( 1 ) Chemicals used in producing amphetamine tablets not available nor produced in Myanmar

DEA acknowledges poppy cultivation, opium production decreasing in Myanmar

Yangon, 6 March- Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt delivered an address at the Special Meeting No 1/2002 of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control at the meeting hall of the Ministry of Home Affairs at 2.30 pm today.

 Also present at the meeting were ministers, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, deputy ministers, senior military officers, members of CCDAC, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of department, members of the work groups and guests. Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt said Myanmar has been launching the anti-narcotic drugs and narcotic drugs elimination programmes with greater momentum since 1988. As there were armed groups in the jungles, the previous governments were not able to effectively and successfully wipe out the narcotic drugs despite the operation Moe Hein they had launched to eradicate the narcotic drugs. After 1988, the State was able to make efforts for the armed groups to return to the legal fold and arrangements to develop the border areas. The State has created opportunities for the national race armed groups to set up industrial, gems, agricultural and livestock breeding enterprises. It has also provided assistance and disburse bank loans to them. As members the groups can now lay firm economic foundation for their businesses, the border areas they are living in are also achieving progress. Due to the encouragement given by the colonialist government, poppy cultivation began in Myanmar during the colonial period.

 Drug manufacturing business such as opium production and refining heroin grew gradually during the time. The government laid down and implemented border area development plans and at the same time, it has systematically launched campaigns to root out the narcotic drugs. For two years, the 15-year narcotic drugs elimination plan has been systematically drawn and implemented. As the national races residing in the border areas have been educated and organized, they are now actively taking part in the task to eradicate the narcotic drugs.

Wa national race leaders have made a firm pledge to totally wipe out the drugs from their land by the year 2005. Similarly, the Kokang national race leaders have made a firm pledge to rid their region of the narcotic drugs. And leaders of both national races are striving to do so. Mongla region has been declared to the world as an Opium Free Zone since 1997. The leaders of Wa national race have set up agriculture and livestock breeding enterprises with zeal and correct ideas for progress of their people. The enterprises are now producing import-substitute items and are also exporting goods. Myanmar signed the ASEAN Plus China Accord Plan in 2000. The nation is enhancing cooperation with the ASEAN nations and the People's Republic of China.

Myanmar and PRC signed an agreement in Yangon in January 2001 to cooperate in eradicating the drugs. Now the two nations are closely cooperating with each other to wipe out the drugs. Similarly, Myanmar signed an MoU with Thailand in June 2001 to collectively control the narcotics. In coordination with the Thai government, model villages have been set up at the border areas as a project to wipe out poppy cultivation at the border. Modern communication facilities have been set up among the bodies of six countries which have signed an MoU to establish central organizations to gather information of the drugs. Japan International Cooperation Agency is providing assistance to cultivate buckwheat as an opium-substitute crop. As the project is achieving success, plans are under way to extend buckwheat cultivation.

 The CCDAC of Myanmar and DEA of the US are conducting joint studies. It is known that the DEA has made a remark that poppy cultivation and opium production are decreasing in Myanmar. There were accusations from outside the nation saying that Mongyun had drug refineries; but when the accusers from foreign nations were invited to visit the town, they found only the hydel power stations and the markets at the places which they had alleged to be drug refineries. Myanmar has laid down and implemented the 15-year plan to wipe out the drugs. It is not implementing the task with short-term view. But some big western countries are launching slanders against Myanmar, saying that Myanmar is the largest narcotic drugs producer and distributor; and that its efforts to wipe out the drugs are without any effect.

 As the nation is actively conducting anti-drug activities, it cannot accept the slanders. Some big western countries are pointing a finger at Myanmar and accusing her of the nation producing largest amount of amphetamine tablets. But the accusation is not fair.

