Statement of the Transnational Radical Party before the 45th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs

Vienna 11-15 March 2002 under item: 3 (a)

Strengthening and Sustainability of Alternative development programmes, including preventive alternative development, within the framework of international cooperation; experience gained in collaboration with the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, other United Nations entities and bilateral technical assistance programmes regarding best practices and lessons learned in different reasons.

Thank you Chair,
Allow me at the outset, on behalf of the Transnational Radical Party to thank the Executive Director for his invitation to observe the works of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and let me extend my gratitude also to all the Member States of the CND for allowing us to take the floor at this time. We believe that it is of utmost importance that independent views can be freely expressed before UN bodies and that freedom of expression remain the "rule" in intergovernmental fora that deal with extremely important issues related to individuals' freedom and health such as narcotics.

At this time the Transnational Radical Party wishes to draw the Commission's attention on an alarming situation which is the result of the implementation of some alternative development programmes carried out in Latin America.
Despite the official data released at different times by former UNDCP Executive Director Mr. Pino Arlacchi, the overall situation in Bolivia was, and still is, far from the exemplary experiment of successful alternative development to substitute Coca leaves production. In fact, Bolivia, after having suffered sporadic drug-related incidents over the last decade, has recently seen an escalation of violence between its authorities and the producers of that traditional product. The most worrying clashes happened during some riots near the city of Cochabamba on 17 and 18 January 2002, where four policemen were killed in what appeared to be the response of a furious crowd against State's repression.
Mr. Chairman, These violent events are only the latest in a trend of stern repression of the cultivation of Coca leaves in a Country in which such an activity is an important part of the indigenous culture.
On 22 January 2002, security officers confiscated the transmitter of the coca growers' radio station. Officers left a notification stating that the permanent expropriation of the approximately $19,000 of equipment was because the station lacked the appropriate paperwork and permission. It is rare for radio stations in rural areas to function with all the necessary permits. Moreover, a photographer from the "Opinion" newspaper was injured as well as a reporter from "La Razon" for taking pictures of the incident. A Channel 13 reporter was also shot.

Moreover, on Thursday 23 January 2002, the Honorable Evo Morales Ayma, Member of the Bolivia Parliament and leader of the Co-ordination of Six Federations of coca growing peasants, was removed from Congress after having been accused of being the 'intellectual author' of violent acts committed by demonstrators defending their right to grow and sell coca leaves. The case was eventually settled not after an international outcry and actions undertaken in international fora such as the European Parliament. We are looking forward to the upcoming elections in Bolivia hoping that drug-control policies will not interfere with the national political process.

The international community should not tolerate the fact that for the sake of promoting alternative development, countries go as far as suspending their constitutional rights.
Another situation that we would like to bring to the attention of the Commission is the Peruvian one, where despite some initial successes of alternative development programmes, the situation is currently experiencing some setbacks. In fact, the reduction of supply of coca leaves has made it, once again, one of the most profitable crops in the region. Several campesinos live off coca and pay for their harvest with coca money. There seems to be no life without coca for these people.
According to Peruvian and United Nations anti-drug officials, in at least two river valleys in Peru, for the first time in years, coca is making a comeback. This trend does not necessarily mean that anti-drugs efforts in the Andes are failing, but it does point out how fleeting victories can be in a drug war where national boundaries do not scare traffickers who can shift their crop across remote regions.
Peru is suffering what most experts call the "balloon effect", which means that, given the continuing demand for cocaine, eradication in one place simply pushes coca growing to another.
We urge Members and Observer States of the Commission to take into consideration these facts in their thematic debate, which is mandated to follow up to the Action plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development adopted at the Special Session of the General Assembly.

On that occasion for years ago, the Transnational Radical Party presented a critical statement and circulated its own assessment of the task ahead. We voiced our concerns on the effectiveness of the so-called alternative development projects, namely those promoted in Latin American and Afghanistan. Recent events are unfortunately confirming our concerns.

To conclude Mr. Chairman, we believe that in assessing these emblematic situations, Commission members will be guided by common sense and pragmatism and will initiate a dialogue with those who advocate a reform of international drug-laws. The Transnational Radical Party believes that all follow ups as well as future programmes should undergo a preliminary evaluation in a cost-effectiveness framework and should not be guided by an ideology-driven approach.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.