[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
Statement at the Opening Ceremony
- Subject: Statement at the Opening Ceremony
- From: OKKAR66127@xxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 04:00:00
Subject: Statement at the Opening Ceremony of the Museum on Drugs (1/2)
Statement made by Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt Secretary (1) of
the State Law and Order Restoration Council at the
Opening Ceremony of the Museum on Narcotic Drugs
held to Commemorate the total eradication of narcotic
drugs in Maingla (23-4-97) (part-1)
At the outset, I wish to extend my warm
greetings and best wishes on the occasion of the
auspicious Myanmar New Year to the Ministers,
Departmental Heads, Representatives from UN Agencies,
Diplomats and Military Attaches, specially invited guests
from neighbouring countries, domestic and foreign media
persons, leaders of various groups of the national races
and local brethren living in the region, present here today
to attend the ceremony making the total eradication of
narcotic drugs in Maingla region in Eastern Shan State
and the opening of the Museum on narcotic drugs held
to commemorate this significant event.
Today we take much pleasure and pride in
declaring that Maingla region in Eastern Shan State has
been totally eradicated of narcotic drugs. It is an auspicious
day symbolising pride and honour for the State. Today's
ceremony clearly reflects the successful cooperation
between the Government and the local inhabitants. At
the same time, it manifests that the Government and the
people of Myanmar are fighting the scourge of narcotic
drugs not with empty words but in practical terms with
full of zeal and enthusiasm.
The cultivation of poppy and production and
use of opium were introduced when Myanmar fell under
the colonialists. The colonialists sanctioned the local
people to legally cultivate poppy in some regions of Shan
and Kachin States. They also permitted legal trading of
opium in order to collect revenue. Opium dens were
permitted to open upon payment of taxes and opium
consumers were legally allowed under registration to use
opium.
The poppy cultivated in the east of Thanlwin
river in the Shan State was transported and sold by the
colonial government. Over 200 opium dens were opened
throughout the country and opium was sold to registered
smokers and users.
The cultivation of poppy , production and sale
of opium were legally carried out by the colonial
government not only for revenue and economic gains,
but also with a view to undermine the health, social and
moral values of the Myanmar people. In other words, a
program pernicious to the inherent capabilities of the
entire populace of Myanmar was laid down.
Myanmar people under successive kings had
fine traditions of civilisation and culture. During the reign
of Myanmar kings, there had been no practice of
cultivating poppy. From historical evidence, it is known
that opium came into use around 4000 B.C. in the
Mediterranean region of Central Europe as herbal
medicine and that it was introduced in Asia in the 16th
Century when sea transportation developed and
westerners established commercial links with "Asia
through sea routes.Therefore, we could concretely say
that" Opium" is not a substance and a word of Myanmar
origin; rather it is a substance and a word imported by
the colonialists through their military and economic
expansion.
As you are aware, Myanmar people, in
accordance with religious teachings, social values and
cultural traditions completely refrain from taking the five
intoxicants of opium, marijuana, intoxicating preparations
made from palm sugar;.glutinous rice and alcohjol.
Myanmar kings of ancient times, prohibited the five
intoxicants NAND effectively suppressed them by meting
out severe punishment including the death penalty to
offenders.
However, as I had mentioned earlier, under
the colonialists, poppy was allowed to be grown and
permitted to be produced, sold and used, thus laying down
the way to seriously damage the Myanmar people's
inherent capabilities.
After Myanmar's independence, although
measures to eradicate the cultivation of poppy and use of
opium through enactment of laws, issuance of
regulations, order and instructions and international
cooperation were carried out, they were largely ineffective
and unsuccessful. The main reason for the failure is due
to the instigation caused by external factors. Conditions
were created by these elements for the armed groups
opposed to the State to be involved with the production
and dtrafficking of opium.
Since 1968 the underground Burma
Communist Party laid down the plan to dominate the
Shweli Valley and started its entry into the northeastern
part of the country. They gradually expanded territory
into the Kokang and Wa regions and to the region east of
Kyaingtone. From 1970 onwards, the mainstay of the
economy of the BCP was the production, trafficking and
sale of narcotic drugs. One could see from this
background that the stability and tranquillity of the State
was affected by the linkage of the production, trafficking
and sale of narcotic drugs to the purchase of illegal arms
by the armed groups who had received the encouragement
and instructions of the clandestine organisations of some
countries.
Upon the assumption of State responsibilities,
the State Law and Order Restoration Council while
striving for the stability of the State, community peace
and tranquillity and the rule of law and order, has laid special emphasis for
the achievement of national
reconsolidation. The State Law and Order Restoration
Council has, with all sincerity and goodwill towards the
armed groups belonging to the national races, worked
for national reconsolidation.