 Chemicals used in refining the amphetamine tablets are not available nor produced in Myanmar. They entered Myanmar via the neighbouring countries. Thus, we trust that they should made an assessment on their accusations from the objective point of view. These big countries has never provided any assistance to Myanmar to wipe out the drugs, instead they were launching slanders against her. However, Myanmar has made a determination to let the world know her efforts to eliminate the narcotic drugs by her own strength, which have been designated as a national task. The nation destroyed poppy fields at the border areas in the early 2002. The government is distributing provisions to the people whose poppy fields have been destroyed. It will also render help for them to earn their living. The national races leaders are actively taking part from the respective sectors to implement the 15-year plan under the leadership of the State.

 Thus, the plan will surely achieve success. All are required to harmoniously strive in accord with the plan and to refute the slanders from outside the nation. Then, Chairman of the Central Committee for Drugs Abuse Control Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing reported the Secretary-1 on growing of short-term and long-term poppy-substitute crops in Wa and Kokang regions, cooperative effort of the local people for drug elimination with the State, condition on cooperation of local authorities and officials from state/division CCDACs for the success of the 15-year drug elimination plan, hosting of the meeting in Myanmar on drug elimination of high ranking officials from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thai, attendance of Myanmar delegation at the ministerial meeting on drug control of the four countries held at Beijing in China, the fruits of the meeting, destroying of poppy plantations and seizure of drugs, drug control tasks being launched under the arrangements of the CCDAC and the UNDCP, conducting of educative courses for students on drug control and elimination with the help of the WHO, future tasks for success of drug elimination tasks of the CCDAC and Work committees in accordance with the guidance of Head of State.

 Afterwards, Secretary of CCDAC Director-General of MPF Col Soe Win briefed on work done for implementing the decisions of the meeting 2/2002 of the committee. Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt reported the Secretary-1 on projects on drugs elimination and region-wise tasks of the ministry for development of border areas. Then, officials from work committees briefed on distribution of seeds for growing of poppy-substitute project and chicken, piglets and fish, tasks for rehabilitation of drug-users, conducting of educative courses for students and public, condition on opium yield survey made at Namkhait, Mongshu, Tangyan, Naunghlaing, Shauk-or and Lonhtan regions in Shan State. The Secretary-1 made a concluding speech. He said the successes of drugs elimination tasks were known due to the reports of the committee and work committees and a large amount of cash used by the State in drugs elimination sector has contributed to success of the tasks. The ministries also took part in the tasks with their own plans. Progress has been achieved due to the efforts of deputy ministers who led special groups and went down to the grassroots level for drugs elimination task and national race leaders' active participation in the task, he said. Now, it is learnt that production of drug like heroin, which is based on poppy, has decreased while that of amphetamine has increased. This clearly shows the declination of cultivation and production of poppy.

Our country does not produce chemicals used in producing amphetamine tablets and they come in through the neighbouring countries. So prohibition of these chemicals are to be proposed, he added. Prevent the chemicals from entering our country must be done because amphetamine cannot be produced without having raw chemicals. Tasks for penalizing drug criminals have been carried out in the country and these tasks are to be made known to the world. Success has been achieved in training the drug-addicted youths to be good ones and giving them vocational education, and efforts are to be made for more success, he pointed out. Nationals grew poppy for their living not for economy. Rice, oil and others are to be supported to them in destroying poppy plantation. Earnest efforts are to be made for the success of the 15-year drug elimination project, he added. In conclusion, the Secretary-1 urged officials to make organizing tasks for the success of drug elimination task within the set period. Then, the meeting came to a close.

( 3 )  Regional development tasks inspected in Ayeyawady Division

Yangon, 6 March - Members of the State Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and Maj-Gen Maung Bo of the Ministry of Defence, accompanied by Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads, fishery entrepreneurs and officials, arrived at Pathein on 4 March morning.

They were welcomed there by Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West Command Brig-Gen Htay Oo, Chairman of Pathein District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Maung Pyone and officials. Then, Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Maj-Gen Maung Bo and party, together with Brig-Gen Htay Oo, went to the Myat-mawtinsun Hsan-dawshin Pagoda in Ngapu-daw Township, Pathein District, where they were welcomed by Staff Officer (Grade I) Cmdr Tun Tun of local Naval Regional Command, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, Maternal and Child Welfare Association, Red Cross Society and Auxiliary Fire Brigade and local residents.

