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

Esteemed Chairman of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control, the 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, local and foreign media personnel, and distinguished guests,

Thank you all for your presence at this Third Destruction of Narcotic Drugs seized by Law Enforcement Agencies.

In the first portion, I would like to present the policy concerning border areas here opium is mainly grown and produced, out of the policies followed in preventing the threat of narcotic drugs in Myanmar today.

The policy is "to strive for gradually reducing production of narcotic drugs id finally putting to an end totally to production of narcotic drugs while implementing development projects for national races in the areas concerned."

Accordingly, the State Law and Order Restoration Council has formed the central Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races and the Work committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races and taken measures.

The State has spent millions of kyats on agriculture, livestock breeding, road links, housing and establishment of new towns, transport, trade and cooperatives, health, location, mineral exploration, power supply and so on in Kokang and Wa regions in Southern Shan State, Kengtung and Mawpha regions in eastern Shan State and northern regions of Kachin State. As such, success has been achieved in realizing the objective putting to an end to narcotic drug production through development of border areas and national races.

Realization of this objective in turn contributes toward mobilizing conscientious participation of national races in the fight against narcotic drugs.

All of you may have heard of news that two refineries engaged in production heroin, opium and morphine used for the purpose, heroin, chemicals and paraphernalia with a street price in the United States of America of over US $ 500 million were put torch by local leaders near Laukkai village in Kokang region in northern Shan State on 22 November.

Distinguished guests,

The Shweli Valley, home to Shan, Kachin, Palaung and Lihsu national races; Kokang region of Kokang nationals and Wa region of Wa nationals in north-cast of Myanmar are regions bordering the neighbouring country. They are strategic areas which have safeguarded at the cost of many lives.

Without even recalling aggressive wars of many years past, if we study the 1st war which started on 1 January 1968 of No 45 Myanmar Regiment in the northeast of the country, we will notice the political, military and strategic objectives of the Ba Ka Pa (BCP) (Burmese Communist Party) calling for establishment of Red Power area from Shweli Valley to e Bago Yoma, then throughout the country by organizing national races, arming the recruits, and creating liberated areas.

In accord with these objectives, they perpetrated military engagements of high intensity among the national races. In the process they occupied Shweli Valley (Muse, Namhkam, Momeik) at first, Kokang region on the east of the Thanlwin River in the second stage, Wa region on the east of the Thanlwin River in the third stage. They armed the national races and set up battalions No 303, 404, 505 and so on.

In the military engagements lasting more than two decades, good sons of the nation died, in other words they sacrificed their dear lives for the motherland they loved inch. Many families of national races were disrupted with the loss of their sons and husbands. Towns and villages were deprived of peace and pleasant atmosphere. Transport and communication links were cut off. Uneducated youths were subjected to death, starvation and suppression. Finally, they were addicted to heroin. National unity too was jeopardized.

The atmosphere which reverberated with songs and music of national races in the past was replaced by the sound of exploding bombs and gunfire and stench of carbide and blood.

Starting front the late 1970, BCP (Burmese Communist Party) insurgents began to force the local national races to grow opium poppy, establish refineries and produce heroin on a large scale. In addition to waging a genocidal war among national races and heroin war against the entire human race, they victimized the national races in that war.

Out of the total population of nearly 100,000 in Kokang area, 75 per cent re said to have grown opium poppy and nearly 3,000 are addicted.

Similarly, in Shweli Valley in Wa region and Kengtung region, production and distribution of drugs has increased because of BCP (Burmese Communist Party).

Distinguished guests,

As national races could no longer tolerate the BCP (Burmese Communist Party), they have left them after and implemented regional development projects in cooperation with the Government.

In connection with Kokang region, leader of the region U Phon Kya Shin said:

In connection with combating narcotic drugs, he said:

• The reasons, he said, were because of the encouragement of Maj-Gen Khin Nyunt, to counter false allegations of foreign radio and publications, because of grave condition of youths addicted to drugs in their region and out of grave concern felt after realizing the fact that the ignoble business has brought dishonour to the nation and affected the local populace adversely.

Distinguished guests,

Evidence hits been produced today that some nations, some foreign broadcasting stations and some publications are leveling false accusations in connection with anti-drug measures taken by Myanmar in order to cover up chaotic conditions of the drug problem in their own countries.

Truth has prevailed now. They said we are growing opium poppy and producing thousands of kilos of drugs. But I would like to ask them will they not mention transactions at their airports, ports and on the streets involving tens of thousands of tons of heroin conducted in collaboration with the authorities.

