Secretary

party proceeded to Namhsan Sports Ground. The ceremony to destroy seized

narcotic drugs and precursor chemicals seized in Shan State (South) and

poppy seeds handed over by the local farmers was held at the sports

Khin Thanda Oo and Daw Sanda Aung acted as masters of ceremonies. On the

occasion, Commander Brig-Gen Khin Maung Myint delivered an address. He

said: Today’s destruction ceremony is significant in Shan State. At the

ceremony, seized narcotic drugs and precursors as well as poppy seeds

presented by local poppy growers on their own accord, could be

second time for destruction of poppy seeds in Shan State (South). At the

first time, seized 70 baskets of poppy seeds and 480 pyis of dried poppy

bulb were destroyed on 2 June 2002. Similarly, 239 baskets, 8 pyis and two

cans of poppy seeds were destroyed in the respective townships. Therefore,

a total of 309 baskets, 8 pyis and two cans of poppy seeds and 480 pyis of

elimination tasks designated as the national duty are being carried out

with momentum in Myanmar. The Government laid down the two strategies for

narcotic drugs elimination in Myanmar,

– to designate narcotic drug eradication and prevention as a national

responsibility and to carry out this responsibility with added momentum;

and

– to gradually eliminate poppy cultivation by raising the standard of

Supply Elimination, Demand Elimination and Law Enforcement are being

employed to implement the above strategies. There are eight peace groups

in the area of Shan State (South). They have been cooperating with the

Government in regional development tasks since 1989 after realizing

genuine good will and correct attitude of the State. In the past, poppy

plantations were secretly cultivated in these areas. Although the

Government eradicated illegal poppy cultivation and trafficking as the

national duty, progress has been made to some extant because of the armed

insurgency in these region. At present, organizations of the special

regions have returned to the legal fold and are cooperating with the

have been achieved in fighting against poppy cultivation and illegal

production and trafficking of narcotic drugs. The local national

organizations are abiding by guidance and policy of the Government and

they issued notifications to effectively combat the scourge of narcotic

drugs in their respective regions. Shan State Nationalities People’s

Liberation Organization and Pa-O National Organization issued drug

2001, 148 drug-related cases and 240 culprits including 100.1699 kilos of

opium, 0.6708 kilos of heroin, 375.7664 kilos of stimulant tablets, 0.397

litre of opium oil, 1.3909 kilos of low-grade opium, 0.1277 kilos of opium

oil solid, 2,245 kilos of chemical power, 13.88 kilos of marijuana, 15.825

litres of Phencodyl, 25 litres of phensedyl were seized in Shan State

(South). In 2002, 108 drug-related cases and 154 culprits involving

198.0009 kilos of opium, 6.9248 kilos of heroin, 135,472 stimulant

tablets, 0.0001 kilo of opium oil solid, 150 kilos of morphine, 0.01 kilo

of amphetamine, 0.003 kilo of ephedrine, 0.9272 kilo of low-grade opium,

2.211 kilo of marijuana, 1.5 litres of opium oil, 98.5 litres of phencodyl

and 504 litres of chemical liquid were seized. The Government is making

held. And crops of seeds for opium-substitute cultivation such as paddy,

maize, wheat, pigeon pea, niger, sunflower, Chinese pea, vegetables and

others were distributed to local farmers. The CCDAC has spent K 5 million

on opium-substitute cultivation tasks. The plan is laid down and being

implemented to hand over and seize the poppy seeds in the villages with a

Abuse Control Committees at different levels in Shan State, Tatmadawmen,

MPF members, departmental personnel, Red Cross and Auxiliary Fire Brigade

members and local people participated in the elimination of opium

cultivation. So, local farmers, on their own accord, handed over poppy

ceremony, 330 baskets and one pyi of poppy seeds, five pyis of dry poppy

bulbs, 6.9248 kilos of heroin, 139.4584 kilos of opium, 135,472 stimulant

tablets, 2.2038 kilos of marijuana and 98.5 litres of phencodyl will be

destroyed. In conclusion, the commander invited those present to test the

poppy seeds handed over by local opium growers in Shan State (South) on

their own accord and seized narcotic drugs and paraphernalia before the

destruction ceremony. Then, the Secretary-1 and party and the national

race leaders tested poppy seeds and seized narcotic drugs to be

Lt-Gen Aung Htwe, Commander Brig-Gen Khin Maung Myint, the ministers and

the national race leaders who returned to the legal fold took designated

places and pressed the button to torch the poppy seeds, narcotic drugs and

precursor chemicals. Similarly, members of USDA, social organizations and

national races joyfully participated in the destruction of narcotic drugs

and precursor chemicals. Afterwards, the Secretary-1 and party and the

guests viewed the booths on narcotic drugs exhibited at the sports

of poppy seeds weighing 8,623.873 kilos, five pyis of dry poppy bulbs

weighing 2.041 kilos, 6.9248 kilos of heroin, 139.4584 kilos of opium,

2.2038 kilos of marijuana, 135,472 stimulant tablets and 68.5 litres of

Phencodyl were destroyed. A total of 5,281 pyis of poppy seeds weighing

8,623.873 kilos and five pyis of dry poppy bulb were destroyed at the

destruction ceremony. In this way, such quantity of seeds that would be

grown on 5,282.25 acres of land (2,137.7 hectares) with the estimated

yield of 23,241.9 kilos (23.242 tons) of opium or 2.32 tons of heroin have

been prevented. The ceremonies to destroy narcotic drugs and precursor

chemicals seized from Shan State and Kayah State and poppy seeds were

poppy seeds weighing 82,882.92 kilos and 46,681 pyis of dried poppy bulb

weighing 19,057.52 kilos were destroyed at the destruction ceremony in

Lashio, Shan State (North), on 7 June 2002; 8,064 pyis of poppy seeds

weighing 13,168.51 kilos and 672 pyis of dried poppy bulb weighing 274.34

kilos in Laukkai on 8 June 2002; 2,712.5 pyis of poppy seeds weighing

4,429.51 kilos and 35,256 pyis of dried poppy bulb weighing 14,393.26

kilos in Lashio on 25 October 2002. Similarly, altogether 425.38 pyis of

poppy seeds weighing 694.65 kilos and one pyi of dried poppy bulb weighing

0.41 kilo were destroyed at the destruction ceremony in Kengtung, Shan

ceremony was held in Pinlaung, Shan State (South), on 2 June. Altogether

4,952.25 pyis of poppy seeds weighing 8,087.02 kilos and 480 pyis of dried

poppy bulb weighing 195.96 kilos were destroyed. On 3 June, 23.44 pyis of

poppy seeds weighing 38.28 kilos were destroyed in Loikaw, Kayah State. A

total of 87,705.07 pyis of poppy seeds weighing 143,222.38 kilos were

would be grown on 87,705.07 acres of poppy cultivation (35,493.755

hectares) with the estimated yield of 385,902.308 kilos of opium (385.9