The New Light of Myanmar (Wednesday, 27 June , 2001)(1/2)
Okkar66126
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1. Drug Elimination Musrum vividly illustrates Myanmar's
firm national resolve to totally eliminate narcotic drugs
2. Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt inspects finishing touches
of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Image
3. Secretary-1 presents prizes to winners in literature,
music, painting and cartoon competitions to mark Anti-Drug
Abuse Day
4. Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint attends first four-monthly
meeting of Ministry of Commerce
5. Myanmar Women's Day coordinated
6. - Minister inspects new Boeing 737-300 for MAI
- Minister inspects mineral exploitation in
Shan State (South)
7. - Yangon Division Police Force meets
- Wheel-chair race for disabled held to mark Olympic Day
8. - Modern banking services of MMB explained in Taunggyi
- Exercise books donated to Ministry of Defence
9. - 410,000 stimulant pills seized in Kengtung
- Drug traffickers get 15 years each
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( 1 ) Drug Elimination Musrum vividly illustrates Myanmar's firm national
resolve to totally eliminate narcotic drugs
The Museum will go down in history as concrete landmark reflecting national
efforts to combat narcoticdrugs
Yangon, 26 June - A ceremony to open the Drug Elimination Museum in Kamayut
Township was held this morning at the museum, hailing the International Day
Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The museum was built in accord with
the guidance of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe to enable the
entire people to understand the danger of narcotic drugs which is a menace to
entire mankind and to enable them to stay away from the drugs and the world
nations to know the true endeavours of Myanmar to wipe out the drugs throughout
the successive eras.
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt
delivered an address.
He said: I would like to greet you by wishing all of you good health and
well-being and wishing that all of you may be able to bring about the total
elimination of the scourge of narcotic drugs from the earth by performing the
duty assigned to you in implementing this noble task. First of all, I would
like to proclaim that today is a red-letter day for the country as well as for
the entire people of Myanmar as this grandiose and very elegant Drug
Elimination Museum, which the entire nation is proud of, has been successfully
constructed and has been ceremoniously opened.
It is all the more significant since this auspicious and unique ceremony
coincides with the commemoration of the International Day Against Narcotic Drug
Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. It is our sincere belief that this auspicious
event will also benefit the entire mankind. This Drug Elimination Museum will
go down in history as a concrete landmark which will truly reflect the history
of Myanmar's concerted national efforts to combat narcotic drugs under the
correct leadership of Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council and through the co-operation among the Government, the
leaders of the national races, the entire people, the Central Committee for
Drug Abuse Control and its task forces.
Moreover, the Museum will record faithfully and show vividly how opium and
opium cultivation was introduced into the nation by colonialists, how the acts
of unscrupulous elements who, with political motives, exacerbated the situation
and how, under the guidance of the successive Governments, the people of
Myanmar has been fighting continuously with a view to permanently eradicating
the dark shadow of narcotic drugs with great sacrifice including loss of life
and limb. All these historical facts will be preserved in the exhibits in the
Museum. In particular, with the re-establishment of peace and national
reconsolidation in the country, which constitute the historic achievement of
the State Peace and Development Council, the positive conditions for the
eradication of narcotic drugs that has resulted from the concerted efforts of
the Government, leaders of the national races and the local populace have now
been recorded in this Museum.
If we look back at the history of Myanmar's narcotic drugs problem, there are
concrete evidences that opium poppy cultivation was introduced by the
colonialists to groups of honest and simple-minded national races living in
remote corners of the country while Myanmar was under the colonial rule.
Introduction of opium to East Asia, including Myanmar, is indeed a dark page in
the history of mankind and it is an undeniable historical truth that our people
as well as the people of the world have been suffering bitterly from this
problem.
The Opium Wars clearly demonstrated that narcotic drugs were used as a
powerful weapon during the colonial rule for nefarious motives. After the
independence of Myanmar, the unscrupulous elements attempted to prolong the
twin legacies of the colonialism internal armed insurgency and cultivation and
production of opium while providing encouragement to external intervention.
Sub-sequently, poppy cultivation evolved into the production of more
sophisticated narcotic drugs such as heroin. The proof of these undeniable
historical facts can be seen in the Museum's exhibits.
