Campaign to end poppy cultivation concerns only with nation as it must be launched with internal strength
Press conference holds Q&A session

Nay Pyi Taw, 16 Aug — The following are the questions raised by journalists and the answers given by officials at the press conference of the Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council held at Kengtung in Shan State (East) on 14 August.

Dr Tin Tun Oo of Pyi Myanmar Journal said that Wa national race group truly quit poppy cultivation in 2005, and is fighting Ywet Sit's drug-trafficker group without taking assistance from Tatmadaw and anti-drug bodies. Kokang region also declared itself a drug free zone in 2003. He asked whether any other national race group is also eradicating the drug problem without any one's urge. He said he wished to know the situation of the Drug Free Myanmar Programme only eight years left to be realized in 2014.
 

Myanmar Police Force Director-General Brig-Gen Khin Yi replied that other national race groups are also participating in the drug elimination task. Mongla in Shan State Special Region 4 has been declared an Opium Free Zone in 1997. The government conferred award on excellent performance in social tasks (first class) to leader of Shan State Special Region 4 U Sai Lin. The region is also seizing traffickers under its own arrangements. All in all, national races groups are rendering a helping hand to reach the nation's drug elimination goal.

Kokang region declared itself an Opium Free Zone in 2003, and Shan State (North) Special Region 2 followed suit in 2005. The most basic factor in this matter is to end cultivation of poppy for opium. As a part of Myanmar is contiguous to the notorious Golden Triangle Region, the initial task is to end poppy cultivation. The campaign to end poppy cultivation concerns only with the nation as it must be launched with internal strength.

On the other hand drug elimination is a task to be carried out with the cooperation of other nations. For example, there are no precursor chemicals needed in manufacturing stimulant tabletsin Myanmar. So stimulants cannot be manufactured inside Myanmar territory. Stimulants are smuggled into Myanmar from other countries. Hence anti-stimulants campaign requires others' cooperation. First, Myanmar must eradicate opium, and then eliminate the narcotic drugs. Myanmar has already made a firm resolve to realize the goal without fail.

U Myat Khaing of Good News journal and Maha journal asked whether it was true that U Mein Sin and his group went underground again and whether it was a political trick. Some foreign media said that U Mein Sin returned to the legal fold with only a few members and that locals in uniforms were paraded as members of the armed group at the ceremony. Arms and ammunition shown at the ceremony were the ones seized from other insurgents. He also wished to know whether the accusation was true.

Pangsan in Wa region where Ywet Sit's drug trafficking was driven out with courageous efforts was once under the domination of Burma Communist Party. Another question he asked is the location of the base the BCP remnants were using in launching political attacks against Myanmar.

Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan said that the strength of U Mein Sin's group was 848 precisely. All the over 800 men were real members of the group, but no locals in uniforms as slandered by those foreign media.

It is not true that U Mein Sin went underground again. It is totally wrong. U Mein Sin is still in his region. He has constant contacts with the respective local authorities. Construction is under way at Wanpang and Narpwe villages to accommodate U Mein Sin and his men. Supplies are being provided to them and plans are under way to help them run farming businesses to earn their living.

As it has already been explained at the previous press conferences, insurgents have no firm bases at all inside Myanmar. Apart from underground activities, the BCP is in no position to launch any armed opposition against any national race group or the State.

U Nyunt Tin (Fuji TV) said: “In many previous conferences we were informed about drug elimination, drug eradication, substitution crops and so on. But there has been very few information about rehabilitation. In every country there are addicts. We cannot deny because in daily newspapers and journals you will find that there are sale of drugs with dealers which means that we have addicts. These drugs addicts are like HIV/ AIDS addicts. It is very dangerous. So what I want to know is regarding these drug addicts' conditions and the works of rehabilitation.”
 

Brig-Gen Khin Yi said that the 1993 law stipulates that drug addicts must register themselves at the respective centres and undergo treatment, and that rehabilitation centres should be set up. The government with the participation of all NGOs collected a baseline data in June 1989. There were about 66,000 addicts according to the data. In accord with the law, the government set up Shwepyiaye rehabilitation centre in Phekhon, southern Shan State, Shwepyitha at Wethtikan, and Shwepyithit near Teemar, Muse. Registered addicts have to attend a 36-week course at one of the centres. During the first five weeks the addicts have to undergo treatment to quit the habit of using drugs. The remaining weeks concern the vocational training.

