News and Views From Myanmar Vol.1, (r)

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

Subject: News and Views from Myanmar Vol.1  No. 25

Subject:	News and Views from Myanmar (  Vol.1,No. 25 )
>From:	okkar66129@xxxxxxx (OKKAR66129)
Date:	06 Jul 1999 12:37:52 GMT

                                 News and Views from Myanmar

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    Vol.1		                              	  No. 25
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Sr No.					CONTENTS			
		
	
	                      INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
        1.	Myanmar's anti-narcotic activities			
		  

    	                  FOREIGN RELATIONS
      2. 	Second ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime
		  
      3.	Myanmar Foreign Minister's visit to Malaysia		
		  
      4.	Technological cooperation in agriculture sector	
			  

	                   GENERAL  NEWS
5.	Mine explosion claims eight lives	

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INTERNAL  DEVELOPMENTS

Myanmar's anti-narcotic activities

	Myanmar has been relentlessly fighting against the scourge of 
narcotic drugs,
a menace which does not just threaten Myanmar alone, but also proves to be a
scourge against the entire mankind. The Government of  Myanmar has laid down
stringent policies to curb the scourge, designating strategies, tactics and
methods and taking on the tasks by implementing them as a national duty. 

	It is widely acknowledged that the drug problem confronting Myanmar 
today is
one of the ill legacies bequeathed by the colonialists and that it has been
exacerbated subsequently by the unscrupulous actions of the politically
motivated neocolonialist clandestine organizations which are supporting and
encouraging drug trade. 

	During recent years, Myanmar has achieved unprecedented success in 
combating this menace to mankind.  This is due to the fact that the 
Government of Myanmar has been able to create necessary conditions in the 
country, attack the root causes of the issue, develop correct policies and 
strategies and establish the
required legal instruments and institutions. One reason for Myanmar's recent
success is the accomplishment in educating and persuading the people who have
traditionally grown opium to give up the practice. The Government  of Myanmar
has allocated and spent thousands of millions kyats for the improvement of
socio-economic life of the national races. The improved daily lives of the
national brethren with higher standard of living coupled with previously
unheard of peace and tranquillity have acted as powerful incentives for the
people not to engage in drug-related activities.

	In the law enforcement sector, the Tatmadaw (Defence Forces), the 
Myanmar
Police Force and the Customs Department have exposed drug-related cases and
taken action against those involved in the cases. These combined forces seized
altogether 29,037.018 kilos of opium, 4,301.323 kilos of heroin, 6,728.714
kilos of marijuana, 638.482 kilos of opium oil, 33,970.611 litres of 
Phensedyl,
33,615,101 tablets of amphetamines, 64,335.204 gallons of acetic anhydride, 
and
242,321.07 litres of other precursor chemicals from 1988 to May 1999, and
action was taken against 73,803 offenders. The scale of such seizures 
indicates
the degree of success scored by the Law Enforcement sector.

	On the international front, Myanmar is a signatory to the 1961, 1971 
and 1988
UN Conventions to combat and eradicate narcotic drugs and is actively
implementing them. Myanmar is also cooperating with its neighbours -- China,
Laos and Thailand and together with UNDCP, Myanmar has been cooperating in the
sub-regional anti-narcotic efforts. Myanmar has also signed bilateral
agreements on anti-narcotic drug measures with Bangladesh, the Philippines,
India, Vietnam and the Russian  Federation.

	Beginning from 1999, Myanmar has been implementing in a comprehensive 
manner a Fifteen -Year Plan comprising of three five-year Programmes in order 
to
eradicate production and trafficking of narcotic drugs. With resolute
determination, Myanmar has taken sustained measures to combat the scourge. All
the citizens of Myanmar should join hands to combat drugs, the enemy of
mankind.


FOREIGN RELATIONS

Second ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime

	The Second ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime hosted by 
Myanmar
for the first time was held at the Traders Hotel in Yangon on 23 June 1999.
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt in 
his
address to the Meeting said that the technological advances made in recent
years have not only benefited the daily lives of the people but also opened 
new
avenues for criminal elements who wish to misuse the technology for their own
illegal schemes.

	Following are excerpts from Secretary-1's speech:-

-	Transnational crimes involving trafficking in narcotic drugs, money
laundering, illegal trafficking in persons, arms smuggling, piracy and
terrorism have become a threat to the rule of law at the national level and a
danger to regional peace and stability.

-	Even as each nation endeavours to combat these criminal acts, the
situation demands that the regional and global community come together to find
national, regional and international solutions to further enhance law and
order.

-	People in Myanmar, give particular  attention to illegal trafficking 
in
narcotic drugs, terrorism, arms smuggling, trafficking in persons and money
laundering and have systematically implemented measures to combat them.

-	The narcotics issue in Myanmar is linked to the problem of peace,
stability and armed insurgency. Through national reconsolidation efforts,
Myanmar is now in a position to undertake anti-narcotic activities in areas
that were previously excluded for security reasons. It is believed that the
root causes of the narcotic problems can also be traced to ignorance, lack of
development and poverty. Myanmar's strategy therefore calls for enhancement of
law enforcement on the one hand and all-round development of the regions
concerned and poverty alleviation on the other.

-	The allegations made against Myanmar regarding trafficking in women 
are
completely false and have been deliberately spread by malicious elements. In
fact, such trafficking is considered a heinous crime and the full force of law
has been brought  to prevent it. At the same time, social and economic
programmes are being implemented to counter the problem.

