s he prohibition of many recreational , drugs Is more than Just a random abuse of civil Uberties. It Is deliberately maintained by governments as a tool for International political control. Most countries are signatory to one or more "drug control" agreements - either of their own choice, or through diplomatic pressure from more Innuentlal nations. These treaties impose certain obligations on the governments Involved, though in practice they are selectively enforced for political purposes. The most obvious example of this cynical manipulation Is the US attempt to oust Panama's General Noriega on the grounds that he Is 1D\'olved in cocaine trafficking. The hypocrisy of this action Is apparent when it is realized that top US officials have known this since at least 1983, but didn't act until November 1987. Since the mUl-70s
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Noriega has been a paUl agent of the U.S.
and his activities were tolerated - eye", encouraged • as long as he remained on side with the U.S. government's Central American policies. The sudden extradition at· tempts and media hate campaigns against Noriega are a result of him recently failing out of favour with Washington, who have decided to use the drug polley tool against him. There are numerous advantages in using drug policy as a political tool. Firstly, It's easy to disguise political assaults as police actions, and so avoid questions as to ulterior motives. Secondly, there Is a large and effective propaganda machine dedicated to spreading the false belief that all "Illegal drugs" are evil, as is anyone associated with them. This means that any accusation of "drug crimes" automatically biackens the reputation of the accused and makes their posltlon harder to defend, wbDe at the SlIme. time distracting puhllc attention from real issues. It must be borne In mlmitblltthe manu· facturersof"legaldrugs" -wbowe responsible for over 95% of all drug-related deaths -are completely Ignored by the same authorities which wnI balk at nothing In their persecutlon of those supplying less dangerous commodities. In 1987, the US Attorney-General Edwin Meese (who recently resigned after corruption allegations) suggested that the
Air Force should shoot down any aircraft suspected of carrying "lUegal drugs" and ask questions later. In one high school In New York, poUce tortured a stUdent with electric cattleprods after marijuana was found in his possession. U.s. cars and boats are connscated if even the smaUest quantity of cannahis. Is found on board. In Australia our clvU liberties: JuRe eroded to the extent that ~ an Dl> reqUired In many States for searchlJ:lg-ofbomesOi'YehJdes - ~ IQng as there Is a 'suspicion' tbat: drop are present. Likewise rorblood 8bd urJne tests - which are not designed be random like alcohol breath tests. The situation Is made all the more repulsive by the fact that there were cynical political rt!flSOns for most of these drugs being prQllfblted back In the 193O!r. The international economlJ:s Df problbltJoll, WlJUebotb simpl~ and obvlou:s, some.buwescapa aD mention in main· streammt!c:IJr. When a product In demand Is.prohlblted. it will be supplied by ''criminals". The prices will escalate to cover the overheads of secret production and transport, bribery, etc. High price~ mean that poorer nations are attracted to drug exports as a means of paying ~tnrtiQl18te international debts. Inevitably, almost all third-world economies are boosted by
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quasl-ornclal exports or"IUegal" products, often with the Involvement of government ornclals. The antl-drug enforcement authorities know this, but use It for poUtical advantage by persecuting their enemies whUe Ignor· ing the same actions performed by their friends. These conditions create a natural Uok between drulC prohibition and terrorism. High-priced drugs are shipped from producer countries In return for armaments from the developed nations which buy the drugs. This Is the case with tbe Nicaraguan "Contras", who have repeatedly sent c0caine and cannabis to tbe US in exchange for guns and bombs. In 1984, a funding exercise arranged by Colonel Oliver North even Involved the landing or 12 tons of marijuana at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida! Yet for some reason the ''anti-drujt'' Reagan Administration continues to support the Contras, while taking the most extreme measures against others.T.W!.ir I~test plan Involves the formation or a "multi-national drug task force" to take direct mlUtary action In tbe Carlbbeab region. CIos«f to home, allegations or heroin and tmtrlJullna trafficking have been used 10 .put pressure on the Palauan Government. Palau Is a small but strategically Important Island to tbe north of Australla. 10 recent montbs t.be ffer.ee controversy over the Issue of building US military bases on the Island has resulted In a rash of referendu.rns and assassinations of opposltioo leaders. Accusatl~ of official complicity in "drug trafficking" provide a powerJ'111 means of puttlnlC pressure on local leaders, who can be arrested and ex· tradlted to face 'trial' In the courtsolthelr political enemies· aU wltbout a squeak of internationaiprotest. The next time you see a news ri!port about the "drug trade," don't let the propa· ganda machines program your brain - read between the lInes! • Kenny B. Satyr Note: All events described in this article aretaken from reports published in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1987·88, with the exception of paragraphs 8, 9 and 10, which is sourced from The Australian and the US lawJournal. ll..