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Information Sheet No. A-0809(I)



MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON

Information Sheet
No. A-0809(I)                 Feb.20,1999

(1)		Tachilek Airport's New Runway, modern Terminal Commissioned into Service
		
A ceremony to open the new modern airport terminal of Tachilek, Shan State
(East) was held on 19 February.  Mayflower Trading Co Ltd built the new
airport terminal for the Department of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of
Transport.  The First airport was built in Tachilek in the post-independence
period with a granite-paved runway 1,900 feet in length and 75 feet in width
for light planes of the Defence Services (Air). The old terminal was just a 40
foot by 20 foot building.  Mayflower Trading Co Ltd started undertaking the
project to build Tachilek Airport on 22 September 1997 and completed it on 30
January 1999.  The new airport has a runway 7,050 feet long and 100 feet wide,
and the extended area of 2,300 feet was built to take in flights of Fokker F
28s, and the apron is 300 feet by 300 feet, large enough for three Fokker
F-27s.

(2)		Continued Mining of Jade, Gems to be Permitted

		The Gems Supervisory  Central Committee today announced that mining on the
gem and jade mining plots, the terms of which are about to expire, will be
allowed to continue in accord with Myanma Gems Law.  The individuals,
companies and enterprises engaged in jade and gem mining work after acquiring
permits in accord with Myanma Gems Law are to contact Myanma Gems Enterprise
(Head Office), the mining departments in Mogok, Lonkhin and Phakant, and the
station offices based in Mandalay, Myitkyina, Khamti and Mongshu.

(3)		Japanese Traditional Kites and Tops Exhibition Opened at National Museum

		The opening ceremony of the Japanese Traditional Kites and Tops Exhibition
was held at the National Museum on Pyay Road on 19 February. The Exhibition
was the outcome of joint collaboration done under the bilateral cultural
exchange programme of Myanmar and Japan. The exhibition is open to all from 10
am to 3.30 pm daily up to 28 February.

(4)		Gamonpwint Supermarket No 2 Opened

		Gamonpwint Supermarket No 2 was opened at the corner of Merchant Street and
Bogalay Market Street on 19 February.  The new supermarket is open from 9 am
to 7.30 pm daily.
	
(5)		353 Drug-Related Cases Exposed in January 1999

		The Tatmadaw (Defence Services), the Myanmar Police Force and Customs
Department seized narcotic drugs in 353 cases-- 229.7882 kilos of opium in 32

cases, 98.441 kilos of heroin in 149 cases, 91.186 kilos of marijuana in 47
cases, 57.02 litres of Phensedyl in seven cases, 0.211 kilo of low-grade opium
in nine cases, 0.003 kilo of opium oil in one case, 1,286,481 stimulant
tablets in 29 cases, 21.523 kilos of opium powder, 678.5055 kilos of ephedrine
in nine cases, 1.44 litres of cough syrup in one case, 238 gallons of acetic
anhydride in one case, 1,809 gallons of spirit in one case, 128 gallons of
hydrochloric acid in one case, 1,770 gallons of ether, 70 gallons of lysol, 27
gallons of chloroform, 45 gallons of acid, nine gallons of sulphuric acid,
24.5 kilos of soda, 20 gallons of liquid-opium, 20 kilos of phenyl acetic acid
powder, 58 cases of failure to register and eight other cases.  Action was
taken against 471 persons-- 378 men and 93 women-- in 353 cases in January
1999. 

(6)		9,600 Amphetamine Tablets Seized

		Acting to information, a combined group comprising members of the local
intelligence unit and Myanmar Police Force waited at Chit Swe Hotel,  Maha
Aungmye Township, Mandalay, on 14 February, and seized Ma Wa Tun (a) Ma Aye
May of Kyaukme and Ma Aye Nwan bringing  together with A/99 brand 9,600
amphetamine tablets.  In further investigation, the group arrested more owners
of the tablets-- Daw Shawt Lin and Daw Nwan of Muse Township.  No 9 Myanmar
Police Station in Mandalay is taking action against them under the Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law.

