minister for Home

remain as a milestone in the history of Myanmar’s efforts to prevent the

narcotic drugs.

It is all known that the cultivation of opium poppy in Myanmar is the

treacherous legacy left by the colonialism of the past. Even after regaining

independence and on account of divide and rule policy of the colonialists, the

insurgents came into existence. The insurgency, cultivation, production of

opium, drug trafficking became inseparable elements in the past. Although

attempts had been made by successive governments resorting to military,

political, negotiation and other ways and means to solve this problem, it was

inherited in the era of colonialism of the past such as armed insurrection of

the national races and the production of opium has made the ill-famed activities

to prolong and open opportunities to external interventions so much so that it

has developed from the production of ordinary opium into that of highly

concentrated heroin products. After the Tatmadaw Government took over the State

power in 1988, the policy of national unity was laid down stressing priority in

national solidarity, development of the border regions and the national races.

As a result of realizing the Government’s objectives with sincere intentions,

17-armed insurgent groups have come back into the legal fold. This unprecedented

success laid open for the first time in the post-independence period,

opportunities and access to all round development programmes in the entire

country and fulfillment of the basic needs of the inhabitants of the border

far-flung and remote places made possible to carry out prevention and

suppression of opium production. As a result of the changing situation, the

approach and tactics of addressing drug eradication have also changed by

focusing not only on law enforcement activities but coupling with alternative

and the comprehensive implementation of that strategy. The development and

enhancement of the standard of living of the national races in the border areas

plain and highland dwellers. To develop the economy and social status of the

inter-related with stability, peace development and solidarity among the

national races but also mixed with the regional development, education, health,

social, and development of the quality of life of the inhabitants of the

regions. As the eradication of drugs has been carried out focusing on the

development of fundamental needs and infrastructure development, the local

inhabitants and ethnic groups realizing the sincere intentions of the Government

have fully cooperated with the programmes. Mongla Special Region 4 in the

Eastern Shan State, established as an opium free zone in April, 1977 stands

leaders of the ethnic groups have joined hands with the government in

constructing roads, bridges, canals, dams, hydro-power stations and

communications stations as the fundamental items to develop the border region

and the national races as well as development in crop substitution, livestock

breeding for income substitution, education, health sectors with a view to

strengthen solidarity and unity among the ethnic brethrens.

The signs of success affected the Kokang and Wa regions, Consequently, the

leaders of Kokang and Wa with the full support of their peoples have launched

crop substitution and income substitution programmes in their respective regions

to finally get rid of opium production by 2005. The possibilities of success are

inevitable with this sort of setting and full cooperation of the national races

topped by assistance from the Government. This confidence in the national races

is one of the reasons that prompted Senior General Than Shwe to give guidance to

draft a 15-year elimination plan starting 1999-2002 to 2013-2014 fully relying

on our own resources. The 5 projected activities of the 15-year plan are supply

and demand elimination of narcotic drugs, organizing the participation of the

Myanmar during 1997-98 seasons, there had been 151,201 acres while it dropped to

62,619 acres in 2001-2002 season. Since 1993, Myanmar has jointly conducted 8

Opium Yield Surveys with the United States of America. According to the surveys

so far, it is an undeniable fact that the cultivation and production of opium in

destroyed in 1999-2000, 26,114 acres in 2000-2002 and 26,479 acres in 2001-2002.