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement set up six or seven treatment centres in Yangon, Mandalay and other major towns of states and divisions. NGOs like Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association are searching and recording former addicts who after receiving treatment fail to go to rehabilitation centres to help them earn their living.

Community based treatment centres have been opened at present. The nation has been seriously realizing its policy stipulating addicts to register themselves and undergo treatment and to set up rehabilitation centres.

Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo said, “I am the Deputy Minister for Health and I am responsible for the treatment of the drug addicts. I am the Chairman of the Subcommittee, our Subcommittee is under the CCDAC. Regarding the treatment, Police Director-General has mentioned that about 67,000 that is from 1974 to up to date. Our subcommittee has the 26 major drug treatment centre, run by well-trained psychiatrists. Another thing is that we have 40 minor drug treatment centres in the most required areas, especially, Shan State, Kachin and so on and so forth. So, these rehabilitation centres are working especially for the youth. In the major centres, we have all the requirements for rehabilitation including the vocational training, social healing and counselling sectors. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement is also running rehabilitation centres. In average 40 to 50 per cent of the drug addicts are infected with HIV. But due to our efforts in cooperation with UNODC and NGOs, the infection rate has been reduced to 36 per cent. Another thing is we have good collaboration with the National AIDS programme regarding the counselling work, the conducting of medical examination and the distribution of condoms to those people. So in our country the HIV infection rate is 60 percent through heterosexual and 20 to 30 per cent through the intravenous drug users.”

Daw Hsint Hsint Aung (NTV)

In the clarification, it was said that the seizure made downtown Tachilek. At first, I wondered if similar cases took place in any other townships and how preventive measures will be taken in this regard.

Secondly, may I know the total value of the seized narcotic drugs destroyed in the six ceremonies?
 

Brig-Gen Khin Yi

We seized the stimulant tablet machine at Makaho Kham Ward in Tachilek on 26 June 2006. But, we have not seized any other similar machines in other townships.

However, there might be other drug machines especially stimulant tablet machines in the centres of some cities. It is because there have been many cases in which stimulant tablet machines were seized in the hearts of cities in many other countries. As a matter of fact, to produce narcotics particularly stimulant tablets, it does not need much room and a ten square-foot room is spacious enough to do the job. Therefore, I would say, maybe some cities have similar machines in their downtown areas.

We have made all possible arrangements to prevent such cases. In this regard, respective anti-drug squads keep any suspicious incidents under constant surveillance. At least 14 kinds of precursor chemicals are required to produce stimulant tablets. If so, precursor chemicals are to be sent to the cities and perpetrators have to visit there frequently. For the second point, production of stimulant tablets needs much electric power. Then, electric meter must have shown very high consumption in such areas. And a lot of smoke will billow from such an area. A plentiful of water is needed to produce tablets. Strong smell will be afloat in such areas. If the anti-drug squads notice an area with such suspicious points, they can expose the cases. And if the people inform such suspicious points they need to report to the authorities concerned, such cases can be exposed easily.

Concerning the second question, six ceremonies have been held to destroy the drugs seized in Shan State (East) and the value of the drugs is about 1,972 million US dollars.

U Ko Ko (Flower News Journal and Yangon Times)

I would like to put three questions. Regarding the first question, it is said that Wa region was a drug free zone in 2005. Is it true? If true, what criteria are prescribed to designate a region as a drug free one. I think the opium refinery that has been mentioned recently is in Wa region.

For the second question, these days, computer accessories and electronics are almost running out. Then, I happened to ask some people about that, and they said that it was because containers with such materials in the port could not be cleared. Is it true? If so, I would like to know why. I would like to know the action taken in connection with the above-mentioned case.

My third question is, I learnt that Thai Caretaker Prime Minister Dr Thaksin paid a visit to Myanmar last week. Let me know about that visit.

Brig-Gen Khin Yi

Yes, to designate Wa region as an opium free zone, firstly, officials concerned in Wa Special Region (2) declared in June 2005 that Wa region was free from opium. Then, they said that any journalists at home and abroad could visit the region officially. That is an overwhelming evidence.

