Antidrug activists demand death sentence for Zarina<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): At least 100 activists grouped in the People's
\nAnti-Drug Movement, or Geram, packed City Hall on Monday and
\ndemanded the death sentence for Zarina Mirafsur if she is found
\nguilty of drug offenses.<\/p>\n
The antidrug campaigners said the heavy penalty was sorely
\nneeded to end rampant drug trafficking in the capital.<\/p>\n
\"We urge Governor Sutiyoso to press all related parties in the
\nlaw enforcement system, such as police officers, prosecutors and
\njudges, to give Zarina, as well as other drug-related suspects,
\nthe death penalty if they are proved guilty,\" Geram coordinator
\nSofyan Ali said during the peaceful rally.<\/p>\n
The activists, who included students and ulemas, arrived at
\nCity Hall at 9 a.m. in five buses, unfurling posters and a big
\nbanner that read: \"Death sentence for Zarina and friends.\"<\/p>\n
The protesters, who came from different areas, including Bogor
\nand Cilegon, wore red headbands decorated with Geram's name.<\/p>\n
Zarina was detained together with nine other suspects after an
\nearly morning raid last Thursday at five apartments in a West
\nJakarta hotel.<\/p>\n
The raid uncovered 835 ecstasy pills, 51.2 grams of shabu-
\nshabu (crystal methamphetamine), 28 pornographic movies, six
\nbongs and two small scales.<\/p>\n
Zarina, 27, was dubbed the \"Ecstasy queen\" two years ago after
\nshe was sentenced to four years in jail for possession of 29,677
\necstasy pills. She was granted a conditional release on Oct. 21
\nlast year and worked for her former lawyer O.C. Kaligis until a
\nfew months ago.<\/p>\n
Deputy Governor for Social welfare Affairs Djailani, who
\nreceived the Geram activists, did not directly respond to the
\ngroup's demand, but voiced strong support for their antidrug
\ncampaign.<\/p>\n
\"The drug traffickers, if found guilty, should be punished
\naccording to the existing laws,\" Djailani said after signing the
\nbanner.<\/p>\n
He however reminded the public not to take the law into their
\nown hands against suspected drug users or traffickers.<\/p>\n
Addicted officers<\/p>\n
Separately, city councilor Syamsuardi Botan suggested on
\nMonday that the tough sentence should also be handed down for
\nsuspects of drug-related cases, including police officers.<\/p>\n
\"Many police officers have been reported to have used drugs.
\nThey should also be punished,\" said National Mandate Party (PAN)
\nrepresentative Syamsuardi.<\/p>\n
From City Hall, the Geram activists headed to the Central
\nJakarta District Court, with the same demand for tougher
\nsentences for criminals convicted of drug-related offenses.<\/p>\n
\"The media have repeatedly reported on the terms of
\npunishments given to suspects by judges, which were much lighter
\nthan those set by prosecutors,\" Sofyan Ali shouted.<\/p>\n
He said such unpopular decisions had sparked the public's
\nconcern on possible collusive, corrupt and nepotistic practices
\nbehind the judgments.<\/p>\n
\"Tough sentences from the judges will help deter community
\nmembers from using or trafficking in drugs,\" Sofyan added.<\/p>\n
The group was received by the head of the court, Sihol
\nSitompul, who appeared with at least 10 judges.<\/p>\n
An ulema with Geram, Habib Muchdar, read the following
\nstatement to the judges: \"The court must uphold the supremacy of
\nthe law and reject all kinds of bribes which could prompt the
\njudges to reduce sentences for drug-related defendants.\"<\/p>\n
He warned that should the judges fail to comply with their
\ndemands, judges would face a series of similar protests in the
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
Judge Sihol promised to meet the calls for reform, saying that
\nhe would take tough measures against colleagues who were involved
\nin bribe taking.<\/p>\n
Unplanned<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a source at Jakarta Police Headquarters revealed on
\nMonday that Zarina's arrest last Thursday was unplanned.<\/p>\n
The officer, who asked for anonymity, said that a group of
\ncity police detectives were in the process of apprehending a
\nsuspected major Taiwanese drug dealer and his two friends at the
\nWest Jakarta hotel when they by chance heard a noise in another
\nroom in the hotel apartment.<\/p>\n
\"We found Zarina and Ahian Santoso in the room with the drugs.
\nWe later searched four other apartments and found the remaining
\neight suspects and confiscated the drugs and pornographic
\nmovies,\" the police source said.<\/p>\n
He said the Taiwanese man, identified only by his nickname
\nChan, had been under intense police surveillance because the
\nforeigner allegedly planned to build a big factory here to
\nproduce shabu-shabu.<\/p>\n
\"He and his two friends are still undergoing police
\ninterrogation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, a meeting held on Monday between officials from
\nthe East Jakarta Cipinang penitentiary and city police detectives
\nconcerning Zarina's conditional release status ended
\ninconclusively.<\/p>\n
Should police be able to support accusations concerning
\nZarina's involvement in the illegal drug business, Zarina would
\nmost likely be returned to Tangerang Women's Penitentiary.<\/p>\n
Zarina insisted again on Monday that she had been set up by
\nher interrogators to sign a statement in which she was named a
\ndrug-related suspect in the Thursday raid.<\/p>\n
\"I did not know what the dossier was all about. I was set
\nup ... to sign it,\" Zarina said in a two-page letter released to
\nthe media. (jun\/ylt\/asa)<\/p>",
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