Independence 1 September 1985

Independence 1 September 1985

U.S LAWMAKERS VISIT THE "GOLDEN TRIANGLE"
By Seng Merng-Kher Ser 

It was reported in the Thai dailies that a party of U.S lawmakers led by Ms.PAULA HARKINS of FL.ORIDA visited the opium producing GOLDEN TRIANGLE area in THAILAND prior to talks in RANGOON on Burmese drives against narcoties with U MIN GAUNG, Burmese Home & Religious Affairs Minister, and Foreign Minister, U CHIT HLAING. 

Good work, but one wonders if the LAWMAKERS saw any opium in the so-called GOLDEN TRIANGLE. According to the popular local definition it is where meets the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Shan State of Burma, and this is where all tourists are taking to the U.S lawmakers too, no doubt. What one sees there are the swirling muddy waters of the MEKHONG and MAEKOK rivers, some mud and sand, and reeds. Hardly one opium poppy. The lawmakers from faraway must, or should be, puzzled as to how this desolate patch of earth produces (400) to (600) tons of opium annually. 

This little confusion as to what is the GOLDEN TRIANGLE underlines the incredible ignorance posing as Knowledge insofar as concerned. 

In fact, very little is known about the area where opium is grown, the real GOLDEN TRIANGLE which incidentally refers to Burma's Shan State: triangular in shape, covering about 60,000 square miles of high valleys and rugged mountains. 

Undoubtedly, distinguished American lawmakers will have to make do with just the tourist brochure GOLDEN TRIANGLE because the real thing is out of bounds. Rangoon does not like anyone snooping around. Definitely, visiting lawmakers from the faraway and affluent America will see what Rangoon wants them to see, and come away much impressed. Never you mind that they did not see, the real thing. Reality, after all, tends to be quite tacky and untidy anyway.