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ARCHIVES	Sunday, 6 August 2006	THE MYANMAR TIMES

Drug control sector alone not enough Tasks for poppy-growers to earn substitute income and to raise quality of their life in poppy growing areas to be undertaken Special meeting 1/2006 of Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control held

NAY PYI TAW 5 Aug— The special meeting 1/2006 of Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control was held at Myanmar Police Force Headquarters here this afternoon, with an address by Prime Minister General Soe Win.

Also present were the ministers, the chief justice, the attorney-general, the deputy ministers, members of CCDAC, heads of department and Chairmen of Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association and Border Areas Development Association.

In his address, Prime Minister General Soe Win said at the meeting the CCDAC, related ministries and organizations are to review the anti-narcotic tasks and to speed up their momentum and to provide necessary assistance. Significant achievements have been made in the drug control since 2005, compared to the measures taken in the past years, he said.

The narcotic drug is an evil danger related to political, economic, social and health aspects. It is also a grave danger not only to a single nation but also to the entire world. Every nation is constantly carrying out anti-narcotics activities in their own ways, he said.

He said Myanmar has been launching anti-narcotic tasks since the periods of Myanmar kings. Before 1988, priority was given to drug control such as destruction of poppy fields and opium refineries under various operations.

Drug control sector alone is not enough. Tasks for poppy-growers to earn substitute income and to raise the quality of their life in the poppy growing areas are to be implemented harmoniously. By doing so, cultivation and production of poppy will dwindle away to nothing, he said.

For effective implementation of the tasks, three tactics of supply elimination, demand elimination and law enforcement have been adopted and are being practised.

In order to undertake the three tactics, three techniques were laid down — to uplift the morale and perception of drug users and poppy growers, to secure smooth and easy transportation and communication between the nationals in highland areas and those in the mainland and to uplift the economic and social life of the national races in the border areas.

The 15-year Narcotics Elimination Plan (1999-2014) was laid down and the first five year plan starting from 1999-2000 to 2003-2004, the second five year plan and the third five year plan are being implemented.

Tasks are being carried out in the project regions for success under the sectors of supply elimination, demand elimination and law enforcement, organizing local people for participation in the project and international cooperation, he added.

Moreover, he said, the New Destiny Project, part of the 15-year Narcotics Elimination Plan, was launched in April 2002 under the close supervision of the four deputy ministers. Substitute crops were grown in the past poppy growing areas and poppy production gradually fell year after year. Kokang and Wa regions were declared as opium free zones in 2003 and 2005 respectively. According to the 2005 annual report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), poppy cultivation in Myanmar between 2001 and 2005 dropped by 60 per cent. This showed that there was considerable decline of poppy cultivation in Myanmar .

According to the opium yield survey conducted by Counter Narcotics and Crime (CNC) of the United States , poppy cultivation declined by 80 per cent and opium production in 2004 fell by 88 per cent compared to that of 1996. These figures firmly showed the success of Myanmar ’s anti-narcotics campaign.

In the law enforcement sector, more drugs seizures were made in two years due to cooperation with international organizations and experiences. The total value of seized opium, heroin, stimulant tablets and related paraphernalia since 1976 has been amounted to K 1,418.117 billion (US $ 22.735 billion).

The law enforcement after 2005 was very successful. In July 2004, blocks of heroin weighing 592.5 kilos worth K 47,400 million (US $ 74 million) to be smuggled to the West through the international waters were seized near Hnitkayin Village, Ye Township in Mon State. Moreover, the assets of the opium lords were frozen. Those opium lords who absconded from the country were arrested under the exchange of information of law enforcement organizations from the People’s Republic of China and Thailand . They were prosecuted according to law, he said.

Besides, in the case in which 102.5 kilos of ice worth K 306 million or US$ 61.5 million was seized in Yangon on 24 May 2005 thanks to the cooperation of the CCDAC and Yunnan Province drug control organization of the Narcotic Drugs Control Commission of the People’s Republic of China, and action was taken against the foreigners who got involved in the case.