launched “Project New Destiny” in the regions where poppy cultivation is highly

concentrated like the Northern Shan State, the Southern Shan State and the

Eastern Shan State. The Project calls for prevention of poppy cultivation by

taking action with administrative means, distribution of substitute crop-seeds

for poppy and the control of opium seeds. The opium farmers are asked to grow 7

kinds of alternative crops instead of opium in 21,969 acres of land as a

preventive measures, Substitute seeds are also distributed in time for

cultivation to prevent them from falling back to poppy. To implement the

project, 42.5 million kyats for the Northern Shan State, 5 million kyats for the

Southern Shan State, 2.5 million kyats for the Eastern Shan State, 0.5 million

kyats for Kayah State and 2 million kyats for Kachin State, totalling 52.5

million kyats have been loaned and supported by the Central Committee for Drug

the farmers to grow substitute crops instead of poppy, substitute crop seeds

that are appropriate to the areas and climate are distributed for cultivation on

the other hand, On realizing the sincere intentions the Government, the opium

farmers, on their own accord, have come up voluntarily to submit opium seeds

they have kept for the next season. To this date, poppy seeds weighing

96,659.507 kilos and dried poppy bulb weighing 76,230.073 kilos in the Northern

Shan State, poppy seeds weighing 2,242.109 kilos in the Southern Shan State,

poppy seeds weighing 92.06 kilos and dried poppy bulb weighing 8.165 kilos in

the Eastern Shan State, poppy seeds weighing

8.165 kilos in the Kayah State and poppy seeds weighing 3,287.229 kilos in

Mandalay Division, making a total of poppy seeds weighing 101,289.07 kilos and dried poppy bulb weighing

76,230.481 kilos totalling 73,696.687 baskets of opium seeds and opium bulb

weighing 120,346.68 kilos have been voluntarily surrendered to the authorities.

In a way, such quantity of seeds that would be grown in over 73,679 acres has

been prevented. The local populace had been active not only in crop substitution

and alternative development activities but also in law enforcement activities

like collecting information, investigation, search and raid of clandestine

on their own and from 1st to the 15th of April 2002, a total of 52 paraphernalia

were discovered and seized from the valleys and mountains. It is indication that

very closing with neighbouring countries as well as countries in the sub-region

and region. As per bilateral cooperation, Myanmar and China under the

cross-border cooperation project, liaison offices have been opened in Lweje on

the 31st October 2000 and in Chin Shwe haw on the 11th March 2001 respectively.

traffickers wanted in China for 8 times including 13 drug traffickers by the Wa

on their own arrangement. Documents were also handed over once. Such events have

clearly proved that Myanmar is very serious and deeply committed to combat

drugs. Myanmar attaches great importance to cooperation in the region and in the

international arena and the international media has picked up such incidents.

