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Information Sheet No.A. 0826 (I)



Myanmar Information Committee
(YANGON )
Information Sheet
            No.A. 0826 (I)                                           6th March
1999


(1)		US Speaks of Human Rights But Ignores the Right of other Nations to
Shape their Own Destinies Without Interference or Pressure Speaks of Democracy
but Tries to Dictate 			how a Country Should be Run or Even who Should Run the
Nation Myanmar Categorically Rejects One-Sided Assessment of US on Human
Rights Situation in Myanmar US Report Based on Unfounded Facts, and
Politically Motivated Document Aimed at Interfering in Internal Affairs of
Myanmar 


		The following is the text of a Press release issued by the Ministry of
Foreign affairs on 5 March.  Recently, the United States issued the so-called
1998 Report on the Human Rights Situation in the world.  It also includes
references to the Union of Myanmar. As in the previous reports, the 1998 Human
Rights Report neglects the positive developments taking  place in the country
and does not reflect the true situation of Myanmar. It ignores  the fact that
Myanmar is enjoying  unprecedented peace and stability and that the people are
happily engaged in the pursuit of better standard  of living and decent
quality of life  without fear and anxiety. Indeed, the State Department of the
United States of America had once again focused on accusations and allegations
based on unfounded facts and information from unscrupulous sources.  
		It is generally recognized that any government, institution or individual
seeking to promote human rights should bear in mind the singnificance of
national and regional peculiarities as well as  historical, cultural and
religious  backgrounds together with the stage of economic development.
However, it seems that the United States has turned a blind eye to these facts
and is using the pretext of human rights and democracy to interfere in the
internal affairs of other nations.  The United States speaks of human rights
but ignores the right of other sovereign and independent nations to lead their
own lives and to shape their own destinies without interference  or pressure.
It appears to have forgotten that according to the United Nations Charter and
the norms of international law, all countries, large or small, strong or weak,
rich or poor, have the right to  choose their own  political system, road to
development and social values.  The United States speaks of democracy but
tries to dictate how a country should be run or even who should run the nation
without paying  heed to the actual situation in that country or its challenges
and potentials.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar,
therefore, categorically rejects the one-sided assessment of the United States
on the human rights situations in Myanmar since  it is based on unfounded
facts and is nothing more than a politically motivated document aimed at
interfering  in the internal affairs of Myanmar.


(2)		7,094.46 Acres of Illicit Poppy Plantations Destroyed 	November 98 to 10
February 1999
		The State Peace and Development Council 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 under
the leadership  of the respective military commands have been destroying the

poppy plantations illegally grown in the remote areas of Shan State since
November 1998.
		In February 1999, a total of 912.80 acres of poppy plantations-- 53 acres in
Hsenwi Township, Shan State (North), 617.80 acres in Tangyang Township, 60.50
acres in Hopang Township, 96.50 acres in Kutkai Township, 60 acres in Namtu
Township, 5 acres in Lashio Township  and 20 acres in Lahe Township in Sagaing
Division was destroyed.  
		Acreage of illicit poppy plantations destroyed from November 1998 to 10
February 1999 were as follows;
		(a)	Monkoe region				959.00 	acres
		(b)	Muse Township 				647.25 	acres
		(c)	Namkham Township			109.00 	acres
		(d)	Kutkai Township				168.50 	acres
		(e)	Hsenwi Township				451.00 	acres
		(f)	Kunlong Township				230.75 	acres
		(g)	Tangyang Township		    	     1,815.50     	acres
		(h)	Laukkai Township			749.90    	acres
		(i)	Namtu Township			  60.00    	acres
		(j)	Lashio  Township			   5.00    	acres
		(k)	Hsipang Township			  13.00    	acres
		(l)	Hopang Township			108.00    	acres
		(m) 	Pinlaung Township			182.95   	acres
		(n)	Phekhon Township		     1, 267.31	acres
		(o) 	Talay Township			   80.00 	acres
		(p) 	Kengtng Township			  11.00 	acres
		(q)	Waingmaw Township		55.00	acres
		(r) 	Moebye	Township		160.80 	acres
		(s)	Lahe Township			29.00	acres
		A total of 7,094.46 acres of poppy plantations illegally grown in Shan State
(North), Shan State (South), Shan State (East), Kayah and Kachin States and
Sagaing Division has been destroyed in 1998/99 poppy cultivation season, and
efforts are continuing to search and destroy the illegal poppy plantations.


(3)		Medicine, Medical Equipment for Ministry of Health
		A ceremony to donate, medicine and medical equipment to Ministry of Health
was held at Medical Research Department  on Ziwaka Street on 5 March.  Well-
wishers Professor Tom Prvulovic Simon of University of Medicine and Dentistry
in New  Jersey, United States of America and Chairman of CVC Central Group Co
Ltd Mr Xiao Yu Hang explained about the donation.  Professor T. Simon and  Mr
Xiao Yu Hang presented  medicine and medical equipment to Minister for Health
who presented certificates of honour to them.


(4)		Sayadaw Leaves for USA
		Member of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta
Vicara (Pakokka Sayadaw) left Yangon on 5 March  by air for the United States
of America via Bangkok, on a religious tour, at the invitation of disciples
from San Francisco, USA.


(5)		Japan Relief Clothing Centre Donates Garments and Equipment for Students
of Monastic 			Education Schools
		Secretaries of Japan Relief Clothing Centre of Osaka in Japan donated
garments and equipment for the students of Monastic Education Schools  in
Myanmar at the Office of Minister for Religious  Affairs on 5 March. Well-
wishers Secretaries of Japan Relief Clothing Centre Mr Tomio Togawa and Mr
Yusuke Toyoda presented garments and equipment to Minister for Religious
Affairss who presented certificates of honour to them.  Then, the Minister
also presented  three Pitaka treatises to the donors.


(6)		Myanmar Economic Delegation Leaves for Thailand
		A Myanmar delegation led by Minister at the State Peace and development
Council Chairman's Office Brig-Gen Abel left Yangon by air for Thailand on 5
March morning to attend the Fifth Informal ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting
to be held in Phuket, Thailand.

(7)		Deputy Minister Leaves for Ministerial Meeting in Italy
		Deputy Minister for Forestry left Yangon by air for Italy on 5 March
morning to attend  the  Ministerial  Meeting on Sustainability Issues in
Forestry, the National and International Challenges to be held in Rome from 8
to 9 March.  The Myanmar delegation member Director-General of Forest
Department is attending the 14th  Meeting of Forest Affairs Committee from 1
to 5 March. 

(8)		Seminar  on Argentina-Myanmar Two Partners for International Cooperation
		Seminar on Argentina-Myanmar Two Partners for the  International Cooperation
took place at the office of Myanmar Chamber  of Commerce and Industry on 5
March.  It was attended  by a six-member Argentine business delegation led by
Ambassador Mr Eduardo Alberto of Bangkok  based Argentine Embassy and
entrepreneurs led by MCCI Chairman.  In the evening, they signed memorandum of
understanding at Sedona Hotel where the ambassador hosted dinner.
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