(1) State Peace and Development Council Chairman & Prime Minister Senior General Than Shwe to visit Thailand
YANGON, 7 Mar - At the invitation of His Excellency Mr Chuan Leekpai, Prime Minister of Thailand, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar, Senior General Than Shwe will pay a goodwill visit to the Kingdom of Thailand in the near future.
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(2) Senior General Than Shwe takes part in State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Bowl Golf Tournament
YANGON, 6 Mar - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe took part in 1998 State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Bowl Golf Tournament at Yemon Island Golf Club in Yemon Tatmyo Hlegu Township, Yangon Division, this morning.
The Senior General, accompanied by officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, arrived at Yemon Island Golf Club at 7.10 am today.
The Senior General and party were welcomed by Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council General Maung Aye, Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Win Myint, members of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Nyunt Thein, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Kyaw Than and Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Deputy Prime Ministers, ministers, the deputy ministers, departmental officials and golfers.
Senior General Than Shwe took part in the golf tournament with the golfers and left the golf club in the afternoon.
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(3) Secretary-1 meets nations race leaders of Shan State Nationalities People's Liberation Organization (SSNPLO)
YANGON, 6 Mar - Chairman of work Committee for Development of Border area and National Races Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt met National Races Shan State Nationalities People's Liberation Organization (SSNPLO) U Takleh and party who had return to the legal fold at Tatmadaw Guests House on Inya Road at 4 pm today.
Also present on the occasion were Minister for Education U Than Aung, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo, Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Thuya Aye Myint, Deputy Minister for forestry Brig-Gen Soe Myint heads of department.
The discussed Education, Health, transport, extending cultivated acreage and regional development matters.
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(4) Progress of Fourth International Heroin Conference reviewed
YANGON, 6 Mar - A review meeting on holding of the Fourth International Heroin Conference was held at the Ministry of Home Affairs this afternoon, attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Also present at the meeting were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, deputy ministers, the Deputy Attorney-General, the Deputy Commander, the Director-General of Myanmar Police Force, officials of the State Peace and Development Council office, departmental heads, members of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC), members of the Leading Committee for organizing the conference and sub-committees.
In his address, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt spoke about Myanmar's hosting of the Fourth International Heroin Conference from 23 to 26 February with the sponsorship of the Interpol and cited its objectives.
He said that while Myanmar is striving for eradication of narcotic drugs, the menace to the entire humanity, with national outlook, it energetically cooperated and hosted the conference.
For Myanmar's hosting of the conference, the US and some European countries criticized 'the Interpol and made protests against it under the pretexts of democracy and human rights, and persuaded other members not to attend the conference, he said.
As Myanmar has already resolved for eradication of narcotic drugs with national conviction, the conference could be organized in Yangon with the encouragement and support of the Interpol, he said and added that the nations which attended the conference must be recognized as those having done an act of preventing the danger against the entire human race.
The Secretary-1 noted that despite some nations' protests against the conference, 70 officials of 27 nations, two organizations and the Interpol attended the conference this was success of the Interpol and the host nation Myanmar.
He also spoke of the opportunity for the delegates to witness the annual destruction of the seized narcotic drugs, visit Laukkai region where poppy substitute crop cultivation project is being carried out for eradication of narcotic drugs and study Myanmar government's measures for eradication of narcotic drugs and, law enforcement bodies' actions for supply reduction so that they can let the world know these facts through media, and noted that this will automatically turn down the one-sided accusations made by the West bloc.
He said that Myanmar Police Force had the experience of hosting the six MoU nation meeting in 1995 before organizing the conference and noted that there might be some weaknesses in the programmes, the conference was successful also due to collaboration of other related ministers and departments, the Office of the Strategic Studies and the Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence and Yangon Command.