control covers only some of the activities on Myanmar in cooperation with other

Destruction Ceremony to destroy the poppy seeds, seized drugs, chemicals and

paraphernalia clearly indicates the result of the commitment and full

cooperation of the local inhabitants. If the local inhabitants are fully

committed and show this sort of cooperation. I am fully confident the drug

scourge threatening the whole mankind will not find a place on the soil of

Council Commander of North-East Command Brig-Gen Myint Hlaing explained

endeavors on elimination of narcotic drugs cultivation and production in Shan

the previous occasions because decides narcotic drugs precursor chemicals and

paraphernalias, poppy seeds presented voluntarily by native poppy farmers will

after its regain her independence. Insurgency and poppy cultivation and opium

destroy poppy fields during poppy cultivation season from 1974 to 1988. From

1974 to 1979, the total fields 199,762.87 acres could be destroyed by the Melon,

Hnin Pan, Pauk Pan, Taung Hteik Pan and Hey Man Oo Operations, and Taung Yan

national races cultivated opium poppy and attempts made by successive

governments to eliminate poppy cultivation, utilizing force had not gained much

success. Now, special programmes with a view to obtain alternative income from

agriculture and animal husbandry are provided to the poppy farmers and the

government and as well as the local national leaders are in full support of

national groups had made district declaration against narcotic drugs; on the

following dates (26-3-2002) Wa National Groups, on 28-3-2002) Kokang National

Shan State are Heroin (136.98) kilo, Raw Opium 857.18 kilo, Stimulants

(1,066.83) kilo, Ephedrine (277.01), Chemical Liquid (87,200) litres, Chemical

stimulant 992,91 kilo, Ephedrine 717.5 kilo, Chemical Liquid 142,344 litres,

Chemical Powder 16,345 kilo, altogether 955 cases and 1,224 criminal were

seized. Up to May 31st 2002, heroin 65.92 kilo, raw opium 1,133.76 kilo,

stimulants 80.99 kilo, methamphetamine 415.2 kilo, chemical liquid 21,265.932

litre, chemical powder 2,277.4 kilo, altogether 365 cases and 487 criminals were

Northern Shan State are in 1999-2000 (63,580) estimated acres were cultivated

and (3,307) acres were destroyed, in 2000-2001 (85,580) estimated acres were

cultivation and (21,319) acres were destroyed; in 2001-2002 (43,266) acres were

cultivate poppy and urged them to cultivate substitute crops. In Kokang special

region-1, Northern Shan State, at Laukkai District, where substitute crops have

been cultivated, 500 sacks of rice for 2,479 families; 300 sacks of rice for

1,326 families in Kunlon District; altogether 800 sacks of rice have already

been distributed. This year, before poppy cultivating season, poppy cultivators

have been given education to cultivate substitute crops as well as seeds

suitable to the region have already been distributed. Seeds have been

distributed for cultivating 10 kinds of maize which are seasonal Crops of rainy

season and winter, at the fields where the poppy were destroyed. The State has

laid down to use the capital 42.5 million in Kyats to carry out the tasks of

Opium Cultivation and Production and to present and seize the seeds. In the

region together with the members of the Northern Shan State Peace and

Development Council, members of the Control Committee for Drug Abuse Control,

members of the Tatmadaw and Myanmar Police Force, departmental staff, members of

the Union Solidarity and Development Association, members of Fire Brigade,

members of Red Cross, people’s military and volunteers go to village tracts and

give education the local populace to eliminate the opium poppy cultivation. They

make them give away the poppy seeds and dried poppy capsules to the authority

authority concerned according to their will. Up to now 70,249.25 baskets of

poppy seeds, weighing 114,717.03 kilos have been presented. Within those poppy

seeds, 70,249 acres of land can be put under poppy cultivation and can yield 309

tons of raw opium and 31 tons of heroin can be produced. This occasion will be

narcotic drugs, precursor chemicals and paraphernalia; and in Laukkai Township,

we had arranged another ceremony to destroy poppy seed 7,824 baskets, 12,776.6

kilo and narcotic drugs and paraphernalia seized by special region-1 Kokang.

Then, the Secretary-1 and party, guests, the ambassadors and the correspondents

inspected opium seeds presented by farmers and seized narcotic drugs and

Hlaing, Minister Col Tin Hlaing, national race leaders, Japanese Ambassador Mr

Shigeru Tsumori, Charge d’ Affaires of the US Embassy Miss Priscilla A Clap,

Charge d’ Affaires of the Chinese Embassy Mr Tang Ying, UNDCP Resident

Representative Mr Jean-luc Lemahieu pressed the buttons of the remote controls

Region, Special Region-1 Wa Region, Special Region-3 Shan Region, Special

Region-5 Kachin Region, Special Region-7 Palaung Region, peace groups, national

races of Kokang, Wa, Shan, Kachin and Palaung national races, USDA, MCWA, WCWA,

WVO, Auxiliary Fire Brigade and Red Cross, nurses, traditional cultural troupes

and students joyfully participated in the seized narcotic drugs destruction

opium seeds and chemicals being destroyed. Afterwards, the Secretary-1 and party

and the guests viewed the exhibition on documentary photos on endeavors of Shan

by CCDAC in Lashio, opium seeds weighing 101,940.43 kilos, 249

kilos of raw opium, 102 kilos of morphine powder, three kilos of morphine solid,

6,131.22 litres of ether, 3,673.18 litres of Acid Anhydride, 407.3 litres of

chloroform, 7,988.22 litres of alcohol, 225 litres of Lysol, 15 litres of

sulphuric acid, 15 litres of acid plus ether, 80 litres of ether plus Lysol, 69

litres of acid plus Lysol, 25 litres of hydrochloric acid, 20 litres of ether

plus chloroform, 70 kilos of Phenyl Acetic Acid, 0.75 litre of acid plus opium

liquid, 557 litres of opium plus Lysol, 50 litres of opium liquid, 545.52 litres

of kerosene, 1,145.2 litres of chemical powder and 23 items of paraphernalia