Drug users oppose US troops

[garywmeyerhoff]

Members of the Darwin based drug user organisation the Network Against Prohibition have invited everyone who is opposed to the presence of US troops in the Northern Territory (NT) to attend the 18th Community Smoke-in for Human Rights at high noon tomorrow in Darwin’s Raintree Park.

 

The Community Smoke-ins are regular protest events where members of the community openly smoke cannabis in defiance of the NT Government’s ‘drug house’ legislation and the war on drugs in general.

 

Network Against Prohibition (NAP) spokesperson Gary Meyerhoff said that one of the reasons the network oppose drug prohibition is because it is used by the United States to dictate foreign policy and flex their muscle.

 

Mr Meyerhoff said “The US led war on drugs has been running longer than the war on terror and longer than the war on Iraq and it has claimed more lives than those wars combined. It has nothing to do with the physical effects of drugs on our bodies and everything to do with the expansionism of the United States of America.”

 

“Even if they don’t bash people in drunken brawls, don’t sexually assault women and young people and look after the environment, we oppose the presence of US troops and equipment in the NT because the US military machine continues to wreak social, economic and environmental havoc on a global scale.”

 

“The war on drugs is just one example of this devastation.”

 

Colombia is the home of an unknown front in the war on drugs; the aerial spraying of coca crops and other vegetation across parts of the country. Monsanto, the same company who produced Agent Orange have won the contract from the US Government to provide defoliant chemicals for the purpose of spraying alleged coca crops. They are only spraying in rebel held areas.

 

However some NAP members have stated that the presence of a US base may not be all bad news.

 

NAP member Michael Barry said “It will mean an improvement in the quality, quantity and variety of drugs available in the Northern Territory.”

 

Mr Barry said “We might start getting some decent coke in town.”

 

Drug users have expressed concern that a US Base is being established in the NT without a massive expansion of drug detoxification, treatment and rehabilitation services which are already unable to meet demand. NAP are urging the NT Government to double the funding for drug treatment and education programs before contemplating the presence of large numbers of US troops in the NT.

 

The smoke-in will go ahead tomorrow despite the refusal by the Darwin City Council to issue a permit for the event.

 

For more information call NAP on 0415 16 2525 or see http://www.napnt.org