These armed groups upon clearly appreciating
the sincerity and goodwill extended by the 'State and upon
realising that their regions, after more than 40 years of
losing contact with Myanmar proper, had lagged behind
in development, exchanged arms for peace so that they
could participate in the development efforts of their own
national races.
The first such armed group to exchange arms
for peace was the Kokang group which had left the BCP's
sphere of administration. As community peace and
tranquillity prevails in the region and with the all round
development of the region, the rays of hope for the
eradication of poppy cultivation have become brighter.
Likewise, the Wa's the Shans, the Kachins, the
Palaungs, the Kayahs, the Pa-o's, the Mons- all these
national brethren have one by one exchanged arms for
peace. The latest group to come into the legal fold being
the Burma Communist Party, Rakhine State led by U Saw
Tun Oo. Together with this group the total number of
armed groups returning to the legal fold now stands at
17.
The successive Governments of the Union of
Myanmar have never encouraged the production and sale
of narcotic drugs during any period. Moreover, the
Myanmar Tatmadaw has consistently opposed and fought
against the production and sale of narcotic drugs through
military operations as part of its combat against the
scourge of narcotic drugs.
After assuming the State responsibilities, the
State Law and Order Restoration Council, while working
for the achievement of national reconsolidation for the
perpetuation of the Union, has transformed its tactics to
that of cooperation with the local inhabitants in
combatting the scourge of narcotic drugs.
As such, with the prevalence of peace and
tranquillity, the regions of the national brethren have been
designated as special zones where programs to uplift the
living standards of the local inhabitants are undertaken
through the border areas and regional development
activities. At the same time, measures to eradicate
productoin of narcotic drugs were also carried out.
In order to undertake the border areas
development activities, the Central Committee for the
Development of the Border Areas and National Races
together with the Working Committee and Regional
Committees have been established. Moreover, the
Ministry of Progress of Border Areas & National Races
and Development Affairs was also formed. This Ministry
has effectively worked for the development of the border
areas.
As for the Central Committee for Drug Abuse
Control, it has systematically laid down the following
national strategies for the control of narcotic drugs:
- To carry out drug abuse control activities as a
national duty in all aspects with momentum.
- To gradually eradicate the practice of poppy
cultivation as the living conditions of the border areas
inhabitants and national races fare developed.
With these strategies in hand, the Central
Committee for Drug Abuse Control is carrying out the
eradication of narcotic drugs together with development
activities of the border areas.
At present, a three year plan commencing May
1995 has been drawn up for the Special Zone (2) in
northern Shan State with a view to implement Opium
Free Zones in the designated areas of Wa region, namely
- Pau Kham special township , Main Pauk region of Nam
Tit special township, Ho Taun region, Mainmaw region
and Main Yun region. Kachin State in 1991 was designate
as Opium Free State and in the specila zones (1) and (2)
of Kachin State the eradication of cultivation of poppy
and hashish has commenced.
Similarly, in Maingla, the special zone (4) of
Eastern Shan State, starting from 1991 a plan to eradicate
poppy cultivation within 6 years was initiated. The plan
was implemented in three segments- the first one in Nam
Pan area, the second in Maing Ma/ Maingla area and the
third in Silu area. Today it could be declared with pride
that all these three areas are Opium Free Zones.
Towards achieving this end, the Government
and the local inhabitants cooperated hand-in-hand in
regional development activities and in improving the
educational, health, social and economic standards of
the local inhabitants.
In particular, the Government has built new
hospitals, dispensaries and schools and also constructed
irrigation canals, dams, hydroelectric stations, and
developed communications infrastructure such as
telegram services and telephones and TV relay stations.
In tandem with the above-mentioned
infrastructure development the Government has provided
villages with water ; substitute crops; agricultlural farms
for developing livestock breeding; animal husbandry
and vetinarary services and agricultural mechanisation
stations, all with a view to uplift the living standards and
economic conditions of the local inhabitants.
Furthermore, the three and half years plan for
Maingla region's development was implemented with the
cooperation of Myanmar, China and UNDCP. Under this
plan, roads, medical dispensaries, primary schools were
built and potable water and substitute crops were made
available to the local people.
One may also observe the infrastructure
development activities undertaken under the leadership
provided by the leaders of the national races and their
efforts- namely in the construction of roads, irrigation
networks, dams, new towns; cultivation and export of
substitute crops across the border and modernisation and
development of urban areas.
Maingla used to be a small town no larger than
a big village before peace and tranquillity prevailed.
Today, it is a bustling border town with modern hotels,
restaurants, religious edifices, modern buildings and round
the clock electricity supply.
to be continued...