Similarly, 469 kilos of opium blocks valued at K 39,680 million or more than US$ 62 million were seized on 10 September 2005 due to the information exchange programme between the CCDAC and the China ’s Narcotic Drugs Control Commission.

In addition, there have been many instances in which success has been achieved internally owing to the active participation of local people. In January 2005, the CCDAC and special anti-drug squads jointly seized 178 kilos of ice worth K 534 million or US$ 106.8 million in Shwepyitha Township , Yangon .

From December 2005 to April 2006, the authorities managed to seize over 14.9 million stimulant tablets, 50 kilos of opium, over 1,000 kilos of morphine, precursor chemicals, 196 assorted arms together with 33 culprits in Tachilek District. The perpetrator Yan Ar Hon who was at large from that case was arrested at Shanghai in China and extradited to Myanmar on 6 January 2006.

The total street value of the seized narcotic drugs stood at K 125.43 billion equivalent to US$ 1.4 billion, and

Myanmar

was thus full of praise for its achievements regionally and internationally. Myanmar ’s efforts in the fight against drugs have been recognized internationally.

Moreover, it was a significant achievement that opium refineries in Wanyein, Leikha, Hsenhsei regions in Shan State (South) worth K 28,377 million or US$ 46.9 million were exposed in May 2006 alone.

The government has been able to accelerate its anti-narcotics drive effectively. And since 1989 it has formed the Central Committee for Progress of Border Areas and National Races, respective work committees and subcommittees and has been implementing long, medium and short-term plans. From 1989-90 fiscal year to June 2006, it spent K 84,753.33 million on border areas and national races development projects.

From now, the government has launched measures for substitute-crop cultivation and livestock breeding, development and penetrating markets for the substitute crops produced under the 15-year plan in order that local people can continue earning their livings.

In May 2006, the CCDAC and

China

’s Narcotic Drugs Control Commission signed an agreement to jointly survey the poppy fields and to help implement alternative projects in Wa and Kokang regions. In the process, plans are under way to secure sustainable progress in the regions where poppy is grown.

The achievement of the CCDAC’s programmes represents a national requirement. So, responsible personnel are to make harmonious efforts with added momentum in the second five-year plan like in the first five-year plan so as to achieve the 15-year drug elimination plan. In doing so, the ministries concerned are also to review the tasks in which they have to strive in concert, and to deal closely with one another.

In his report Minister Maj-Gen Maung Oo said the first five-year plan of the 15-year project of narcotic drugs elimination had achieved success due to the cooperation of the ministries. Now the second five-year plan has entered the third year. The second plan covers 20 townships as well as the 22 townships that have been included in the first plan. So the respective work groups have doubled their efforts as the project is covering 42 townships. In addition, the new destiny project, part of the 15-year project, has made the cultivation of poppy acreage decrease significantly. As regards cooperation with the international community, he said, MANA hosted the 14th IFNGO Meeting in Myanmar on 2 December 2004 with 80 representatives and 40 observers from foreign countries. Likewise, Myanmar has sent its representatives to the meetings on regional cooperation on drug control held by six MoU countries and UNODC and held those meeting as a host country.

Forty-two members of organizations and entrepreneurs of Myanmar also attended a workshop on cooperation in prevention of illicit drug production held on 11 and 12 July 2005.

The minister said the 11th Myanmar-Thai transnational crimes meeting was held in Thailand from 5 to 6 July in 2006. Besides, in cooperation with the People’s Republic of China ,

Myanmar

signed an MoU and an agreement concerning narcotic drugs on 27-5-2006. On 20 October 2005 an ASEAN+China Ministerial Meeting on narcotic drugs control was held in Beijing , the PRC. At that meeting, aims and objectives of ASEAN and China Cooperative Operations in Response to Dangerous Drugs (ACCORD) were laid down. In 2006, cooperation programmes for elimination of crimes related to stimulant tablets and Myanmar is cooperating with the regional countries in the programmes.

