Anti-drug words come to nothing

Two Asian nations fuel the world's drug trade. Afghanistan has become the world's leading producer of opium. Burma (Myanmar) supplies heroin and methamphetamines to the region and the world. Both nations have promised to end production but show little progress.

On the surface, there is little similarity between Burma and Afghanistan. But Afghanistan is providing the same type of problems and the same airy promises to its neighbors as Burma. Tens of thousands of Russian forces have been mobilized along the border. Each day, much like their Thai counterparts, they try to halt the "ant army" of heroin smugglers, each carrying exactly 1kg of heroin.

Like Burma, Afghanistan has touted a plan to help the growing drugs problem. The ruling Taleban said at first it wanted to reduce opium production rationally, through crop substitution. This made sense. But then came the decision to ban opium growing. Unfortunately, the regime has hardly backed up its ban. The massive drought throughout South Asia will cut back the record harvest this winter. But Afghanistan has done nothing to stop heroin production or drug trafficking.

Despite massive suspicion, there is no proof that either the Burmese or Afghan regimes profit directly from the drug trade. There can be no doubt, however, that both these nations profit indirectly. Investment from drug traffickers dominates so-called "foreign investment" in Burma. The regimes tax drug makers and smugglers. The drug trade also has touched off an increasing spiral of hard feelings with neighbors -- and neither Afghanistan nor Burma has shown the slightest remorse in addicting and diverting official resources in Iran or Thailand respectively.

In another few months, farmers will be reaping the opium crops. Agents for the heroin makers will buy the crops and feed the drug traffickers for another year. Fighting these drug peddlers is difficult. But the world must know where the chief blame lies.

-- The Bangkok Post