WAR ON DRUGS IS LOSING POPULARITY

The local media have publicized recent developments regarding the Tulia
drug bust. Residents of the Panhandle, especially Amarillo, should pay
close attention to what is occurring.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and many
other residents are wanting criminal charges to be filed against undercover
narcotics agent Tom Coleman, as it seems obvious he committed perjury and
possibly other crimes. Civil lawsuits might follow.

The Panhandle Narcotics Trafficking Task Force is based in Amarillo. It
supported Coleman, who has been caught in one lie after another. Is it
possible that lawsuits originating in Tulia might drift into Amarillo, at
taxpayers' expense?

The war on drugs was extremely popular for a long time; thus, drug task
forces throughout the nation became powerful and aggressive. Unfortunately,
their tactics and motives more closely resemble the criminal element than
any law-enforcement agency. The almost $1 million in state funding the
Panhandle task force was getting recently was slashed by nearly half.
Hopefully the freed-up money will go to a DARE program or a school district
in need of funds.

I and hundreds of others who are in prison on drug charges want to thank
the Friends of Justice, and also Debra Cochrain, who refuses to give up.
Now people like letter-writers Sally Shepherd, Calvin Lacy and Travis
McBride have seen through the smoke screens. They realize there are better
ways of dealing with the drug problem than making our huge prison system
even bigger.

The politicians who called prisons "nonpollution factories" that stimulate
local economies lied. Thousands of drug-users and small-time dealers
eventually will be released. Most will be bitter, angry and feel that
society did them an injustice. Now, that's pollution!

Eduardo D. Fierro

Clements Unit

Amarillo