Progress of Fourth International Heroin Conference reviewed

National Workshop on

Community Based Drug Demand Reduction lessons from Projects on Reducing Illicit

Drug Use in the Highlands of East-Asia

YANGON, 6 Jan – National Workshop on Community Based

Drug Demand Reduction Lessons from Projects on Reducing Illicit Drug Use in the

Highlands of East-Asia jointly sponsored by Central Committee for Drug Abuse

Control and the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) under the MoU

signed by six countries on the project on drug control in the sub-region opened

at Hotel Equatorial on Alanpyaphaya Road this morning.

Secretary of CCDAC Director-General of Myanmar

Police Force Police Maj-Gen Soe Win, Resident Representative of UNDCP Mr Richard

Dickins and Adviser on Reducing Illicit Drug Use Mr Wayne Bazant made speeches.

Projects on Reducing Illicit Drug Use are being

implemented from 1997 to 1999 in six villages in Muse Township in northern Shan

State and Momauk Township in Kachin State.

Advisers, experts and departmental officials

including project managers of UNDCP Regional Office in Bangkok will discuss

matters relating to Community Based Drug Demand Reduction.

Present on the occasion were officials of the

Ministry of Defence, CCDAC, Information and Public Relations Department, Border

Areas and National Races Development Department, Health Department Social

Welfare Department Basic Education Department, Union Solidarity and Development

Association  and implementers at the project areas, and Myanmar

Anti-Narcotics Association.

The workshop continues tomorrow.

__________________________________

Second Myanmar-Thailand

cross-border meeting held on narcotic drugs suppression and prevention

YANGON, 15 Jan – Second across border meeting on

narcotic drugs suppression and prevention of Myanmar and Thailand was held at

the Golden Triangle Hotel in Tachilek at 8.00 am on 13 January.

Myanmar delegation led by member of the Central

Committee for Drug Abuse Control Deputy Director-General of Myanmar Police Force

Police Brig-Gen Hla Tun, Thai delegation led by Deputy General Secretary of

Narcotic Drug Control Committee of Thailand Mr Sorasit Sangprasert, Adviser to

Bangkok-based Regional Resident Office of United Nations Drug Control Programme

Mr Yngve Danling and party.

The meeting focused on prevention and suppression of

narcotic drugs, exchange of information, sharing of experience and cooperation

between two countries.

After the meeting, the leader of Myanmar delegation

met representatives of Thailand TV Channel 3, 5 and 7, ITV and Bangkok Post, and

gave an account of narcotic drugs suppression efforts of Myanmar.

He also replied to queries raised of the

representatives. In the morning of 12 January, the first day of the meeting,

groups for drugs prevention and suppression at the grassroots level discussed

matters related to exchange of information and promotion of cooperation between

the two sides.

__________________________________

Secretary-1 attends special

meeting of Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control

YANGON, 16 Jan – The Central Committee for Drug

Abuse Control held the special meeting No 1/99 in the meeting hall of the

Ministry of Home Affairs today, with an address by Secretary-1 of the State

Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

Also present on the occasion were member of the

State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and

Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister for Foreign

Affairs U Win Aung, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for

Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein

Nyunt, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig Gen Maung Maung Thein, Minister

for Education U Than Aung, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister at the

Prime Minister’s Office Brig-Gen Lun Maung, deputy ministers, deputy

attorney-general, senior military officers, Director General of the State Peace

and Development Council Office Lt-Col Pe Nyein, department heads, chairmen and

secretaries of working groups, specially-invited guests and representatives of

State/Division Peace and Development Councils.

In his address, the Secretary-1 said some Western

countries are making false allegations and disseminating fabricated news in

connection with politics and narcotic drugs in Myanmar.

It can be found that as regards prevention and

suppression of narcotic drugs, the use of opium, marijuana, intoxicating brew

and liquor had been prohibited by issuing royal decrees and orders since the

time of ancient monarchs.

Later, some Western countries where science and

technology developed disseminated the methods of production of narcotic drugs

and distributed equipment to the developing countries; now they are accusing

these developing countries of producing narcotic drugs.

In Myanmar, at the time the country was under

servitude, colonialists introduced poppy cultivation; it can be found that

neo-colonialists are giving encouragement with a view to gradually upgrading

poppy cultivation up to production level.

Though narcotic drugs elimination activities

including Moehein Phase 1 up to Phase 12 have been carried out at the cost of

lives, blood and sweat of the Tatmadaw men, efforts to acquaint the

international community with these activities have been weak; this being the

case, it would be necessary to fully compile records on involvement of some

Western countries in narcotic drug production and endeavors resolutely made by

Myanmar for prevention and suppression of narcotic drugs.

