By Ashin Mettacara
Burma or the great pot of drug
The opium production in Burma is jumping . UN drug agency also said that Burma's increased by 46 percent from 2006 to 2007. After Afghanistan Burma is the world's largest opium producer. The only problem is that the military government itself is involved in drug trafficking. Son of Lt-Gen Ye Myint [a high-ranking general], Aung Zaw Ye Myint was arrested the last week of May for alleged drug trafficking. Nay Shwe Thway Aung , the favorite grandson of Senior General Than Shwe, is reportedly involved in using drugs. Two men close to Than Shwe's grandson were arrested by police on suspicion of procuring ecstasy pills for him. In Burma, several top military leaders' family members , businessmen, and film stars are involved in drugs. Maung Waik [a well-known business crony] were arrested in connection with drugs, and a film actress Nawaratt, a close friend of Aung Zaw Ye Myint, was also detained for alleged drug trafficking. A Burmese popular film director Mike Tee was arrested in the first week of September for alleged drug prossession. Last year, a famous actor, Dwe, died of heart failure caused by a drug overdose. The Burmese military government said that they arrested 420 drug traffickers last month. But the government itself is actively encouraging drug groups to invest their profits, and some drug money is being used to supplement government funding of development projects. In conclusion, I would like to say that drug dealers and abusers in Burma include military, government, businessmen and film-music stars.
