Govt submits draft bills on narcotics, transmigration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government submitted to the House of
\nRepresentatives yesterday bills designed to ratify the United
\nNations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
\nPsychotropic Substances and one on transmigration.<\/p>\n
The draft laws add to the 20 other government-sponsored bills
\nlegislators will have to decide on by the end of their term of
\noffice in August.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman said while submitting the
\ndraft ratification bill that the government had found the
\nexisting laws on these issues inadequate for combating the
\nillegal trade of addictive substances.<\/p>\n
\"Our law on narcotics and the draft bill on psychotropic
\nsubstances currently under deliberation does not discuss in
\ndetail the traffic check of addictive drugs,\" Oetojo told the
\nHouse plenary session chaired by Deputy Speaker Soetedjo.<\/p>\n
Deliberations on a new bill on narcotics, a revision of the
\nold law passed in 1976, and another bill on psychotropic
\nsubstances are underway.<\/p>\n
Oetojo said there were fears Indonesia had become a target
\ndestination for narcotic and psychotropic drug traffickers rather
\nthan a mere transit point.<\/p>\n
\"Geographically, Indonesia is a strategic place due to its
\nproximity to two continents, two oceans and the Golden Triangle
\narea,\" Oetojo said.<\/p>\n
The Golden Triangle, the remote hills on the borders of Laos,
\nMyanmar and Thailand, is believed to be the world's largest opium
\nproducing region.<\/p>\n
\"The abuse and illicit traffic of addictive drugs have
\nthreatened our security and defense and will adversely affect our
\ndevelopment programs,\" Oetojo said.<\/p>\n
The draft bill contains 15 items, including the convention's
\nsphere of influence, crimes and sanctions, the bill's
\njurisdiction, extradition, mutual legal aid between the
\nconvention's ratifying countries, trade documents and export
\nlabeling.<\/p>\n
The convention enables ratifying countries to extradite drug
\ncriminals, work together through international and regional
\ninstitutions, allow ship examinations and other forms of
\nconventional cooperation.<\/p>\n
Indonesia took part in a UN conference in Vienna in November
\n1988 which agreed to the convention on narcotic drugs and
\npsychotropic substances. Indonesia signed the convention six
\nmonths later.<\/p>\n
Later yesterday, the minister of transmigration told the
\nplenary session the new transmigration law would be made
\n\"simpler\" than the old one passed in 1972.<\/p>\n
\"The bill will contain only the main ideas in order that it
\ncan last long and anticipate rapid changes in the future,\"
\nSiswono said.<\/p>\n
Excluded from the new bill would be the security and defense
\ninterests in transmigration. (amd)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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