Government Plans and Programmes for Prevention of Human Trafficking Distribution and Supply of Electrical Power
[ 25th September, 2002 ]

The regular Press Conference of the Myanmar Information Committee was held in the Conference Hall of the Defence Services Guest House on 16 Inya Road at 10 am this morning.

  
Maj-Gen Kyaw Win explains at the regular press conference with local and foreign correspondents.

Vice Chief of the Military Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, high-ranking military officers of the Ministry of Defence, government departments, responsible officials of the Ministry of Information and Myanmar News and Periodicals Department, U Sein Win of Kyodo News Agency, Patron of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club U Hla Htwe, Chairman U Sao Khai Hpa and members and invited guests attended the press conference.

In his introductory remarks, Vice Chief of Military Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw Win stated that today’s press briefing was the regularly scheduled press conference, but that in particular, he would like to inform those present on how the Government has taken serious consideration of the crime of human trafficking and was therefore taking systematic measures countrywide to stamp out this monstrous crime. In recent days, brokers of this despicable crime have been apprehended while trying to smuggle young men and women of ethnic groups out of the country with tempting offers of well-paid jobs in an adjacent country. These young men and women of the ethnic however were rescued in time and put in the care of the authorities concerned and of the members of the Myanmar National Committee for Women’s Affairs who have been on field tours in the country. Members of the Women’s Affairs field observation team then met with the young men and women and explained to them the dangers they would face as illegal migrant workers in a foreign country and how some of these illegal migrants were mistreated and even tortured and killed by some foreign employers. However, these young men and women have all been returned safely, to their parents. The Government has already drawn up systematic and extensive plans and programmes whereby knowledge and information would be disseminated right down to the village-level countrywide to prevent and caution young people from repeating the same offense.

Maj-Gen Kyaw Win answers queries of journalists.	Managing Director U Yan Naing answers queries of journalists.	Prof. Daw Khin Aye Win answers queries of journalists.

With regard to the supply and distribution of electrical power managing director of the Electrical Power Enterprise of the Ministry of Electrical Power explained that in the Myanmar Electrical Power Grid, there were 8 Hydro-electric Power Plants with a generating capacity of 357 megawatts; 8 gas turbine plants with a generating capacity of 473.63 megawatts and 3 Waste Recycled Heating Plants with a generating capacity of 143.6 megawatts, making a total 974.23 megawatts of electricity being generated. At present distribution and supply of electrical power by the existing hydro-electrical power plants, natural gas power plants and waste recycled power plants total 590 megawatts. Recently due to the fact that there is now sufficient supply of natural gas and also because two gas turbines at Hlawgar have been repaired, they are now capable of generating additional electrical power. Hence, where the supply of electricity was 262 megawatts at the peak hours of demand, distribution and supply has now increased to 352 megawatts due to an increase of 90 megawatts. This increase of 90 megawatts is distributed to industrial zones during daytime hours. Of the 31 townships in the City, 21 townships now get a 24-hour supply. For the 10 remaining townships, and the 13 townships outside the City, electrical power supply and distribution remains on a rotation basis.

Then questions raised by the correspondents were answered by Vice Chief of Military Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, member of the Myanmar National Committee for Women’s Affairs and Head of the Education Group Daw Khin Aye Win and Managing Director of the Electrical Power Enterprise of the Ministry of Electrical Power U Yan Naing.

In replying to the questions, it was mentioned that most of the youths who made attempts to go across the border as illegal migrant workers were from the Shan State. Then there were also some youths from Mon State, Kayin State, Bago Division and Magwe Division. But the number of youths from the Shan State was larger due to the fact that they lived in a region with adjoining borders, which made travel easier and also because there was some affinity in the Shan language and some of the Thai dialects. It was also said that when the open season begins and travel is easier, which will be quite soon, small groups will be formed that will travel to the village-level countrywide to hold discussions and give educative talks on the dangers of falling victim to human trafficking. In addition films and video clips of real events that actually befell some unfortunate young women will be shown with a background dialogue in the dialect of the region. All forms of media will be used to disseminate information to reach the youths countrywide right down to the village level. Thus there are systematic and extensive plans  are underway and will soon be put into effect to counter the evils of human trafficking. With this the Press Conference came to an end at 10.45 am.