Officials shift blame for blunders in war on drugs<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City officials blamed each other on Tuesday over
\nthe lack of coordination in the city's war against drugs.<\/p>\n
An aura of incongruity was observed in a meeting discussing an
\nantidrug campaign at City Hall.<\/p>\n
\"I can't understand why drug dealers and users receive minimum
\nsentences, not maximum ones,\" Governor Sutiyoso, who hosted the
\nmeeting, said.<\/p>\n
The governor regretted that no representatives from the
\nJakarta Public Prosecutors' Office, the city's five district
\ncourts and the Jakarta High Court were present at the discussion.<\/p>\n
\"I'm very disappointed because we want to know the reasons for
\nimposing minimum sentences on narcotic cases,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Chief of city police narcotic detectives Lt. Col. Abdullah
\nsaid the police's duty was only to prepare dossiers for the
\nrespective prosecutors' office.<\/p>\n
\"It's up to the prosecutors' office to decide whether to
\ncontinue with the prosecution and it's up to the judges at the
\nrespective district court to issue the verdict,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Abdullah said in November alone the city police received
\nreports of 44 cases of drug abuse and trafficking from residents.<\/p>\n
\"And we have taken the necessary actions to follow up the
\nreports.\"<\/p>\n
Head of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport customs
\noffice Tonny Soenanto said most of the drugs distributed in
\nIndonesia were locally made.<\/p>\n
Participants at the meeting used the opportunity to express
\ntheir personal opinions on how to eliminate drug abuse and
\ntrafficking in the city.<\/p>\n
Coordinator of the Society's Antidrug Movement (GERAM) Sofyan
\nAli said the war against drugs should also be aimed at
\ncelebrities.<\/p>\n
\"Celebrities are also drug users. Sometimes they take drugs
\nfor fun or for experimental purposes,\" Sofyan, who is also a
\nconcert promoter, said.<\/p>\n
\"We'll propose to all music producers here not to use drug-
\naddicted singers on their albums as shock therapy.\"<\/p>\n
Sofyan's opinion was shared by veteran dangdut singer Rhoma
\nIrama.<\/p>\n
\"We have to impose 'social' sanctions on such singers,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He urged television stations not to include drug-addicted
\nartists on their programs.<\/p>\n
\"All artists appearing on our TV screens must be free from
\ndrugs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rhoma supported the city residents' active involvement in
\nfighting drugs, including the storming and burning of places
\nsuspected as drug-dealing spots.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Sutiyoso said the city administration would soon
\nconduct urine tests on its officials following reports they were
\ninvolved in drug abuse.<\/p>\n
\"We'll conduct the tests randomly because they are expensive
\nand there are many city officials,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Similar measures have been taken by the city police and the
\ncity military command.<\/p>\n
Night life<\/p>\n
Later on Tuesday afternoon, Sutiyoso warned owners of
\nnightspots to comply with the operational schedule guidelines
\nissued by the city administration.<\/p>\n
\"I've taken a risk allowing nightspots to operate during the
\nMuslim fasting month of Ramadhan. Several groups of residents
\nhave demanded that they cease their operations during fasting
\nmonth,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He admitted that his decision would not satisfy all
\nresidents.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore the owners must follow the city administration's
\ninstructions to reduce their opening hours during Ramadhan,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Jakarta branch of the Association of Nightspot
\nOwners (Asphindo) Affendi Tasra said he supported the city
\nadministration's decision to revoke the permit of any nightspot
\nif they were involved in drug distribution. (05)<\/p>",
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