Colonialism claim not credible
It is a popular defense these days to claim sympathy as a victim. Burma's latest line on illicit drugs stresses the claim that the nation has been victimized. There were no drugs until the British colonized Burma, according to recent statements from the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and its media.
The always entertaining New Light of Myanmar newspaper, in recent articles, has made the interesting claim that poppy plantations only appeared after 1885, when the British subdued the country. There was no smoking of opium in Burma until after the British took over. Not only that, but the nation is still trying to shed its colonial legacy and this is why Rangoon is sometimes a little slow to react to drug problems.
It won't wash. Historical documents from centuries before British colonization show that opium poppies flourished in the area now known as Burma. Not only that, but there are many such documents showing that use of opium as medicine was widespread, including by Burmese monarchs. Colonialism was a vicious system imposed unjustly upon Burma and elsewhere. But the colonialists did not introduce opium to Burma.
Nor has colonialism been a problem for Burma for quite some time. Burma has been an independent nation for many decades. Its regimes have forged a series of policies. In Burma, not only did foreigners fail to influence the policies, but successive Rangoon regimes have gone to great lengths to keep out all foreign influence.
The truth about the narcotics trade is that Burma lags far behind its neighbors and most of the world in dealing with this deadly problem. It has written -- on its own -- some extremely harsh laws against drug trafficking. It has joined -- as an independent country -- a number of treaties and organizations against illicit drugs. No colonialist government or other foreign country has victimized Burma during this process.
SLORC's claim that it is a victim is far from credible. By attempting to lay the blame on others, and on its legacy, Burma seeks to deny responsibility for its own actions. It is time SLORC started working seriously to help its own citizens and its neighbors with the serious narcotic problems both face.
-- The Bangkok Post