A drug treatment and rehabilitation center is currently being constructed at the Dayhtakon Swa, near WaeZin Village, Ye Township, Mon State. Mon monks, representatives from NMSP, Mon Unity Party, and Mon CSOs met on May 10 to discuss the project.
The New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Mon ethnic armed group, called upon Mon civil society organizations (CSOs), monks, and the public to support the drug treatment and rehabilitation efforts, according to Min Aung Htoo, of NMSP’s Technical Support Team.
“There aren’t any problems, yet, since we are only in the process of constructing the camp. But after construction is complete, people from every sector should help and cooperate on long-term projects of raising awareness and sharing knowledge, stopping drug consumption, and carrying out the rehabilitation process,” said Min Aung Htoo.
Min Aung Htoo continued, exclaiming the government should implement programs for drug elimination and rehabilitation. However, since the level of drug consumption has gone up in the area, the NMSP has had to take on the responsibility.
“At the moment, we are having some difficulty finishishing the construction, since we do not have a big enough budget. So, we need donors who can support this,”said Nai Layie Mon, the person in-charge of the rehabilitation center in Dayhtakon Swa.
The Mon Youth Progressive Organization, Mon Youth Educator Organization and Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) and other drug elimination and rehab groups agreed to assist in the drug elimination and drug rehab projects.
The NMSP has rehab centers in its Thaton District and Mawlamyine District, where young people, often brought by their parents, are receiving treatment. The number of drug addicts committed to rehab is increasing year by year, along with the number of the drug dealers and users being arrested.
