On 7 March, SHAN had the honor to meet and interview Mr Jason Eligh, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC)’s country manager for the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, during his visit to Chiangmai.

The following are the excepts from his answers to questions put up by SHAN.

On relations with the United Wa State Army

I was supposed to meet the Wa (recently). We had a meeting arranged with the Wa South (the 171st Military Region on the Thai-Burmese border), which was supposed to include myself, the government and the Tatmadaw as well as the Shan State government. Unfortunately, the meeting was cancelled at the last minute. It was not cancelled by me, but by others. But I was assured that I would be able to have a meeting with them in the near future. I think it is important that communications between ourselves and the Wa be opened. We did have relations with them in the past, as you know, through our previous work. And given the situation in Shan State, I think it is important that we have a relationship again with the Wa.

[Note    SHAN source on the Sino-Burmese border reported that a UNODC team visited Panghsang the UWSA headquarters on 5 March. “They wanted to visit Mongmai, Nandeng and other areas,” said the source. “The Wa provided them full access to where they wanted to go” — Editor]

On the progress made between Naypyitaw and the Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) on joint alternative development projects in two Shan townships

Three weeks ago we traveled from Taunggyi through southern Shan State to Tachilek. The purpose of the mission was to bring the parties from the agreement signed in October together to the areas where we had chosen. You will remember that we had identified Mongnai and Mongpan in the agreement. I requested the meeting of all parties in these two townships. The idea was to sit down with them and talk about implementations for the next steps. We agreed upon 5 steps:

• Step one, to start assessment on the ground by the end of this month (March)
• Step two, in May, we would sit together and review the results of these assessments identifying the villages in the areas where we thought it would be most appropriate to begin our program
• Step three, we would go to these villages, meet with the locals, present the data from the assessments and get more detailed feedback from them on their challenges, on the current situation, and on what they would like to see in terms of relevant assistance
• Step four, during the summer, principally in July and August, we would together finish designing the program we would do and hopefully we can get these 4 steps done
• Step five is the implementation on the ground in September.

I mean it’s ambitious, but everyone around the table agreed. So I’m optimistic that we can begin cooperating. I think you have to be optimistic in a situation like this.

[Note    On 28 October 2012, representatives from the government, RCSS/SSA and the UNODC meeting in Tachilek agreed on pilot crop substitution projects in Mongnai and Mongpan townships — Editor]

On the extension of the deadline on 5 October 2012 for the 15 year masterplan to make Burma opium free by 2014 to 2019

The government hasn’t been saying much about the extension in the deadline. All I know is that the minister for home affairs announced that there would an extension to 2019. He said a new 5 year plan would be drawn up but they wanted to make a plan that had achievable goals. I haven’t heard anything on that since that statement. I would assume that they would have to start writing the plan if they haven’t started already.

Cooperation with the CSOs

I have never been approached by the CSO that was mentioned by you. So it’s possible that they had approached somebody who didn’t know. But I have read some of their reports. And I think the issue of drug dependence is a massive problem in Shan State. It is something that we have tried to address with the limited funding that we have. But it will absolutely be a priority for us within the next 5 years. One of the ways we need to work with the drug dependent people who want to have treatment is to work through civil society organizations that already exist. So I would completely agree with that (cooperation with the CSOs).

Progress made on the drug front since U Thein Sein became president

President Thein Sein has demonstrated an understanding of the complexities of the drug use, drug production and drug trafficking environments in Myanmar, and has been vocal in his support for the need to rapidly expand alternative development interventions for Shan State's poor poppy farmers in particular. His recognition of the problems and support for solutions is important, and necessary. But this alone is insufficient to drive any sustainable change. What is required is a coordinated response to the situation, involving all stakeholders, particularly including civil society - the many ethnic associations and organisations, and local leaders - and also the military. We must recognise that the various militia groups in Shan fall under the army, and without military support and coordination it will be very difficult to effect any significant and sustainable change in the drug environments in these areas in particular. Further, what is also required is funding and technical support to the necessary interventions. Drug dependence treatment. Alternative development. Improved counter-narcotic interdiction capacities. With such external development assistance can come the building of a foundation for change. We are not there yet - much needs to be done, many words of support need to be transformed into action - but I believe with the leadership given by the President, and the actions taken so far by the various government and local agencies in response to his leadership, we are beginning on the path towards positive change.

On the plight of the poppy farmer

Most people grow poppies, because they don’t have enough food to eat. The infrastructure in much of Shan State is limited. They don’t have reliable livelihoods. I can understand when farmers say to me, “Look, I grow poppies because I have a family who have got to eat. I get a good price for it. They (the buyers) come, they take it. We can eat and my kids can go to school. Anybody who’s a father, put in the same desperate situation where you have no other alternative but to do it, will go ahead and do it. Because nothing’s more important to a father than his family. So something needs to be done to help these people. This is not something that the UNODC can wave a magic wand to make it happen. This is something that’s going to require everybody: the government, the military, the various armed groups, the political parties, the CSOs and citizens throughout the country. The politicians in Naypyitaw will have to really rethink about the way things are going. The Shan State parliament also has got to think, “Okay, should we put more money to support the drug program that responds to drugs in a way that helps the people?” These are the things that I can talk about, but I don’t make decisions.

Mr Eligh is scheduled to deliver a presentation in Vienna on 12 March.