The minister said Myanmar has been gathering ground data of illicit poppy cultivation in cooperation with UNODC. In 2004, cultivation of poppy decreased by 29 per cent compared with 2003. Poppy cultivation decreased by 26 per cent in 2005 compared with 2004 and it accounts for 73 per cent drop compared to 1996. Accordingly, the UNODC has estimated that the cultivation of poppy in the golden triangle region may come to a stop. So, all the work groups under the CCDAC are urged to work hard to realize the objective of eliminating narcotic drugs in 2014. Later, the minister explained law and notifications on measures for opium-substitute cultivation and breeding medical treatment, educative talks, rehabilitation and preventive measures.

Vice-Chairman of CCDAC, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win submitted reports on the tasks to eliminate narcotic drug in cooperation with international organizations and nations in the region.

Thereafter, Secretary of CCDAC, Director-General of MPF Brig-Gen Khin Yi presented reports on the resolutions of the special meeting (2/2004) of CCDAC and work done.

Member of CCDAC Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan gave reports on dissemination of knowledge about danger of narcotic drugs to the public and the activities of work group to give educative talks on narcotic drugs. The officials of the work groups of substitute crops cultivation and breeding reported on measures being taken.

Chairman of medical treatment work group Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo and Chairman of rehabilitation work group Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Kyaw Myint submitted reports on tasks being carried out and their progress.

Later, the officials of educative work group, international relations work group and elimination work group reported on their respective tasks.

Next, chairman of Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association U San Thein presented reports on measures being taken to eliminate narcotic drug in cooperation with international organizations and functions of the association being performed at home and U Maung Maung Soe Tint, chairman of Border Areas Development Association, on purposes, tasks and success of the association.

The director-general of MPF submitted reports on reformation of the CCDAC and work groups under CCDAC.

Minister for Health Dr Kyaw Myint, Attorney-General U Aye Maung, Chief-Justice U Aung Toe, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Maj-Gen Maung Maung Swe, Minister for Home Affairs Maj-Gen Maung Oo, the deputy ministers and departmental heads presented reports on measures to eliminate narcotic drugs.

After hearing the report, the Prime Minister gave a concluding remark, saying that in the fight against narcotic drugs harmonious efforts are being made on the basis of preventive measures, control of drug production, elimination of drug abuse and development measures. The drug problem is to be addressed in cooperation with the international community and nations in the region. In this regard, relentless and constant efforts are to be made.

As the drug problem is to be handled along with the implementation of the development measures, all are to lend themselves to the drive for drug elimination while implementing the regional development tasks in border areas.

Lt-Gen Myint Swe inspects progress in extension of Yangon International Airport

YANGON, 5 Aug — Lt-Gen Myint Swe of the Ministry of Defence inspected progress of extension works at Yangon International Airport this morning.

Accompanied by Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Brig-Gen Hla Htay Win, Lt-Gen Myint Swe heard a report on extended construction tasks at the airport building, background history of the airport, renovation tasks, progress of the project and supervision for timely completion of the tasks presented by Director-General U Tun Hlaing of the Department of Civil Aviation.

Director U Than Myint of Asia World Co also reported on matters related to extension of the airport. Project manager U Nay Lin of Asia World Co presented a report on stockpiling of construction materials and progress of tasks. Director-General U Tun Hlaing gave a supplementary report.

Next, the director-general briefed Lt-Gen Myint Swe on matters related to the runway of the airport, extension of the runway and its standard and norms.

Deputy Superintending Engineer U Kyaw Hlaing of Airport Construction Project Special Group-2 of Public Works reported to Lt-Gen Myint Swe on completion of earth work for the runway extension, placing of concrete layer at the runway and fencing tasks.

Lt-Gen Myint Swe gave instructions on enhancing the landscapes, construction of the runway meeting the set standards, installation of signal lights and effort to be made for completion of the airport building and the runway at the same time.

