[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

The press Conference on eradication



Subject: The press Conference on eradication of narcotic drugs in Myanmar

The press Conference on eradication of narcotic drugs in Myanmar

Yangon

( 6-8-1999 )

YANGON, 6 Aug-The Press Conference on eradication of narcotic drugs in 
Myanmar was held at Aungthabyay Ye Yeiktha on Kyaikwaing Pagoda Road this 
morning.

            Present on the occasion were Deputy Minister for Information 
Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Deputy Chief of the Office of Strategic Studies Deputy 
Director of Defence Services Intelligence Brig-Gen Kyaw Win, Secretary of the 
Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control Director-General of Myanmar Police 
Force and members, members of the Work Committee, Head of Department of the 
Office of Strategic Studies Col Thein Swe and officials, Managing Director of 
News and Periodicals Enterprise, Director (News), Adviser, Chief Editor of 
the Guardian and Adviser to the Minister for Information, Chief Editor of 
Myanmar News Agency (Internal), Patron of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club 
Chairman and member foreign correspondents, Chief Editor Ms D Evmoon of DMJ 
Press, and officials of MPF, the Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and 
National Races and Development Affairs and Myanmar Anti-Narcotic Drugs 
Association.
            In his address, Brig-Gen Kyaw Win said it was a special Press 
Conference organized to clarify matters relating to eradication of narcotic 
drugs. He noted that the State Peace and Development Council laid down 
systematic plans to eradicate narcotic drugs with the supervision of the 
CCDAC.

            In implementing plans to fight the drug menace as a national 
duty, success is being achieved as a result of collaborated efforts being 
made with international as well as regional organizations, he said and added 
that some foreign news agencies are spreading fabricated reports, 
unscrupulously quoting their departments and persons, which had caused 
misunderstanding about Myanmar.

            He said officials would clarify matters relating to the 
eradication of narcotic drugs, Myanmar's policies, projects and tasks, and 
nationalities groups' activities to rebut the accusations of foreign news 
agencies.

            In his clarification, Col Thein Swe said that in July, Bangkok 
Post, The Nation and Thai Rat newspapers, and a weekly journal published in 
Thailand carried groundless reports written in a way as if they were said by 
Thai officials, and that these reports stated that Myanmar government allowed 
the nationalities armed groups to be engaged in drug trafficking, that 
Myanmar government troops were directly related with smuggling of drugs out 
of the country and sponsored carrying of drugs from within the country to the 
border, and that cooperation could not be made with Myanmar in elimination of 
drugs.

    These groundless reports, he said, might cause misunderstanding on 
Myanmar government's efforts for eradication of drugs.

    He said Myanmar could not manufacture the chemicals and machines to make 
the latest popular amphetamine tablets, nor did it allow abuse and smuggling 
of these drugs within the country; the abuse of the tablets had increased in 
the neighboring country, and as Myanmar realized that it was so dangerous, it 
kept a watchful eye; by the end of 1996, ephedrine, the major raw material in 
making the amphetamine was exposed and seized.

    After the Tatmadaw had taken up State responsibilities in 1988, the task 
for elimination of drugs had been carried out as a national duty; in 1989, 
the CCDAC was reorganized and laid down two objectives to eradicate narcotic 
drugs and three strategies to implement the two objectives. 

Today, Myanmar is implementing the 15-year project for total elimination of 
narcotic drugs starting from 1999-2000 to 2013-2014; in the first five-year 
term of the project covers 15 townships including Monkoe, Kongyan, Laukai, 
Kunlon, Hopang, Mongrei, Tangyang, Namtu, Mongtong, Hsenwi, Kutkai, Namkham, 
Muse and Kyukok in northern Shan State, Mongla region in eastern Shan State, 
Kunhein, Mongpang, Linkhae, Hsehsai, Pekon and Mongkai in southern Shan 
State, totaling in 22 townships.

