No opium without takers
Eradicating opium from Burma is simple. All you have to do is stop the refiners, the pushers and, above all, the drug users
U Win Naing
source :The Bangkokpost(15/07/01)
It is an undeniable fact that raw opium has been produced in some northern hilly areas of Burma during the past 150 years or so. Burmese had no knowledge of this drug until the British introduced it to Burma after the first Anglo-Burmese war in 1824. Since then, poor people living on the hills have been planting poppies to make a living.
These local inhabitants never invented anything to develop raw opium into finer drugs. They are simple farmers with little knowledge. They do not know what's going on 100 miles away, let alone the complicated process of producing and marketing narcotic drugs. They don't have the means to distribute the drugs all over the world. Heroin, methamphetamines and other angerous drugs are made by educated people with technical expertise. They are the "outsiders" who have access to drug-producing chemicals, which are again developed by intelligent people, not the ignorant farmers of Burma.
So who is responsible for the drug scourge?The farmers who grow the poppies? The laboratory workers who turn raw opium into heroin? The traffickers who transport the drugs to foreign markets? The wealthy people who run the drug syndicates? The countries that produce chemicals for drug refineries? Government officials who are involved in drug trafficking?And there are many more who are involved in this dirty business one way or another.
The world reaction to the ever-increasing production of drugs strongly centres on raw material producing countries like Burma, Afghanistan and Columbia. What has not been highlighted is the involvement of other countries which helped to transform the raw materials into marketable narcotic products. Countries like China, India and Thailand are equally responsible for the booming drug trade. They provide basic chemicals such as acetic anhydride, ephedrine and caffeine that are the vital ingredients in refining the opium. Special manufacturing tools and equipment are also made in these countries. Without these chemicals and manufacturing tools, the raw opium could not be developed into saleable drugs. The world should hold these chemical producing countries responsible as well-no more, no less.
If the international community is truly interested in wiping out narcotic drug production, it should work to stop the production of these chemicals or prevent them from getting into the hands of drug refiners.
SHARED GUILT
In every business a minimum of two parties have to participate to make a deal. Some people say drugs are produced because there are consumers. But others would say that consumers exist because drugs are available. To me, it works both ways-and it does not matter who started the cycle. The producer and the consumer always co-exist. Both are responsible for every single outcome of their actions.
Consumer nations like the Untied States of America, Great Britain and European countries are waging war against drug-producing countries. That is good, but why don't they wage the same kind of war against drug users in their own countries? When some states in the USA are trying to legalise drugs, how can they expect us to condemn the poor poppy growers?When a country tries to stem the flow of drugs from across the border, it should not forget to deter drug use on its own turf as well. I am deeply disappointed by Western media and anti-drug organisations which always downplay the role of drug-users and castigate the opium farmers.
I am not defending the drug producers. Far from it, I condemn them most ferociously. But I also condemn the rich pleasure-seekers of the so-called cultured countries. As long as there are people who can afford to buy drugs, there will be poor farmers who grow poppies for their survival. The most saddening difference between the two is that one is seeking pleasure and the other is doing it for his livelihood.
Ironically the pleasure-seekers are left alone while the poor farmers are condemned. I want to blame both parties with the same ferocity, and I want every other person in the world to do the same. Get rid of both as soon as possible and let us all work in unison and sincerity to achieve that goal.
LET'S BE HONEST
I most heartily welcome the new Thai prime minister's public pledge to work for the eradication of drugs in his country. I support his attempt to save young Thais from the drug scourge, and hope he will succeed in fighting drugs at the border as well. Let us join hands to fight the problem. If we go down you go down, and if you go down we will go down too. We are linked geographically, socially and economically, and we belong to Asean.
All we need is sincerity-sincerity to co-exist and to wipe out the drug problem which is destroying our peoples. Let us be honest with each other and try our best to be fair to each other. There is a Burmese saying that "We are both opium eaters, you and I, and you should not get intoxicated more than I do."There are many issues that have to be put forward for mutually acceptable solutions. For example, the decades-long issue of refugees, the issue of anti-Rangoon elements now taking sanctuary in Thailand, cross-border economic problems and many others. We can certainly settle these issues peacefully if we try to be fair to each other and we are willing to meet half way.
Be a good neighbour and thou shall be blessed.
U Win Naing is a pro-democracy activist living in Rangoon. Communications with him were cut off in October last year. This is his first article in nine months.