919.3 acres of poppy destroyed Sept to 11 Dec 99
YANGON, 23 Dec – The government is resolved to eradicate narcotic drugs as national duty, and the combined
teams comprising members of Tatmadaw columns, local intelligence units, Myanmar Police Force and local people
with the leadership of the respective military commands have been incessantly destroying the poppy plantations
illegally grown in far-flung areas of Shan State (South), Shan State (North), Kayah State and Chin State.
A total of 46 acres in Muse Township, 42 acres in Loilem Township, 634 acres in Phekhon Township, 25.5 acres in
Hopong Township, 171.5 acres in Loikaw Township and 0.3 acre in Mindat Township were destroyed from
September to 11 December 1999.
A total of 919.3 acres of poppy plantations illegally grown have been destroyed, and efforts are continuing to
search and destroy the illegal poppy plantations.
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Japanese buckwheat merchants
tour north-easte region of Shan Stat
 |
| Press
conference on buckwheat in progress at Yangon International Airport. |
YANGON, 12 Dec – Altogether 19 Japanese buckwheat
merchants led by Director-General of LDP Research Council of Japan Mr Tomomitsu
Iwakura and Chairman of Japan Noodle Entrepreneurs Association Mr Chojiro Jinta,
together with member of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control Col Kyaw
Thein, Deputy Director -General Lt-Col Myint Swe of Department for Progress of
Border Areas and National Races and officials, left here for Lashio on 10
December morning.
They paid a courtesy call on Commander of North-East
Command Maj-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo at the command in Lashio.
Then, they went to Tarshwehtan Village in Kokang
region, north-east of Shan State, by helicopter, and observed buckwheat fields.
Afterwards, they proceeded to Laukkai, where they
observed the seed purifying factory donated by Japan, and had discussions with
buckwheat growers and local national race leaders.
They arrived back here on 11 December afternoon.
They held a press briefing with
national and foreign journalists at Yangon International Airport on 12 December
evening, and left here for Japan by air later in the evening.
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Ambassador of Japan
hosts buckwheat dinner
YANGON, 9 Dec – Ambassador of Japan
Mr Kazuo Asakai hosted a buckwheat dinner at his residence this evening.
It was attended by Minister at the State Peace and Development Council
Chairman’s Office Brig-Gen Abel, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for
Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs and Minister
for Home Affairs.
The opium substitute buckwheat project has been implemented for three years
through bilateral cooperation.
In Kokang region of the northern Shan State, buckwheat was cultivated on four
acres of land in 1997 and on 200 acres in 1998; this year, buckwheat was
cultivated on 2,000 acres, and buckwheat on some acres have been harvested.
Noodles made from the already-harvested buckwheat were served at the dinner.
Also present at the dinner were Director-General of the Policy Research Council
of LDP of Japan Mr Tomomitsu Iwakura, Professor of Japan Buckwheat Dr Arkiyo
Yugihara, Chairman of Japanese Noodle Entrepreneurs Association Mr Chogiro Ginda
and 12 buckwheat merchants and the staff of the embassy.
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