    He also spoke of the townships covered by the second and third five-year 
terms of the project; in carrying out these tasks, priority would be given to 
elimination of poppy cultivation, eradication of drug abuse, law enforcement, 
organizing local people to join hands in the tasks, development of 
socioeconomic conditions in those regions, implementation of regional 
development projects in agriculture, livestock, road and bridge construction, 
communications, energy, trade, health, rehabilitation, education, and control 
of drugs.
    During the 15-year term, a total of over US$ 5.6 billion will be spent on 
road and bridge construction, agriculture, livestock, education, 
communications, energy, health, trade and rehabilitation sectors; the project 
term can be reduced if there is adequate supply of international and external 
assistance in technology and modern equipment.
   

>From 1974 to 1988, the US provided over US 86 million; since 1988, the US
has 
cut its assistance for eradication of narcotic drugs in Myanmar, and the 
Tatmadaw strove as much as it could whether it got foreign assistance or not.

            From 1974 to 1988, 705 kilos of heroin, 33,120 kilos of opium, 
5551 gallons of acids and various chemicals were seized and 15 opium refinery 
were destroyed: as there were no cases of amphetamine during that period: 
from 1988 to July 1999, 4.338 kilos of heroin, 29316 kilos of opium, 114459 
gallons of acids and chemicals, 40667707 amphetamine tablets and 10,702 kilos 
of ephedrine were seized and 117 opium refinery could be destroyed.

    He also spoke of the 17 nationalities armed group's returning to the 
legal fold, formation of the Central Committee for Development of Border 
Areas and National Races and the Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and 
National Races and Development Affairs, promulgation of the Law, for 
Development of Border Areas and National Races, and utilization of over 
K15.18 billion for educational, health, agriculture\livestock and transport 
development of the border areas.

    He dealt with cooperation with NGOs, UN agencies neighbours, signing of 
accords on control and elimination of narcotic drug trafficking and abuse, 
cooperation with China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia in the 
Sub-Regional Action- Plan drawn up by the UNDCP after signing of the MoU in 
1995,-- cooperation with ASEAN members, cooperation with the US in the opium 
yield survey projects, sending of delegations to the UN meetings and 
ceremonies, hosting of seminars, workshops and meetings in Myanmar and other 
international cooperation, activities the 10-year project for elimination of 
poppy cultivation in Myanmar adopted by Mr John Leake of UNDCP and party and 
Myanmar experts, the visit made by UNDCP Executive Director Mr Pino Arlacchi 
arid party and their tour of Lashio, Laukkai, Namtit, Kengtung and Hotaung 
regions, their provisions of US$ 33,900 for cultivation of poppy substitute 
crops in Kokang region, US$ 226,000 for reclamation of land, cultivation of 
poppy substitute crops and digging of irrigation canals in Namtit of Wa 
region, the suggestion endorsed by Mr Arlacchi to start implementation of the 
five-year Hotaung project in June 1998.
    

Senior General Than Shwe paid a goodwill visit to Thailand on 8 and 9 March 
this year and issued a joint communiqué; in the communiqué, the authorities 
expressed satisfaction at the good prospects and cooperation in cooperation 
of the two countries in the narcotic control and suppression, and agreement 
on accelerating efforts in cooperation for total elimination of narcotic drug 
production and trafficking; the two sides agreed to taking effective actions 
to suppress production of chemicals and drugs as the first priority; a 
delegation from Thai narcotic drug control department arrived Myanmar on 24 
May 1999 and held coordination meetings with the CCDAC officials and toured 
Mongla of Wa region to study the tasks for opium substitute crop production, 
livestock and regional development project, and areas for accelerating co 
operation between the two countries; a Myanmar-Thai-land-UNDCP meeting 
scheduled to be held in Ranong of Thailand 16-17 August to accelerate 
cooperation between the two countries.
    The papers published in Thailand printed the fabricated news despite the 
cooperation and efforts being made with international organizations and 
neighbours like Thailand, he said. 