Armed groups of national races returned to the legal

fold and are speeding up efforts for prevention and suppression of narcotic

drugs as well as implementation of development work for border areas.

Thanks to cooperation of leaders of national races;,

Mongla region, Special Region 4 of Shan State East, could be declared to the

world as opium free zone.

The remaining organizations of national races are

also striving to be able to declare their regions as opium free zones.

In consonance with implementation of the projects

for progress of border areas and national races, efforts for elimination of

cultivation and production of narcotic drugs are being made too.

__________________________________

Over 2,346 acres of poppy

fields destroyed in Shan State

YANGON, 19 Jan – Over 2,346.36 acres of poppy fields

were destroyed in northern, southern and eastern Shan State from 14 November

1998 to 30 December 1998 in the government’s efforts in eradicating narcotics

with high momentum.

Under the leadership of Tatmadaw columns discharging

regional security duties, members of Defence Services Intelligence and Myanmar

Police Force and local people jointly destroyed 513.25 acres of poppy fields in

Mongko Township, 237 acres in Hsenwi Township, 88.25 acres in Kunlong Township,

20 acres in Kutkai Township, 13.6 acres in Tangyang and 13 acres in Hsipaw

Township in North-East Command area.

The combined forces also destroyed 182.95 acres in

Panlong Township, 1,267.31 in Phekhon Township and 11 acres in Mongton Township

in Eastern Command area.

The Tatmadaw columns are destroying poppy fields in

remote areas.

___________________________________

Over 2,346 acres of poppy

fields destroyed in Shan State

YANGON, 19 Jan – Over 2,346.36 acres of poppy fields

were destroyed in northern, southern and eastern Shan State from 14 November

1998 to 30 December 1998 in the government’s efforts in eradicating narcotics

with high momentum.

Under the leadership of Tatmadaw columns discharging

regional security duties, members of Defence Services Intelligence and Myanmar

Police Force and local people jointly destroyed 513.25 acres of poppy fields in

Mongko Township, 237 acres in Hsenwi Township, 88.25 acres in Kunlong Township,

20 acres in Kutkai Township, 13.6 acres in Tangyang and 13 acres in Hsipaw

Township in North-East Command area.

The combined forces also destroyed 182.95 acres in

Panlong Township, 1,267.31 in Phekhon Township and 11 acres in Mongton Township

in Eastern Command area.

The Tatmadaw columns are destroying poppy fields in

remote areas.

___________________________________

3,546 drug-related cases

exposed in 1998

YANGON, 20 Jan – Personnel of the Tatmadaw, the

Myanmar Police Force and Customs Department exposed 3,546 drug-related cases in

1998.

The authorities seized 5,393.6293 kilos of opium in

410 cases, 403.8048 kilos of heroin in 1,425 cases, 380.9704 kilos of marijuana

in 337 cases, 1,286.9051 litres of Phensedyl in 73 cases, 312.2521 kilos of

low-grade opium in 143 cases, 95.78 kilos of morphine, 206.073 kilos of opium

oil in 38 cases, 177.178 kilos of opium liquid, 6.0624 kilos of opium powder in

four cases, 16,026,688 stimulant tablets in 172 cases, 3,819.0988 kilos of

ephedrine in 13 cases, 160.3 litres of cough syrup in 27 cases, 1,604.8187

gallons of acetic anhydride in 14 cases, 18,803.79 gallons of other chemicals in

25 cases, 789 cases of failure to register and 76 other cases.

The battalions and units seized 2,105.7507 kilos of

opium, 211.5489 kilos of heroin, 81.7489 kilos of marijuana, 238.625 litres of

Phensedyl, 282.7305 kilos of low-grade opium, 78.77 kilos of morphine, 175.6755

kilos of opium oil, 176.98 kilos of opium liquid, 173,750 stimulant tablets,

470.5 gallons of acetic anhydride and 16,052.972 gallons of other chemicals.

Seizures made by MPF were 3286.7126 kilos of opium

in 407 cases, 189.9353 kilos of heroin in 1,423 cases, 299.2215 kilos of

marijuana in 337 cases, 1,045.7801 litres of Phensedyl in 72 cases, 29.4196

kilos of low-grade opium in 143 cases, 17.1 kilos of morphine, 24.4975 kilos of

opium oil in 38 cases, 0.198 kilos of opium liquid. 6.0624 kilos of opium powder

In four cases, 15,852,325 stimulant tablets in 171 cases, 3,965.5988 kilos of

ephedrine in 12 cases, 160.3 litres of cough syrup in 27 cases, 803.3187 gallons

of acetic anhydride in 13 cases, 2,750.818 gallons of other chemicals in 25

cases, 789 cases of failure to register and 76 other cases.

