TALEBAN DESERVES BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT

After years of condemnation by the West, Afghanistan's Taleban has finally
succumbed to pressure from international organisations and countries by
announcing a ban on the growing of opium poppies. Afghanistan is the
world's largest producer of opium, last year producing a record 4,600
tonnes. It produces three quarters of the world's supply.

The infamous Golden Triangle region, of which Thailand is a part, is a
producer as well but its output is minuscule when compared to that of
Afghanistan. The ramifications are enormous if the Taleban is able to
enforce the ban on poppy production. It would change the culture in the
West of taking hard drugs by virtually drying up the opium supply.

History has shown that sections of the human race will always seek out
drugs and when opium is much more difficult to acquire or is no longer
available, some people will find or develop an alternative. But until that
time, the Taleban's Anti-Drug Commission should be applauded for its move.
Opium produced in the south of the country leaves Afghanistan via Iran and
Pakistan and that from the north is exported mainly through the former
Soviet republics of central Asia. The final destination is mainly Europe
and the United States. There, after refining en route into morphine and
then heroin, an initial kilogramme of opium will fetch upwards of 6.5
million baht.

If no poppy crops are grown in Afghanistan this year-poppy crops are
usually planted in September-countries such as the United States will save
millions of dollars. Western countries donate huge sums to countries like
Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to reinforce their borders in the hope of
stopping opium getting through; but it does. If the opium was not there,
these massive aid packages would not be needed.

The Taleban has appealed to the West for those funds to be redirected to
Afghanistan to save the opium farmers from "famine and starvation". It is a
request deserving of serious consideration. Afghanistan is suffering its
severest drought in 30 years and it will soon be followed by hunger,
widespread poverty and death.

Last year the Taleban achieved a 30% reduction in the acreage under poppy
and the destruction of crops was witnessed by foreign observers. The
Taleban's supreme leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, said on Friday when
announcing the ban that farmers would be punished severely and their crops
destroyed if they grew poppies. Many believe the farmers will heed his call
as they respect him greatly and refer to him as "king of the faithful".

But the West will be sceptical. For a start, the Taleban militia is only
recognised officially by three countries: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates. The Taleban is on a quest for international
respectability and recognition, and this ban fits nicely with their
motives. Secondly, the Taleban is still fighting with a stubborn opposition
movement in the north and the West would be fearful of any aid being
directed to the war effort and away from needy farmers. Thirdly,
Afghanistan's infrastructure is in tatters. It has not recovered from the
conflict with the Soviet Union 20 years ago. But it could be argued that
aid to improve roads could well help the farmers transport their produce to
markets.

On the surface the Taleban appears sincere about this ban on poppy growing
and it provides a huge opportunity for the West to rid itself of this
scourge heroin. The West needs to take the initiative and promise
substantial, albeit redirected, funds to the farmers in return for the
Taleban allowing international observers into the country to monitor the
poppy ban and the use of aid funds. If this agreement can be reached, and
there is no reason it cannot be, the world may finally see the end of this
cursed, killer heroin.