Secondly, we use two systems to measure the volume of poppy cultivation and production in Myanmar. The first is that the UNODC and local anti-narcotics squads cooperate to carry out surveys. And the findings of the surveys are announced internationally.

The last one is that the Counter Narcotic and Crime of the US watches the hot spot areas in the poppy-grown regions through satellite and estimates where poppy is grown and how much poppy output is.

And then, the estimated figures and data are made known to the world. These two organizations declared that poppy cultivation was on the decrease in Myanmar and Wa region was free from poppy cultivation in 2005. The UNODC has not issued any announcement about its findings of its survey for 2006, but as far as I know generally that region is free from poppy cultivation cent per cent. So, it can be deduced that region is a poppy free one.

Wa Special Region invited the National Narcotic Control Commission of the People's Republic of China to the region to conduct a survey. The NNCC also announced that no poppy was found in the region.

We made rapid assessments in that region and found that it was free from poppy. So, as Wa national race leaders declared, I would say what I have presented are a concrete evidence that the region was free from opium in June 2005. Khampar is not in Wa region.

As we explained in the drug-destruction ceremony, it is situated in a place a three-and-half-hour walk from Lwetainglyan, a stronghold of SSA-S and an over-an-hour walk from the outpost of Ywet Sit's SSA-S.

Minister for Home Affairs Maj-Gen Maung Oo

Regarding the containers, container importers have some difficulties for clearance. They dare not make the imported container clearance. If interested, one may inquire the traders, agents and service personnel. Under the customs law, the imported goods are kept in the warehouses for 60 days. The owners of the containers do not make clearance for various reasons. Clearance can be made within one week if they want to do so. There are over 100 containers in the container yard. The case about the Customs staff is under investigation. I will make clarifications later when the time is ripe.

Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan

Recently, Prime Minister of Thailand Dr Thaksin came to Myanmar and he called on the Head of State and other top leaders. They discussed the common interest between the two countries.

U Aung Hla Tun (Reuters News Agency)

Recently in Yangon, some rice traders were held temporarily. What about their future?
 

Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan

Recently there were discussions between some rice traders and authorities. Some traders were told to do their business in the interest of the people and their own. Those hoard a large amount of rice in the hope of making their own profit only. If they continue to do, effective action will be taken against them.

I would like to explain more details. Prices go up and fall depending on demand and supply. The Head of State gave guidance on cultivation of paddy for local sufficiency. The country produces over 1,200 million baskets of paddy yearly. Most of the states and divisions can now produce rice for local sufficiency. For example, there was no rice sufficiency in Kengtung about 2002. Quality strains were used for boosting production of paddy with the help of extensive and intensive methods under the guidance of the Head of State. Now there is rice sufficiency in the region. The country needs over 800 million baskets of paddy for local consumption and it produces 1,200 million baskets of paddy. So, there is no reason to go up rice price. Usually, there was small amount of rice left in August and September and harvest had not come yet. At such times, the rice price rose slightly. Making use of the fact, some rice traders who stored rice made speculation. That was why the rice price went up more than normal. Local authorities tackled the situations through organizational and management methods. The people have already known that there is rice sufficiency in the country. Rice is sold K 400 per pyi at 50 shops in Yangon under the arrangements of Rice Merchants Association and Rice Millers' Association. As a result, the rice price is in normal position and stable. If the traders continue to carry out their business in the hope of making their profit only, effective action will be taken against them in the interest of the entire people.

Dr Zaw Than of Sankei Shimbun asked whether the increase in price of computer accessories and cars in Yangon was related to the rumour that K 5,000 note would be issued in Myanmar.

Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan replied that fluctuation of price of car in Myanmar occurred not because of supply and demand but because of traders. They spread rumours about fluctuation of the price in a bid to gain profits.

Regarding the rising price of computer accessories and electronic materials, the minister said that traders imported unlicensed goods which has not been permitted in the import licence. Some traders have imported goods more than the number permitted in an import licence. If responsible officials inspect their containers irregularities would be exposed. Therefore, they were afraid to claim their containers and there were shortage of electronic goods in the market. This is a possible reason why the price of electronic goods has increased in the market because of shortage of goods. Another reason is that some traders spread rumours about shortage of electronic goods so that they can gain profits. Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan denied that the government would issue K 5,000 note.