[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

Human Wall Blockade at Indo-Burma b (r)



============================================================
ADVANCE INFORMATION ON CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE ILLICIT ENTRY
                         OF DRUGS
        AT THE INDO-BURMA BORDER AT MOREH, MANIPUR
============================================================

DATE OF COMMENCEMENT:    2 OCTOBER 1997

LOCATION            :    MOREH, 112 KILOMETRES FROM IMPHAL,
                         MANIPUR

NATURE OF CAMPAIGN  :    HUMAN WALL BLOCKADE BY POLITICAL
                         AND TRADE UNION ACTIVISTS, HUMAN
                         RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS, WOMENS
                         ORGANISATIONS, STUDENTS, NGOS
                         WORKING AGAINST DRUGS
                         AND HIV/AIDS AND ALL OTHER
                         CONCERNED GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS

The  Samata Party  has taken  the initiative  in organising
the  satyagraha with  volunteers from all  over the country
erecting  a human wall every day.  It will not be conducted
under the party's auspices,  as we wish to mobilise as many
people  as possible  to identify  themselves in  support of
those  in  the north-east  who are  fighting the  menace of
drugs  and AIDS.   (Please see  the background  note).  The
satyagraha  is being organized by George Fernandes,  Member
of  Parliament,  President of Samata Party and Hind Mazdoor
Kisan Panchayat.

This  is  not a  political fight.   This is  a humanitarian
struggle.  The people of the north-east, in particular, and
in  other  parts  of the  country  must be  saved  from the
scourge  of drugs and AIDS,  and  the colossal waste of the
nation's  material and human resources this implies.  Along
with  that the security of  the nation must be safeguarded.
So,  this is a struggle to save the nation,  in every sense
of the term.

It  is  also a  struggle against  corruption and  for human
rights  for the people  of Burma since  the strength of the
Burmese  military lies in its access to drug money which is
then  used to suppress the  democratic urges of the people.

We   invite   people  from   all   parts  of   the  country
irrespective  of their  political or  other affiliations to
join  us  at Moreh  during  the week  beginning  October 2.

This  will  be a  major  international event  in  which the
volunteer satyagrahis are prepared to face any consequences
that  may  arise out  of  their efforts  to  prevent vested
interests from carrying on their dangerous activities.  The
people  and press of Manipur  have welcomed unanimously the
proposed satyagraha.

We  request  all  our  friends  in  the  press  to  make it
possible  for your  correspondents and  photographers to be
present  at Moreh for  the satyagraha so  that the world is
aware  of  the struggle  of  the people  of  the north-east
against  those who connive with smugglers of drugs which is
destroying  the  health,   well-being  and  morale  of  the
people.

Any  information about the logistics  of reaching Moreh may
be  obtained by contacting Mr.   Aneel Hegde or Mr.  Ramesh
Kumar  at Delhi Tel: (011) 301 7172 or 301 6035 or Mr. M.G.
Chaddha   at  (011)  335   2280  or  contact   on  Fax  No:
(91)(11)379 3397.

------------------------------------------
Background Note for the Moreh Satyagraha :
------------------------------------------

TIME  is the world's best known and most influential weekly
newsmagazine.   In its  issue of December  23,  1996,  TIME
carried  a two-page  report on heroin  smuggling from Burma
through  India to the Middle East and Europe and the United
States. The estimated value of the smuggled heroin is about
one lakh crore rupees (Rs. 1,00,000,00,00,000).

The  TIME report only  substantiated what is  well known to
those  who are  engaged in the  war against  drug trade and
drug  addiction.  It also  substantiated another well-known
fact:   the  involvement  of the  Burmese  army  and Indian
security forces in the opium trade.

Two  points  need to  be emphasised.   First,  it  is eight
months  since this story appeared and drew the attention of
the  world with  an eye-catching  headline "Heroin's Deadly
Detour  - Smugglers are now  sending the drug through India
to the West - with help from crooked police".  Yet,  so far
there  has been no move by the India government to seal the
borders  with Burma and  prevent the use  of Moreh for drug
smuggling.   All inquiries made  by us indicate  that it is
business  as usual,  with,  as  confirmed by TIME,  "Indian
security  forces mixed  up in  the drug  trade".  TIME also
quotes  a  senior  police officer  telling  a  western drug
control  expert who  visited the area  that the "corruption
level"  (read  as  "collusion in  drug  smuggling")  in his
force was "about 100%".

Second,   the processing of opium  into heroin is made near
the  India border using Indian-  made acetic anhydrides and
other  chemicals. Obviously, the head of the Narcotics Wing
in the Ministry of Finance is aware where the chemicals are
manufactured.   He  also knows  who the  manufacturers are.
These  chemicals are smuggled across  the frontier at Moreh
for  converting opium into heroin.   Why has no action been
taken  by the Narcotics Wing to apprehend those involved in
this smuggling?  Does any person in government service have
any  interest in  the manufacture of  acetic anhydrides and
other chemicals in India or in Nepal?

Drugs  have had a devastating  effect on India's youth,  in
general,   and the  youth of  Manipur,  Nagaland  and other
states  alongside Burma's frontier,  in particular.  Mumbai
and  Delhi have  become major  operational centres  for the
drug   smugglers  who  have  established  large  underworld
networks  of criminals and other anti-socials to market the
drug  in India and to reach it to the overseas markets.  It
is  drug money that the underworld uses to bribe officials,
police  and politicians.  Drug money poses the gravest risk
to national security.

Burma  has also been  exporting AIDS along  with drugs into
India. Today, Manipur has the largest incidence of AIDS per
1000  of population in India and perhaps in the world.  One
in every  five  young persons  in  Manipur is  a  drug
addict.