The New Light of Myanmar(Sunday, 7 Mar, 1999)

[Ok Kar <OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx>]

The New Light of Myanmar(Sunday, 7  Mar, 1999)

(1) State Peace and Development Council Chairman & Prime Minister Senior
General Than Shwe to visit Thailand
(2) Senior General Than Shwe takes part  in State Peace and  Development
Council  Chairman?s
Bowl   Golf  Tournament
(3) Secretary-1 meets nations race leaders of Shan State Nationalities
People's Liberation Organization (SSNPLO)
(4) Progress of Fourth International Heroin Conference reviewed
(5) Illegal VCDS, DVDS, LDs, tapes,
(6) 51 members resign from Pyinmana Township NLD
(7) 205 members resign from Lewe Township NLD
(8) Hotels to be leased

______________________________________

(1) State Peace and Development Council Chairman & Prime Minister Senior
General Than Shwe to visit Thailand

YANGON, 7 March -At the invitation of His Excellency Mr Chuan Leekpai, Prime
Minister of Thailand, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and
Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar, Senior General Than Shwe will pay a
goodwill visit to the Kingdom of Thailand in the near future.
_____________________________________

(2) Senior General Than Shwe takes part  in State Peace and  Development
Council  Chairman?s
Bowl   Golf  Tournament

YANGON, 6 March - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior
General Than Shwe took part in 1998 State Peace and Development Council
Chairman's Bowl Golf Tournament at Yemon Island Golf Club in Yemon Tatmyo
Hlegu Township, Yangon Division, this morning.   

The Senior General, accompanied by officials of the State Peace and
Development Council Office, arrived at Yemon Island Golf Club at 7.10 am
today.

The Senior General and party were welcomed by Vice-Chairman of the State Peace
and Development Council General Maung Aye, Secretary-3 of the State Peace and
Development Council Lt-Gen Win Myint, members of the State Peace and
Development Council Commander-in-Chief (Navy) ViceAdmiral Nyunt Thein,
Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Kyaw Than and Chairman of Yangon Division
Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Deputy Prime
Ministers, ministers, the deputy ministers, departmental officials and
golfers.

Senior General Than Shwe took part in the golf tournament with the golfers and
left the golf club in the afternoon.

____________________________________


(3) Secretary-1 meets nations race leaders of Shan State Nationalities
People's Liberation Organization (SSNPLO)


YANGON, 6 March-Chairman of work Committee for Development of Border area and
National Races Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen
Khin Nyunt met National Races Shan State Nationalities People's Liberation
Organization (SSNPLO) U Takleh and party who had return to the legal fold at
Tatmadaw Guests House on Inya Road. at 4 Pm today.

Also present on the occasion were Minister for Education U Than Aung, Deputy
Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo, Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Thuya
Aye Myint, Deputy Minister for forestry Brig-Gen Soe Myint heads of
department.

The discussed Education, Health, transport, extending cultivated acreage and
Regional development matters.

