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, Department Heads and Invited Guest.

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Statement given by the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control

Respected Chairman of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control and members, Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council and Heads of Departments, Resident Representatives from the United Nations Agencies, Diplomats and Military Attaches and Invited Guests,

On behalf of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control, I would like to appreciate your presence on this occasion, convened today.

The occasion held today is the Fifth Exhibition on Destruction of Narcotic Drugs seized by Law Enforcement Agencies. Please permit me to present two parts.

The first part deals with the international relation programme, one of the efforts taken by Myanmar in drug abuse control.

There are four types of international relationship regarding narcotic control measures in Myanmar.

The first types is dealing with the United Nations organizations such as United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), International Narcotic Control Board (INCB), United Nations Division of Narcotic Drugs (UNDND), and United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (UNCND). Apart from them, supply and demand reduction programmes are being carried out in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) and etc. The second type is bilateral co-operation with other countries. For instance, the United States, Germany and Norway had formerly offered to assist in our fight against narcotic drugs as they met satisfaction with our anti-narcotic efforts. Then, bilateral project agreements has been signed between the governments of Myanmar and United States and they had provided assistance willingly to Myanmar. The third one is co-operation with the commensurate organizations of the neighbouring countries. For example, Myanmar is collaborating with the National Narcotic Control Commission (NNCC) of the People's Republic of China, Narcotics Control Board (NCB) of Thailand, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of India which are neighbours to us. The last one is the Organizations inch as International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO), Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme (DAP) and etc.

Honourable and Invited Guests,

After signing the 5-year project agreements with UNDCP for three phases since 1976, the UNDCP provided assistance in law enforcement, income substitution, -- crop substitution and livestock breeding, -- medical treatment, rehabilitation, education and information activates. The third phase began in 1986 and lasted in June 1991.

But, UNDCP has extended the term of third phase up to the end of December 1991. During the 15 years project period, UNDCP has contributed assistance of materials and expertise at the slue of 22.5 million US dollars and Myanmar has put 201.79 million kyats in the project. It is also intended to continue fourth phase project with UNDCP.

Honourable and Invited Guests,

I am going to present our relationship with the United States of America, one of the countries which met satisfaction With our drug control efforts and gave support. The United States, giving full contentment to our endeavours in drug abuse control, had offered to provide aids to us. Then, the bilateral project agreement had been signed between the governments of Myanmar and United States. Under the agreement, United States had allocated funds for Myanmar from 1974 to 1988 A total of 86.6 million US dollars had been assisted during the project period. The funds allocated were utilized in requisition of aircrafts, and helicopters for transportation, THRUSH aircrafts, herbicides and spare parts for aerial spraying telecommunication equipment, vehicles and motorcycles for five Task Force units and in abroad training facilities for pilots and law enforcement officers.

Honourable and Invited Guests,

In the fight against narcotic drugs, 109 Tatmadaw(Armed Forces) men had been sacrificed for the country and the other 572 had been wounded despite United States had assisted 86.6 million US dollars worth materials and expertise. These can be vividly seen in the records of anti-narcotic measures in Myanmar.

Actually, we have lost the blood and lives of our comrades, inspire of only material assistance by United States. Their opinions on our endeavours in combating narcotic problem were recorded in our files. Among them, the opinion given by Mr. Charles B. Rangel, Senator and leader of the United States delegation to Myanmar on 20 January 1988 revealed as follows;

"Myanmar's fight against narcotic drugs as operational basis is a war not for the people in Myanmar and United States but for the international community. We appreciate Myanmar's anti-drug activities and the international community should take lessons on it and regard Myanmar as model country. Please pay our regards to the relatives of Tatmadawmen who have lost their lives in launching drug enforcement campaign and we also regret as they suffer."

Honourable and Invited Guests,

Please consider why they misunderstand today on our intensive drug control measures, carried out on self-help basis without depending on others though the Senator praised our efforts during his visit to Myanmar on 20 January 1988.

Honourable and Invited Guests,

It is required to control demand to narcotic drugs in the consuming States, instead of pointing out the producing countries. If there is no consumer, will there be no producer. Another thing to consider is who are really traffickers, at which airport and sea port a hundred pounds of narcotic drugs are seized.

Honourable and Invited Guests,

Discussion has been made to co-operate with the neighboring countries in reducing supply and demand to narcotic drugs. In near future, project documents will be signed between Myanmar and her good neighbours such as People's republic of China and Thailand. Necessary assistance will also be provided by UNDCP. We have plan to join hands with the other neighbours in future.

Honourable and Invited Guests,

Regarding international relation in drug abuse control, Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council has included in his address (delivered on 14 December 1991) as follows:

"Instead of making accusations against each other, they should co-operate in Myanmar's fight against drugs, if they really wish to see the eradication of drugs. If they are sincere, have genuine cetana (good will) towards Myanmar, are willing to co-operate with it, Myanmar is also ready to reciprocate. The fight against drugs will be more effective."

This is the policy to follow in carrying out international relationship of drug control programmes. I am presenting the second part dealt with the narcotic drugs to be destroyed today.

The destruction of poppy fields, refineries and narcotic drugs in Shan State had been held for six times - 3 times each of destroying poppy fields and refineries, narcotic drugs. They are valued at 9,238.5 million US dollars.

This is the Fifth time in Yangon and narcotic drugs to be destroyed today are:

Heroin 109,716 kilograms

Opium Oil 7,806 kilograms

Liquid Opium 0,687 kilograms

Marijuana 419,811 kilograms

Phensedyl 7,085,250 litres

Corex 39,780 litres

Glycodine 8,050 litres

The value is over 278.5 million US dollars, The total value of narcotic drugs p to fifth destruction is over 1,789 million US dollars.

The total destruction, therefore, carried out in Myanmar is 11 times - 6 in Shan State and five in Yangon and the drugs are valued at 11,027.5 million US dollars.

In conclusion, as stated in the motto which reflects the Myanmar's drug abuse Control programme, "Let's Join Hands in the Fight against Narcotic Drugs - the Menace f Mankind," I would like to urge to co-operate and co-ordinate each other in this matter.

Thank You.

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