Κυριακή 6 Δεκεμβρίου 2015

Longwa: Στο χωριό των "κυνηγών" κεφαλών που καπνίζουν όπιο όλη τη μέρα

OPIUM


Οι κάτοικοι του μικρού χωριού Longwa της Ινδίας, στα επικίνδυνα σύνορα με την Μιανμάρ, μάχονται με τον εθισμό που έχουν στο όπιο. Σχεδόν το ένα τρίτο των κατοίκων καπνίζουν την ουσία, με πολλούς να έχουν πουλήσει όλα τα υπάρχοντά τους για να χρηματοδοτήσουν τη συνήθειά τους.
Ο Αυστραλός φωτογράφος Raphael Korman ταξίδεψε στο χωριό και έμαθε για το έθιμο των αποκεφαλισμών που ήταν σύνηθες μέχρι τα τέλη της δεκαετίας του 1960.
Το όπιο έπεσε στα χέρια των ντόπιων από τους Βρετανούς αποικιοκράτες, λίγο πριν το 1940. Από τότε, αποτελεί ένα χαρακτηριστικό του χωριού. Χαρακτηριστικό είναι πως ο Buwong, όπως ο ίδιος δήλωσε στον φωτογράφο, καπνίζει όπιο όλη την μέρα.
"Περπατούσαμε για 2-3 νύχτες μέχρι να φτάσουμε σε κάποιο από τα αντίπαλα χωριά. Ηταν δύσκολο, τρώγαμε πολύ λίγο. Όταν φτάναμε, πρώτα χτυπούσαμε τα χωράφια, όπου αποκεφαλίζαμε γυναίκες και άνδρες. Μετά πηγαίναμε στο χωριό. Αν ήταν πολλοί τότε τρέχαμε μακριά και περιμέναμε για την επόμενη φορά" εξήγησε Buwong, αρχηγός του χωριού, στον Αυστραλό φωτογράφο.
Οι κάτοικοι φορούν τεράστια κοκάλινα σκουλαρίκια να τρυπούν τα αυτιά τους και «χαρακιές» στο πρόσωπο να προδίδουν την εξάρτηση των περισσότερων από το όπιο. 

The village of head-hunters addicted to opium: The Indian tribe where up to 90% have used the drug... and the chief's only role is to smoke it all day  


Addiction:  Almost a third of residents in Longwa smoke opium and many have to sell their belongings to fund their expensive habit
Addiction: Almost a third of residents in Longwa smoke opium and many have to sell their belongings to fund their expensive habit

Effects: Village chief Tonyei Phawang, pictured here with his caretakers, is a habitual opium smoker and leads a sedentary existence
Effects: Village chief Tonyei Phawang, pictured here with his caretakers, is a habitual opium smoker and leads a sedentary existence

Head-hunting was practiced in Longwa, a village on the Myanmar border where many residents are addicted to opium, until the late 1960s
Head-hunting was practiced in Longwa, a village on the Myanmar border where many residents are addicted to opium, until the late 1960s

 The addiction has disrupted family life and values. Children are often left without their fathers for hours on end while they smoke opium
 The addiction has disrupted family life and values. Children are often left without their fathers for hours on end while they smoke opium

Improvement: Although the opium addiction rate has gone down in recent years, it is thought that the habit will never be eradicated
Improvement: Although the opium addiction rate has gone down in recent years, it is thought that the habit will never be eradicated

Sacrifice: Takching has been smoking opium for 30 years. The drug costs him up to $20 a day, and he's sold his possessions to pay for it
Sacrifice: Takching has been smoking opium for 30 years. The drug costs him up to $20 a day, and he's sold his possessions to pay for it

The village chief and his caretakers smoke opium from morning until night. They are among 30 per cent of villagers addicted to the drug
The village chief and his caretakers smoke opium from morning until night. They are among 30 per cent of villagers addicted to the drug

Photographer Raphael Korman travelled to the village after hearing tales of head-hunting, but instead saw the scars of drug addiction
Photographer Raphael Korman travelled to the village after hearing tales of head-hunting, but instead saw the scars of drug addiction

 The addiction has disrupted family life and values - children are often left without their fathers for hours on end while they smoke opium
 The addiction has disrupted family life and values - children are often left without their fathers for hours on end while they smoke opium

Raphael Korman travelled to the village after hearing tales of head-hunting, which was practiced in Longwa up until the late 1960s
Raphael Korman travelled to the village after hearing tales of head-hunting, which was practiced in Longwa up until the late 1960s

Village life and its social and political structures have been corroded by  substance abuse. It's thought  the habit will never be eradicated
Village life and its social and political structures have been corroded by substance abuse. It's thought the habit will never be eradicated

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