The endeavours of the successive governments from ancient Myanmar Kings to the
present government to combat the scourge of narcotic drugs as a national
responsibility throughout history can be also found in this Museum. It will be
recalled that lots of members of the Tatmadaw (Armed Forces) have sacrificed
their lives during the military operations such as Sinbyushin, Yan Gyi Aung;
Bayint Naung; Mekong; Mohein as well as during the operations launched by the
present Tatmadaw Government in the whole of Shan State and remote border areas
for the benefit of mankind. Thousands also lost their eyes and limbs.
Under the operations Melone; Paukpan; Hninpan, Taunghtaitpan, HaymaOo,
Ngayepan, poppy fields were destroyed. More-over, significant number of poppy
fields were destroyed by aerial spraying during operation Taungyanshin. At
present, narcotics suppression efforts are being implemented together with the
endeavours for uplifting of the living standards of the national races in the
border areas as well as educating and persuading the national races so that
they will whole-heartedly cooperate and participate in the elimination of poppy
cultivation. As can be seen, great achievement has been accomplished in these
endeavours. Regrettably, the achievements made through the active participation
of the leaders of the national races and the populace of the regions under the
leadership of the Government to achieve the development of the regions and to
eliminate poppy cultivation have been ignored and the Myanmar people were
subjected continuously to various unfounded allegations over the last decade.
The drug problem in Myanmar is indeed a very complex and delicate issue since
it is linked not only to the political, social and
economic aspects of the nation but it also involves the sincere national races
in border areas which lagged behind in development. Therefore, the problem must
necessarily be tackled with patience and understanding and will necessitate a
certain amount of time, given the complexity of the issue. Furthermore,
elimination of drugs in Myanmar is not only connected with peace and national
unity of the country but also with regional development and upgrading of
education, health and social life of the national races.
The whole-hearted cooperation of the local populace can be further enhanced
only when regional development and economic prosperity is accompanied by higher
education and health standards resulting in the development of knowledge and
correct outlook of the national races. Because the Government and national
races leaders fully appreciate this fact, they are making tireless efforts for
the development of the border areas and the national races by creating
favorable conditions for development, such as roads, bridges, dams and
reservoirs, and projects for energy and communications; for economic progress
through crop-substitution, livestock breeding and economic development plans;
and for social development through improvement of education, health care and
information foundations of the people.
At the same time, special emphasis is devoted in these efforts on the
strengthening of national solidarity. As efforts for the elimination of
narcotic drugs is being implemented in parallel with endeavours for
development, the national races now have faith and confidence in the goodwill
of the Government and are now actively participating not only in development
works of their respective regions but also in the fight against drugs.
As a concrete result of these cooperative efforts, Mong La region in eastern
Shan State was successfully declared as opium-free zone in April 1997. The
positive repercussions of this achievement are also felt by Kokang and Wa
regions. Consequently, the leaders of national groups together with local
people are enthusiastically taking part in efforts for total eradication of
opium production in their respective regions by the year 2005.
As a result, series of crop-substitution economic measures are now being
undertaken in these regions. With the conscious cooperation of the nation
races, it has become more and more evident that the prospects for attaining the
objective of eliminating narcotic drugs will be enhanced if the State is able
to provide the necessary inputs to these regions adequately. Therefore, in
accordance with the guidance given by the Chairman of State Peace and
Development Council Senior General Than Shwe, the decision was made to
implement a 1999-2000 to 2013-2014 15-year master plan for total elimination of
narcotic drugs, relying mainly on our own resources.
The 15-year master plan consists of five working methodologies, namely,
eradication of drug production, demand reduction, enforcement, mobilization of
people's participation and international cooperation. The drug menace is not
only a problem specific to any single country. Nor can it be solved by efforts
of any single nation. Moreover, neither can it be solved by a country being
isolated or denied cooperation. The events in the world have already
demonstrated that it cannot be solved by pointing fingers or making allegations
against an individual or a nation. Therefore, I wish to sincerely state that it
is high time for all nations of the world to cooperate with mutual
understanding to find a solution to this problem.
For its part, the Union of Myanmar, with or without the international
community's assistance, is firmly resolved to strive with our own resources for
the total elimination of drugs in the country within 15 years. Additionally,
Myanmar, being a member of the family of nations, will continue to cooperate
with the United Nations organizations, countries in the region, ASEAN member
countries as well as those countries that have constructive stance toward
Myanmar in combating this menace to mankind.