____________________________________

(4) Progress of Fourth International Heroin Conference reviewed


YANGON, 6 March A review meeting on holding of the Fourth International Heroin
Conference was held at the Ministry of Home Affairs this afternoon, attended
by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Also present at the meeting were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung,
Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Border Areas and
National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, deputy ministers, the
Deputy Attorney-General, the Deputy Commander, the Director-General of Myanmar
Police Force, officials of the State Peace and Development Council office,
departmental heads, members of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control
(CCDAC), members of the Leading Committee for organizing the conference and
sub-committees.
In his address, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt spoke about Myanmar's hosting of the Fourth
International Heroin Conference from 23 to 26 February with the sponsorship of
the Interpol and cited its objectives.
He said that while Myanmar is striving for eradication of narcotic drugs, the
menace to the entire humanity, with national outlook, it energetically
cooperated and hosted the conference.
For Myanmar's hosting of the conference, the US and some European countries
criticized 'the Interpol and made protests against it under the pretexts of
democracy and human rights, and persuaded other members not to attend the
conference, he said.
As Myanmar has already resolved for eradication of narcotic drugs with
national conviction, the conference could be organized in Yangon with the
encouragement and support of the Interpol, he said and added that the nations
which attended the conference must be recognized as those having done an act
of preventing the danger against the entire human race.
The Secretary-1 noted that despite some nations' protests against the
conference, 70 officials of 27 nations, two organizations and the Interpol
attended the conference this was success of the Interpol and the host nation
Myanmar.
He also spoke of the opportunity for the delegates to witness the annual
destruction of the seized narcotic drugs, visit Laukkai region where poppy
substitute crop cultivation project is being carried out for eradication of
narcotic drugs and study Myanmar government's measures for eradication of
narcotic drugs and, law enforcement bodies' actions for supply reduction so
that they can let the world know these facts through media, and noted that
this will automatically turn down the one-sided accusations made by the West
bloc.
He said that Myanmar Police Force had the experience of hosting the six MOU
nation meeting in 1995 before organizing the conference and noted that there
might be some weaknesses in the programmes, the conference was successful also
due to collaboration of other related ministers and departments, the Office of
the Strategic Studies and the Directorate of Defence Services Intellingence
and Yangon Command.
The Secretary-1 also dealt with ancient Myanmar Kings' efforts for eradication
of the deadly drugs, the British's distribution of opium in Myanmar brought in
from
India after the First Anglo-Myanmar War in 1826, spread of
The deadly drugs within three years after the annexation, the British's
establishment of poppy planations on Chin Hills, Kachin region and Shan region
after bringing in the seeds from Assam. India the KMT troops' monopoly of
opium cultivation and opium prodution in northern and eastern Shan State in
1968, the successive governments' endeavours
For control of narotic drugs and various operations against on opium
refineries, and traffickers.
He said that due to the governments's goodwill and correct actions of the
national brethren, 17 armed groups returned to the legal fold.
Seizures made by Tatmadaw, MPF and Customs Departments
>From 18-9-88 to 31-12-98 were as follows;__
opium 28,385.891 kilos
herion 4,125.3104 kilos
Marijuana 6,606.235 kilos
Phensedyl 33,807.8114 kilos
ephedrine 6,239.1221 kilos
stimulats 26,961,843 tablats
other chemicals 43,003.35 gallons
and 98 opium refineries were destroyed.
Seized drugs were destroyed in Yangon for the 13 times.
opium 20,523.581 kilos
heroin 3,291.341 kilos
morphein 192.469 kilos
opium oil 126.30 kilos
liquid opium 85.698 kilos
marijuana 3,443.457 kilos
Phensedyl 25,112.774 litres
Injection with opium 1,405 bottles
Comethazine 6,708.95 litres
Stimulants 23,574,284 tablets were destroyed.
National people themselves destroyed the following narcotic drugs in border
areas for 19 times.
Poppy plantation 7,836 acres
Opium refinery 21
Opium 3,122.383 kilos
Heroin 405.905 kilos
Morphine 245.67 kilos
Phensedyl 689.75 litres
Low grade opium 59.472 kilos
Stimulants 715,492 tablets
Acetic andydride 4,159 gallons
Other chemicals 5,973 gallons
Other chemicals power 2,320.49 kilos
Altogether 82,469.32 acres and 326.,83 tons of opium were destroyed from 1998
to 31 December 1998.
He said Myanmar made a lot of seizures and destruction of narcotic drugs, but
some big nations it.
He said Myanmar carried out above-mentioned anti-drug activities in her own
way and with the cooperation of international communities.Myanmar signed
international conventions such as The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs,
1961,The Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, and The United Nations
Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narotic Drugs and Psycho-tropic
Substances, 1988, he added.
Continuing, he said, Myanmar cooperated with DEA of the United States
beginning 1974. It has also signed bilateral narcotic drugs control agreements
with India, Bangladesh,Vietnam, the Russian Federation, LPDR and the
Philippines and Memorandum of Understanding on narcotic drugs control in the
Sub-region with China, LPDR, Thailand and UNDCP.
The Secretary-1 said after Myanmar became a member of ASEAN, it took part in
ASEAN's anti-drug and cooperation programmes. Myanmar is committed to supply
control and demand reduction with or without international assistance.

He spoke on implementation of the 15-year project on eradication of narcotic
drugs in accord with the guidance of Senior General Than Shwe,active
participation in the narcotic drugs crackdown under ancient Myanmar kings and
after regaining the independence and Myanmar's determination to implement the
present project successfully.
Minister Col Tin Hlaing recalled the offer to hold the Fourth International
Heroin Conference in Myanmar by In-temational Criminal Police Organization,
formation of Lead-ing Committee and Sub-committees, cooperation of respective
departments, holding of the 13th ceremony to destroy seized narcotic drugs,
arrangement on study tour to Lwe Hsat Village near Laukkai and Mongyaw for
delegates to the conference and officials of Interpol, success of the confer-
ence, delegates' satisfaction on arrangements and gaining benefits in
international cooperation and related work by publicizing anti-drug measures
among international communities.
Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung reported on
emergence of opportunity to hold the con-ference and measures undertaken for
successfully holding the conference.
Secretary of CCDAC Police Maj-Gen Soe Win reported on preparations and
measures undertaken and member of CCDAC on discussions and experience on study
tour in border areas.
Officials reported on work undertaken for the conference.
The Secretary-1 made a concluding speech.
He said the Leading Com-mittee and various sub-committees had successfully
carried out works on the conference. In holding international meetings and
State-sponsored ceremo-nies, the main department has to implement the work
with the assistance of other departments and such practice is successful.
He learnt that conference delegates witnessed the difference between what they
beard through some broadcasting stations and what they saw in Myanmar.
He said some broadcasting stations are attempting to downplay the true
situation in Myamnar and the govemment's anti-narcotic efforts without
reporting the truth about them.
He said the delegates would distribute authentic news and true situations in
Myanmar when they were back in their respective regions and they knew
Myanmar's efforts being made with difficulty for eradication of narcotic
drugs.
The Secretary-1 spoke on completion of records on the conference and other
matters.
______________________________________

