Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control meets

Yangon, 29 May –

The meeting 2/2002 of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control was opened in

the hall of the Ministry of Home Affairs this afternoon, with an address by

Chairman of the committee Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing.

CCDAC Chairman Minister Col Tin Hlaing explained conditions

of the new plan being drawn for prevention against poppy cultivation in accord

with the instructions of Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt to render assistance of K

52.5 million to Shan State (North), Shan State (South), Shan State (East), Kayah

State and Kachin State based on the field surveys of CCDAC members and forming

of task forces for success of the plan and assigning duties to them. He also

spoke of the formation of field survey groups in six regions as instructed by

Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt at the Special Meeting of the CCDAC on 8 April

2002 and on the trip to Lashio on 3 March 2002, holding of educative talks for

opium cultivators according to the new plan and holding of talks on growing

poppy-substitute crops suitable to the region.

On distributing seeds of opium-substitute crops, opium

cultivators after realizing the goodwill of the State and presented the

authorities 2,912 baskets of poppy seeds and 1,419 two-basket bags of dry poppy

pods in Shan State (North), Shan State (South) and Kayah State. This contributes

to prevention against poppy cultivation on 59,900 acres of land. This news

spread to foreign news agencies and plans have been already made to destroy

poppy pods seeds and dry poppy in Laukkai and Lashio, he said.

CCDAC Chairman Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing also

spoke of the need to set up task forces for separate plans in Myawady, Kawthoung

and Tachilek where measures are being taken to establish drug-free zones. The

CNN said Myanmar has engaged more in international cooperation, referring to the

handing over the seized 12 culprits by the Wa national race leaders to Chinese

officials in relation to the seizure of 354.15 kilos of heroin in Guangdong

Province in China on 5 April 2002. The minister also said Myanmar has a strong

desire to cooperate with any other nations for drug elimination. Vice-Chairman

of the CCDAC Minister Col Thein Nyunt briefed matters on growing of

poppy-substitute crops in border regions, assistance being rendered to

Shwepyitha and Shwepyiaye rehabilitation centres of the Social Welfare

Department and assistance to poppy cultivators whose poppy plantations had been

destroyed and cash assistance to the project for treating drug-addicts in Wa

south region. Vice-Chairman of the CCDAC Minister U Win Aung spoke of the need

to protect the false accusations levelled against Myanmar concerning drugs.

Central Committee for Drugs. 

Then, Minister U Tin Winn briefed on releasing of news on

drug elimination tasks. Afterwards, Joint-Secretary of CCDAC Police Col Kham

Aung reported on the accomplishments in implementing the minutes of the CCDAC

Special Meeting 2/2002 held on 4-4-2002. Those present made reports on work done

and future tasks of respective working groups.

The meeting ended with concluding remarks by the chairman.

Yangon,

in Waingmaw Township, Kachin State, from 1 to 6 April this year.

The acreage of poppy fields destroyed up to April this year

during the 2001-2002 poppy cultivation season in Kachin State totaled 4775.66

acres and that of all over Myanmar is 24678.34 acres.

Yangon, 14 May –

Division, district and township commissioners of the General Administration

Departments held a meeting to wipe out narcotic drugs production and poppy

cultivation at the Ministry of Home Affairs this afternoon.

Chairman of Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control Minister

for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing said the State has been making efforts with

greater momentum to wipe out the narcotic drugs including poppy cultivation.

Arrangements should be made to root out poppy cultivation region-wise. The

method of exchanging the poppy seeds with opium-substitute crops will have to be

practised.

Attention should be given to eliminating stimulant drugs and

to preventing the chemicals used in refining drugs from entering the nation

across the border. Harmonious efforts should be made to wipe out trafficking of

illicit drugs. Vice-Chairman of CCDAC Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung

explained efforts to eradicate the narcotic drugs, international cooperation,

efforts being made to end the practice of poppy cultivation and develop

opium-substitute crop cultivation and endeavours for strengthening the Union and

development of border areas.

Member of CCDAC Chairman of the Monitoring Committee Deputy

Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung briefed the meeting on

drawing of the programmes to know the data on poppy cultivation region-wise and

to stamp out the drugs and to cultivate opium-substitute crops.

Also present were Director-General of GAD U Aung Thein,

Deputy Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Police Brig-Gen Zaw Win and

others. A general round of discussions then followed.