News and Views From Myanmar Vol.1, (r)

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

Subject: News and Views from Myanmar Vol.1   No.10

                                         News and Views from Myanmar
                              Weekly Briefly from Myanmar, Yangon, Myanmar
                                          Vol.1   No.10    10 March 1999


INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Forest conservation in Myanmar
2. Drug abuse control endeavours

FOREIGN RELATIONS
3. Further enhancement of existing friendly relations
4. Promoting bilateral and economic cooperation
5. Cooperation in radio and television networks

GENERAL  NEWS
6. 6. Two Press Releases from MOFA
7. International Women?s Day observed

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NTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS

1. Forest conservation in Myanmar

	Myanmar is rich in forest resources.  The area covered with forests is 85
million acres, which is 50.8 per cent of the land area of the country.
Various kinds of forests, ever-green forests, dry forest and temperate
forests, etc.

	If those forest resources are not conserved well, disadvantages will be
encountered in the long term, and depletion of forest resources will lead to
loss of water and land resources consequently.  It is therefore important of
conserve the forests properly in view of long term interest rather than the
present one. By conserving the forest resources properly, ecology and bio-
diversity can be preserved well; the current and future generations can enjoy
direct and indirect benefits of the forests.

	Forest resources are important in social and economic developments of the
country.  By conserving forests, environment can be kept green and lush, and
climatic conditions can be balanced. During the period 1988 to 1998,
altogether 1.37 million teak trees were girdled, 6.6 million hard-wood trees
were selected for felling, 13,344 square miles were designated as reserved
forests, 16,861 square miles were designated as reserved forest extensions and
0.74 million acres of forest plantations were set up throughout the country.

	The Forest Department also set up national parks and sanctuaries totaling 28
as of October 1998. As regards setting up of forest plantations, there are
commercial plantations, village firewood plantations, industrial raw material
plantations and watershed area plantations.

	Forests are also important in conserving watershed areas.  The watershed
areas of reservoirs and dams must be covered with trees which ensure regular
flow of water in rivers and creeks as well as minimizing silting. In this way,
dams and reservoirs can be maintained for the long term.  Of the dams and
reservoirs of the State, the Forest Department has conserved natural forests
and set up forest plantations in watershed areas of 80 dams and reservoirs.

	Moreover, mangrove forests are very beneficial to agriculture and livestock
breeding works, In Myanmar, there are altogether 0.95 million areas of
mangrove forests which serve as natural habitat for fish and prawns.  The
mangrove forests provide wood, firewood, charcoal and other forest products as
food such as fish, prawns, shrimps, crabs, etc.  The mangrove forests protect
the soil from storm, wave, deluge, flood, land slide and saline infiltration,
ensure good condition of waterways and keep river water clean. The mangrove
forests are also good for ecotourism development.

	The Forest Department is implementing projects in cooperation with UNDP for
preventing forest depletion in watershed areas, for ensuring food sufficiency
of the local populace. In joining hands with UNDP, the Department is also
conserving natural forests, setting up forest plantations in water-shed areas
and establishing mangrove forest plantations. Soon, the entire country will be
kept green and lush through the might of forests.
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2. Drug abuse control endeavours

	The Union of Myanmar is resolved to eradicate narcotic drugs as a national
duty. The combined teams comprising members of Tatmadaw, local intelligence
units, Myanmar Police Force and local people under the leadership of the
respective military commands have been destroying poppy plantations illegally
grown in the remote areas of Shan State since November 1998.

In February 1999, a total of 912.80 acres of poppy plantations-53 acres in
Hsenwi Township, Shan State (North), 617.80 acres in Tangyang Township, 60.50
acres in Hopang Township, 96.50 acres in Kutkai Township, 60 acres in Namtu
Township, five acres in Lashio Township and 20 acres in Lahe Township in
Sagaing Division were destroyed.

	During 1998/99 poppy cultivation season, a total of 7,094.46 acres of poppy
plantations illegally grown in Shan State (North), Shan State (South), Shan
State (East), Kayah and Kachin States and Sagaing Division have been destroyed
from November 1998 to 10 February 1999, and efforts are continuing to search
and destroy more illegal poppy plantations.