At the same time, I wish to say that the assistance and cooperation of friendly
countries and the United Nations organizations will certainly speed up the
momentum of Myanmar's efforts in eliminating narcotic drugs. Today's grand
opening of the Drug Elimination Museum has vividly illustrated our firm
national resolve to totally eliminate narcotic drugs. The Drug Elimination
Museum will always stand as a record and a reminder to the succeeding
generations of youth the true historical events of how the national races,
imbued with the spirit of national unity and the Union Spirit, had fought
against narcotic drugs which is the common enemy of all national races.
The Museum was constructed at a total cost of over 820 million Kyats, of which
514 million Kyats was contributed by the State as capital, 207 million Kyats by
various ministries and the Yangon City Development Committee, and 100 million
Kyats by the well-wishers from the public. This priceless historical landmark
which is also a source of national pride would not have been possible without
the support and assistance of various ministries and the contribution and
valuable advice and services of the artists and sculptors, Myanmar
handicraftsmen, and experts from social organizations.
In conclusion; he said:
- On behalf of the Government of the Union of Myanmar, I wish to place on
record and express our sincere appreciation for the physical and intellectual
inputs made by departmental personnel concerned, technicians, well-wishers from
social organizations, artists, sculptors, craftsmen, traditional artistic
craftsmen, as well as to those who have given financial, modern electronic
equipment and technical support and assistance to make the opening of this
historical Drug Elimination Museum possible;
- Moreover, it is our hope that the display of booths and showrooms of the Drug
Elimination Museum will enhance the correct outlook, thinking and awareness
among the Myanmar youth; and
- In closing, I wish to re-affirm our commitment that, in accordance with the
aims and objectives of this Museum, the people of the Union of Myanmar will
eradicate narcotic drugs as a national undertaking under the leadership of the
Government to free the entire mankind from the narcotic drugs menace.
Also present were Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen
Win Myint, State Peace and Development Council Member Yangon Division Peace and
Development Council Chairman Yangon Command Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than,
Deputy Prime Ministers Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin and Lt-Gen Tin Tun,
ministers, members of Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control, the Chief
Justice, the Attorney-General, the Chairman of Civil Service Selection and
Training Board, the Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee the Mayor,
senior officers of the Ministry of Defence, deputy ministers, the Vice-Mayor,
officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of
department, the secretary of CCDAC and the Work Committee members, ambassadors,
charge d' affaires, military attaches and diplomats of foreign missions in
Myanmar, officials of the UN agencies, local and foreign journalists, heads of
department of the Ministry of Home Affairs, senior police officers, local
authorities, members of Myanmar War Veterans Organization (Yangon Division),
Myanmar Language Commission, Myanmar Historical Commission, Union Solidarity
and Development Association, Myanmar National Working Committee for Women's
Affairs, Myanmar Red Cross Society, Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare
Association, Myanmar Women's Entrepreneurs Association, Myanmar Writers and
Journalist Association, Myanmar Thabin Asiayon, Myanmar Music Asiayon, Myanmar
Motion Picture Asiayon, Myanmar Artists and Artisans Asiayon, Myanmar
Anti-Narcotics Association and Myanmar Border Areas Development Association,
officials of No 3 Basic Education Department, township education officers,
school heads, teachers and students of Kamayut, Kyimyindine and Sangyoung
townships in Yangon West District, members of Red Cross and Auxiliary Fire
Brigades, students of Institute of Nursing, donors of the museum project and
guests. Artistes and school boys and girls staged songs and dances before the
start of the ceremony.
The Secretary-1 unveiled the plaque of the museum. Chairman of CCDAC Minister
for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Vice-Chairman Minister for Foreign Affairs U
Win Aung and member Minister at the Prime Minister's Office U Tin Win formally
opened the museum. Minister Col Tin Hlaing presented commemorative gifts to
Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint. The Secretary-1
and party then visited the museum.
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Ambassador of Laos Mr Ly
Bounkham and diplomats signed in the visitor's book. In booth 1 on the ground
floor, .gem-studded painting of Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and
guidance on anti-drugs, oil painting of Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services General Maung
Aye meeting with national races leaders on his inspection tour in Kokang
region, oil painting of opening of Namting Bridge linking Wa and Kokang regions
by Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, oil painting of the Secretary-1 signing in
visitors book at the opening of Laukkai Drug Elimination Museum in Kokang
regions and oil painting of Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint meeting with Wa
national races leaders on his inspection tour in Wa region were put on display.
