TNAG-0414-FCO40-460-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 176

34

ditions of resettlement. According to reliable sources, both Li and Tuan claim that they no longer control those who refused resettlement and that these elements may remain in the opium trade in spite of Li and Tuan.

The possibility that Li and Tuan will continue their activities in the opium trade has occurred to Thai authorities and both the United States and Thai narcotics control communities have the CIF under close surveillance to insure that they abide by the agreement. If the CIF continues to deal in opium the agreement will be null and void and resettlement will be discontinued. For the Chinese who have been nomads since 1949 the inducement of land and eventual Thai citizen- ship is an attractive prospect and it may be sufficient to keep them honest.

The Government of Thailand is also attempting to discontinue poppy cultivation by encouraging the hill tribesmen to convert to alternate crops.

THE EFFORT TO DISCONTINUE POPPY GROWING IN THAILAND

The hill tribes in the mountains of northwest Thailand bordering Burma and Laos produce an estimated 130 to 200 tons of raw opium per year. Opium cultivation and smoking have been illegal since 1959. The rugged terrain and the difficulty in policing the area have made it impossible for the Thai Government to enforce this ban and poppy cultivation continues.

In an effort to stop opium production, the Government of Thailand has been engaged in several experiments to induce the farmers to sub- stitute other crops such as tea, silkworm, fruits, beans, cabbage, and livestock for the opium poppy. The United States and the U.N. are assisting and it is planned that representatives from the U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture will go into the hill tribe areas to help them develop suitable substitute crops. There are many factors, however, which may impede the transition from poppy cultivation to any alter- nate crop. Poppies have been grown by these tribes for generations and the opium they yield serve many purposes. It is easy to handle and transport and produces cash almost immediately. In addition, opium is also bartered for arms and ammunition.

In 1967 and again in 1970, Thailand requested the United Nations to help by conducting a study of the economic and social needs of the tribes producing opium in Thailand. As a result of its studies, the U.N. concluded that the prospects for developing a profitable alter- native to the poppy were not encouraging.

While efforts to find substitute crops have been unsuccessful so far, enforcement efforts to inhibit the traffic in opium and its derivatives have been intensified and have been relatively successful. For example. the price of opium in Thailand has dropped appreciably since the be- ginning of 1972. This. however, has created economic difficulties among the hill tribes. There is also concern among both Thai and U.S. officials that if these economic difficulties become widespread, the hill people will become susceptible to Communist propaganda. The Com- munists have made a number of radio broadcasts criticizing the Thai Government for enforcing the narcotics laws and have indicated that they would permit the growing of poppies if they gain control.

•