The fishery entrepreneurs donated cash for renovation of the pagoda. Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Maj-Gen Maung Bo and party paid homage and offered provisions to Mawtintawya Kyaungtaik Sayadaw Bhad-danta „anobhasa. U Htay Myint of Yuzana Co donated K 600,000 to the Kyaungtaik; U Zaw Zaw of Max Myanmar Co K 500,000; U Hla Than of Pyi Phyo Tun Co and U Than Win Aung of Pale Nadi Co K 200,000 each; and U Tun Hla Baw of Myanmar Dairy Industries Ltd, U Kyee Sein of Shwekhayu Co, U Hla Maung Shwe of Golden Family Co, U Mya Han of Fortune International Co and U Thet Aung of Winner Brother Co K 100,000 each through the commander and officials. Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Maj-Gen Maung Bo and party proceeded to Haingyi Island in Ngapudaw Township. They were welcomed there by Captain Aye Pe of local Naval Regional  Command, departmental personnel and others.

They inspected the sea prawn breeding station being undertaken by Annawa Aungmye Co Ltd at the island. They also inspected Haigyi Police Station and its vegetable plantations and Haigyi PeopleÕs Hospital. At Ngayokegaung Village in Ngapudaw Township, they met with local authorities, members of USDA, MCWA and Red Cross Society and Auxiliary Fire Brigade and gave instructions on implementation of the five rural development tasks, construction of rural roads, agriculture and breeding of fish and prawn for the development of the village. They headed for the Chaungtha Beach Hotel and met with local authorities, departmental officials and prawn breeders and discussed extended breeding of sea prawn.

 Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than spoke of the need for placing emphasis on extended breeding of fresh water prawn, sea prawn and fresh water fish. He urged national fishery entrepreneurs to extend modern and scientific breeding of prawn and fish, and to disseminate and discuss scientific breeding methods. He elaborated on paying serious attention to carrying out tasks for extended breeding of prawn and fish without damaging farm lands and gardens which are thriving. Local authorities and departments concerned are to render assistance and national fishery entrepreneurs are to strive for extended prawn and fish breeding, he pointed out. The State will attend to the requirements, he added.

Then, Commander Brig-Gen Htay Oo reported on economic development of the Division; Minister Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein on aims and functions of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, prawn sector and meat and fish sector; and prawn breeders on breeding and production of sea prawn and future tasks. Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and Maj-Gen Maung Bo gave necessary instructions. They inspected the shrimp fry hatchery station of the Universal Concord Co Ltd in Chaungtha, Pathein Township, and Mayflower Fish and Prawn Breeding Station and gave instructions. Yesterday morning, Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Maj-Gen Maung Bo and party inspected progress of construction of international standard Hotel Max in the Chaungtha Beach Resort.

They then arrived at the Yuzana prawn breeding group (Po Maung Gyaing Station) in Ngwehsaung region, Pathein Township. Chairman of the station U Htay Myint conducted them round the station and reported on work being done. Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than left instructions. Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Maj-Gen Maung Bo and party inspected the sea prawn breeding at Bawdigon station and Alechaung station of the group. Later, they visited sea prawn breeding stations of the Golden Family Co Ltd and Shwekhayu Co Ltd near Thazin Village and the sea prawn breeding station of May Myanmar Co Ltd near Thazin Creek. They inspected conditions of the development of Ngwehsaung region from the Ngwehsaung Beach Hotel. Then, they inspected progress in constructing Darka bridge on Darka River, which links Paikthaung Village in Kangyidaunt Township and Yathechaung Village in Kyaunggon Township. Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than gave necessary instructions to the officials concerned. They arrived back here in the evening.