The Secretary-1 also dealt with ancient Myanmar Kings' efforts for eradication of the deadly drugs, the British's distribution of opium in Myanmar brought in from India after the First Anglo-Myanmar War in 1826, spread of the deadly drugs within three years after the annexation, the British's establishment of poppy plantations on Chin Hills, Kachin region and Shan region after bringing in the seeds from Assam. India the KMT troops' monopoly of opium cultivation and opium production in northern and eastern Shan State in 1968, the successive governments' endeavours For control of narcotic drugs and various operations against on opium refineries, and traffickers.
He said that due to the governments's goodwill and correct actions of the national brethren, 17 armed groups returned to the legal fold.
Seizures made by Tatmadaw, MPF and Customs Departments From 18-9-88 to
31-12-98 were as follows:
Opium
28,385.891 kilos
Heroin
4,125.3104 kilos
Marijuana
6,606.235 kilos
Phensedyl
33,807.8114 kilos
Ephedrine
6,239.1221 kilos
Stimulants
26,961,843 tablets
Other
chemicals
43,003.35 gallons and 98 opium refineries were destroyed.
Seized drugs were destroyed in Yangon for the 13 times.
Opium
20,523.581 kilos
Heroin
3,291.341 kilos
Morphine
192.469 kilos
Opium
oil
126.30 kilos
Liquid
opium
85.698 kilos
Marijuana
3,443.457 kilos
Phensedyl
25,112.774 litres
Injection with
opium
1,405 bottles
Comethazine
6,708.95 litres
Stimulants
23,574,284 tablets were destroyed.
National people themselves destroyed the following narcotic drugs in border
areas for 19 times.
Poppy
plantation
7,836 acres
Opium
refinery
21 nos.
Opium
3,122.383 kilos
Heroin
405.905 kilos
Morphine
245.67 kilos
Phensedyl
689.75 litres
Low grade
opium
59.472 kilos
Stimulants
715,492 tablets
Acetic
anhydride
4,159 gallons
Other
chemicals
5,973 gallons
Other chemicals
powder
2,320.49 kilos.
Altogether 82,469.32 acres and 326.83 tons of opium were destroyed from 1998 to 31 December 1998.
He said Myanmar made a lot of seizures and destruction of narcotic drugs, but some big nations it.
He said Myanmar carried out above-mentioned anti-drug activities in her own way and with the cooperation of international communities. Myanmar signed international conventions such as: The International Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961; The Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971; and The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988, he added.
Continuing, he said, Myanmar cooperated with DEA of the United States beginning 1974. It has also signed bilateral narcotic drugs control agreements with India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, the Russian Federation, LPDR and the Philippines and Memorandum of Understanding on narcotic drugs control in the Sub-region with China, LPDR, Thailand and UNDCP.
The Secretary-1 said after Myanmar became a member of ASEAN, it took part in ASEAN's anti-drug and cooperation programmes. Myanmar is committed to supply control and demand reduction with or without international assistance.
He spoke on implementation of the 15-year project on eradication of narcotic drugs in accord with the guidance of Senior General Than Shwe, active participation in the narcotic drugs crackdown under ancient Myanmar kings and after regaining the independence and Myanmar's determination to implement the present project successfully.
Minister Col Tin Hlaing recalled the offer to hold the Fourth International Heroin Conference in Myanmar by International Criminal Police Organization, formation of Leading Committee and Sub-committees, cooperation of respective departments, holding of the 13th ceremony to destroy seized narcotic drugs, arrangement on study tour to Lwe Hsat Village near Laukkai and Mongyaw for delegates to the conference and officials of Interpol, success of the conference, delegates' satisfaction on arrangements and gaining benefits in international cooperation and related work by publicizing anti-drug measures among international communities.
Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung reported on emergence of opportunity to hold the conference and measures undertaken for successfully holding the conference.
Secretary of CCDAC Police Maj-Gen Soe Win reported on preparations and measures undertaken and member of CCDAC on discussions and experience on study tour in border areas.
Officials reported on work undertaken for the conference.