Seizures made by MPF and the Tatmadaw were

2,620.2748 kilos of opium in 103 cases, 163.7526 kilos of heroin in 138 cases,

4.85 kilos of brown opium, 9.048 kilos of opium oil in one case, 1.3084 kilos of

low-grade opium in one case, 15,415,984 stimulant tablets in 64 cases, 3,349.169

kilos of ephedrine in five cases, 11.61 litres of cough syrup in three cases,

442.417 gallons of other anhydride ill two cases and 1,427.88 gallons of other

chemicals in four cases.

Seizures made by Customs Department were 1.166 kilos

of opium in one case, 2.3206 kilos of heroin in two cases, 2.5 litres of

Phensedyl in one cause, 0.102 kilos of low-grade opium, 5.9 kilos of opium oil,

613 stimulant tablets in one case, 253.5 kilos of ephedrine in one case and 331

gallons of acetic anhydride in one case.

Action was taken against 4,845 persons including

4,003 men and 842 women involved in 3,546 cases in 1998.

The battalions and units, while performing security

duties in the region, seized chemicals and paraphernalia from five ether

refineries and 16 opium refineries.

Altogether 44,479.35 acres of opium were destroyed

in 1997-98 and 1,307.95 acres in 1998-99.

___________________________________

Tatmadaw men, national

people destroy 3,23231 acres of poppy fields

YANGON, 20 Jan – Members of the Tatmadaw Columns,

Defence Services Intelligence Units and Myanmar Police Force, together with

local people, are destroying poppy fields in far-flung areas of Shan State.

A total of 885.95 acres of poppy fields including 25

acres in Hseinwi Township, 287.70 acres in Iangyong Township, 44.50 acres in

Kunlong Township, 31 acres in Kutkai Township and 4975 acres in Muse Township,

the northern part of Shan State, were destroyed on 31 December 1998.

The Tatmadaw destroyed 3,232.31 acres of poppy

fields in Shan State during the period from November to 31 December 1998.

The Tatmadaw, regarding the duty to stamp out the

danger of narcotic drugs as national duty and joining hands with the national

people, continues to destroy poppy fields. 

___________________________________

Co-ordination meeting on

ensuring active participation of media in drug education held

YANGON, 27 Jan – A coordination meeting on ensuring

active participation of media in drug education was held at the meeting hall of

Myanmar Motion Picture Asiayon on Wingaba Street in Bahan Township this

afternoon.

Present on the occasion were Chairman of Drug Abuse

Control Work Committees Supervisory Committee and Chairman of Printers and

Publishers Registration Board Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura

Myint Maung, directors-general and managing directors, officials of Myanmar

Police Force, department of Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control, Drug

Treatment and Research Centre(Yangon) and Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association,

media persons, publishers and guests.

Deputy Director-General of MPF Police Brig-Gen Hla

Tun reported on narcotic drug eradication work.

Authors Dr Tin Tun Oo, Maung Yin Kyaw, Tekkatho Sein

Tin and U Myint Tun Oo and printer and publisher U Myint Maung took part in the

discussion.

__________________________________

3,582.61 acres of poppy

destroyed Nov 98 to Jan 99

YANGON 29 Jan – The government has resolved to

eradicate narcotic drugs as a national duty and the combined teams of members

and personnel the Tatmadaw columns, regional intelligence units, Myanmar Police

Force and local people with the leadership of the regional commands have been

incessantly destroying the poppy plantations illegally grown in the remote areas

of Shan State, Kachin State and Kayah State.

In January 1999, altogether 350.30 acres of poppy

plantations: 53.5 acres in Namkham Township, Shan State (North), 21 acres in

Kutkai Township, five acres in Hsenwi Township, 55 acres in Mon-koe Region, 55

acres in Waing-maw Township, Kachin State, and 160.8 acres in Moebye Township,

Kayah State-were destroyed.

The data on destruction of narcotic drugs from

November 1998 to January 1999 are as follows:

(a)    Monkoe Region           

568.25 acres

(b)    Muse Township           

497.75 acres

(c)    Namkham Township     53.50 acres

(d)    Kutkai Township         

72.00 acres

(e)    Hsenwi Township        

267.00 acres

(f)    Kunlong                        

132.75 acres

(g)    Tangyang                     

301.30 acres

(h)   Hsipaw Township          

13.00 acres

(i)    Pinlaung Township        

182.95 acres

(j)    Pekhon Township          

1267.31 acres

(k)   Mongtong Township      11.00 acres

(l)    Waingmaw Township     55.00 acres

(m)  Moebye Township         160.80

acres

Altogether 3,582.61 acres of poppy plantations

illegally grown in Shan State (North), Shan State (South), Kayah State and

Kachin State have been destroyed, and efforts are going on to search and destroy

the illegal poppy plantations.

__________________________________