MWVO Central Organizing Committee holds meeting

Yangon, 6 March- The Myanmar War Veterans Organization Central Organizing Committee held Meeting No 2/2002 at the meeting hall of the headquarters of Myanmar War Veterans Organization at 8th mile on Pyay Road in Mayangon Township at 2 pm today, attended by member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of MWVO Central Organizing Committee Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Thein Sein.

Also present at the meeting were ministers, deputy ministers, the vice-chairman of Yangon City Development Committee vice-mayor, members of the MWVOCOC, departmental heads and officials. First, Central Organizing Committee Chairman Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Thein Sein gave an opening address. Then, Secretary Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung reported on the minutes of the previous meeting and completion of tasks.

 COC members Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung, Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein and Deputy Minister for Labour Brig-Gen Win Sein reported on organization, finance, economic and health sectors related to the five tasks of the Committee. Next, organization group leaders reported on tasks being carried out in the respective sectors and those present took part in the discussions. COC Chairman Maj-Gen Thein Sein gave necessary instructions and the meeting came to an end. After the meeting, Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Thein Sein inspected the specialist clinic of Myanmar War Veterans Organization (Central) and left necessary instructions.

( 4 ) Regular Press conference held

Yangon, 6 March - A regular Press conference with local and foreign journalists took place at the Tatmadaw guest house on Inya Road here this morning. Present at the meeting were Minister for Labour U Tin Winn, Vice-Chief of Military Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Brig-Gen Khin Aung Myint and senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence, departmental heads, officers of the Ministry of Information, Correspondent U Sein Win of Kyodo News Agency, Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club Patron U Hla Htwe and President U Sao Kai Hpa, foreign correspondents, and guests. On the occasion, Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, U Khin Maung Win and officials replied to the queries of journalists.

 In his replies, Maj-Gen Kyaw Win said with respect to receiving Myanmar citizens working in Thailand illegally, the two governments are coordinating in view of maintaining mutual friendship; and the date to accept them has already been fixed; however, some of them are returning home before the scheduled date, and hence, a reception camp has been opened in Myawady beginning 5 February 2002. So far, over 800 Myanmar citizens have returned and medical check-up and cash assistance were provided to them; those who have come back have been sent back home safe and sound.

 Some Thai newspapers carried the news that some Myanmar families were killed in Thai border area. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested the Thai Government to make an effective investigation into the issue as it is a criminal case, he said. He also disclosed that recently, some fake K 1,000 currency notes, which were smuggled into Myanmar through the border area where Kayin insurgents resided, were seized; action is being taken to expose those who are guilty; there is no need to worry as all of the fake currency notes have been seized; moreover, the rumour to the effect that the Government will circulate K 5,000 and K 10,000 currency notes is untrue; the rumour to the effect that some of the currency notes will be demonetized is also untrue; as it has been already announced time and again, the State Peace and Development Council Government will not demonetize currency notes in any way, he said.

 Next, Lt-Col Hla Min of the Ministry of Defence gave replies to queries concerning the annual report on international human right released on 4 March by the government of USA. Then, the regular Press conference came to an end. Afterwards, local and foreign journalists viewed the documentary photos on reception of Myanmar workers in Myawady who returned from Thailand.

( 5 ) Deputy Ministry U Khin Maung Win leaves for Thailand

Yangon, 6 March - Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win left here for Thailand by air this evening to attend the Fifth Meeting of Myanmar-Thailand Joint Boundary Committee to be held in Bangkok, Thailand. He was seen off at the Yangon International Airport by officials from the ministry and officials from the Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon. The advance team of Myanmar delegation comprising officials from the ministry, the Ministry of Defence and departments concerned left here for Thailand yesterday to attend the Senior Officers Meeting of Joint Boundary Committee. The Myanmar delegation will hold discussions with Thai counterpart on matters related to boundary between the two countries.

13 Myanmar bodies found in Thailand
 

Yangon, 6 March -Today's issue of the Nation expressed in its headlines that 13 bodies of Myanmar were found in Thailand and police suspected that the victims were beaten and drowned. Children were among the dead.