The extension of airport building is 832 feet in length and 206 feet in width. The airport building is being constructed with four passenger boarding bridges, five lifts, three escalators and security system. Work is well under way to complete the construction tasks in October.

The present runway of the airport is 8,100 feet long and 200 feet wide. The extension of the runway will be 3,100 feet long and 200 feet wide. On completion, the whole runway will be 11,200 feet long and 200 feet wide.

Lt-Gen Myint Swe and the commander viewed the scale model of the airport building and the sample materials to be installed at the building.

Next, Lt-Gen Myint Swe and party inspected construction and decoration of the airport building.

11 members of Shwebo Township NLD quit Have no trust in NLD and party leaders

YANGON, 5 Aug — Members of Shwebo Township National League for Democracy U Win Aung and U Kywe of Htoogyi Village of Tebin Village-tract, U Po Aye of Thanbayachan Village, U Lu Myint, U Hmay, U Kyi Aung, U Aung Khin, U Po Hsan and U Khe of Tebin Village, U Myint Wai and U Ban Min of Kyar Village of Shwebo Township, Sagaing Division, resigned from the NLD of their own accord on 19 July.

They sent the letters of resignation to the NLD Headquarters and local authorities.

In their letter sent to Shwebo Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Sub-Commission they said that they had lost interest in the NLD acts and they had no trust in the party leaders, and that was why they resigned from the NLD of their own accord.

Cement Plant project, pulp factory and brown paper factory projects inspected

NAY PYI TAW, 5 Aug — Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung, accompanied by Deputy Director-General U Soe Thiha of Geological Survey and Minerals Exploration Department and General Manager U Kyi Maung of Myanma Ceramics Industries, inspected sample limestone and limestone mine at Taungphila Hill this morning.

Myanma Ceramics Industries will build a cement plant near Tegyigon Village of Lewe Township.

At No 2 Paper Factory (Yeni) in Yeni, Bago Division, Managing Director U Nyunt Aung of Myanma Paper and Chemical Industries reported to the minister on arrangements for implementation of the pulp factory that can produce 50 tons of pulp daily, the brown paper factory that will manufacture 80 tons of brown paper daily and the 120-ton mineral salt factory.

The mineral salt factory will save caustic soda from production processes of the pulp factory and the brown paper factory.

Next, the minister inspected products at the production belt at the paper factory and functions of other units.

YANGON, 5 Aug — Yangon North District Maternal and Child Welfare Supervisory Committee clarified the plan to designate the schools as mosquito, rubbish and tobacco free ones at No 2 Basic Education High School in Mingaladon Township this morning.

Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Brig-Gen Hla Htay Win unveiled the signboards declaring mosquito, rubbish and tobacco free school.

Thereafter, the commander and wife Daw Mar Mar Wai planted Gangaw trees and observed work being done to keep the school clean.

Chairperson of Yangon Division MCWSC Daw Mar Mar Wai clarified work to be done to create healthy and hygienic environments for school children.

Later, Daw Mar Mar Wai accepted membership applications handed by Chairperson of Yangon North District MCWSC Daw Saw Shwe and sanitation equipment donated by the wellwishers. She handed over the sanitation equipment to U Yan Naing, District Education Officer.

Director-General U Aye Kyu of No 3 Basic Education Department expressed thanks for the donations.

Dr Hla Myint, head of Yangon Division Health Department, presented the educative paintings on dengue haemorrhagic fever to a teacher of the school.

YANGON, 5 Aug — Royal Gold Beauty Soap will organize the Miss Royal Gold 2006 at Crystal Jade Wedding Hall on the 10th floor of Excel Treasure Tower near Shwegondine Traffic Lights on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road in Bahan Township in September.

Contestants must be single between 18 and 25 years of age. At 9.30 am on 7 August, a personal interview will be held from 7 to 9 August, and 40 contestants will be selected for the final stage. In the final, the first, second and third prize winners and seven consolation prize winners will be selected. Interested persons may observe the contest.

