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Sept. 26, 2007 Burma, or Myanmar as it is now called, has been a seething hot bed of armed conflict since independence from Britain in 1947, becoming one of the major drug producing areas of the world far exceeding the out put of Afghanistan and Colombia. Why are so many of the areas of conflict also areas of drug cultivation and export? Is there a link or is it merely coincidence. If there is a link will our laws have to be changed in order to reflect the current reality. Let's say that Myanmar is in the middle of a civil war in which say the Shan states are attempting to over throw the Military controlled central government. For years the Shan states have been financed by the drugs trade. Say China comes to the aid of the Myanmar government. Would it have a legitimate case against US citizens who consume or traffic in the product of Shan, mainly heroin? It could be claimed that these people are giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the legitimate government of Myanmar and so ask governments to hand over these offenders after they have served their time in US custody. After all the ethnic drug trafficking armies with which the Myanmar government has negotiated cease-fires with , such as the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA-Kokang Chinese), remain armed and heavily involved in the heroin trade and have to some extent moved into territory vacated by Khun Sa's former MTA. I think there must be something in International law which covers the situation, a precedent being when citizens of Palestine supplying bomb making material are arrested and placed in Israeli jails.(Incidentally Israel has military links with both Myanmar and PRC). It could be argued that individuals convicted under the present laws governing narcotics are not liable to prosecution in rem but in personam (public versus private), but this could change in the future, after all with more and more war now drug related the prosecution of those giving aid to an enemy of a legitimate state may be in the cards in much the same way as terrorists are handed over to their country of origin. Wouldn't it also be a possibility that international law, which is based upon treaties and conventions, would eventually lean in this direction? Countries are liable to pass the strangest of laws depending upon the mood of the electorate, canny politicians quick to spot the changed trend in public thinking (at least among those who vote). Already the public have shown a weariness when confronted with the counter culture as day after day the shenanigans of the Hollywood elite in regards to the product is displayed in the pages of the free dailies. No longer is it hip to be a user, those under the influence now given either a piteous stare or a look of contempt.
www.geocities.com/manzikertca/military/talib.html
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