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Tom Kramer

Tom Kramer

Phone: +31 20 662 66 08
Email: tkramer AT tni dot org

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Drugs and Democracy
Tom Kramer

Researcher for TNI’s Drugs & Democracy Programme

Tom Kramer (1968) is a political scientist and with over 15-years of working experience on Burma and its border regions, which he has visited regularly since 1993.  

His work focuses on developing a better understanding of the drugs market in the region as a whole, the relationship between production and consumption, and alternative development (AD). Together with the Drugs and Democracy Programme, Kramer has created a regional network of local researchers, and is also carrying out advocacy towards policy makers in the region for more sustainable and human drug policies.

Since 2005 Kramer also works on Afghanistan, with a focus onthe relationship between drugs & conflict, and the involvement of western security forces in counter narcotic activities. Apart from his work for TNI, he is also a writer and freelance consultant, specializing on ethnic conflict and civil society in Burma. He has carried out field research and written reports for a wide range of international NGOs, institutes and UN organisations.

Drugs & conflict in Burma and Afghanistan, alternative development (AD), and harm reduction; and ethnic conflict and civil society in Burma.

Dutch (mother tongue) and English (Fluent).

Tom Kramer has given numerous interviews on Burma and Afghanistan for a wide range of media, including newspapers, radio (Dutch National Radio, Australian National Radio, BBC Burmese Section, Radio Free Asia), and TV (Dutch national TV, BCC World, Democratic Voice of Burma TV). He has also published various opinion articles in newspapers in the Netherlands (NRC Handelsblad, Vrij Nederland) and Asia (The Nation - Thailand).

Recent content by Tom Kramer

Civil Society Gaining Ground (15 Nov 2011)

Local organisations have adopted different strategies towards the authoritarian government in Burma. Focussing on the dynamics of civil society Tom Kramer looks into the possibilities and risks of growing international interest in engagement with these groups.

Redefining Targets (7 Dec 2009)

Afghanistan remains the world’s largest producer of opium and has an under-reported but growing heroin-use problem. Current drug control policies in Afghanistan are unrealistic, reflecting a need for immediate signs of hope rather than a serious analysis of the underlying causes and an effort to achieve long-term solutions.

Corruption: a ‘friend’ you can’t do without in Afghanistan (30 Nov 2009)

Corruption is a part of life in Afghanistan

Poppies and poverty in Afghanistan (30 Nov 2009)

The opium ban in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province has forced some farmers to move to alternative crops, but many poor farmers have difficulties finding alternative sources of income.

Afghanistan's hidden drug problem (23 Nov 2009)

Afghanistan's drug problem is not simply one of opium production - there is a growing number of heroin addicts that the country is ill prepared to deal with.

Corruption in Afghanistan - Blame and shame (19 Nov 2009)

If the international community is serious about dealing with corruption in Afghanistan, they need to revise their own dubious practices.

Security in Afghanistan - Business as usual? (18 Nov 2009)

The security threat has made the operations of international agencies in Afghanistan more costly, but it is also one of the few booming sectors providing much needed jobs to some and lucrative profits to others. TNI staff report from Afghanistan.

Burma's Cease-fires at Risk (15 Sep 2009)

In August the Burma army occupied the Kokang region after several days of fighting, ending two decades of cease-fire with the ethnic minority group. The resumption of fighting in northern Burma raises speculation about the other cease-fires. Tensions are rising and the cease-fire groups have put their armed forces on high alert.

From Golden Triangle to Rubber Belt? (1 Jul 2009)

In the Kokang and Wa regions in northern Burma opium bans have ended poppy cultivation, but have caused chronic poverty and food insecurity as a result.

Twenty Years on, the Wa-Burmese Cease-fire looks shakier (24 Apr 2009)
The recent tension between the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the Burmese military Government has led to speculation about a renewal of the armed conflict. Tom Kramer examines the two decades of cease fire.
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