Nederland en Afghanistan 122

Abdul Hakim, a local farmer, watched as his poppy fields were destroyed

Afghan poppy war alienates farmers
By James Bays in Kandahar

Afghanistan's campaign to eradicate the growing of poppies, which are then turned into opium or heroin, is suffering setbacks and protests, amid reports that the Taliban are growing in strength.
The programme, which involves ploughing up fields where the poppies are growing, is unpopular with those whose livelihoods are based around the poppy trade, and many local authorities are reluctant to carry out the operation.
Afghan troops have to guard the tractor drivers from attacks by the opium producers whose crops they are destroying.
In the Panjwai district of Afghanistan, Abdul Hakim, a farmer who was found to be growing poppies, watched as his fields and crops were destroyed.
Like many other farmers, he had borrowed money from local drug dealers and was supposed to pay them back with the poppies grown in his fields.
He said, after the destruction of the poppies, that he would persuade his relatives to join the Taliban.
Resurgent Taliban
There have been fears that the Taliban is growing in strength and support.

It was reported on Monday that Taliban fighters stormed Bakwa in the western province of Farah, the second district taken by the Taliban after they captured Musa Qala in southern Helmand province over two weeks ago.
Some analysts are concerned that the farmers who watch their fields ploughed up and their crops destroyed, will turn against the government and support the Taliban.'

Lees verder: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DBAB2710-C80E-4091-89B7-D7764750E312.htm