(7)		31.691 kilos of Raw Opium Seized in Mandalay

		Members of Mawhan Police Post, acting on information, on 6 February searched
a car driven by Thein Maung(a) Maricok, which was leaving Mandalay for
Myintkyina and seized 20 packets of raw opium weighing 31.691 kilos, hidden in
oil tank of the car.  They arrested Thein Maung, driver of Hanbu Village,
Phekhon Township together with Thein Win Tint of Takwin Village, Mohnyin
Township, who was  in the car. Action is being taken against the two according
to laws. 

(8)		Over 9 Kilos of Heroin Seized

		A combined team comprising members of local intelligence unit, Myanmar
Police Force and departmental officials, acting on information, searched a van
driven by Maung Aye (a) May Lyan Yu(a) Lauk Lon of  Kyuhkok, at the suspension
bridge of Kunlong, Shan State (North), on 11 February.  They seized 19 blocks
of heroin weighing 9.798 kilos.  Action is taken against him under the
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotrophic Substances Law.

Special Feature

		This office is presenting a Press Release No. 03/99  by Myanmar Embassy in
Paris dated 18th February, 1999 for your information.
PRESS RELEASE
No. 03/99								                           Date; 18 February 1999
Lack of co-operation from some countries in the Interpol Drug Conference
		It is regrettable that French Government has decided at the last moment not
to send a delegation to the 4th International Heroin Conference to be held in
Yangon from 22nd to 26th of February, 1999.  The issue of drugs is a
humanitarian issue and not a political one, it is an issue related to human
security.
		The narcotic drug problem is not an individual national problem but a global
one, which effects mankind. Nations cannot solve this problem by finger-

pointing and laying blame, but only through mutual understanding, help and
co-
operation. It is unfortunate that at a time when there is an urgent need to
promote multilateral initiatives to overcome the drug menace, there are some
countries which have become so blinded by such emotive issues as human rights
and democracy, that they are confused and unable to distinguish between the
political and drug issues.
		Myanmar, on her part, considers the fight against narcotic drugs a national
cause and is determined to carry on with or without the help of the
international community. And within the means of her limited resources, it
cannot be disputed that Myanmar has achieved a fair measure of success and is
ever ready to join hands with other nations and extend full co-operation, to
rid the world and mankind of this deadly scourge.
		According to the concept of UNESCO Management of Social Transformations
(MOST) programme, It is said that from the beginning  of the 20th century,
sovereign states have increasingly committed themselves to cross border co-
operation to control the international flow of narcotics. The world's drug
problem has not ceased to worsen since the mid 1970s, when an explosion in
production, trafficking and abuse of controlled substances triggered alarm in
the international community. 
		Despite the lack of assistance from foreign countries Myanmar has waged a
relentless war against drug trafficking by relying on its own resources.
Immense sacrifices have been made by the security forces, which have lost 760
men including 20 officers and over 2200 men including 80 officers have been
wounded.
		Myanmar has signed Memorandum of Understanding for Suppression of narcotic
drugs with all its neighbours and the UN Drug Control Programme, as well as
with Russia. Furthermore, the Central Committee for Drug abuse Control has
drawn up a 15 years project to be implemented beginning 1992-2000. Mongla
region (Special Region 4 of Shan State East) has been declared to the world as
an opium free zone. The Government has decided to totally eradicate the
narcotic problem by the year 2014.  The organizations of nationalities also
promised to make their regions opium free zones by that time.
		With or without the assistance from international community Myanmar is
striving with firm resolve to eradicate narcotic drugs as a national duty.  If
Myanmar can enjoy the international co-operation the striving time will be
shorter.  Thus, it is important for countries to have the courage to put the
long-term interest of its people ahead of short-term political consideration.
For, in the final analysis, it is not the fate of one regime or one nation
that is at stake, it is the future of humanity.

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