`Police rely on money from drug dealers'<\/p>\n
Drug abuse is one of the serious problems facing the country,
\nespecially big cities like Jakarta. Under the antidrug laws which
\nallow the death penalty for drug traffickers, 21 people have been
\nsentenced to death. But none have been executed. The Jakarta Post
\ntalked to several people about the government's efforts to deal
\nwith drug problems.<\/p>\n
Kremi, not his real name, 28, is a civil servant who works for
\nthe Ministry of Justice. He resides in East Jakarta:<\/p>\n
It's common for the death sentence to be given to high-profile
\ndrug traffickers. Unfortunately, I'm not optimistic that it will
\nhave a significant impact on the efforts to eradicate drug cases.
\nIn fact, none of the 21 defendants who have been given the death
\npenalty have been executed so far.<\/p>\n
Only if the firing squad shot to death one of the defendants,
\nit might be a deterrent.<\/p>\n
I think the problem is complex because the police need money
\nfrom drug traffickers to support police operations. A police
\nofficer has once told me that the police indeed need financial
\nsupport to continue cracking down on criminals.<\/p>\n
The fight against drugs will be effective only when law
\nenforcers are clean and the corrupt are replaced by the new
\ngeneration.<\/p>\n
I'm responsible for upholding the image of law to the public,
\nbut in fact I'm ashamed to admit that law enforcers' attitude is
\nembarrassing. Nobody trusts the law and its enforcers now. This
\nis ironical, isn't it?<\/p>\n
We have heard how lawyers, prosecutors and judges often extort
\ndefendants in exchange for freedom. Police even offer various
\nprices for different quality cells to convicted felons.<\/p>\n
In short, it's hard to describe the rotten court mafia. Money
\nagain has ridiculed justice.<\/p>\n
Rita Olivia, 29, has worked as a lawyer at the Jakarta Legal
\nAid Institute for six years. She resides in Bekasi:<\/p>\n
I think the death sentence for caliber drug dealers has no
\nsignificant impact on drug problems. There are still many drug
\ndealers and abusers out there.<\/p>\n
Everybody knows that some nasty police officers might back up
\nthe illegal business. So, law enforcement is questionable in the
\neyes of the public.<\/p>\n
I wonder if the arrest of drug traffickers is really in
\naccordance with legal procedures. I'm skeptical about drug abuse
\neradication in the country. Only when the law enforcers have a
\nstrong commitment problems could be overcome.<\/p>\n
Personally, I disagree with the death sentence because it's
\nagainst the international covenant on human rights.<\/p>\n
Tatok, 27, a sidewalk vendor, sells accessories in Blok M,
\nSouth Jakarta. He resides on Jl. Petukangan, South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I do agree with the death penalty for drug traffickers because
\nthe rampant drug problems are intolerable.<\/p>\n
Regretfully, none of them has been executed. What's the
\nsignificance of a verdict without its execution? The public is
\nwaiting for this.<\/p>\n
If law enforcers were honest and dedicated to their jobs, the
\ndrug problems would be less rampant. We can see that some of the
\nevidence is never brought to the court because some of it
\n(illegal drugs) has been taken by police for their own benefit.<\/p>\n
Personally I have never taken any kind of drugs. I prefer
\nalcoholic drinks.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-rely-on-money-from-drug-dealers-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }