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S.H.A.N. presents grassroots drug report

Drugs

Taking 21 months in the making, 12 in collecting basic data and the rest in drafting the report and collecting additional data, S.H.A.N., that an independent media group, has finally put out a 74-page view from the ground report on one of its admittedly "unhealthy" topics, drugs. 

Its Show Business: Rangoon "War on Drug" in Shan State findings include, among others: 

• Involvement of the Army's personnel in the drug business as a means of subsidizing its expenditures at the field level 

• Staging of anti-drug "show case" campaign in northern Shan State, the resulting decrease in output there totally neutralized by the escalation of production in the south and east 

• Raids on refineries that targeted only smaller players which merely served to consolidate control of the refineries into the hands of the major drug operators 

• High-profile drug traffickers none of whom have been prosecuted under the new anti-money laundering legislation introduced in 2002 

• The shortage of state drug treatment centers 

• The cosmetic attempts at crop substitution that were poorly planned with complete disregard for the welfare of the local populations 

• And, last but not least, Rangoon's placing as top priority of the ultimate destruction of all signs of opposition above everything else, including the eradication of drugs 

Not surprisingly, the report concludes that national reconciliation, accompanied by political reform, is the only way through which Burma's drug problems, as well as other social ills, can be solved. 

S.H.A.N., long known for its reports on the drug situation in Shan State, had visited the northern, southern and eastern of Shan State for the purpose to conduct "back-door interviews" of hundreds of people, who poured out their hearts to speak of things that they were unable to say the foreign visitors under the watchful eyes and ears of Burmese government officials. Among them were government servants, traders, officers from armed groups that have ceasefire agreements with Rangoon, truck drivers, farmers, gamblers, inmates of drug-factories, drug couriers, addicts and refugees. 

"We are presenting, in good faith, what we have discovered in the course of our inquiry" said S.H.A.N. spokesman, Khuensai Jaiyen. "It will be up to the policy makers in Washington, Europe, Asia and the UN to decide as to what course they should take with regards to Burma." 

According to the New Light of Myanmar, Burma was chosen as a member of the UN Drug Commission in April 2003 to serve from 2004-2007. 

For the full report, please visit http://www.shanland.org/Drugs/Show_Business/show_business.htm