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New Light: SLORC Slams UNDP, UNDCP



Received: (from strider) by igc4.igc.apc.org (8.6.12/Revision: 1.16 ) id UAA28684; Fri, 23 Feb 1996 20:48:01 -0800
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 20:48:01 -0800

The following article appeared in the New Light of Myanmar attacking 
the UNDP and UNDCP.

Two comments on the article:

-- "the Woman" and the long-nosed man to whom she is related are, of course,
ASSK and Michael Aris.

-- Giacomelli (of UNDCP) did NOT meet "clandestinely" or "steathily" with 
ASSK.  He informed Ohn Gyaw of his intention to meet w/her two days in 
advance.

  Strider



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The New Light of Myanmar
February 22, 1996
Page 5

"Joining Hands Against Drug Menance," by Maung Ngwe Soe

(1) The woman related to a person with long nose, whose alien race killed her
great grandfather and her father and enslaved the race, with negative attitude
and usual ill will raised a question at a roadside talk in connection with the
unconditional surrender and return to the legal fold of U Khun Sa's MTA armed
troops.  She said Khun Sa was given liberty but drug offenders were in jail
and asked whether they could be forgiven like Khun Sa.

I would like to answer that question:

--U Khun Sa is a Myanmar citizen and he has returned to the legal fold after
surrendering unconditionally.  The case will be dealt with according to
existing laws and rules.

--Drug offenders are serving their prison terms for committing offences undre
the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law. (similar offenders will be
dealt with according to the existing law.)

(2)  I would also like to answer another question asking why U Khun Sa is not
extradited to another country.

The Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control Minister for
Foreign Affairs gave replies at the Tenth Destruction of Narcotic Drugs Seized
by Law Enforcement Agencies on 9 February 1996.  He said there was supposedly
the continuation and responsibility of the successor government to honour
whatever the agreements signed before the country regained independence.  But
according to international law, he said, the government which succeeded after
regaining independence can decide whether it officially approves the
agreements.  The agreement which existed prior ot independence is not approved
by the government of independent Myanmar.  Hence, he said, the matter is not
to be taken into account.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs said that in 1990 a request from an embassy
was received to have U Khun Sa extradited.  He added the particular mission
was notified that there did never exist any of the extradtion and there was no
intention whatsoever for extradition.

Moreover, when Myanmar signed the United Nations Convention Against Illicit
Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988, it did so on
condition that the sixth paragraph of the convention did not bind Myanmar to
extradite drug offender citizens to another country.

Hence, the points mentioned above are the right attitude of Myanamr.

(3) Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control
Programme (UNDCP) Mr. Giorgio Giacomelli visited Myanmar from 7 to 11 February
1996 for an assessment of measures taken in the country.  During his meetings
with the authorities, Myanmar leaders told him about narcotic drug control
measures and policies and work done in connection with international
relations.  Mr. Giorgio Giacomelli then expressed his satisfaction with
efforts of Myanmar.

He attended the Tenth Destruction of narcotic drugs seized by Law Enforcement
Agencies, tested the drugs before the destruction and set them afire.  He was
taken by special flights to Kengtung, Mongyang, Hotawng, Hsilu and Pankai
areas covered by the Drug Control Project jointly implemented by Myanmar,
People's Republic of China and UNDCP.   He witnessed the project activities
there.  He also signed an agreement extending the polot project for Wa
southern region for six months.

Mr. Giorgio Giacomelli is the Executive Director of UNDCP headquarters in
Vienna, Austria, a senior official.  We had high regards for him as a
gentleman in charge of UN drug control activities.  In connection with drug
control measures taken in Myanmar, he said in Bangkok that Myanmar was
determined to cut output in Khun Sa's former zone and that there was a danger
that opium growing would rise elsewhere as a result.  He said he was convinced
Myanmar Government would significantly decrease the local contribution to
trafficking but it could have balloon effect, and that drugs could be produced
somewhere else nearby.

Mr. Giorgio Giacomelli said Myanmar officials told him that they would take
direct control of Khun Sa's opium growing areas and would not cede control to
drug-producing ethnic militias.

While in Myanmar, Mr. Giorgio Giacomelli was treated well.  But under the
arrangement of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident
Representative, he stealthily met the wife of the man with the long nose at the
UNDP office in the afternoon of 11 February 1996.  He did so in disregard of
the hospitality extended to him, without paying attention to his dignity and
not in concert with his job.  He then had clandestine discussions not in
favour of drug control measures taken in Myanmar.

Was it becoming an Executive Director of UNDCP and a head of a UN agency?  It
is something to be taken into consideration by the citizens of big nations.

This amounts to belittling measures taken by Myanmar as a national
responsibility against narcotic drugs threatening the human race.  It is
incompatible with the status of a gentleman.  It smacks of an ungentlemanly
act.

(4) Hence, democracy advocates of the people who are perpetuating ill schemes
against our nation; those who regard such people as stepfathers; and those who
would like to serve such people like slaves, wives or husbands do; all those
traitorous axe-handles are to be notified as follows:

--Who and which nation introduced the opium poppy seeds and who encouraged the
growing of the plant?

--Who opened the opium dens and made the local national races become popium
addicts?

--Who allowed licit cultivation of opium poppy and drug trafficking in Shan
State, Kachin State and hill regions?

--Who sent KMT troops to border areas in Shan State?  Who assisted the KMT
remnants and made them engage in growing of opium poppy and drug trafficking?

--Who kindled the insurgency?

--Who sent aid to U KHun Sa's MTA in the past?

--Do the legal experts and advisers understand the term returning to the legal
fold after unconditional surrender?

--The return to the legal fold of armed groups including unconditional
surrender of U Khun Sa's MTA men contributes to national reconsolidation and
combating drugs which cause the loss of human lives.  Why don't they welcome
such constructive measures for people's interest?

(5) They are critical of such an accomplishment relaized out of our own
efforts because they aim at pushing the nation back to servitude after causing
disintegration of the Union, division among the national races and the loss of
independence and soverignty.

All the people who are against the disintegration of the Union but for national
solidarity and perpetuation of soverignty, and who love the race and the
country, are urged to strive for realization of the twelve objectives of the
State as befitting citizens.

May the entire human race be free from the danger of narcotic drugs.

(end of article)
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