The world map and the maps showing the trafficking routes of heroin, marijuana
and Cocaine were displayed in booth-2. In booth 3, the map showing how opium
entered Myanmar and poppy were put on display.
In booth 4, narcotic drugs control in the time of Myanmar kings and
announcement on narcotic drugs by King Padon were displayed. Documentary photos
on loss of lives due to the abuse of narcotic drugs put on display in booth 5.
In booth 6, documentary photos on Kuomintang's intrusion into Myanmar and
their movement, evidences and clarifications were shown. Pictures of withdrawal
of Kuomintang forces and plane crash of Lieutenant Peter were displayed in
booth 7 and anti-drugs endeavours from 1948 to 1962 after gaining independence
in the booth-8 and anti-drugs endeavours from 1962 to 1974. In booth 9
anti-drugs endeavours from 1974 to 1988, seizures of opium refinery by the
Tatmadaw, precursors, painting of Ngayepan and Taungyanshin Operations, photos
and news reports of Ngayepan Operations from 1 to 8, historic photos of Senior
General Than Shwe's activities in Moe Hein Operation Phase-6, historic photos
of the Secretary-1's activities in Moe Hein Operation Phase-8, documentary
photos and news reports of Moe Hein Operation Phase from 1 to 12, painting of
Moe Hein Operation, Senior General Than Shwe's activities in Moe Hein Operation
Phase-6, documentary photos of Sisiwan Tarpan battle and engagements and
operations in Monkyut region and Barkyan region were displayed.
On the first floor of the museum, painting of endeavours of drugs elimination
in Myanmar was displayed. In booth 2 formation of Central Committee for Drugs
Abuse Control, organizational set-up and functions were put on displayed, in
booth 3 policies on narcotic drugs, in booth 4 return to the legal fold of
armed groups, their locations and lists of armed groups that returned to the
legal fold, in booth 5 development in Kokang region, in booth 6 documentary
photos of armed groups that returned to the legal fold, in booth 7, enacting of
law on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotrophic Substances, crime and punishment, law
books, notification on narcotic drugs. The booth-8 displays about the salient
points of special anti-narcotic squads; the booth-9, the portraits of the
Secretary-1 and ethnic leaders destroying poppy fields; the booth-10, the map
of Wa region and poppy substitution crop cultivation; the booth-11, the
definition of the stimulant pills, types, raw materials, trafficking routes and
their danger; the booth-12, the destruction of seized drugs; the booth-13, the
map of Golden Triangle region; the booth-14, Myanmar's international relations
and signing of MoUs in eliminating the drugs; the booth-15, the Myanmar-US
joint opium yield survey; the booth-16, the map of Mongla region; and the
booth-17, the different phases of the 15-year drug elimination project. The
second floor houses booths displaying the substitute crop cultivation and
farming, border areas development activities, treatment of drug addicts, drug
rehabilitation tasks, drug education programmes, cooperations with global
nations and organizations and the activities of MNA.
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( 2 ) Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt inspects finishing touches of Lawka Chantha
Abhaya Labha Muni Image
Yangon, 26 June- Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen
Khin Nyunt arrived at Mindhamma Hill where Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni
Image is being kept in Insein Township at 6 pm today. The Secretary-1 was
welcomed by Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin, Deputy Minister
Brig-Gen Thura Aung Ko, Deputy Minister for Science and Technology U Nyi Hla
Nge, technicians and members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees. First,
Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt paid homage to Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni
Image.
Then, the Secretary-1 inspected finishing touches of Lawka Chantha Abhaya
Labha Muni Image, sample of lamp-post and blue-print for construction of Hmam
Kyaungsaungdaw. Officials conducted the Secretary-1 round the project site. The
Secretary-1 also inspected sample of Shwezawa Yun (Golden lacquerware) to be
installed at Gandakyuti Kyaungdawgyi. Myanmar handicraft technician U Ohn Tin
explained the progress of work. Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt then inspected
construction of the southern stairway, installation of Myanma handicraft at
stairways, greening of Mindhamma Hill and plantation of Dekkhina Sakha Bo tree.
Then, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended to their needs and left there in
the evening..
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to be continued...