POPPY CULTIVATION IN CENTRAL ASIA

Early day motion 625, tabled 12 February 2004 by Paul Flynn (Labour). Signed by 12 members.

That this House expects the proposed war on Afghan drugs to replicate the anarchy that similar action caused in Colombia; recalls that destroying drug crops in Colombia has not cut production but has created a state of permanent civil war involving three armies, two of which are funded by drug money; notes that the reduction of 90 per cent. in poppy cultivation achieved by the Taliban has been reversed with this year's record crop; asserts that any future interruption in the supply of Afghan heroin will be immediately replaced by increases from Pakistan, Myanmar and Kazakhstan, leading to the bloody chaos of the Colombia-isation of a huge area of Central Asia; and declares that the only practical way to reduce heroin use is by cutting demand.

Signatures by party: Labour 9, Liberal Democrat 2, Plaid Cymru 1.