Pubdate: Mon, 05 May 2008
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2008 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Ryan Cormier, Canwest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/poppy (Poppy)

MAKING HAY? NOT IF YOU GROW POPPIES

In Afghanistan, Compensating For Ruined Crops Is A Tricky Task; Canadian Forces

PANJWAII DISTRICT, Afghanistan - When paying compensation to Afghans 
for collateral damage from military operations, Canadian Forces have 
drawn a line in the sand where the poppies grow.

Soldiers in the Mushan region were in a unique bind recently after 
their 83-vehicle convoy rumbled over two crops -- one wheat, one 
poppy -- to set up an overnight security perimeter.

Land was torn up and both crops ground into the mud. The wheat farmer 
would have to be compensated, but the poppy growers presented a 
Catch-22. Replacement Canadian and Afghanistan soldiers in the region 
had just arrived that day. Angering locals by not paying for poppies 
was a poor start for soldiers about to forge new relationships. But 
the alternative was to finance the drug trade.

According to a recent NATO report, 93% of the global opium supply 
comes fromAfghanistan poppies. Poor farmers grow the illegal crop 
because it is profitable, but much of the money lands in Taliban pockets.

Canadians discussed the security implications, but decided they had 
little choice. They agreed it would look unseemly and send the wrong message.

"Poppies are not recognized as a legal crop by the government of 
Afghanistan," Major Mark Campbell of the operational mentoring and 
liaison team later told the group who met to negotiate and collect 
their compensation. "We will not pay for it. We will only pay for the 
land so it can be properly irrigated to grow a proper crop, like wheat."

The decision was not popular. Three men who openly admitted to owning 
the poppy field wanted to be compensated for both the crop and land 
damage, as the wheat farmer had.

Half the wheat field was lost, a swath of roughly 15,000 square 
metres. The farmer asked for $1,600 in return. After being 
fingerprinted and signing his name on the dotted line, he counted his 
money and left satisfied.

The three poppy farmers grudgingly agreed to share $300, although 
they lost nearly as much crop as the wheat farmer. The vast 
difference in compensation wasn't lost on them.

"It's important to understand that the International Security 
Assistance Force didn't want to destroy these crops," Maj. Campbell 
explained. "We and the Afghan National Army had to take that route to 
avoid IEDs laid by the Taliban."

His emphasis reflected the fact that compensation acts as a crucial 
goodwill measure. Many in Kandahar province live in poverty and 
cannot afford to lose an income to military operations.

"It goes to not creating negative impacts on our operations by 
aggravating people," said Major James Allen of the provincial 
reconstruction team. "For the most part, they appreciate it."

However, some Afghans have grown impatient waiting for what they feel 
they're owed. In the city of Bazaer-E last week, agitated Panjwaii 
district elders complained to Canadian troops that the money comes too slowly.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom