Canada calls for Afghan poppy rethink

Canada calls for Afghan poppy rethink
Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:24:43 GMT
Canada's FM David Emerson
Canada's foreign minister has suggested that burning poppy crops may not be the best way to control Afghanistan's booming opium trade.

David Emerson told CTV's "Question Period" on Sunday that international efforts should be focused on stemming the processing and shipment of illicit drugs from Afghanistan to other parts of the world, rather than concentrating on production.

"We all agree with the fundamental need to deal with this problem and I know Canada is prepared to step up and be part of a solution," Emerson said.

"Does it necessarily mean going out burning crops - or whatever the latest technique is - I'm not sure about that."

Canada's Liberal leader Stephane Dion and the Green Party are also reported to be in favor of a wider range of measures to bring Afghan poppy cultivation under legal control including schemes similar to the "poppy for medicine" programs run by the United States in countries such as India and Turkey.

But the United States is increasingly pressuring Canada to support more determined poppy eradication measures, specifically chemical spraying from the air.

Last week, former top US narcotics official Tom Schweich expressed concern that heroin and opium produced from Afghan poppies is funding militant groups fighting international troops.

"If I were in Canada, I would be hopping mad about the lack of ability to crack down on these corrupt people who are involved in this trade and on the farmers who are growing the opium," Schweich told the New York Times.

Schweich called on NATO countries to withdraw support for Karzai if he continued "protecting narco-traffickers."

Canada's Afghan contingent is currently not responsible for poppy eradication. Crop-destroying duties have been contracted out to DynCorp International, an American company which also provides bodyguards for Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai.

RB/WY/RA