'Golden triangle' opium crop drops 29 percent

Vientiane Times, 17.10.2006

The total area of opium poppy plantations in the 'golden triangle' of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar declined by 29 percent this year, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Representative, Mr Leik Boonwaat.

The sub-region currently produces only five percent of the world's opium, reflecting an overall decline in production of 85 percent since 1998.

Mr Boonwaat spoke with the media yesterday at a press conference in Vientiane to launch the golden triangle opium survey. He related the decrease in illicit drug cultivation to the 10-year targets established by the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on drugs.

He quoted UNODC Executive Director, Mr Antonio Maria Costa, who said "This remarkable success in the golden triangle region in the reduction of illicit drugs is so far unmatched anywhere in the world, and represents an important step towards eliminating the cultivation of illicit crops worldwide."

UNODC's 2006 survey of opium poppy cultivation in the golden triangle shows that the total area under cultivation in the three countries fell to 24,160 hectares this year from 34,720 in 2005.

"It is essential to ensure that the remarkable progress that has been made in the region is maintained. This will require greater investment in poor, often remote, rural communities. Farmers need to feel confident that alternative livelihoods are sustainable. Otherwise, the temptation to return to opium poppy farming will be too great."

Laos and Thailand are now almost opium free. Nevertheless, both countries have seen some new poppy plantations this year, starting from a very low base.

The two countries have both reached such low levels of cultivation that they are no longer significant exporters of opium.

In Myanmar, cultivation fell by 34 percent to 21,500 hectares, representing an 83 percent drop since 1998. However, the country remains the world's second largest opium poppy grower.

On the other hand, Afghanistan saw a 59 percent increase in opium production in 2006, with 165,000 hectares bringing a yield of 6,100 tonnes and making it the source of over 92 percent of the world's illicit opiates, said Boonwaat.

"We stand with the Lao government in its effort to check recidivist opium production, control trafficking and curb the abuse of illicit drugs including amphetamines and heroin."

The 2005 survey assisted in developing programmes to provide alternative livelihoods to 1,000 villages that formerly planted opium poppies.

Currently, 50 percent of these villages have direct access to assistance if they are in urgent need of support, according to the Vice Chairman of the Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision, Mr Kideng Thammavong.

He also said that there were 10,000 opium addicts still in need of treatment, and 50,000 others had already been treated.

"Our country still faces the problem of amphetamine use among young people, especially high risk students aged 15 to 19," he said.

Measures to control amphetamine use have followed four guidelines: providing awareness of the dangers of drugs, collecting information as to who is selling and buying the drugs, opening more treatment centres, and using law enforcement directly.

The region was first called the golden triangle in 1971 by the then American Assistant Secretary of State, Marshall Green, to draw attention to the large scale production of opium in the tri-border area of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar at that time.

By Panyasith Thammavongsa
(Latest Update October 17, 2006)