Though the nationalities groups were engaged in drug trafficking in the past, 
they are now working together with the government for eradication of narcotic 
drugs as a national task.
    He clarified with facts and figures on the nationalities groups' poppy 
cultivation acreage, destruction of their poppy plantations after they had 
made peace, the Special Region 4's issuing of provisions for effective 
actions to be taken against those engaged in production,. abuse and 
trafficking of drugs, seizures of drugs, cultivation of poppy substitute 
crops, designation  of Opium Free Zone on 27 April in 1997 and destruction of 
various sorts of the  seized narcotic drugs.
            In Mongkoe on 8 February 1991, 75 kilos of heroin, 75 kilos of 
raw opium and four packets of brown opium were destroyed. At Nyopyinsipa 
village in Kokang region in February 1992, over 1500 acres of poppy fields 
were destroyed At Shaukluchan village on 21 March 1992, an opium refinery, 
7.25 kilos of heroin, 8.91 kilos of opium, 1.16 kilos of opium residue and 
chemical equipment were seized. Natlinpa village in Kokang region in August 
1992, an opium refinery, 18.55 kilos of heroin, 20.50 kilos of heroin grade 
3,17.33 kilos of brown opium and 18.22 kilos of opium residue were seized. 
Narcotics seized at the refineries were handed over to the State. At Lawtthu 
and Aungnanphyin villages near Hemolon village in Muse Township, two opium 
refineries were destroyed. In Mongkoe in 26 March, 10.5 kilos of heroin and a 
large quantity of chemical liquid were destroyed. In Kokang region in August 
1994, actions concerning narcotics were designated and the Phonchwehsan 
region in Kokang on 16 March, over 2000 acres of poppy fields were destroyed.
            A meeting was held at Siaw village on 11 to 13 June 1997 to wipe 
out poppy cultivation in Kokang region and to grow substitute crops. 
Arrangement have been made to take severe actions against poppy cultivation 
at China-Myanmar border and to wipe out poppy cultivation by the year 2000. 
Opium substitute crops will be grown in the area and local officials will 
meet harsh action for failure to inform or if there are any narcotics 
seizures. Laws will be enacted to launch narcotic eradication campaign as the 
national movement.

            Arrangements are in progress to declare the entire Mongkoe region 
as an opium free zone in 2000. In 1996,372 acres of poppy fields were 
destroyed in the region. A total of 1250 acres were put under substitute 
crops- 700 acres in Mongkoe, 235 acres in Mongya, 215 acres in Monghaung, 50 
acres in Nantbura. Com was cultivated on 3.28 acres, soy bean 3994 acres, 
buckwheat 764 acres, sugarcane 3864, Iychee 70 acres, mustard 50 acres, 
totalling over 8900 acres. In Laukkai, over 10,000 acres

            In were put under substitute crops - rubber 1000 acres, sugarcane 
4389 acres, corn l 3496 acres, soy bean 390 acres, mustard 463 acres, 
buckwheat 1110 acres and lichee 73 acres. The Special Region 1 is building 
museum commemorating the eradication of drugs from 1998 to 1999 at a cost of 
K 18 million. On the ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of peace which was 
held in March 1999, Kokang national race leader U Phon Kya Shin said 
"Although there are many difficulties in eradicating the narcotics, efforts 
will be made with firm determination and as a duty in realizing the aim." 
    Opium substitute crop cultivation is the best possible means to set up 
opium free zones in Shan State North. Cultivation of buckwheat with the help 
of the Japanese agricultural organization is gaining cent per cent success in 
Tashetan, Kokang region over 380 acres were put under buckwheat in Tashetan 
in 1998.