The first prize winner will won K 1 million and a foreign trip, the second prize winner K 300,000 and a foreign trip, the third prize winners K 200,000 and a foreign trip, and consolation prize winners K 50,000 each and gifts.

Furthermore, prizes will be presented to best sale agents. For further information, interested persons may dial 559744.

YANGON, 5 Aug — Director-General U Than Win of Education and Training Department under the Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs attended the conclusion of advanced engineering course No 1, basic engineering course No 9, advanced domestic science training course No 11 and clerical course Nos 42 and 43 at the central training school of ETD in Dagon Myothit (North) this afternoon. On the occasion, he called for the active participation of border region development work, 24 special regions development work and rural development work and conducting of vocational courses for women of border areas.

Next, the director-general presented prizes to outstanding trainees. A total of 170 trainees attended the courses that lasted 12 weeks. After the ceremony, the director-general and officials viewed tailoring skills of the women trainees.

Coord meeting of Yangon Division Supervisory Committee for Ensuring Secure and Smooth Transport held

YANGON , 5 Aug — A coordination meeting of Yangon Division Supervisory Committee for Ensuring Secure and Smooth Transport was held at the meeting hall of Yangon Command headquarters yesterday evening with an address by Chairman of the Supervisory Committee Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Brig-Gen Hla Htay Win.

At the meeting, the commander gave necessary instructions. Those present reported on matters related to school ferries, enforcement of traffic rules, measures being taken for smooth transport and conversion of diesel and petrol engine vehicles into NGVs.

NAY PYI TAW, 5 Aug — Basic Computer (full time) Course and Computer Refresher (part time) Course (1/2006-07) of the Ministry of Forestry concluded at the hall of University of Forestry yesterday morning in Nay Pyi Taw with an address by Minister for Forestry Brig-Gen Thein Aung. Also present were directors-general, the rector, officials and the trainees.

At the ceremony, Director-General U Soe Win Hlaing of Forest Department presented completion certificates to the trainees. Altogether 60 trainees attended the courses which lasted six weeks each.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs attends Myanmar-Vietnam Political Consultations in Hanoi

NAY PYI TAW, 5 Aug — Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Thu arrived back here by air today after attending the Myanmar-Vietnam Political Consultations held in Hanoi , the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, from 1 to 4 August.

A Myanmar Delegation led by Deputy Minister U Kyaw Thu and the Vietnamese Delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mr Nguyen Phu Binh held a bilateral meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi on 1 August. At the meeting, the two sides discussed matters of mutual interest, further development of friendship, understanding and cooperation between the two countries and the peoples. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues.

On 3 August morning, Deputy Minister U Kyaw Thu called on Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Pham Gia Khiem at his office of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On 4 August, Deputy Minister U Kyaw Thu and party viewed the fish breeding farm near Ho Chi Minh City , and crocodile, python and goat breeding farms at Cu-chi near Ho Chi Minh City .

Director U Khin Maung Lynn and Assistant Director U Kyaw Soe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also arrived back on the same flight.

NAY PYI TAW, 5 Aug — The Ministry of Eduction is implementing the 30-year long-term education promotion programme of basic education sector in accord with the education calendar.

As 14-19 August has been designated as school health week, all the basic education schools across the country are to launch school health activities such as sanitation, medical checks for students, treatment, prevention against infectious diseases, school health educative talks and providing of nutritious refreshments and parents are urged to take care of the health of their children.

NAY PYI TAW, 5 Aug — A refresher course for Junior Engineer-2 (Civil) of the Public Works under the Ministry of Construction concluded at the meeting hall of the ministry in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning with an address by Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun.

It was also attended by Deputy Minister U Tint Swe, managing Director U Han Zaw of Public Works, Director-General Thura U Sein Thaung of Construction Inspection Department, heads of department, Principal U Myo Myint of Thuwunna Central Training School , course instructors and trainees.