The Secretary-1 made a concluding speech. He said the Leading Committee and various sub-committees had successfully carried out works on the conference. In holding international meetings and State-sponsored ceremonies, the main department has to implement the work with the assistance of other departments and such practice is successful. He learnt that conference delegates witnessed the difference between what they beard through some broadcasting stations and what they saw in Myanmar. He said some broadcasting stations are attempting to downplay the true situation in Myanmar and the government's anti-narcotic efforts without reporting the truth about them.
He said the delegates would distribute authentic news and true situations in Myanmar when they were back in their respective regions and they knew Myanmar's efforts being made with difficulty for eradication of narcotic drugs.
The Secretary-1 spoke on completion of records on the conference and other matters.
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(5) Illegal VCDs, DVDs, LDs, video tapes destroyed
YANGON, 6 Mar - Illegally imported VCDs, DVDs and LDs, video tapes on which foreign films were copied from them, and uncensored foreign films were destroyed at Aungthabyay Ye Yeiktha, on Kyaikwaing Pagoda Road, Mayangon Township, today.
The occasion was witnessed by members of the Central Committee for Video Industry Security Board and the Motion Picture Censorship Board, officials and guests.
Before setting them afire, Chairman of the Central Committee for Video Industry Security Board Managing Director of Myanma Motion Picture Enterprise Col Bo Kyi and Chairman of Myanmar Motion Picture Asiayon U Sein Tin explained the seizure of the video tapes, motion picture films and video laser discs.
Acting on information that Myanmar captioning in foreign films, and copying and distribution of foreign films were carried out illegally while the entrepreneurs were being organized to observe the TV and Video Law, Myanmar Motion Picture Asiayon and the Video Industry Security Committees carried out the scrutiny in Yangon and Mandalay in co-operation with the personnel of Myanmar Police Force.
It was exposed that three shops in Yangon and eight shops in Mandalay were found to be engaged in distributing tapes on which foreign films were copied from the discs, and 912 VCDS, 30 DVDS, 1,582 LDs and 3,165 video tapes were seized from the three shops in Yangon 2,770 VCDs and 6,336 uncensored video tapes from eight shops in Mandalay.
The Central Committee for Video Industry Security Board of the Ministry of Information took lenient action against those 11 shops, fined them, gave them back the machines they used in copying and seized the VCDS, DVDs, LDs and video tapes.
Meanwhile, an Indian citizen Mr Lagan Verma under the name of Lagan Company brought in 13 uncensored foreign films which were shown in the cinemas leased by the company.
Hence, Mr Lagan Verma was fined in foreign currency. Mr Lagan and his company were blacklisted, and his visa to Myanmar revoked.
The destroyed discs, video tapes and motion picture films valued at K 50 million included the 13 foreign films illegally brought in by Mr Lagan and Pornographic stories such as "Night Class", "Playboy's Fresh Man", "Manliness" and "Kamasutra", as they had not been through the Customs Department or the Censor Boards.
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(6) 51 members resign from Pyinmana Township NLD
YANGON, 6 Mar - Fifty-one members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Pyinmana Township, Mandalay Division.
Fifty-one members of Pyinmana Township NLD, Mandalay Division, on their own volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Pyinmana Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 22 February 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
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(7) 205 members resign from Lewe Township NLD
YANGON, 6 Mar - Two hundred and five members including Chairman of Lewe Township National League for Democracy and Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Nyi Nyi Tun of Lewe Township Constituency 2 resigned from` Lewe Township NLD, Mandalay Division on 25 February 1999.
Two hundred and five members including Chairman of Lewe Township NLD and Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Nyi Nyi Tun of Lewe Township Constituency 2, on their own volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Lewe Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 27 February 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
On 27 February 1999, personnel of the township NLD themselves handed over the flag, seals and documents to the Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission.
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YANGON, 6 Mar - With the aim of encouraging the private sector participation in hotel business, MraukU, Sittway and Ngapali Hotels of Myanma Hotels and Tourism Services will be leased to private entrepreneurs through competitive bidding in accord with the market economy.
Interested persons may submit the proposals not later than 31 March. Bidders will be invited for coordination within two weeks after submission of the proposal.