Two-hundred acres of buckwheat will be grown in Tashetan, Laukkai and 
Chinshwehaw in 199. Buckwheat will be cultivated on 10,000 acres in Shan 
State  North. The Japanese government under the   Aid for Increased Food 
Production (2KR)  programme provided Yan 800 million to  Myanmar in 1998. 
Myanmar Anti- Narcotics Association (MANA) and Border development 
Association, which are NGOs, are also participating in the projects. Shan 
State North Special Region 2 while implementing regional tasks with the 
government assistance is also launching programmes. to wipe out poppy 
cultivation. Work programmes are being laid down to cultivate opium 
substitute crops, educate poppy growers, extend opium free zones year wise in 
rooting out poppy cultivation and to declare the entire Wa region an opium 
free zone in 2005.
    The Special Region 2 in implementing the three-year programme from 1989 
to 1992 encouraged local people to cultivate substitute crops in reducing 
opium fields. In Nantip Township in February 1992, over 3000 acres of poppy 
fields were destroyed In Nawi region on 5 June 1992, 56 kilos of heroin which 
would worth US $ 120 million at street prices, 164 kilos of opium and 
chemicals were destroyed. On 24 July 1994, Pankhan district announced that 
efforts would be made to wipe out opium in Wa region; action would be taken 
for failure to comply with the education programmes and the law; drug abusers 
would face death sentence and trafficking in China would face jail or death 
sentences. Wa region in announcing the 10-year narcotics eradication 
programme in May 1995 stated that first, efforts would be made to declare 
Hotaung, Nantip, Pankhan and Mongywin districts as opium free zones with the 
government's assistance and international help, Efforts were made to wipe out 
poppy cultivation in Mongmaw, Waingkaung and Mongpauk districts in 1996 and 
opium substitute crops were cultivated successfully in Hotaung on 25 June 
1997, 75 kilos of heroin worth US$ 39.8 million, 152 kilos of opium, 540,000 
stimulant tables and chemical were destroyed.  In implementing the five-year 
project after 1994, 6,000acrea were put under substitute crops in Wa 
region-10,000 acres of rubber, coffee and other crops in Pankhan,50,000 acres 
of rubber, tea, lichee, mango and pine Nantip, Lonhtan, Mongmaw District and 
Mongpauk District. At the ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of peace in 
Wa region, Wa national leader U Pauk Yu Chan said, "The entire Wa region can 
be declared opium free zone by the. year 2005 in a profound manner as 30 per 
cent of poppy cultivation was reduced in 10 years as projected"

            Similarly, peace groups of Kachin State-Kachin State Special 
Region-1 led by U Sa Khon Ting Ring and Special Region-2 led by U Zaw Maing - 
have destroyed poppy fields and exposed and arrested drug traffickers since 
peace has been achieved in the region. Arrangements are also being made to 
cultivate substitute crops. Due to the cooperative efforts poppy cultivation 
could be wiped out almost totally in Kachin State. Other peace groups are 
also actively participating in the tasks together with the government.

            As national race armed groups have returned to the legal fold and 
are rendering co-operation in implementing the tasks, the Tatmadaw is able 
give more attention to eradicating narcotics. The national groups have 
destroyed 406 kilos of heroin, 3730 kilos of opium, 690 liters of Phensedyle, 
25,721 liters of chemical liquid, 715,492 stimulant tablets, 21 opium 
refineries and 7836 acres of poppy fields.
 

            As the national race groups are implementing the narcotic 
eradication, opium substitute crop cultivation, region development 
programmes, it is obvious that these national groups have no relations with 
the narcotic drugs. Bangkok Post daily issued on 23 July 1999 report Director 
of ONCB of northern Thailand Pinyo Thong Chai as saying, "MTA leader Khun Sa 
and his son arc now resuming the narcotic business at Golden Triangle Region 
at present." That was a baseless news reported without any firm evidence U 
Khun Sa made the surrender; how the arrangements were made; and the manpower 
and fire power of the group were not required to explain as everybody know 
these facts. But I will explain about the arrangements -
(1) He must make the unconditional surrender;
(2) He must stay clear from narcotic drugs;
(3) He must stay accord
to the government's arrangements. The government will render security for him.
He surrendered after these agreements were reached.
        U Khun Sa is living in line with these agreements. His sons and 
daughters are engaged in local gem mining works. It is just a baseless 
accusation.
        There are accusations as if the Tatmadaw were ignoring the narcotic 
related affairs of national groups which are directly connected with 
narcotics. The Tatmadaw since before 1988 launched attacks in crushing drug 
production and trafficking of insurgents along the border. It had launched 
special military operations such as Moehein, Ngayeban, Taungyanshin, 
Taunghtaikpan, Aungmoe-hein annually in eradicating the narcotics.
    

