BURMA
Madeleine Albright has recently accused Rangoon's military regime to violate human rights and encourage drug trade and diffusion in the U.S. and in Southern East Asia.
(IL GIORNALE, SUDDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 29/07)
MEXICO
After the death of Amado Carrillo Fuentes, a violent war for the control of the super-rich cocaine market has started. Three affiliated with the Carrillo cartel have been killed.
While investigations on the relationship between the drug dealers and the military are going on, the most important witness against Gen. Gutierrez Rebollo, the former Anti-drug chief, (accused of having protected the members of the Carrillo and Juarez cartels) have been wounded in an ambush.
(INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 24-29/07)
WORLD
Money laundering is a secret activity, and a precise estimate of the total amount is difficult. Governments have asked banks to apply more rigorous criteria regarding suspicious transactions. Money laundering activities rely on modern technology while governments still use conventional methods. Legalizing some drugs wouldn't be sufficient, because banks policies will remain the same. An agreement on international standards on anti-laundering activities would be a step in the right direction.
(THE ECONOMIST 26/07)
ITALY
A recent decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal that has stated the distinction between personal consumption and dealing-related activities, has provoked critiques coming from different parts.
If a rich person is caught with a certain quantity of drugs, it is more likely to have it purchased for personal use rather than a poor one. The rich can afford a personal stock. If teens share a joint they can be prosecuted as dealers
(CORRIERE DELLA SERA, IL SOLE 24 ORE, LA STAMPA 26/07, IL GIORNALE, IL MESSAGGERO, LA REPUBBLICA 26-27/07, THE TIMES 28/07)
WORLD
The impact of drug-related prohibitionist policies on non-consumers do not justify the high costs they imply, writes Martin Wolf. The community allows its members to do various activities and own goods more dangerous than drugs (cars, sports, etc.), why should everybody pay for the prohibition on certain drugs used by a minority?
(FINANCIAL TIMES 29/07)
FRANCE
The amount of drugs confiscated by the police has increased up to 130% if compared to last year for a total of 2,679 tons. The increase in confiscations is of 9.3% (2,216)
(LE FIGARO, LIBERATION 29/07)
U.S.
President Clinton has nominated William Weld, who renounced to the second half of his gubernatorial term in Massachusetts, as the new U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. A.M Rosenthal of the NYT urges the Senate not to confirm the nomination, because Mr. Weld is for the legalization of medical marijuana. Mr. Rosenthal considers marijuana the gateway to cocaine, heroin and other "hard" drugs; Legalizing it would triggering a complete legalization.
(INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 31/07)
SPAIN
The public channel RTVE will air some 400 free commercial for the sensibilization on the drug question. The spots are realized by the Fundacion de Ayuda contra la Drogadiccion.
(EL PAIS 30/07)
SPAIN
The government of Andalusia wants to experiment the program of drugs controlled distribution used in Switzerland that has received the approval by the World Health Organization.
(EL PAIS 28/07)
GERMANY
The number of new drugs-consumers has dramatically increased during the first semester of 1997: 3,000 people have been registered as new heroin users by the police, some 50% more than last year's first semester.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG, SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 24/07)
AFGHANISTAN
Thins year's crop should be extraordinary. Last year's production of pure opium was of 2,200 tons, 40% of the worldly production, from which 220 tons of heroin are derived. Some 80% of the heroin confiscated in Europe comes from Afghanistan. The profits of the drugs, smuggled through the Russian Federation, go to the Talebans.
(SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG)
SWITZERLAND
Since Spring 1996, Special Syringes with a filter have been distributed to Heroin addicts in Zurich. The filter protects from impurities during the injection. The new tool, used as an experiment, is now ready for worldwide distribution.
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 0/07)
GERMANY
The secretary of the Munich branch of the CSU considers a "terrible mistake" the establishment of the "fixerstube" (a protected structure in which a drug addicted can inject substances without risks). Petra Roth (CDU), the mayor of Frankfurt, has instead inaugurated the fourth support community in her city. Despite their controversies the Zurich and Frankfurt experiments are very important examples of drug related policies.
(SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 31/07)
MEXICO
An important witness against the Narcomafia and its military partners in crime has been murdered. Irma Lizette Ibarra, 44 was considered the link between the cartels, the military and the international drug-czars.
(EL PAIS 31/07, SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 01/08)
GERMANY
The controlled distribution of heroin remains a "hot" issue for the coalition government. FDP favors the experiment, CDU does not. According to Mr. Pons a representative of CDU, grave cases should not be dealt in the Swiss way, but with the Swedish method (the compulsory therapy mandated by the judge). Drug addicts that refuse any kind of treatment cannot be left alone, any kind of therapy must be imposed on them.
(SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 02/08)
GERMANY
Hamburg, The physicians of the Ochsenzoll clinic, have documented the increase in social as well sanitary problems for drug addicts, 1041 drug people were interrogated and observed. The patients scrutinized stayed at the clinic between 1989 and 1993 in order to disintoxicate, experts have noticed a dramatic increase in the number of hepatitis B and C; the attempted suicides have doubled, and the housing and working situation has gotten worse. All this despite the methadone program.
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