Participants:

Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council and members, Resident Representatives of UN agencies, Diplomats and Military Attaches, Representatives of the UN Drug Control Programme and PRC Drug Control Division, Foreign Media Personnel, Local Media Personnel, Other Guests

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Explanations made by the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control

Chairman of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control Secretary (1) and Members of the State Law and Order Restoration Council, Your Excellencies and distinguished guests,

I would like to express my profound gratitude to all honourable guests who spare the time to attend the Second Exhibition on Destruction of Narcotic Drugs seized by Law Enforcement Agencies today.

We usually release news regarding drug abuse control in Myanmar Naingnan to the local and foreign journalists and diplomats in our country, in order to carry out media of narcotic drugs are also being featured in the daily newspapers. Despite these efforts by us in the light against the danger of narcotic drugs, it is regrettable that only a small number of countries have covered the true information relating to our endeavours in combating narcotic drugs. For instance, we have destroyed over four hundred million US dollars worth of narcotic drugs by fire on 13 February 1990, at this same place. On that occasion local and foreign journalists and diplomats were present. They not only identified the narcotic drugs, to be destroyed to their satisfaction, but also took photographs and recorded on video tapes. But, we are astonished to hear that some drug enforcement authorities in certain countries have not even heard of convening such a significant ceremony in Myanmar.

I also wish to point out the allegations against us are that we are taking no action to tackle the problem of' drug abuse and are even negotiating with the insurgent in the cultivation of poppy plants. In this regard, may I seriously say that these are really mere exaggerations.

Please permit me to present to you today, two main things -- one is related to our efforts in wiping out drug menace and the other concerns with the destruction of narcotic drugs by fire seized by law enforcement agencies.

Manual destruction of poppy fields had been carried out from 1975 to 1988, by launching operations such as melon, Hnin-pan, Pauk-pait, Taung-hteik pan, Hay-man-oo, Nag-ye-pan etc., eradicating over 130 thousand acres of poppy fields.

Aerial spraying on the poppy fields was introduced in 1985-86 poppy growing season and continued up to 1987-88 season, resulting destruction of over 70 thousand acres of narcotic producing plants, on an operational basis. Thus a total of over 200 thousand acres have been destroyed by both methods - manual destruction and aerial spraying, reducing over 910 tons of opium, (if refined, 91 tons of heroin which could be produced from the destroyed acreage.

Likewise, Tatmadaw (Armed forces) has launched operation Moe-hein from phase I to phase XII against the insurgents in the border areas, to destroy he clandestine laboratories run by them. During the period from 1975 to 1988. varieties of narcotic drugs, paraphernalia, chemicals, arms and ammunition were seized from the insurgents in Moe-hein operations. The results in every phase have been shown to the diplomats, military attaches, personnel from the United Nations organs and journalists who are invited to the operation areas by the respective authorities.

In 1988, after the disturbances in 'the country, Tatmadaw (Armed forces) is implementing the four main tasks to reconstruct the State. That's why, though major operations to destroy poppy plants, refineries -- in the names of Nga-ye-pan, Taung-yan-shinn, Moe-hein etc., -- could not be launched poppy fields have been destroyed by regional operations whenever situation permits us. In 1988-89 season, we have destroyed over one hundred acres of poppy fields and over 300 thousand marijuana plants. These have also been released to the news media by the authorities.

Plans for Ye-min-aung operation have been drawn up and implemented to take drastic action against the trafficking in and out of the country in early 1989. Formerly we have established five anti-narcotic Task Forces. Then, we have extended to 14 Task Forces to combat narcotic drugs effectively in co-operation with local populace, Tatmadawmen and members of the local People's Police Force. During the operation Ye-min-aung, from phase I to phase IV, over 70 kilograms of heroin, over 400 kilograms of opium, 60 kilograms of marijuana and over 2,300 litres of Phensedyl have been seized. Likewise, People's Police Force in States and Divisions has made seizures of over 97 kilograms of heroin, over 700 kilograms of opium, over 20 thousand kilograms of marijuana and over two thousand kilograms of phensedyl during the period from 18 September 1988 to 23 April 1990. Tatmadaw (Armed forces) has also seized over 582 kilograms of opium, over 31 kilograms of heroin, over four kilograms of marijuana and over 54 litres of Phensedyl. On reviewing these statistics, it is clear that Ye-min-aung Plan is effective in the fight against internal trafficking, although major operations could not be launched in the border areas.

Continuous action is being taken to solve the drug problem as our national duty. In this regard, the narcotic drugs can not be eliminated, by the efforts of the producing countries only. Transit States and consuming countries are also responsible to wipe out the drug menace. They should cooperate with each other in this matter.

The 11th Special Session of United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs held in Vienna in the last week of January, the 17th Special Session on Narcotic Drugs of United Nations General Assembly held in New York in February and World Ministerial Summit to reduce the demand for drugs and to combat the cocaine threat, recently held in London have passed concrete resolution calling for international, regional and sub-regional co-operation in the endeavours to curb the danger of narcotic drugs and elaboration of the International Convention on Demand Reduction by the United Nations.

In line with this resolution, the leader of Myanmar delegation to the 17th Special Session on Narcotic Drugs of United Nations General Assembly had included in his presentation the Myanmar's trend towards the co-operation with neighbouring countries.

As the second part, I would like to present the destruction of narcotic drugs by fire.

Destruction of narcotic drugs seized by law enforcement agencies was first held on 13 February 1990 at this same place. I wish to mention that the drugs destroyed by fire on that occasion were 209.066 kilograms of heroin, 14.832 kilograms of opium oil, 2.391 kilograms of liquid opium and 54.4 kilograms of Phensedyl at the value of over 418 million of US dollars.

I have mentioned in my statement at the previous ceremony on destruction of narcotic drugs that after the trial of drug-related cases, when the narcotic drugs which are exhibits of the cases are deposited to the Criminal Investigation Department, such ceremony will be convened again.

As stated above, the second destruction of seized narcotic drugs becomes to hold today.

The narcotic drugs to be destroyed today for second time are 251.402 kilograms of heroin, 10.389 kilograms of liquid opium, 826.839 kilograms of marijuana and 5,292.5 litres of Phensedyl (over 40 thousand bottles). Its value is over 503 million US dollars. Heroin is calculated with the price of two million per kilogram.

In future also, such exhibition on destructions of narcotic drugs seized by law enforcement agencies will be held whenever the opportunity arises.

The value of narcotic drugs destroyed by fire for two times is US$ 921,936,340 (nine hundred and twenty one million, nine hundred and thirty six thousand and three hundred and forty).

May I invite the distinguished guests to make on-the-spot tests on the seized narcotic drugs including heroin for their authenticity. In conclusion may I invite you to raise any question concerning my presentation.

Thank you.

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