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Politics Recreational quasi-official exports of “illegal” products, often with the involvement of government offictais. The anti-drug enforcement authorities know this, but use it for political advantage by persecuting their enemies while ignor- ing the same actions performed by their friends, These conditions create a natural link between drug prohibition and terrorism. High-priced drugs are shipped from pro- ducer countries In return for armaments from the developed nations which buy the drugs. This is the case with the Nicaraguan “Contras”, who have repeatedly sent co- caine and cannabis to the US in exchange for guns and bombs. In 1984, a funding exercise arranged by Colonel Oliver North even Involved the landing of 12 tons of marijuana at Homestead Air Force Base in he prohibition of many recreational drugs is more than just a random abuse of clvll Ilberties. 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 influential 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 cyni- cal manipulation is the US attempt to oust Panama’s General Noriega on the grounds that he {is involved in cocaine trafficking. The hypocrisy of this action is apparent when itis realized that top US officials have known this since at least 1983, but didn’t act until November 1987. Since the mid-70s Noriega has been a paid agent of the U.S. Florida! and his actlvities were tolerated -evenen- | Air Force should shoot down any aircraft Yet for some reason the “anti-drug” couraged - as long as he remained on side | suspected of carrying “iliegai drugs” and | Reagan Administration continues to sup- with the U.S. government’s Central Ameri- | ask questions later. port the Contras, while taking the most can policies. The sudden extradition at- In one high school In New York, police | extreme measures against others. Their tempts and media hate campaigns against | tortured a student with electric cattie- | latest plan Involves the formation of a Norlega are a result of him recently failing | prods after marijuana was found in his | “multi-national drug task force” to take out of favour with Washington, who have | possession. direct military action In the Caribbean decided to use the drug policy tool against U.S. cars and boats are confiscated if | region. him. even the smallest quantity of cannabis Is Closer to home, allegations of heroin There are numerous advantages in | found on board. and marijuana trafficking have been used using drug policy as a political tool. In Australla our civli liberties have | to put pressure on the Palauan Govern- Firstly, It’s easy to disguise political as- | eroded to the extent that warrants are no | ment. Palau Is a small but strategically saults as police actions, and so avoid ques- | longer required In many States for search- | Important island to the north of Australia. tions as to ulterlor motives. Ing ofhomesorvehicles - as long as there | In recent months the flerce controversy Secondly, there is a large and effective | is a ‘suspicion’ that drugs are present. | over the issue of building US mllitary bases propaganda machine dedicated to spread- | Likewise for blood and urine tests - which | on the island has resulted in a rash of ing the false belief that ajl “illegal drugs” | are not designed to be random Ilke alcohol | referendums and assassinatlons of opposi- are evil, as is anyone assoclated with them. | breath tests. tion leaders. Accusatlons of official com- This means that any accusation of “drug The situation is made all the more re- | plicity in “drug trafficking” provide a crimes” automatlcally blackens the repu- | pulsive by the fact that there were cynical | powerful means of putting pressure on tatlon of the accused and makes their posl- | political reasons for most of these drugs | local leaders, who can be arrested and ex- tlon harder to defend, while at the same | belng prohibited back In the 1930s. tradited to face ‘trial’ in the courts of their time distracting public attention from real ‘The International economics of prohi- | polltical enemies - all without a squeak of issues. bition, while both simple and obvious, | international protest. It must be borne in mlnd thatthe manu- | somehow escapes all mention in main- The next time you see a news report facturers of “legaldrugs”-whoarerespon- | stream media: when a product In demand | about the “drug trade,” don’tlet the propa- sible for over 95% of all drug-related | Is prohibited, it will be supplied by “‘crimi- | ganda machines program your brain - read deaths - are completely Ignored by thesame | nals’. The prices will escalate to cover the | between the lines! authorities which will balk at nothing in | overheads of secret production and trans- - Kenny B. Satyr their persecution of those supplying less | port, bribery, etc. High prices mean that Note: All events described in thisarticle dangerous commodlties. poorer nations are attracted to drug ex- | aretaken from reports published in the 4 Sydney Morning Herald in 1987-88, with the In 1987, the US Attorney-General | ports as a means of paying extortionate exéention ofparamvaphs@/dand 10,which Edwin Meese (who recently resigned after | international debts. Inevitably, almost ali issourced