Poppy Power

Afghan farmer in poppy field.

The eradication of poppy fields should be seen in this larger context.

Putting pressure on the poppy farmers in Afghanistan alone will not solve the problem.

Considerably more assistance needs to reach farmers directly as a disincentive for poppy cultivation.

Thanks to its Anti Narcotics Force, Pakistan was a poppy free country.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has undertaken a rapid assessment survey of the poppy planting trends, to be published shortly.

But destroying poppy crops has been turning Afghan farmers against NATO.

We have also communicated our agreement to take up a pilot project on community development to wean farmers away from poppy cultivation.

Activists have denounced her arrest and that of Saffana Baqleh, who was with Rima at the time of her arrest.

In terms of cultivation eradication, around 5,100 hectares, or 5 per cent of the total crop, have been eradicated.

As for the issue of drugs, we welcome the counter narcotics measures recently taken by Kabul, which helped to reduce opium cultivation this year.

Saffana Baqle and Assem Hamsho, who were with her at the time of the arrest, are still missing.

The Alliance has promised to see the job through. So if it abandons the job now, leaving the country to poverty, prejudice, and poppies, what then will happen?

So it is smarter to go after the heroin bosses and their foreign networks, and in the meantime buy the poppy crop from farmers to destroy it.

Overcome with the enormity of it all and the complete feeling of loss of control, I shed copious tears and asked my dear husband, Jayant.

Indeed, the international community s methods of fighting the insurgency and eradicating poppy crops have actually helped the insurgents gain power.

10. Welcomes the efforts of the Transitional Authority to respect fully the international obligations of Afghanistan with regard to narcotic drugs, and calls upon it to strengthen further its efforts to eradicate the annual poppy crop

If active intervention on law enforcement coupled with effective alternative livelihoods assistance is not provided on an urgent basis, they may return to cultivating poppy.

We want to build a country for all Syrians , Safana Baqleh was the first person who rushed to defend her and try to stop the security forces from taking her with them.

Safana Baqleh, 30 years old, is a musician. She plays the harp and is known by her friends as the Freedom Harp .

This agreement includes including collaborating or not with the Taliban, cooperating with the Coalition forces, accepting or refusing poppy eradication in a village.

Their only means of survival was to accept the leadership of local chiefs connected with drug trafficking and to take up poppy growing, which was highly labour intensive.

Emphasizing the importance of establishing a partnership, upon the request and with the leadership of the country concerned, involving donor countries and regional and international financial institutions as well as the private sector and civil society, to support the respective national rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes of the affected countries,

Also, much of the money needed to buy arms in Afghanistan originates, in one way or another, from poppy cultivation and the burgeoning drug trade, which in itself creates a market for arms.

Botswana and Cape Verde are two of the small population countries that are consistently placed near the top in rankings of African governance, human development, and economic performance.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had reported that 75 per cent of the opium consumed in Western Europe came from poppy crops in Afghanistan.

Poppy cultivators who willingly submitted poppy seed to the authorities were given support for alternative cash crops under the New Destiny Project launched in April 2002.

Afghanistan is NATO s great test. The Alliance has promised to see the job through. So if it abandons the job now, leaving the country to poverty, prejudice, and poppies, what then will happen?

26. Notes with interest in this regard the decree issued by the Taliban in July 2000 imposing a total ban on opium poppy cultivation, and calls upon the Taliban to implement fully this decree

Mr. Al Enezi (Kuwait), referring to the reports of the Secretary General on international cooperation against the world drug problem, eradication of illicit crops and alternative development, said that his delegation noted with concern that cultivation of opium poppies had increased.

For God had helped you during the Battle of Badr at a time when you were helpless . So act in compliance with the laws of God you may well be grateful .

Say It is He who raised you and gave you ears and eyes and hearts . How little are the thanks you offer !

Allah indeed aided you at Badr when you had no means so fear Allah so that you may be thankful .

Proclaim ( O dear Prophet Mohammed peace and blessings be upon him ) , It is He Who created you , and made ears and eyes and hearts for you very little thanks do you offer !

and God most surely helped you at Badr , when you were utterly abject . So fear God , and haply you Will be thankful .

Say ' It is He who produced you , and appointed for you hearing and sight and hearts little thanks you show ! '

And assuredly Allah had succoured you at Badr While ye were humble . Wherefore fear Allah that haply ye may return thanks .

Say thou He it is who hath brought you forth and hath endowed you with hearing and sights and hearts . Little thanks it is ye give !

And Allah has already made you victorious at Badr , when you were a weak little force . So fear Allah much abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allah much , perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained that you may be grateful .

Say it is He Who has created you , and endowed you with hearing ( ears ) , seeing ( eyes ) , and hearts . Little thanks you give .

God had given you victory at Badr , when you were weak . So fear God , that you may be thankful .

Say , It is He who produced you and made for you the hearing , and the vision , and the organs . But rarely do you give thanks .

For sure Allah helped you at Badr when you were utterly weak . Beware , then , of Allah perhaps you will be thankful .

Say He it is Who has brought you into being , and has given you hearing and sight , and has given you hearts to think and understand . How seldom do you give thanks !