	Myanmar is resolved to undertake unswervingly its share of the global burden
of narcotic drugs control. It is also determined to fully cooperate with the
international community in the global war against the scourge of narcotic drug
abuse.
===============

FOREIGN RELATIONS

3. Further enhancement of existing friendly relations

	At the invitation of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai of Thailand, Chairman of
the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister of the Union of
Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe paid a goodwill visit to Thailand from 8 to 9
March 1999.

	During his visit, the Senior General and delegation called on His Majesty
King Bumibhol Adulyadej at the Dusit Palace, Chitralada Villa.  The Senior
General also met Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai and the two leaders held
discussions on bilateral and regional issues as well as international
developments.

	The following is the Joint Statement of the Goodwill visit in toto:

? 1.	At the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Chuan Leekpai, Prime Minister of
the Kingdom of Thailand, His Excellency Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of
the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and Prime Minister of the Union
of Myanmar, paid a goodwill visit to the Kingdom of Thailand from 8 to 9 March
1999.

2.	During the visit, the two Prime Ministers reaffirmed the commitment of
their two governments, as expressed in the Joint Communique in Yangon on 17th
May 1997, to turn the common border between the two countries into a border of
friendship, harmony and prosperity.  The two Prime Ministers noted with
satisfaction the existing excellent cooperation during the past two years
between the law enforcement authorities of the two countries to coordinate and
expand their cooperative anti-narcotics efforts.  They expressed their
governments? determination to further enhance the cooperation between
officials of the two governments at all levels in the fight against narcotic
drugs.

3.	They welcomed the significant progress achieved so far by their respective
countries: the arrest of metamphetamine producers and traffickers, along with
the destruction of more than twenty million metamphetamine tablets by Thailand
in 1997-98; the seizures of more than twenty-eight thousand kilogrammes of
opium and over four thousand kilogrammes of heroin as well as over 26 million
metamphetamine tablets by Myanmar in 1988-98.

4.	They stressed the need for regional and international cooperation in the
fight against narcotic drugs and in this regard note with satisfaction the
positive contribution of the 4th International Heroin Conference held in
Yangon on 23-26 February 1999.

5.	They agreed to intensify the cooperation and the coordination of law
enforcement efforts with the aim of achieving the total eradication of illicit
drug production, processing, trafficking and use in ASEAN by the year 2020 in
accordance with the Joint Declaration for a Drug-Free ASEAN as announced in
Manila on 25 July, 1998. Towards this end, the law enforcement authorities of
both countries agreed as a priority to take concrete actions with the
objectives of interdicting precursor chemicals and terminating sources of
narcotic production.?

Myanmar and Thailand share the border for more than one thousand and three
hundred miles.  Myanmar always adheres to the principles of friendly
relationship with all countries in the world, particularly with her
neighbouring countries and those in the region. The visit of the Senior
General to Thailand would certainly help enhance the existing excellent
relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
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4. Promoting bilateral and economic cooperation

	An Argentine delegation led by Mr. Eduardo Sadous, Undersecretary for
Economic Negotiations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Argentina visited Myanmar from 3 to 5 March 1999.

	During the visit, the Argentine Undersecretary called on Deputy Minister for
Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win and discussed matters on promoting bilateral
and economic cooperation between the two countries.

	The Argentine Undersecretary also met Deputy Ministers for Commerce and
Finance & Revenue and officials from Ministry of Science & Technology and
Ministry of Education on separate occasions.

	The Seminar on Argentina-Myanmar Two Partners for International Cooperation
took place at the office of the Myanmar Chamber of Commerce & Industry on 5
March 1999.  The Seminar was attended by a six-member Argentine business
delegation led by Ambassador Mr. Eduardo Alberto of the Bangkok-based
Argentine Embassy and entrepreneurs led by MCCI Chairman U Khin Maung Yi.
	Ambassador Alberto and U Khin Maung Yi explained the economic situations of
their respective countries at Seminar.  Afterwards, both sides held
discussions.  Later in the evening, the two sides signed a memorandum of
understanding for economic cooperation between Myanmar and Argentina.
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5. Cooperation in radio and television networks

	A two-member delegation led by Deputy Director-General Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Cue
of Voice of Vietnam arrived Yangon on 8 March 1999.

	Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen. Aung Thein met the Vietnam
delegation at the Ministry in the afternoon.  They discussed cooperation in
radio and TV between the two countries.  The visiting delegation called on
officials of News and Periodicals Enterprise at NPE Head Office.  They
discussed newspapers, journals and magazines published by NPE and newspapers
and journals publishing in two countries.

	The Vietnam delegation visited factories and mills in Hlinethaya Industrial
City and FMI City.  Then, they proceeded to Myanmar Radio and Television where
Director-General U Khin Maung Htay explained to them about broadcasting of
MRTV.  The Vietnamese delegation had a look around there.

	Later, Director-General U Khin Maung Htay and Deputy Director-General Ms.
Nguyen Thi Kim Cue of the VOV signed a Memorandum of Understanding on
bilateral cooperation.
========

GENERAL  NEWS

6. Two Press Releases from MOFA

	At the beginning of March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Union of
Myanmar issued two press releases in response to the US international
narcotics control strategy report and human rights rights situation report for
1998.

	In narcotics control strategy report, the US continues to decertify Myanmar
despite its undeniable efforts for the eradication of narcotic drugs and
remarkable achievements.  In spite of all positive developments duly conceded
in the US report, Myanmar was once again decertified.  Myanmar regrettably
notes that politicization of global efforts to eliminate the scourge of
narcotic drugs will affect not only the Myanmar people in particular, but also
the citizens of the US and the world at large.  Myanmar never believed that
the certification process of the US Government will in any say contribute to a
solution.

	Similarly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically rejects the one-
sided assessment of the US on the human rights situation in Myanmar since it
is based on unfounded facts and is nothing more than a politically motivated
document aimed at interfering in Myanmar?s internal affairs.  The US always
speaks of democracy but tries to dictate how a country should be run or even
who should run the nation without paying any heed to the actual situation,
challenges and potentials of that country.

	Human rights are indeed of little value without the freedom from hunger, from
want and from diseases.  Besides, economic and social rights are also
important as civil and political rights.

	The present State Peace and Development Council Government is trying its
utmost to fulfill those basic needs.  Myanmar has experienced periods of
monarchy, colonialism and centrally controlled socialism.  To move to a multi-
party democracy, it definitely needs the transition period. It is believed,
however that this transformation should be based on home-grown solutions
rather than impositions or pressure from abroad.

7. International Women?s Day observed

	The National Committee for Women?s Affairs, authorities concerned,
departmental heads, diplomats, resident representatives of UN agencies,
chairmen and officials of NGOs gathered at the International Business Center,
Yangon to mark the International women?s Day on March 8.
	This is the third time Myanmar has observed the day since the UN General
Assembly constituted 8 March as the International Women?s Day.

	Addressing the meeting, Chairman of the National Committee for Women?s
Affairs and Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Brig. Gen.
Pyi Sone, said that the world has realized the important role of women in
social development.  He also called for cooperation of women in nation
building and all round development projects.

	A Myanmar delegation took part in the Beijing Women?s Conference in September
1995.  It is implementing the action plans laid down by that conference.  The
Myanmar National Committee for Women?s Affairs was formed on 3 July 1996.
Later, that day, 3 July, is being observed as Myanmar Women?s Day.

	Myanmar women constitute more than half of the country?s population. Due to
encouragement of the government, there are many women?s organizations such as
Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs Association and Maternal and Child Welfare
Association.

	The Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs Association occasionally held lectures,
seminars and workshops to promote awareness of women?s development and raise
entrepreneurial and managerial capabilities.

	Moreover, the First Myanmar Women?s Conference was successfully held in
December 1998.  One of its adopted recommendations is to open a women?s bank.
Accordingly, the Seminar on Micro Credit Systems and Women?s Banking jointly
sponsored by Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs Association and Hanns Seidel
Foundation of Germany was held in late February this year.  Myanmar also
hosted the Regional Consultation on Violence Against Women and the Role of the
Health Sector with the sponsorship of MNCWA and WHO in January 1999.

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