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Information Sheet No. A.0833 (I)



							Myanmar Information Committee
										Yangon
Information Sheet No. A.0833 (I)  							13th March 1999
(1)		Secretary-1 Attends 10th Anniversary of Peace in Shan State (North )
Special Region 1 				(Kokang)
		The ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary for making peace in Shan State
(North) Special Region 1 (Kokang) was held  in Laukkai on 12 March. Also
present at the ceremony were Ambassador of Japan, Director-General of Japan
Liberal Democratic Party Mr. Iwakura Tomomitsu, agriculture and irrigation
experts from Japan, Mandalay-based Consul of the People's Republic of China,
officials from Lonkin and Lichiang districts of China, Wa national race
leader, members of Shan State (North) Special Region 2, Shan national race
leader U Pan Pha and members of Special Region 3, national race leader U Sai
Lin and members of Special Region 4, Kachin national delegates of Special
Region 5, Palaung national race leader U Aik Mon and members of Special Region
7, Kachin national race leader U Sa Khun Ting Ring and members of Kachin State
Special Region 1.
		In his address, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt said the day was auspicious as it marked
the 10th anniversary of the day on which Kokang nationals separated from the
BCP (Burma Communist Party insurgent group) and returned to the legal fold to
carry out development projects for their own region together with the
government. What made the day more auspicious was the holding of the
foundation-laying ceremony to build a museum to mark eradication of narcotic
drugs in Kokang region. He spoke of the history of Kokang region and the
colonialists' divide-and-rule policy to rule the region under a separate
border region administrative system. Though independence was regained 100
years after the nation had been under the colonial rule, there were various
factions arising out of extremism in party and organization, he said and spoke
of the invasion of Kumington troops in 1949, the BCP's taking of strongholds
in Kokang and Wa regions of Shan State ( North ) and in Shan State (East)
after fleeing from Bago Yoma in 1968, the regional people's lagging behind in
education, health, economic and social sectors, and emergence of national
races' armed groups to ward off the Kuomintang troops as well as ;those
organized by the BCP.
		The first nationalities group that returned to the legal fold was Kokang
nationalities group that separated from the BCP and made peace in March 1989,

and Wa, Shan, Kachin, Palaung, Pa-O, Mon and Rakhine nationalities groups
followed suit one after another, and as a result, the entire Union is peaceful
now. The government had utilized over 10.4 billion kyats for the 18 regions of
the nationalities groups during the 10 years starting from 1989 and over 350
million kyats for Shan State (North) Special Region 1. In Kokang region, road,
bridge, earth road, gravel road and asphalt road projects have been
implemented on 270 miles, roads maintained and repaired on 378 miles and six
bridges, four hospitals and 12 clinics, one high school, three middle schools
and 39 primary schools built. While development projects for national brethren
are being implemented with momentum, efforts are also being made for wiping
off cultivation of poppy and production of opium. The colonialists British
brought into Myanmar opium from India after the first Anglo-Myanmar War in
1826 and introduced the opium eating habit in Rakhine and Taninthayi regions. 
		The colonial administration opened opium dens and schemes to spread the
opium-eating habit from the Lower Myanmar to the Upper Myanmar and put
Myanmar's economic, social, health and morale standards at the lowest ebb so
as to be able to annex the entire country. The administration let poppy be
grown in Chindwin region, Chin Hills, Kachin region and Shan region, and
though Myanmar people had abstained from narcotic drugs in accord with their
religious and social ethics, cultivation, trafficking and taking of opium
spread as the administration  paved the way, and this was the start of the
drug problem in Myanmar. 
		After independence had been regained, Kuomintang troops invaded and they
monopolised poppy cultivation and opium production in Shan State, and the
BCPs, when they frequented the area, allowed distribution and trafficking of
opium after taking dues from the growers and traffickers.  The government laid
down two strategies -- to eliminate the drug menace as a national task and to
carry out this duty with added momentum and to wipe out poppy cultivation by
promoting the socio-economic lives of national races in border areas. 
		The Secretary-1 urged leaders of Kokang region to make efforts till they can
declare their region as an Opium Free Zone like the Mongla region. Next,
Chairman of Kokang Special Administrative Region 1 of the Special Region 1 of
Shan State (North) U Phon Kya Shin said they initiated efforts to restore
peace in Kokang region in 1989. The government's endeavours with magnanimity
and goodwill has ended all skirmishes in the region. Peace and stability has
been restored in the region. Local people who were in the sea of troubles in
the past are now free from the evil consequences armed struggles and are
enjoying peace, stability and freedom.
		Three projects are being implemented for the advancement of Kokang region.
New towns--Zamani, Ashechan, Shwehsin, Siywin, Kyonmyan and Nyeinchanye--have
been built on 13.5 square kilometres of land with a total capital of K 10
billion. Another K 1 billion has been used in building 58 kilometres of tarred
highways and 170 kilometres of roads connecting rural areas. A network of

