Drug Czar Cites Burma Problem

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/* Written  8:52 pm  Jun 19, 1994 by mtaylor@xxxxxxxxx in igc:soc.cult.burma */
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The folllowing article appeared in the Washington Post, page A-11, on 
Friday, June 17, 1994.
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Drug Official Cites BUrma Problem;
Cooperation Against Heroin Lacking as U.S> Puts Pressure on Regime
(By Jason Vest)
Although international heroin use and production are on the rise, the 
U.S. government may have difficulty doing anything about it because of 
one of its own policies, federal drug control policy director Lee P. 
Brown said yesterday.

After a fact-finding trip to six Southeast Asian nations, Brown said 
officials in every country he visited told him the only way to make 
progress in the fight against heroin would be to cooperate with BUrma, 
which produces 90 percent of Southeast Asia's heroin.

However, after a Clinton administration interagency policy review last 
year concluded that Burma's militar junta perpetuates drug trafficking 
and human rights violations, the United States initiated an arms embargo 
against Burma.  Burma also was placed on the U.S. list of "pariah 
states," making it difficult for the country to get money from 
international lending agencies.  The administration has considered 
imposing stiffer economic sanctions.

While such actions are merited, said Brown, who did not visit Burma, they 
don't lend themselves to a collaborative atmosphere.  "We've been relying 
on our allies in the region to deal with BUrma--right now, we're not 
doing anything on cooperation with Burma on the anti-drug issue," Brown 
said.  "We do need to see some progress wiht human rights there.  (BUt) 
if we're going to deal with the (heroin) problem, BUrma has to be dealt 
with."

Brown added that although he does not have specific ideas yet on how to 
address the Burmese problem, he will meet with members of Congress to 
discuss the issue and plans to present a report to the president in about 
a month.

The U.S. government estimates that about 3,700 tons of raw opium--much of 
it used in the manufacture of heroin--were produced worldwide last year.  
Though Middle Eastern countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan 
contributed 825 tons to the world market, the vast majority--2,797 
tons--came from the Golden Triangle of Burma, Thailand and Laos, 
according to the estimates.

The United States consumes 6 percent of the world's heroin supply, 
according to federal officials. 

Federal officials said it is nearly impossible to work with BUrma on drug 
issues becasue its junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council, 
has taken a unique approach to maintaining law and order:  It makes deals 
with drug lords in unstable enclaves of the country.

"As much as we'd like to set up an effective counter-narcotics program 
with BUrma, at best, they're not serious about controlling drugs, and at 
worst, they're in league with traffickers," said a congressional foreign 
affairs aide.

Brown said he was impressed by the Laotian drug-control plan.  "It seeks 
to reduce boht poppy cultivation and drug addiction by the year 2000," he 
said.  "It also calls for judicial reform and for new legislation . . . 
(The plan) could serve as a model for other (opium) producing 
countries."  Brown's visit to Laos was the first made by a U.S. Cabinet 
official since 1975.  

Borwn also visited Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Japan.
(end of article)