The State Peace and Development Council held the special meeting of Central 
Committee for Drug Abuse Control on 3 December 1993 with the leadership of 
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council to enhance drug 
eradication efforts. CCDAC was reformed at the meeting. Baseline data on 
poppy cultivation in Myanmar was collected for six months in 1998. According 
to the data it was known that there were 151,201 acres of poppy fields and 
66,463 drug addicts in the nation. The baseline data is being collected 
annually.
    The dailies in Thailand were reporting that millions of stimulant tables 
were entering Thailand from Myanmar every day; the Myanmar Tatmadaw was 
involved in the trafficking of stimulant tablets and Wa armed groups were 
transporting the tablets to Thailand The reports added as if Wa group were 
permitted to produce narcotics; and as if the Tatmadaw were rendering 
assistance to the group. The Wa group residing at Moeyun region near the 
Thai-Myanmar border is under the leadership of U Pauk Yu Chan of the Special 
Region 2. The Wa group is implementing projects to declare Wa region the 
opium free zone in 2005. It is conducing regional development tasks with the 
help of the government. Over 400,000 trees including 5000 lychee plants have 
been planted in Wunton region, Monghsat Township. Paddy is grown on  5200 
acres in Lwehsansaw region. Fruit trees are being planted in Tachilek 
Township. Poultry farm was established near Kengtung. The farm is now 
producing meat. Fish and chicken farming is gaining success in Tachilek. 
These development have proved that the Wa national group in Moeyun region are 
making efforts to free the entire region from narcotics by the year 2005. 
Such efforts to root out narcotics and to develop the region should be 
encouraged and welcomed. There was no abuse and trafficking of stimulant 
tablets till 1996. Chemical and machines used for producing drugs are not 
manufactured in Myanmar. Ephedrine used in making stimulant tables is 
produced in neighboring countries. As Myanmar government and the people are 
making collective efforts in eradicating the heroin production and 
trafficking, drug traffickers are turning to stimulants. They are producing 
and trafficking the pills at the border with chemicals and raw materials 
which are available in the neighboring countries. In reality the Wa group is 
not the only group in Moeyun region. There are KMT remnants who are producing 
narcotics; another Wa group led by Maha Hsan; SURA group led by Ywet Sit 
which remained in the jungles when U Khun Sa made the unconditional 
surrender. Ywet Sit group is producing heroin and stimulant tablets. 
Representatives of the group were arrested for trafficking narcotics. But the 
Thai dailies were highlighting the news on Ywet Sit's show of destroying 
poppy fields and a small number of stimulants produced by his group. It is 
obvious that the armed groups active in Thai-Border are existing on narcotics 
and are-related to the drug business Myanmar since it seized stimulant 
tablets in 1996 has enhanced its efforts in eradicating the Drugs. The seized 
3863.6 kilos of Ephedrine and 12,433 gallons of chemical liquid which was 
enough to produce 13.66 million stimulant tablets since the start of 1999.

    The news reported by Thai dailies are groundless. These reports could 
have ill effects on Myanmar's drug eradication efforts, disparaged Myanmar 
government and caused misunderstanding between the government and the 
national races armed groups. In reality the problem of narcotic is a regional 
problem. Instead of criticising others, efforts should be made to render 
assistance in solving the problem. Myanmar is implementing its 15-year plan 
to root out narcotic drugs. The plan can be realized in a shorter period if 
the nation gets international assistance. Myanmar will continue to implement 
the plan till success is achieved with or without receiving assistance from 
other counties.
    

Officials replied to queries raised by journalists.

            Local and foreign journalists visited the anti- drug exhibition.



*************