roads linking the urban and the rural have been completed at present. Kokang
Amyotha Bridge and Chanmyai Bridge were built with at capital of K 120
million. Lonchwin hydel power station which can generate 640 kilowatt was
built at a cost of K 300 million. Schools have been opened in all towns and
villages; 398 teachers and 7,886 students; and the people are interested more
in education. The region now has four hospitals with adequate equipment and
medicine and over 100 private clinics. 
		Over 3,000 acres of poppy fields have been destroyed in the region within
three years, which is enjoying 50 percent increase in paddy cultivation and 30
percent increase in winter crops. Opium substitute crops such as sugarcane,
rubber, tea, coffee, lychee, mango and walnut have been cultivated on 13,000
acres Success have been achieved in growing buckwheat and other crops provided
by Japan.
		They will continue to root out illicit drugs till the desired goal is
achieved International organizations are expected to render assistance in
eradicating the danger of narcotic drugs which is the scourge to mankind. As
tropical crops such as rubber and coffee will be cultivated along the banks of
Thanlwin River, the areas will become the largest tropical crop growing area.
A reservoir is being built at Kyasisu Chinshwe-haw and Ahtetchaungphya to
supply water to Laukkai through a 400 metre canal. A hydel power plant will be
built to generate 3,000 kilowatts of electricity with the water form the lake.
The project will also supply water to 4000 acres of terrace farms and crops
fields and drinking water to Tonsan region. As the project is large the cost
is estimated at K 6 billion. The assistance of the government and the
international organizations is required to implement the project.  
(2)		Foundation Laid for Building of Museum to Mark Eradication of Opium in
Shan State (North) 			Special Region 1 (Kokang)
		The foundation laying ceremony of the museum to mark eradication of opium in
Shan State (North), Special Region 1 (Kokang) was held in Myothit, eastern
sector of Laukkai, Laukkai District, Kokang Region Shan State on 11 March. On
completion, the museum will be a three-storey reinforced concrete building
which is 38 metres in length 35 metres in width and 18.58 metres in height.
The ceremony to open Kokang Nagasanchaung Hydel Power Plant was held there.
The plant is generating 640 kilo watts to supply power to Laukkai beginning 11
March. The ceremony to open Chin-Shwe-haw -Laukkai Road and Chanmye Bridge was
held there. Shin-shwe-haw-Laukkai Road is a 21.2 mile tarred road, and
Chganmye Bridge is the reinforced concrete type bridge which is 180 metres
long and 8 metres wide.
		Director-General of LDP of Japan Mr. Iwakura Tomomitsu made a speech
expressing his ;appreciation for the ceremony to mark 10th anniversary of
peace in Shan State (North) Special Region 1 (Konkang). It is seen that firm
and mutual understanding can be established between the Government and Kokang
national leaders could make establishment of the firm belief between them.
With the cooperation and assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency,

success has been achieved in pilot project of cultivation buckwheat on 2 to
200 acres, and therefore, arrangements are being made for extension of
;buckwheat cultivated areas up to 2000 acres.
		He said he was surprised with the success of buckwheat cultivation in a
short time, and his organization is giving assistance for success of the
project, adding the Japanese Government believes that the project will achieve
success. 
(3)		Korean Buddhist Delegation Pays Homage to Chairman of SSMNC
		Ven Mok Tak and the head of department of Rannin Buddhism College and party
of the Republic of Korea paid homage to Chairman of the State Sangha Maha
Nayaka Committee Abhidhaja Maha Ratha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma
Jotika Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sobhita and member Sayadaws at the hall of
Thirimingala Kaba Aye Hill on 12 March and donated medicines and offertories
to the Sayadaws.
(4)		Myanmar, Macau Sign Air Services agreement 
		The Union of Myanmar and Macau signed an air services agreement at Karaweik
Palace on March. First, Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation
and the Governor of Macau General Vasco Rocha Vieira made the speeches on the
occasion. Then, they signed the bilateral air services agreement Under the
agreement the respective airlines will fly three flights a week to Yangon and
Macao.
(5)		Impact Assessment of Community Based Natural Resources Management  Course
Being 			Conducted
		The Impact Assessment of Community Based Natural Resources Management
(CBNRM) course jointly sponsored by Myanma Agriculture Service (MAS) South-
East Asian Ministers of Educational Organization Regional Centre for Graduate
Study and Research in Agriculture (SEAMEO-SEARCA) and International Rice
Research Institute is being held at the Central Agricultural Development
Training Centre (CADTC) in Hlegu Township, from 8 to 20 March 1999. The
training course teaches concepts, methods and tools for participatory impact
evaluation and sustainable indicators  for challenges of environmental
degradation and poverty in Mandalay and Ayeyawady Divisions and Shan State.

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