Information Sheet NO. A-0097(I)

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                           Information Sheet 
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NO. A-0097(I)                                  Date. 20-8-97


(1)  MCWA  Provides Stipend to Poor Students in Pathein

		Pathein Township Maternal and Child Welfare Association presented  stipend
and school uniforms to the poor students at Eya Shwewa Hall in Pathein 
township on 17 August.

(2)  Red Cross Medal (First Class) posthumously awarded to Maung Than Hsaing

 		Member of Mayangon Township Red Cross Brigade Maung Than Hsaing, who died
while on duty, was awarded posthumously the Red Cross Medal (First Class) for
outstanding performance at the Myanmar Red Cross Society meeting hall here.
Speaking on the occasion, MRCS President Dr. Hla Bu said Maung Than Hsaing
was taking care of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which was brought from the
People?s Republic of China and kept for public homage in the Maha Pasana
Cave, and assisting the pilgrims on 25 December 1996. He then died in a bomb
explosion, he said. The highest honour of MRCS would be awarded to him
posthumously for discharging duty fully.  Dr. Hla Bu presented the Red Cross
Medal (First Class) to mother Daw Hnin Yi.

(3)  Aungmyay village in Tachilek gets new dispensary

                  A dispensary was opened in Aungmyay Model Village in
Taunglek  Village-tract, Tackilek Township, Tachilek District, eastern Shan
State, on 13 August. The dispensary was then transferred to the Ministry of
Health, which gave assistance in building.

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OFFICE CALLS IN YANGON ON 19 AUGUST

(A)		Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Deputy Prime Minister
Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Managing Director Mr. David R Walton
Masters of Merry Investment Management Ltd. of Hong Kong and party at his
office.

(B)		Minister for Hotels and Tourism Lt.Gen. Kyaw Ba received Managing
 Director Mr. Chongcharern Thitadilaka of Moey Riverside Complex Co. Ltd,
Thailand, at his office.

(C)		Minister for Transport Lt.Gen. Thein Win received a delegation led by
Managing Director Mr. Y M Pang of Jaya Holdings Ltd. Singapore, at his
office.

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	We present an article ?Employing three anti-drug tactics? for your reading:-

?Employing three anti-drug tactics?
		
		Realizing ill-effects of narcotic drugs and existence of armed groups
hindering national and regional progress, the State Law and Order Restoration
Council, out of sincere goodwill towards national brethren in the border
areas, took unprecedented remedial measures. These positive steps were soon
rewarded. Armed groups decided to exchange arms for peace and join hands with
the government to implement development projects in their respective regions.
Residents of those areas have given up opium poppy cultivation and turned to
agriculture, livestock breeding and other livelihood for crop  substitution
and job substitution as arranged by the authorities.

		In the middle of last month, seized narcotic drugs were destroyed in Laukki
in northern Shan State. These included 783 kilos of opium, 64 blocks of
heroin weighing 21 kilos and a considerable amount of precursor chemicals.
The people of the area have been anxious to follow the example of the Mongla
Special Region-4 which has already declared itself as Opium Free Zone.

		Local people and law enforcement authorities are working together in the
fight against narcotic drugs. As a result, a record amount of opium
refineries, chemicals, paraphernalia and heroin had seized in the entire Shan
State. This was disclosed by
 Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development
Affairs in his address at Laukki last month.

		The people of Myanmar are combating drug abuse as a national duty.
Non-governmental organizations today also play a vital role in this respect.
Significant success has been achieved in community-based treatment,
rehabilitation and education programmes.

		The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law was promulgated to meet
international standards. The Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC)
is employing three tactics, namely, supply reduction, demand reduction and
law enforcement. In addition to her national efforts, the Union of Myanmar is
cooperating with her neighbours and UN agencies to combat the global menace.

		The Union of Myanmar is determined to carry on combating this
socio-economic problem by employing all available means.


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