Information Sheet No.A. 0999(I)

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON

Information  Sheet
No.A. 0999(I)                              26 July 1999

(1)		Thai Deputy PM to Visit Myanmar 

		At the invitation of Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Secretary-1 of the 
State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, Deputy Prime 
Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Mr. Bhichai Rattakul will pay a goodwill 
visit to the Union of Myanmar in the near future. 

(2)		Sittway branch of Yoma Bank Ltd Opened

		A ceremony to open Sittway branch of Yoma Bank Ltd was held 
at the branch in Sittway, Rakhine State, on 25 July. It is the twenty-eighth 
branch of the Bank.

(3)		Affiliated BEMS Buildings Opened in Mandalay Division

		A ceremony to hand over Affiliated Basic Education Middle 
School to the Ministry of Education was held in conjunction with a stake 
driving ceremony for Basic Education High School in Shwesitthi Village, 
Meiktila Township, Mandalay Division, on 23 July.  Similarly,  the opening 
ceremony of Affiliated Basic Education Middle School was also held in West 
Phwasaw Village of Bagan NyaungU Township, Mandalay Division, on 22 July.

(4)		Myanmar Delegation Leaves for Thailand 

		A six-member Myanmar delegation led by Secretary of National 
Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC), Director-General of Social 
Welfare Department left Yangon by air for Thailand on 25 July to study the 
CRC Monitoring Study Tour to be held from 25 July to 14 August in Thailand, 
Vietnam and the Philippines under the programme of Convention on the Rights 
of the Child Project sponsored by UNICEF and Social Welfare Department.

Special Issue

		This office is presenting the News Bulletin issued by Myanmar 
Embassy in Bangkok on 25 July for your information.

NEWS BULLETIN

		The Embassy emphatically and categorically denied the 
accusations made by a high ranking officer of the National Narcotics 
Operation Centre as reported under the caption "Rangoon's troops active in 
drug trade" in the Post on 25 July 1999. 
		Starting from 1973, measures against the menace of narcotic 
drugs were undertaken vigorously by the Armed Forces, Police and other 
organizations concerned with the loss of many lives and casualties. Between 
1988 to 1997, 801 members of the Armed Forces including 27 officers gave up 
their lives and 2429 members, including 90 officers were wounded. During the 
10-year period, nearly 4000kg of Heroin, 30,000 kg raw opium, 13 million 
methamphetamine tablets were seized and 90,000 acres of poppy fields were 
destroyed. 94 camps used in producing drugs were burned and there were 31 
instances where the drugs seized during the anti-narcotics operations were 
burned and destroyed in front of the international observers.
		The Armed Forces of Myanmar continues today the noble total 
war against narcotic drugs. How could you, blatantly accuse they support the 
production of narcotic drugs, while sacrificing so many precious lives?
		Could the high ranking officer come out with hard evidence 
that Myanmar troops are involved in drug trafficking? Contrary, the Embassy 
deems appropriate to mention here that, Richard Dicken, the Yangon-based 
representative of the UNDCP commented recently that he saw nothing to support 
the assertion that the government directly profits from drugs. He said he had 
seen evidence of widespread eradication of narcotic drugs in Myanmar and that 
less opium was cultivated. 
		Moreover, Myanmar's sincerity and dedication in fighting 
against trafficking and abuse of drug is well known internationally. It has 
been stated in internal and international media again and again. 
		As to the accusation of having "two-faced policy" the Embassy 
can only say that Myanmar is always straight forward, down to earth and 
above-board in her international dealings. The more so with its neighbours. 
If Myanmar had chosen "two-faced policy" she would not become a political 
target, like she is today. It is good to be prudent when pointing accusing 
fingers at others.
		In the midst of enjoying the bilateral cooperation in the 
fight against the narcotic drugs, this kind of unscrupulous accusation and 
reporting could only jeopardize the spirit of good-will cooperation. 
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