 The paper said Thai Police launched an investigation into the brutal killings of 13 people including five children and some with heavily bruised bodies who are found in rice sacks on a waste site in Muang District. Police rushed to the scene after being alerted by a local villager. Provincial Deputy Police Commander Pol Col Pinit Satcharoen said that some of the victims had broken necks and severe bruises, while others appeared to have drowned.

 Their clothes were still wet and their bodies bore no trace of gunshot or knife wounds, Pinit said, adding that some were also suspected of having been poisoned. The victims were a man, seven women, three boys and two girls. They were believed to have been dead for at least eight hours but less than 24 hours before being discovered, Pinit said. The rice sacks containing the bodies were dumped under sacks of fertilizer and animal waste. We are still looking for more evidence at the scene," Pinit said. Police found tyre track traces near the scene, leading them to believe the victims were murdered elsewhere and moved to the site by truck before being dumped. Police suspect those killed were Myanmar immigrants as they wore longyi,

 Myanmar sarongs. A note written in Myanmar and Myanmar bank notes were found among the bodies. Several local villagers told police that the dead were possibly workers from a nearby construction site. Police said they were transporting the bodies to the Police Hospital in Bangkok for autopsies. Prachin Buri Governor, Chaijit Rattakajorn, said the sacks were produced in Samut Prakan and were imprinted with a logo from the Krungthep Animal Food Co.

 The murders come at a time when the government is trying to encourage employers of Myanmar workers to join a registration programme, allowing the government to better ascertain the number of Myanmar workers in Thailand. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said he believed the victims were Myanmar nationals working illegally in Thailand. Last month, 20 corpses, believed to be ethnic Myanmar, were found floating downstream in a river along the Thai-Myanmar border in Tak's Mae Sot District. Last October, the labour Ministry registered around 560,000 of an estimated two million illegal workers in an effort to control the flow.

( 6 ) Minister for Hotels & Tourism receives foreign guests

Yangon, 6 March - Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin received Chairman of Yangon International Hotel Mr Koki Onodera and President/CEO of L & M International Co (Korea) Mr Lee Jong Man at his office at 10 am and 11 am today respectively.

Also present at the call were Deputy Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu, Managing Director of the Myanma Hotels and Tourism Services U Kyi Tun and officials.

Maha Thingyan Festival to be held on grand scale

Yangon, 6 March -Myanma traditional Ozi, Dobat, Yein and dance contests will be held at Yangon Mayor's Maha Thingyan pandal (1363 ME) in the Thingyan Festival and handsome prizes will be awarded. The contests are 12-member Yein troupe for nursery schools and 12-member troupe, 16-member troupe, 20-member troupe and 24-member troupe for offices, schools and other organizations. Application forms for the contests are available on the fourth floor (Inspection Department Office) of the nine-storey building on 38th Street in Kyauktada Township from 8 to 18 March during office hours. Pre-contests will be held at the sports stadium in Maugon. For further information, contact the head of department (Tel: 286612, 09-9926931) and the deputy head of department (Tel: 278003) of the inspection department on 38th street and the office of temporary assessment work committee in Maugon (Tel: 292715, 299401), assistant heads of department of the inspection department (Tel: 289508, 276715) and the office (Tel: 274822).

Cash donated to CCDAC

Yangon, 6 March - A ceremony to donate cash to the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control was held at the reception hall of the Narcotic Drug Elimination Museum this evening. Present on the occasion were Chairman of CCDAC Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Chairman of CCDAC Supervisory Committee Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Secretary of CCDAC Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Soe Win and officials. On the occasion, Chairman & Managing Director of Pinya Manufacturing Co Ltd U Kyi Lwin and Managing Director of Penisula Enterprise U Than Lwin explained the purpose of the donation. Afterwards, Chairman & Managing Director U Kyi Lwin presented K 3,000,000 and Managing Director U Than Lwin K 500,000 to Minister Col Tin Hlaing who spoke words of thanks.