On 27th October 2021, Laos saw, what the UN claims to be, Asia’s biggest drug seizure of all time. More than 55 million methamphetamine tablets and over 1.5 tonnes of crystal meth were intercepted in a truck transporting beer crates in Bokeo.

In recent years, there has been a substantial rise in illicit drug trafficking in the Asia-Pacific and its innuendos have been undermining the growth in this region. What deserved vituperative actions, has only been met by indifference and neglect from the international community. As Laos calls The Pakse Summit 2021, Southeast Asia faces one of its biggest challenges so far.

With criminal networks getting more coherent and emergence of new trade routes, the Asia-Pacific drug trade is estimated to have increased to $61.4 billion. The Mekong region is a hub for drug trafficking, with a long history of opium and heroin production and more recently, the rise of synthetic drugs. Traffickers use the region's porous borders, corruption, and poverty to their advantage, making it a challenging area to combat. As the “Golden Triangle” emerges as a strong transit point for these activities, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos form the centre of such activities.

Governments fail to claim accountability creating tensions in diplomatic relations and the simultaneous rise in organised crime led to inimical socio-economic obstructions in the area. The situation in the APAC region remains a complex and fascinating issue that requires a coordinated and multi-faceted approach.

The members of the Pakse Summit, will have to focus on 3 main activities: research and analytical work, which seeks to increase understanding of the policies regarding drugs; field-based cooperation projects, which seek to strengthen the institutional capacity of states in the fight against drugs; and lastly pragmatic and ingenious actions to curb and mitigate the crisis. It is now up to you, the delegates of The Pakse Summit, 2021, to do what you must do to uphold the peace and stability in APAC

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CHAIRPERSONS’ ADDRESS

Delegates,

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to this session of The Pakse Summit, 2021. The impact of illicit drug trafficking in the Asia-Pacific region stands out on its own due to its layered and inter-tangled nature. The flame existed for decades- but it’s now with the Bokeo meth bust, that it’s flare has frightened the world. The development of trade routes from the Mekong to the Golden Crescent along with the line of production, import & export manage to defy stakeholders of peace in these nations. It is imperative to understand and analyse the fabric of the region where the threat is ubiquitous and its implications have made the region incongruous.

Set in 2021, this committee will require the delegates to be analytical, dynamic and practical all while devising actions to ensure country policy and order. As the Chairperson, I expect the delegates to bring out the technical as well as stimulating and engrossing aspects of the committee and the agenda. The crisis demands ingenious actions, quick decisions, and exhorts a cohesive understanding of the problem. Owing to the broad nature of the agenda and the freeze date, there is a lot to discuss, diverse state of affairs from all across the region. It is now your responsibility to uphold the accord in the APAC and evade the impediment.

Here's a little about me: I graduated St. James’ School, Kolkata as the Batch of 23’ & will be studying business at the New York University. My interests include public speaking, poetry, & Indian mythology. In my free time, you can find me binging Big Bang Theory or figuring out my next favourite music genre. A life motto I follow- No matter how difficult the way is, you can always Keep Walking.

Model UN has been a rather pivotal part of my school life- from figuring out what the word “diplomacy” meant, to getting to chair an exciting and dynamic (please do not let me down) committee. Model UN doesn’t only allow you to explore answers to burning current affairs but also makes you engage, interact and collaborate. A successful delegate is not one who has solutions: rather one who can make others believe in those solutions and work towards achieving them.

I hope the guide provides you a detailed account of the agenda and prepares the delegates for the committee. Apart from the provided information, additional research on the topic and individual country policies is highly recommended to ensure the delegates an enriching experience in the committee. Looking forward to seeing everyone in July!

Feel free to contact me on tps.jacomun23@gmail.com

Regards,
Anshul Choudhary
Chairperson,
The Pakse Summit, 2021.