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Rangoon: City of Heroin



Attn: Burma Newsreaders
Re: Rangoon: City of Heroin
------------------------------------------------
 =

                       RANGOON: City of  Heroin

One day in downtown Rangoon, three young men walked into a restaurant and=

ordered food. While the food was being prepared, one of them took out a
packet, emptied its contents on the table and divided the white power int=
o
equal shares with a toothpick. They then bowed their heads to those small=

heaps of power and inhaled it with one breath. Unpleasant scenes, such as=

this one, are common sights in Rangoon these days.  Although it is diffic=
ult
to estimate how many of the youths today are turning a blind eye to the d=
rug
usage among youths. =


Rangoon is the capital of Burma where the State Law and Order Restoration=

Council, SLORC, has its headquarters.  The city is swarming with military=

intelligence agents and informers alike. It is difficult to believe that =
the
SLORC does not know anything about the drug abuse.

Since  the universities were reopened in May 1991, after being shut down =
for
three years, the accessibility of drugs was clear.  Heroin could be bough=
t at
two ministores on the Rangoon University campus.  These stores operate as=

though they have legal permits to do so.  One store is located opposite t=
he
Main University Library and the other one is in the canteen behind the ar=
ts
classrooms.

It is common knowledge that intelligence agents roam every nook and crann=
y of
the campus. They have always been quick to arrest anyone who dares to eve=
n
whisper anything against the SLORC. And since the drug distribution place=
s
remain untouched, it is reasonable to assume that these places have offic=
ial
blessings. In either case, the authorities are ignoring this critical
situation.

Heroin can also be bought openly at the Rangoon Institute of Technology, =
the
Institute of Medicine, and in every township of Rangoon.  The situation h=
as
gradually worsened since the military coup d'=E9tat of September 1988. Th=
e
SLORC is less threatened by people on drugs than by youths moved to polit=
ical
action which will ensure democracy for the country.

Today, drug such as phensedyl, "upper-downer" pills, and marijuana are
difficult to find.  But, heroin is readily available and its usage has be=
come
widespread in every area of Rangoon. Heroin remains the cheapest drug in
Burma since the SLORC came into power. A penicillin vial of heroin has a
street value of only 600 kyat or about U.S. $6. This dire situation is le=
ft
unchecked by the SLORC and is seriously threatening the lives of young pe=
ople
in Burma. =


The public policy, as determined by the SLORC, is that it is committed to=
 the
eradication of heroin.  The Burmese media, for instance, carries news sto=
ries
and photographs of how the authority had been burning down heroin refiner=
ies
and razing poppy plantations in the border areas.  Despite such propagand=
a,
heroin usage and availability in the country has been increasing at  alar=
ming
rates.

Despite such a critical situation in the country, SLORC has managed to
manipulate international organizations, like the United Nations, the U.S.=

Drug Enforcement Administration and other such groups. Funds, mobile unit=
s,
and equipment provided by these organizations are being used by the SLORC=
,
more to prolong their stay in power than to combat drug abuse.  =


Part of SLORC's propaganda is to take foreigners around to observe drug
rehabilitation efforts and drug eradication programs.  But so far there h=
as
never been any serious effort on the part of the SLORC either to eradicat=
e
poppy crops or to rehabilitate drug addicts. Without any long- term
commitment by SLORC, heroin will continue to flow freely in Burma and acr=
oss
its borders into world markets.
----------------------------------- END =


(The above article was written by a student from Burma, who does not want=

to identify himself for now because of his security in the country.)

Action Call:  US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is contemplating o=
n
the idea of resuming its aid to Burma to eradicate narcotics. It won't so=
lve
the problem. Simply, because SLORC has never had an intention to get rid =
of
narcotics.  Even before 1988 uprising, DEA's cooperation with Burmese
military for over a decade had never been successful. SLORC just plays ga=
mes
to get foreign aid. =

                 We're afraid that DEA's assistance will encourage the
Burmese military to keep holding the illegitimate power and killing its o=
wn
ethnic people. =

                    For our American friends, we strongly encourage you t=
o
write a letter to the President Clinton and DEA officials. Your tax-payer=
s'
money should not be given to notorious regime of Burma.

Peace and Justice,
Free Burma (freeburma@xxxxxxx)


Please send your letter to:
President Bill Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Drug Enforcement Administration
700 Army-Navy Drive
Arlington, VA 22202