Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – The main ethnic Kachin ceasefire group is set to crack down on drug users and traffickers after a deadline yesterday, according to a narcotics eradication warning issued by the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO).
Meanwhile, drug users and traffickers around KIO headquarters at Laiza near the Sino-Burmese border were laying low, according to a source from the organisation, which has rejected the Burmese junta’s Border Guard Force (BGF) proposal that its armed wing be brought under Burmese Army command.
Meanwhile, drug prices have risen either nearly 100 per cent or doubled in areas close to Laiza. The heroin price rose to 3,500 kyat per coffee spoon from a previous 2,500 kyat; ya baa (crazy drug in Thai language) rose to 500 kyat per tablet from 250 kyat; and Khappone mixed with raw opium rose to 5,000 kyat per five balls.
Mizzima spoke to KIO drug-eradication committee spokesman Captain Naw Bu to ascertain further details about the programme.
How is the situation with drug addiction in Kachin State? What percentage of the population are drug users? In what age group are the majority of users?
There are a lot of drug users in Kachin State – around 60 to 70 per cent of young people … This is a rough estimate taken by judging the situation among the people. The age group of major users is people between 15 and 40.
Where are the opium refineries? How many refineries in Kachin State?
We are still investigating the exact locations of refineries and we don’t yet know their number or location.
How do these drugs reach users? From where do these drugs enter the state?
As far as we’ve heard, tablets can be produced even on mobile production units mounted on vehicles and their manufacture doesn’t need big factories … But we don’t yet know the practical knowledge. Most of the drugs found in Kachin State come from Shan State. Some think the drugs are produced on the border of Kachin State.
Are these drugs produced in Kachin State exported to China?
Maybe, but we can’t yet be certain.
There are well known drug dens in places such as Phakant. How will you suppress them? How will you eradicate drugs in other places?
We have a plan to carry out such tasks. As everyone knows, we have some difficulties in tackling these issues. But we plan to co-operate with various groups from religious, youth and women’s affairs, and with the general public. We assign them to conduct awareness campaigns on drug eradication among religious leaders, cultural leaders, youth leaders and local residents.
Will you give the same addiction treatment to soldiers as with other civilians at your treatment centres?
They’ve have had their own programmes but we plan to set up facilities for them.
Are there any offers from other organizations, local or foreign, for addiction treatment programmes?
Not yet, we are finding as many such organisations as we can. We hope drug-eradication organisations will provide assistance.
Does the junta offer to help you in this drug-eradication work? Have they ever given such assistance before?
Not for the time being. But the state will not give such assistance to us in this campaign. They have never given such assistance to us before. We had some co-operation with them in this area but only on a small scale.
What are the driving forces behind the KIO’s drug-eradication programme? Why are you only now starting this kind of work?
We have had our own drug-eradication programmes since 1964. But as everyone knows, we could not focus on this work as we had not yet reached a ceasefire agreement with the government … After 1991, we worked on drug-eradication programmes and suppression of opium growing. We now have to focus again on this work as there are growing drug-abuse cases in our state.
In Wa controlled areas, international NGOs such as the World Food Programme are giving assistance with such programmes. Why doesn’t the KIO let these organisations enter your state to conduct similar projects?
We have no such organisations for the time being. I think they don’t give such assistance to us as we do not give priority on this programme.
The KIO said today [October 15] it would take harsh action against drug abuse and drug trafficking. What sort of punishment will you mete out to violators, by which laws, and how will penalties be implemented?
We will first conduct a public awareness campaign. Then we will put them on trial and punish violators in accordance with the law. We will fine them in accordance with our law.
How have you taken action against drug traffickers drug users in the past?
We didn’t have a prison so we put them in the lock-up.
Are there any changes of situation among the drug traffickers and drug abusers at the moment after the KIO issued a stern warning about it?
I’ve heard that such cases are quite few at the moment around our Laiza headquarters.
How will the growing tension between the KIO and the junta affect your anti-drug efforts?
We will do our utmost despite whatever they say.
Captain, is there anything else you would like to say?
Our Kachin people badly need assistance from the international community for our drug-eradication and addiction treatment programmes.
