Death sentence sought for drug offenders<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With an increasing trend of drug abuse, National
\nPolice headquarters is seeking a more effective preventive
\nmeasure against the use and sale of drugs.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the National Police Headquarters Brig. Gen.
\nTogar M. Sianipar suggested on Wednesday that Indonesia should
\nconsider implementing the death penalty for drug offenders.<\/p>\n
"If Indonesia is really serious in its fight against drugs,
\nthe government must consider drafting a law to enact the death
\npenalty for drug traffickers and dealers," he told reporters.<\/p>\n
"Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Japan sentence drug
\ntraffickers and dealers to death. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, drug
\ndealers get out of jail within months," he said.<\/p>\n
Article 60 of Law No.5\/1997 on psychotropic substances carries
\na maximum penalty of 15 years in jail or a fine of up to Rp 200
\nmillion (US$26,666).<\/p>\n
Quoting a police report, Togar said world drug syndicates had
\nstarted using Asians as traffickers more frequently than
\nNigerians to bring drugs into Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"It's easier to use traffickers of Asian origin as morphine
\nand heroin enter Indonesia through Asia's Golden Triangle
\n(Thailand, Laos, Myanmar).<\/p>\n
"Shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) comes in from China,
\nvia Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore. Meanwhile, cocaine comes in
\nfrom Columbia," he said.<\/p>\n
"Up to 50 kilograms of heroin enters Indonesia every month.
\nHowever drugs are also leaving Indonesia, the world today has
\ndirect access to Aceh's marijuana," he said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung are the three major centers for
\ndrug consumption in the country.<\/p>\n
He said police had recorded 521 cases of narcotics abuse in
\nthe first half of this year.<\/p>\n
"By the end of this year, the number of cases of drug abuse
\ncould exceed last year's record of 958 cases," he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, former ambassador to the United States Lt. Gen.
\n(ret) Hasnan Habib confirmed that Military officials have long
\nsupported the drug network in Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
"Some military officers in Southeast Asia regions back the
\ndrug network. Not only in Indonesia, but also in Thailand, Japan
\nand the rest of the Asian region," he said.<\/p>\n
Disclose<\/p>\n
Hasnan called on the Indonesian Military (TNI) to disclose the
\ntrue story of an Army's Special Force (Kopassus) member Second
\nLt. Agus Ishok, who was caught earlier this month for drugs use
\nand possession.<\/p>\n
"TNI must dare to take responsibility. It must explain to the
\npeople what the case was all about," he told reporters at the
\nsidelines of a seminar on the future welfare of the National
\nPolice on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
"Whatever the consequence of the case, TNI must explain," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, City Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman
\nstill declined to comment on Agus' involvement in the case.<\/p>\n
"I don't know... I don't know anything about the case anymore.
\nDon't ask me about it. I am not handling the case," Noegroho told
\nreporters on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Asked whether he knew that Agus had been detained at the
\nKopassus' headquarters, Noegroho replied: "don't ask me!"<\/p>\n
"If you heard it from the Kopassus guys, why don't you ask
\nthem. I am not handling this case."<\/p>\n
As reported earlier, West Jakarta Police apprehended Agus and
\nhis friend Donny in possession of heroin, shabu-shabu and more
\nthan 6,000 ecstasy pills in a hotel on Aug. 8.<\/p>\n
Upon Noegroho's order, Agus, the eldest son of a top-ranking
\nArmy officer, was later escorted to his father's home to settle
\nthe case in accordance with the military procedures", a source
\nhad said. (ylt)<\/p>",
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