Information Sheet No.A-0815

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MYANMAR  INFORMATION  COMMITTEE
YANGON

Information  Sheet
No.A-0815                    (I) 24 Feb, 1999

(1) 		Secretary-1 Receives High-level Economic Delegation of Singapore

		Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt
received High-level Economic Delegation led by Minister of Trade and Industry
Mr. Lee Yock Suan, Minister of Communications Mr. Mah Bow Tan and Minister of
National Development Mr. Lim Hng Kiang who called at the Tatmadaw (Defence
Services) Guest House on Inya Road on 23 February.

(2)		Myanmar-Singapore Third Joint Ministerial Working Committee Meeting Held

		Myanmar-Singapore Third Joint Ministerial Working Committee Meeting was held
at the hall of Tatmadaw (Defence Services) Guest House on Inya Road on 23
February. They discussed enhancing cooperation in agriculture, livestock
farming, tourism, economy and trade and human resources development sectors
under the bilateral economic cooperation programme. Chief Executive of
Singapore Tourism Board Mr. Yeo Khee Leng presented Tourism Consultancy Study
Report to Director-General of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. The meeting
ended with the concluding remarks by Minister Lee Yock Suan and the
Secretary-1.

(3)		Japanese Grass Roots Grant Assistance for Ministry of Health

		A signing ceremony of Japanese Grass Roots Grant Assistance was held in the
meeting hall of Medical Research Department on Ziwaka Street on 23 February.
Mr. Kazuo Asakai, Japanese Ambassador explained the purpose of granting
assistance. Then, Mr. Kazuo Asakai and medical superintendents signed and
exchanged documents. According to Japanese Grass Roots Grant Assistance,
medical equipment worth US $ 382,452 will be provided for hospitals and
training schools under the Ministry of Health.

(4)		Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement Between Myanmar and Singapore
					Singed 

		Signing Ceremony for Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement between Myanmar
and Singapore was held at the hall of Tatmadaw Guest House on Inya Road 23
February. Minister for Finance and Revenue of Myanmar and Minister of National
Development of Singapore Mr. Lim Hng Kiang signed the Avoidance of Double
Taxation Agreement between Myanmar and Singapore and exchanged it.

(5)		Ministers of Republic of Singapore Arrive to Attend Third Singapore-
Myanmar 				JMWC Meeting


		Minister for Trade and Industry Mr. Lee Yock Suan, Minister for
Communications Mr. Mah Bow Tan and Minister for National Development Mr. Lim
Hng Kiang and party of the Republic of Singapore arrived Yangon by air on 23
February to attend the Third Myanmar-Singapore Joint Ministerial Working
Committee (JMWC) Meeting. Before the Third Myanmar-Singapore Joint Ministerial
Working Committee (JMWC) Meeting, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Trade
and Industry of Singapore Mr. Ho Meng Kit and party, who arrived Yangon on 22
February, attended the Third Senior Officials Meeting of the Two Countries
held at International Business Centre on Pyay Road in the afternoon.

Special Feature

		This office is presenting an article entitled " Like the Black Elephant not
Daring to Look at the White One in the Face" written by Kappiya Kankaung which
appeared in the New Light of Myanmar dated 23rd February, 1999 for your
reading pleasure.
Like the black elephant not daring to look at the white one in the face
		The National League for Democracy Party is  echoing the voice of some
Western big nations which heap the blame on Myanmar concerning the narcotic
drugs problem which is posing danger to the entire mankind in the world. This
way they are cursing the government. It must be assumed that they are trying
to cover up the criminal acts of the world's drug war lords.
		Who is behind the international drug production, distribution and
trafficking? To give a specific answer to this question it will be necessary
to dig out the years and figures of tons of opium and it is likely that all
will get mixed up; as such, Dennis Small in his paper titled "Britain's '
Dope, Inc '  grows to $ 321 Billion" said the best way would be to make the
world known the charges at the world-famous Nuremberg trial. The charge has
been, 
		"known, or to be known" 
		Joseph Brewda, on his part, gave answer to that question with a title which
said, "Britain's Opium Wars: two centuries, and going strong". 
		The British narcotic drugs business had taken the form of drug dealers since
19th century. The abuse of narcotic drugs then spread in the world. In its
sales and distribution, it gave instructions, engaged in banking services,
drafted plans, sought markets and set up 
bodies to manipulate blackmarketing. It was the undercover British narcotic
drugs company that schemed to destroy the nation of the Paukphaws (Chinese). 
		It has been described that thanks to its good planning and contacts around
the world, its business was not confined to narcotic drugs alone but it was
also engaged in armed sales, smuggling of money and money laundering which
were all related to criminal acts.
		It has been stated that it was an ideal policy of the British to use opium
as weapon to destroy China in the 19th century and even in the current 20th
century they continue to use opium as a weapon against certain countries which
they would like to destroy. 
		It has been stated that opium is used not only as a business but also as an 
instrument in a bid to revive the old British empire. Moreover, it is used as
a powerful weapon to destroy social structures throughout the world. 

		A Briton named CR Wright introduced the notorious heroin No 4 in the world
in 1874.
		In 1842-44 and 1856-60, the British waged wars against China with the
pretext of calling on her to lift the ban on consumption of opium throughout
China. The second opium war broke out because it demanded more concessions
from China with the belief  that those it won after the first opium war were
few.
		The British applied pressure on the Chinese Government to legalize the opium
business. Due to this incident human lives between 20 and 30 million were
killed directly and over 70 million were killed indirectly.
		The Chinese had to yield to the demands of the British and sign numerous
peace treaties. As a result, the British had been able to monopolise the opium
trade. It has been 
described that the British merchants dominated China with poison.
		Around 1850, the British exported 3,210 tons of opium to China from India
which was under their administration. In 1880, they exported 5,880 tons of
opium. Moreover, the British secured the right to plant opium poppy and to
sell the product. In 1900, they planted opium almost in all parts of China.
		They did so not merely for business but to cause destruction to the social
life of the Chinese people. Around 1900, the number of opium consumers in
China stood at 13.5 million and the volume of opium they consumed amounted to
22,600 tons. 
		According to the 1995 record, only 2,560 tons of opium were produced in 
South-East Asia Golden Triangle region. It was the one tenth of opium that
Chinese consumed and the British distributed in 1900. The British gained much
benefits by growing poppy in India and selling opium in China. They provided
assistance to poor Indians  and many Indians became opium-eaters. 
		In 1860, the British expanded its opium trading and grew poppy in Iran and
Turkey Ottoman Empire. The opium  output in India was to supply opium tonnage
needed in China.
		Opium  consumption that grew in 19th century spread to the United States
through Europe. In 1909, under the pressure of the US, the British declared
that poppy plantation and opium trafficking illegal. It was said that the
announcement helped the British gain more profits.
		Up to 1927, income taxes realized from opium trading were the largest income
earned from the British Asian colony nations under the British crown. Later,
they got profits by selling opium to the people in those colony countries. 
		It was reported that poppy is being cultivated legally or illegally and
opium is being produced in the once British colonized nations, those from
British Commonwealth and those under the influence of the British. Joseph
Brewda described that former colony nations except Myanmar are still under the
influence of the British up to now. 
		Out of five million heroin addicts up to 1995, there are nearly one million
heroin addicts in the United States and another one million in Europe and
another one million in India. And the rest are opium-eaters in the various
nations of the world.
		It is reported that opium production for 1995 is 2500 tons from the list of
the 

countries that produced opium  and its products legally. Illegal opium
production is 4467 tons.  It is known that 97% are produced from British
monopolized nations and their business. The rest 3 percent are produced from
other nations including Myanmar. Joseph Brewda expressed on 26 July 1996 issue
of Executive Intelligence Report (EIR) that it is the British who monopolized
80% of legal production and 97% of illegal production of opium. For those who
want to study in details it is advised to read 7 January 1997 issue of
Wunthanu Journal with detailed list, maps and photos.
		I am bewildered by the difference between legal and illegal cultivation of
poppy.
		It is heard that Britain announced that it would not attend the
International Heroin Conference of International Police (Interpol) to be held
in Yangon.
		Yes! It is an embarrassing situation and there is the saying that a black
elephant dares not look at the white elephant in the face.

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