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A30 WORLD NEWS
Diabierna 3 Juni 2022

Afghan Taliban launch campaign to eradicate poppy crop

WASHIR, Afghanistan poppies were planted this
(AP) — Afghanistan’s Tal- season, how much was har-
iban rulers have begun vested and how many fields
a campaign to eradicate the Taliban have eradicated
poppy cultivation, aim- so far.
ing to wipe out the coun- But Afghanistan’s production
try’s massive production has steadily risen, reaching
of opium and heroin, even new heights every year in re-
as farmers fear their live- cent years. In 2021, 177,000
lihoods will be ruined at a hectares (438,000 acres) were
time of growing poverty. planted with poppies, yield-
ing enough opium to pro-
On a recent day in Washir duce up to 650 tons of hero-
district in southern Helmand in, according to estimates by
province, armed Taliban the U.N.’s Office on Drugs
fighters stood guard as a trac- and Crime. That was an in-
tor tore up a field of poppies. crease from up to 590 tons of
The field’s owner stood near- heroin in 2020.
by, watching. The total value of Afghani-
The Taliban, who took pow- stan’s opiates production in
er in Afghanistan more than 2021 was $1.8-$2.7 billion,
nine months ago, issued an up to 14% of the country’s
edict in early April banning GDP, exceeding the value of
poppy cultivation through- its legal exports, the UNO-
out the country. DC said in its most recent
Those violating the ban “will day laborers who rely on earn anything,” he said of his going from plant to plant, report.
be arrested and tried accord- proceeds from the crop to poppies. slicing the poppy’s bulb, then During their first time in
ing to Sharia laws in relevant survive. The ban comes as Day laborers can earn up- scooping up the sap that ooz- power in the late 1990s, the
courts,” the Taliban deputy Afghanistan’s economy has wards of $300 a month har- es out, the raw material for Taliban also banned poppy
interior minister for counter- collapsed, cut off from inter- vesting opium from the pop- opium. cultivation and with a fierce
narcotics, Mullah Abdul Haq national funding in the wake pies. Villagers often rely on Akhund, the deputy interior campaign of destroying crop-
Akhund, told The Associated of the Taliban takeover. Most the promise of the upcom- minister, said the Taliban lands nearly eradicated pro-
Press in Helmand’s provin- of the population struggles to ing poppy harvest to borrow were in touch with other duction within two years,
cial capital, Lashkar Gah. afford food, and the country money for staples such as governments and non-gov- according to the United Na-
Afghanistan is the world’s has been suffering under its flour, sugar, cooking oil and ernmental organizations to tions.
biggest opium producer and worst drought in years. heating oil. work out alternative crops for However, after the U.S.-led
a major source for heroin in Noor Mohammed, who Helmand is the heartland of farmers. invasion that ousted the Tal-
Europe and Asia. Produc- owns one poppy field in poppy cultivation in Afghani- Interior Ministry spokes- iban in 2001, many farmers
tion spiraled over the past 20 Washir that was torn apart stan. It appeared the new man Abdul Nafi Takor said returned to growing poppies.
years despite billions of dol- by Taliban tractors, said his eradication campaign was the eradication campaign will Over the next nearly 20 years,
lars spent by the U.S. trying plot of land is small and lacks targeting mainly those who take place across the coun- Washington spent more than
to stop poppy cultivation. water, so he can’t survive by planted their crops after the try. “We are committed to $8 billion trying to eradi-
But the ban will likely strike growing less profitable crops. ban was announced. Many bringing poppy cultivation to cate Afghan poppy produc-
a heavy blow to millions of “If we are not allowed to cul- others who had planted ear- zero,” he told the AP. tion. Instead, it only steadily
impoverished farmers and tivate this crop, we will not lier succeeded in harvesting, It’s not known how many increased: In 2002, around

Jerusalem holds annual Pride Parade despite threats

JERUSALEM (AP) — radicals attack participants. hub on the Mediterranean to an organizer of the parade and his violent, anti-Arab
Thousands of people at- Jerusalem is home to a large Sea. Up to 7,000 people at- and to several members of ideology.
tended the annual Jeru- ultra-Orthodox Jewish com- tended the Jerusalem march parliament who support LG- Israel has emerged as a major
salem Pride Parade on munity and other conserva- this year, police said. BTQ rights. The police pro- gay-friendly travel destina-
Thursday amid heavy pro- tive religious groups, and Police could be seen deployed vided no further details. tion in recent years, in sharp
tection by Israeli police, many residents oppose the on nearby rooftops and a po- “We will not allow the Pride contrast with the rest of the
who arrested three people event. lice helicopter hovered over- Parade to take place in Jeru- region, where gays are often
suspected of threatening The Jerusalem parade is head. The police said they salem, the holy city. Shira persecuted and even killed.
the event. much smaller than the yearly arrested two suspects with Banki’s fate awaits you,” read Members of the LGBTQ
festivities in the more liberal batons, tear gas and gloves in the threat sent to liberal La- community serve openly in
Past years have seen religious Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial their car who were heading bor party lawmaker and long- Israel’s military and parlia-
to the parade area. time LGBTQ-rights sup- ment, and many popular art-
In 2015, an Israeli man porter Gilad Kariv. ists and entertainers as well as
stabbed 16-year-old Shira Some members of Israel’s the country’s current health
Banki to death and wounded ultra-religious community minister are openly gay. But
several others at the Jeru- oppose the parade, homo- leaders of the LGBTQ com-
salem Pride Parade; he had sexuality, and LGBTQ rights, munity say Israel has a long
recently been released for and say the event should not way to go to promote equal-
a similar attack on parade take place in the holy city. ity.
participants in 2005. The at- A far-right anti-LGBTQ
tack was widely condemned group, Lehava, usually stages
across Israel’s political spec- a counter-protest nearby.
trum. Earlier this week, Israel’s de-
Earlier Thursday, police fense minister said the gov-
said they had apprehended ernment would consider des-
a 21-year-old European citi- ignating Lehava a terrorist or-
zen residing in Jerusalem on ganization for affiliation with
suspicion of sending threats the late Rabbi Meir Kahane