Tripartite anti-drugs agreement with Gov't, UNODC 'just a piece of paper' says ...

Tripartite anti-drugs agreement with Gov't, UNODC 'just a piece of paper' says RCSS

Published on Wednesday, 25 December 2013 18:03

 A map showing the area for the tripartite anti-drug control campaign.

The tripartite anti-drugs agreement between the Myanmar government, the Restoration Council of the Shan State (RCSS) and the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is more an agreement on paper than in practice, says the RCSS.

The statement by the RCSS on Monday came five days after the UNODC reported that Myanmar remains the world's second largest opium grower after Afghanistan, as its opium production has increased 26 percent in 2013 from last year.

Despite the ceasefire between the Myanmar government and armed ethnic groups in Shan State, opium production has been increasing at an alarming rate in the region. It is estimated that about 90 percent of Myanmar's total opium production takes place in Shan State.

According to the RCSS press release, the government, the UNODC and the RCSS signed a nine-point drug control agreement during a meeting in Tachileik Township in October last year. The agreement covered the conducting of joint assessments, the provision of technical assistance and drug education, and the exchange of information.

According to the agreement, the tripartite cooperation team conducted a field study in Mongnai and Mongpan townships in southern Shan State in March of this year. The team reached nine villages in Mongpan and 11 villages in Mongnai. Their field report revealed that poppy farmers in those areas have few alternatives to earn a living. They do not have schools or hospitals, and they face water shortages and a lack of fertile land for growing alternative crops.

Therefore, the RCSS urged the effective implementation of the tripartite anti-drug campaign to support the livelihood of poppy farmers while introducing them to alternative crops. However, it faced several delays as the government's Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) replied that they had to ask the UNODC or wait for instructions from above.

A tripartite needs assessment review was conducted at Mongpan region in July this year. While carrying out the destroying of poppy cultivation tasks, Police Officer Kyaw Hsan from the CCDAC said on July 25 that the Shan State government didn't know that the RCSS was participating in a needs assessment review, and said the RCSS was prohibited from participating in combating drugs.
Eleven Media has written a letter to Police Col Myint Thein from the CCDAC seeking clarification of the matter, but there has been no response.

In tripartite agreements, there can be many difficulties while implementing the first phase.

Although the UNODC had advised the CCDAC and Shan State government to hold a meeting during diplomats' visit to the project area [Mongpan region], the two sides did not invite the RCSS.

In concluding their review, the three groups have agreed to implement the development of poppy substitution projects, but the agreement is so far only on paper.

The RCSS also said that the government had no genuine desire to implement a drug ban. While the RCSS had employed officers in Taunggyi Township, the government made no official contacts with those officers until more than one year had passed. Such contact was seen as a key part of the effort to build trust for peace.

Eleven Media tried to reach the Shan State government and the CCDAC to ask about the RCSS's review, but their efforts had been unsuccessful as of yesterday.

Poppies are grown in Kachin, Chin, Shan, and Kayah states, with the majority grown in Shan State. Six ethnic armed groups currently operate in Shan State, namely the United Wa State Army-UWSA, National Democratic Alliance Army-NDAA, Rehabilitation Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-RCSS/SSA, Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army-SSPP/SSA, Pa-O National Organization-PNO and Ta'ang National Liberation Army-TNLA. There are also other groups and people's militias in Shan State.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/tripartite-anti-drugs-agreement-with-govt-unodc-just-a-piece-of-paper-says/