Distinguished guests,

Our study team has recently visited the Golden Triangle area bordering Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. The place hits been incorrectly cited as the largest opium producing area in the world. Pointing fingers at our side, they said those were the hills where opium poppy was grown and the area produced the largest amount of drugs. But such people are like a human parasite keeping close to an elephant to share sugarcane fed to the animal. In fact they have built hotels, baths, massage parlors and stores. They are earning foreign exchange after opening these facilities with proceeds realized from the products on our side. Not much opium poppy is grown in the Golden Triangle area. We will take you there at a convenient time.

Distinguished guests,

Our country has been taking anti-drug measures steadfastly as a national duty. Myanmar has also sent representatives to meetings on drugs sponsored by the United Nations. It has followed the principles, discipline and procedures that conform to State policies being practiced.

Myanmar became a party to the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs. It has discussed and coordinated cooperation among neighbours in the subregion with China and Thailand at the first meeting held recently. That will soon materialize.

Resident Representative Mr Gerd Merrem of the UN Development Programme discussed measures taken by our country as such:

He said regarding destruction of opium refineries and narcotic drugs all should take note of possible number of people to be victimized by the amount of drugs destroyed at Laukkai in Kokang region rather than the value of drugs.

Kokang nationals were found to have destroyed the drugs conscientiously and fervently.

He heard thanks expressed for UNDCP (United Nations International Drug Control Programme) assistance in seeds, livestock and medicine for livestock in Myanmar Government's implementation of crop substitution project as agriculture, livestock and regional development. In fact, UN agencies and governments of the world need to extend help in anti-drug measures.

Resident Representative in Yangon of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration Mr Angelo M Saladino discussed as follows:

Successful destruction of opium refineries and drugs at Laukkai in region on 22 November without any bloodshed was an example of Myanmar Government's achievement in its fight against narcotic drugs. Moreover, it could also be seen as proof that the Government of the State Law and Order Restoration Council has achieved success in its objective of cooperation with organizations of local national races.

He would report to the headquarters of the Drug Enforcement Administration in the United States these measures taken by Myanmar. He also said he would inform the headquarters of Myanmar's sincere efforts in its anti-drug measures.

He expressed delight for the success achieved in projects for the development of border areas and national races there.

Next, senior officer (inspection) of the UNDCP Mr Hans Urich Hugo spoke. He said: he was pleased to witness parallel efforts of Myanmar Government in taking anti-drug measures and making arrangements for opium substitute crops for opium poppy growers.

He would inform all the nations which donate funds for anti-drug projects authentic news about anti-drug measures taken in Myanmar.

Moreover, he said he would report authentic news on Myanmar's fight against the danger of narcotic drugs to the authorities of UNDCP and urge them to extend aid for anti-drug measures.

Officials of the UN and the American Drug Enforcement Administration have us made their objective assessment of prevailing conditions in our country.

Hence, this will serve as firm evidence that malicious allegations of some foreign broadcasting stations and publications against Myanmar are totally false.

As the second portion, I will now present narcotic drugs destroyed.

The first destruction took place here also on 13 February 1990. Over US $ 418 million worth of drugs were destroyed and they included 209.066 kilos of heroin, 14.832 kilos of opium oil, 2.391 kilos of liquid opium and 54.40 kilos of Phensedyl.

At the second destruction, narcotic drugs worth US $ 503.91 million were destroyed on 30 April 1990. They included 251.402 kilos of heroin, 10.389 kilos of opium oil, 16.720 kilos of liquid opium, 826.839 kilos of marijuana and 5,292.500 litres of Phensedyl.

Under special arrangement, local nationals, in cooperation with us, destroyed two opium refineries, paraphernalia, chemicals and narcotic drugs worth US $ 500.12 million near Laukkai village in Kokang region on 22 November. They were 110 kilos of heroin, 147 kilos of morphine, 97.98 kilos of opium, buildings, medicines and 36 kinds of paraphernalia.

At the present third destruction, narcotic drugs worth US $ 398.768 million were destroyed. They included 165.300 kilos of heroin, 11.521 kilos of opium oil, 86.661 kilos of liquid opium, 1,190.464 kilos of marijuana and 5,601.00 litres of Phensedyl.

Altogether narcotic drugs worth US $ 1,820.824 million were destroyed at first, second and third destructions and at Laukkai in Kokang region. The amount of drugs destroyed were: