The National League for Democracy (NLD) should include drug prevention in its 2020 election policies, urged the Mon State Affairs Committee. The committee noted there has been no change or update to the NLD’s youth policy on this matter since 2015.
A national youth policy was ratified in January 2018. In 2019, a Union level Committee was formed to oversee the youth policy, and appointed 27 members. It also formed state level youth committees. However, from 2015 to the present, there has been no implementation strategy, pointed out Nai Nyanseik Rarmarn, an adviser with the Mon Youth Forum.
U Kyi Zaw Lwin, Secretary of the Mon State Youth Affairs Committee noted that not only the NLD party, but all parties should address drug prevention issues in their policies, because it has become a national problem. He added, political parties must be prepared to fulfill their promises.
“Our Mon State youth group drafted a policy on drugs and other issues related to youth policy. But the government must listen to what we have to say. The new government in 2020 needs to take the responsibility in implementing our policy. We will again urge [the government to consider] why this issue is important in our country, and we are going to force the political parties to talk about it. They should cooperate to implement it,” said U Kyi Zaw Lwin.
Nai Nyanseik Rarmarn, added the incoming government should take greater actions in [fighting against] drug abuse, and drug trafficking, by having campaign activities, and promoting greater education awareness. The issue should also be included in the school curriculum.
“Just including the drug issue in the youth policy is not enough. This issue is relevant to the whole country. We also need a leader to implement it. We then need to collaborate with the police to provide drug education, and take effective action taken against traffickers. The government does work on that, but we have not been able to eradicate the drug problem because it is linked to corruption, “ said Nai Nyanseik Rarmarn.
Political parties’ candidates competing in the 2020 election have included in their campaigns references to the need for youth development, and some parties have drafted policies on related issues such as education, and employment opportunities.