(5) Illegal VCDS, DVDS, LDs, tapes,


YANGON, 6 March - Illegally imported VCDS, DVDs and LDs, video tapes on which
foreign films were copied from them, and uncensored foreign films were
destroyed at Aungthabyay Ye' Yeiktha, on Kyaikwaing Pagoda Road, Mayangon
Township, today.
The occasion was wit-nessed by members of the Central Committee for Video
Industry Security Board and the Motion Picture Censorship Board, officials and
guests.
Before setting them afire,Chairman of the Central Committee for Video Industry
Security Board Managing Director of Myanma Motion Picture Enterprise Col Bo
Kyi and Chairman of Myanmar Motion Picture Asiayon U Sein Tin ex-plained the
seizure of the video tapes, motion picture films and video laser discs.
Acting on information that Myanmar captioning in foreign films, and copying
and distrution of foreign films were carried out illegally while the
entrepreneurs were being organized to observe the TV and Video Law, Myanmar
Motion Picture Asiayon and the Video Industry Security Committees carried out
the scrutiny in Yangon and Mandalay in co-operation with the personnel of
Myanmar Police Force.
It was exposed that three shops in Yangon and eight shops in Mandalay were
found to be engaged in distributing tapes on which foreign films were copied
from the discs, and 912 VCDS, 30 DVDS, 1,582 LDs and 3,165 video tapes were
seized from the three shops in Yangon 2,770 VCDs and 6,336 uncensored video
tapes from eight shops in Mandalay.
The Central Committee for Video Industry Security Board of the Ministry of
Information took lenient action against those 11 shops, fined them, gave them
back the machines they used in copying and seized the VCDS, DVDs, LDs and
video tapes.

Meanwhile, an Indian citizen Mr Lagan Verma under the name of Lagan Company
brought in 13 uncensored foreign films which were shown in the cinemas leased
by the company.

Hence, Mr Lagan Verma was fined in foreign currency,Mr Lagan and his company
were blacklisted, and his visa to Myanmar revoked.
The destroyed discs, video tapes and motion picture films valued at K 50
million included the 13 foreign films illegally brought in by Mr Lagan and the
Pornographic stories such as "Night Class", "Playboy's Fresh Man",Manliness"
and "Kamasutra", and "Kamasutra",and they had not been through the Customs
Department or the Censor Boards.
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(6) 51 members resign from Pyinmana Township NLD


YANGON, 6 March- Fifty-one members resigned from the National League for
Democracy of Pyinmana Township, Mandalay Division.
Fifty-one members of Pyinmana Township NLD, Mandalay Division, on their own
volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Pyinmana Township
Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 22
February 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of
NLD.

____________________________________

(7) 205 members resign from Lewe Township NLD

YANGON, 6 March- Two hundred and five members including Chairman of Lewe
Township Nntional League for Democracy and Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Nyi
Nyi Tun of Lewe Township Constituency 2 resigned from` Lewe Township NLD,
Mandalay Division on 25 February 1999.

Two hundred and five members including Chairman of Lewe Township NLD and
Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Nyi Nyi Tun of Lewe Township Constituency 2,
on their own volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Lewe'
Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the party
concerned on 27 February 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party
politics of NLD. On 27 February 1999, personnel of the township NLD themselves
handed over the flag, seals and documents to the Township Multiparty Democracy
General Election Commission. ______________________________________


(8) Hotels to be leased

   

YANGON, 6 March-With the aim of encouraging the private sector participation
in hotel business, MraukU, Sittway and Ngapali Hotels of Myanma Hotels and
Tourism Services will be leased to private entrepreneurs through competitive
bidding in accord with the market economy,

Interested persons may submit the proposals not later than 31 March. Bidders
will be invited for coordination within two weeks after submission of the
proposal.


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