News conference on Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law
Enforcement
Agencies of Asia and the Pacific Region (HONLEA) held
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A news conference on the 24th Meeting of Heads of National
Drug Law Enforcement Agencies of Asia and the Pacific Region (HONLEA) which was
co-sponsored by United Nations Drug Control Programme and Myanmar, was held at
the Hotel Equatorial in Yangon on 17 November, 2000.
It was attended by leader of Myanmar delegation Secretary of
the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control Director General of Myanmar Police
Force Pol. Maj-Gen. Soe Win, Bangkok-based UNDCP Law Enforcement Adviser Mr.
Yngve Danling, Residential Representative of UNDCP, Mr. Jean-Luc Lemahieu, SAC
F/Director Mr. Tan Seck Kang of the Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore,
delegates of respective nations who attended the meeting, Managing Director of
News and Periodicals Enterprise U Tin Kha, Director General of Myanmar Radio and
Television U Khin Maung Htay, Director (News) of News and Periodicals Enterprise
U Hla Tun, Adviser to the Minister for Information U Kyaw Min, Patron of Myanmar
Foreign Correspondent. Club U Sein Win, President U Sao Kai Hpa, Secretary U
Nyunt Tin and correspondents and local and foreign journalists.
Director General of Myanmar Police Force Pol. Maj-Gen. Soe
Win said that the 24th Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement
Agencies, Asia and the Pacific, which started on 14 November, concluded
successfully on 17 November.
The main topics discussed at the meeting were four topics
laid down by the 23rd HONLEA Meeting: illegal trafficking of heroin, electronic
crimes concerning the strategy of drug trafficking, control of stimulant tablets
and trafficking in drugs through sea routes.
These topics were discussed by the delegates in four groups,
he said.
Altogether 18 nations as well as Hongkong Special
Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region totalling 20 took
part in the meeting. Altogether 82 delegates and 8 observers attended the
meeting.
The meeting was cosponsored by the Head Office of UNDCP and
the CCDAC of Myanmar, and there have been benefits and success for hosting that
meeting. It is heard that heads and delegates of various nations made remarks
that this meeting was more successful than previous ones.
One significant thing is that although there was an
accusation that heroin was produced from the golden triangle region, it is found
in view of seizures of heroin and evidence that heroin has been flowing into
East Asia from the West.
One more significant thing is that the drug trafficking
routes have changed.
In response to the question raised by U Nyunt Tin of Fuji TV
about heroin passage from the west to the east, Police Maj- Gen. Soe Win said
that although it was produced from the golden triangle region shared by Myanmar,
Thailand and Laos, it has been known on account of laboratory experiments and
seizures that the passage of heroin produced from the golden crescent region has
reached up to Pakistan. There is a decrease in Myanmar in terms of cultivation
and production, and the 15 – year project in course of implementation and
narcotic drug elimination programmes are being implemented in cooperation with
national race leaders. The 15 – year project has been one year old, and during
this period, cultivation and production of narcotic drugs has decreased.
Member of Myanmar delegation Head of Department of the Office
of Strategic Studies Col. Kyaw Thein said ” What the Secretary of the CCDAC has
mentioned about the finding of heroin substances reaching the part of the Asia
and Pacific region, was included in some of the discussions made during the
parts few days. Some countries have stated that they have found illegal
smuggling of heroin and related drugs which originated from the golden crescent
area. These have been discussed during these few days. This is what the
Secretary of the CCDAC has said. “
Adviser to the Minister for Information U Kyaw Min said
” The absence of certain countries has not adversely affected the impact on
the meeting but would it not be wise to come to the conclusion that their
absenting themselves from here would boomerang on them since they are what we
might call them on the receiving end of these drugs too and they should be able
to send some representatives here at least to make it a point that they heed
what we are doing for the entire mankind. “
Mr. Yngve Danling said “I still do not believe their
absence from this meeting caused any damage to the meeting and for the future,
either. But of course, UNDCP as an organization is looking for funding from all
the developed countries. We do lack funding from the European countries when it
comes to support to Myanmar. On the other hand, the law enforcement programme
which is executed by my office in Bangkok, is covering six countries including
Myanmar and we love similar activities in Myanmar as in the other five so-called
MoU Countries, China, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. So when it comes to
supporting law enforcement agencies, Myanmar gets the same share, so to say, of
the UNDCP support.
The news conference came to a stop in the afternoon.
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Police
Col. Hkam Awng acting as master of ceremonies. |
Those
attending the news conference. |
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Journalist
attending the news conference on 24th Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies of the Asia and the Pacific Region (HONLEA). |
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Delegates
to 24th HONLEA attending the news conference. |
Journalists
attending the news conference . |
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Heads and delegates to 24th HONLEA on tour
Heads and
delegates to 24th HONLEA pose for a souvenior photogrtaph.
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Heads
and delegates to 24th HONLEA visit the Shwedagon Pagoda. |
Delegates
to 24th HONLEA visit Gems Museum. |
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The
delegates who attended 24th Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies of the Asia-Pacific Region (HONLEA), being seen off at Yangon International Airport by officials of Myanmar Police Force on 18 November, 2000. |
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