-	Peace and stability and the rule of law are extremely important to all
nations. It is the basic duty of any government to uphold the rule of law and
the Government of Myanmar is no exception. In order to protect peace and
stability, the Government is duty-bound to take action against people who
transgress existing laws.

-	Myanmar is also co-operating with the ICRC so that they could visit
prisons and observe the situation at first hand. These visits are made within
the context of the ICRC standard procedures and the ICRC had visited not only
prisons in Yangon but also in various parts of Myanmar.

-	The challenges posed by transnational crimes are indeed varied and
complex. To overcome them, it is also imperative that national and regional
capacities should be enhanced to combat this problem.

	A Joint Communiqué was issued at the end of the Second ASEAN 
Ministerial
Meeting on Transnational Crime. The communiqué recognizes that national and
regional efforts alone would not suffice in effectively dealing with
transnational crime and agrees to develop closer cooperation with the Dialogue
Partners, other countries, regional organisations and international
organisations, including the UN and its specialized agencies,  Colombo Plan
Bureau and ICPO- INTERPOL.

Myanmar Foreign Minister's visit to Malaysia

	Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung paid an official visit to 
Malaysia
from 22 to 25 June 1999 at the invitation of Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia.

	While in Malaysia, Minister U Win Aung called on Dato Seri Abdullah 
Haji Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs at the 
latter's
office at the Federal Administrative Center on 24 June, and discussed various
issues on regional as well as international affairs. They also exchanged views
on promoting closer bilateral relations and cooperation between Myanmar and
Malaysia.

	Minister U Win Aung met his Malaysian counterpart on the same day and 
held
friendly discussions on regional and bilateral matters. They also exchanged
views on further enhancing the existing cooperative relations between the two
countries. After the meeting, the two Foreign Ministers held a Joint Press
Conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. In the evening,
Minister U Win Aung was hosted to a dinner by the Malaysian Foreign Minister 
at
the Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Technological cooperation in agriculture sector

	Minister for Agriculture Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin attended the ministerial 
meeting on
progress of the agriculture sector and poverty elimination in Asian region
sponsored by FAO in Bangkok on 14 and 15 June. The meeting discussed the tasks
of the agriculture ministers in the countries making economic reforms and 
plans
for development of each country and the entire Asian region in the forthcoming
century. On 15 June, Minister Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin discussed with Assistant FAO
Representative for Asia and the Pacific and Assistant Director-General Dr. 
Prem
Nath about FAO's assistance and cooperation for development of the agriculture
sector in Myanmar.

	After the ministerial meeting, Minister Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin and 
delegation
proceeded to Teheran on 16 June. During their stay in Iran, the Minister and
party called on Dr. Issa Kalantari, Minister of Agriculture of Iran and
discussed investment in the agriculture sector and bilateral cooperation,
cultivation of sugar cane, production of sugar, cultivation of cotton and
mulberry and sericulture. On 21 June, the agriculture ministers of the two
countries signed a MoU on technological cooperation. 

	Minister Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin and party called on Minister for Commerce 
Mr. S
Madari on 19 June, and discussed plans on economic cooperation between the two
governments and private sectors. They also met with Mr. Eng Khamooshi of
President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines and discussed
economic policies on development of the agriculture sector, and production and
export of industrial crops such as cotton, sugar-cane, rubber and jute.

	On their way back to Myanmar, the Minister and party stopped over in 
Singapore
where they had discussions with Minister of National Development Mr. Mah Bow
Tan on plans for technological cooperation.


GENERAL  NEWS

Mine explosion claims eight lives

	A group of insurgents led by Bo Mya mined a minibus with monks and 
civilians
aboard, which was heading from Kawkareik to Myawady in Kayin State, near
Natyaykan between Alebote and Thingannyinaung at about 11.30 am on 23 June
1999.

	The mine explosion claimed the lives of  one monk, four men and three 
women,
and injured two monks, six men and eight women. Authorities attended to the
needs of the families of the victims and those injured in the mine explosion.

	The Tatmadaw columns were in hot pursuit of the insurgents led by Bo 
Mya, who
were extorting money, committing armed robberies, planting and exploding mines
and torturing and killing innocent people with various means, turning a blind
eye to the peace and welfare of the national races and disturbing peace and
tranquillity and development of Kayin State. Due to this ruthless and wicked
act, the local people are feeling deep repugnance at those insurgents.


- - - - - - - - -  -


Discussion held on matters of enhancing China-Myanmar economic cooperation


	Leading Committee for Promotion of Economic Cooperation brtween the 
Union of
Myanmar and the People's Republic of China held the third coordination meeting
this morning (29-6-99)at Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army), with and
adress by Chairman of the Leading Commettee Secretary -1 of the State Peace 
and
Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

	The Secretary-1 Said the Leading Commettee was formed after Chairman 
of the
State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
Senior General Than Shwe had completed his goodwill visit to china in 1996.

	The goodwill delegation led by him and comprising ministers visited 
the PRC
from 7 to 11 June 1999 to further enhance the China-Myanmar economic
cooperation.

	During the visit, he met with the State Councillor of PRC Mr Luo Gan, 
Premier
Mr Wu Bangguo and other Chinese leaders and had cordial discussions with them
on implementing of the tasks under the bilateral economic cooperation
programmes and tasks to be extended.

	Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen Tin Hla and ministers who were in the 
delegation
also held meetings with officials of the respective ministers and companies of
PRC.

	All the discussions in China were wuccessful as they were held with
constructive approcah and understanding.

	When all the results of these discussions were presented to the Senior
General, he (Senior General Than Shwe) gave work guidance to realize them.


                                       
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