from TheAustrallanandthe US corruption allegations) suggested that the | third-world economies are boosted by | | awjournal. A Sail stedaehebeel Most countries are signatory to one or more “drug control” agreements — either of their own choice, or through diplomatic pressure from more influential 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 cyni- cal manipulation is the US attempt to oust Panama’s General Noriega on the grounds that he {s involved in cocaine trafficking. caine and cannabis to the US in exchange The hypocrisy of this action is apparent for guns and bombs. In 1984, a funding AR when itis realized that top US officials have RRS DIOS eel exercise arranged by Coijonel Oliver North ° AAD Yremrnew known this since at least 1983, but didn’t 4 PSAs er even Involved the landing of 12 tons of by persecuting their enemies while ignor- ing the same actions performed by their friends, These conditions create a natural link between drug prohibition and terrorism. High-priced drugs are shipped from pro- ducer countries In return for armaments from the developed nations which buy the drugs. This is the case with the Nicaraguan “Contras”, who have repeatedly sent co- act until November 1987. Since the mid-70s FSO marijuana at Homestead Air Force Base in Noriega has been a paid agent of the U.S. Florida! and his actlvities were tolerated -evenen- | Air Force should shoot down any aircraft Yet for some reason the “anti-drug” couraged - as long as he remained on side | suspected of carrying “iliegai drugs” and | Reagan Administration continues to sup- with the U.S. government’s Central Ameri- | ask questions later. port the Contras, while taking the most can policies. The sudden extradition at- In one high school in New York, police | extreme measures against others. Their tempts and media hate campaigns against | tortured a student with electric cattie- | latest plan Involves the formation of a Norlega are a result of him recently failing | prods after marijuana was found in his | “multi-national drug task force” to take out of favour with Washington, who have | possession. direct military action In the Caribbean decided to use the drug policy tool against U.S. cars and boats are confiscated if | region. him. even the smallest quantity of cannabis Is Closer to home, allegations of heroin There are numerous advantages in | found on board. and marijuana trafficking have been used using drug policy as a political tool. In Australia our civli liberties have | to put pressure on the Palauan Govern- Firstly, It’s easy to disguise political as- | eroded to the extent that warrants are no | ment. Palau Is a small but strategically saults as police actions, and so avoid ques- | longer required In many States for search- | Important island to the north of Australia. tions as to ulterlor motives. Ing ofhomesorvehicles - as long as there | In recent months the flerce controversy Secondly, there is a large and effective | is a ‘suspicion’ that drugs are present. | over the issue of building US mllitary bases propaganda machine dedicated to spread- | Likewise for blood and urine tests - which | on the island has resulted in a rash of ing the false belief that ajl “illegal drugs” | are not designed to be random Ilke alcohol | referendums and assassinatlons of opposi- are evil, as is anyone assoclated with them. | breath tests. tion leaders. Accusatlons of official com- This means that any accusation of “drug The situation is made all the more re- | plicity in “drug trafficking” provide a crimes” automatlcally blackens the repu- | pulsive by the fact that there were cynical | powerful means of putting pressure on tatlon of the accused and makes their posl- | political reasons for most of these drugs | local leaders, who can be arrested and ex- tlon harder to defend, while at the same | belng prohibited back In the 1930s. tradited to face ‘trial’ in the courts of their time distracting public attention from real ‘The International economics of prohi- | polltical enemies - all without a squeak of issues. bition, while both simple and obvious, | international protest. It must be borne in mlnd thatthe manu- | somehow escapes all mention in main- The next time you see a news report facturers of “legaldrugs”-whoarerespon- | stream media: when a product In demand | about the “drug trade,” don’tlet the propa- sible for over 95% of all drug-related | Is prohibited, it will be supplied by “‘crimi- | ganda machines program your brain - read deaths - are completely Ignored by thesame | nals’. The prices will escalate to cover the | between the lines! authorities which will balk at nothing in | overheads of secret production and trans- - Kenny B. Satyr their persecution of those supplying less | port, bribery, etc. High prices mean that Note: All events described in thisarticle dangerous commodlties. poorer nations are attracted to drug ex- | 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 andthe US In 1987, the US Attorney-General | ports as a means of paying extortionate Edwin Meese (who recently resigned after | international debts. Inevitably, almost ali corruption allegations) suggested that the | third-world economies are boosted by | | awjournal. A NEXUS New Times Six - Spring 1988 Civil Liberties