Stricter laws on drugs required: Experts<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Government, police and other law enforcement
\nagencies should take strict concrete measures to reduce rising
\ndrug trafficking in the capital city, experts said over the
\nweekend.<\/p>\n
Adrianus Meliala, a noted criminologist from the University of
\nIndonesia, said putting up banners all over the capital as part
\nof city residents' anti-drug campaign was not sufficient to fight
\nthe social ill.<\/p>\n
Meliala suggested city residents and government officials take
\nmore concrete measures to fight drug abuse.<\/p>\n
"The residents' good will alone is not enough unless it is
\nbacked up by the government's political will. They should start
\nto heavily punish drug dealers and rehabilitate drug users
\ninstead of using words on banners," Meliala told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
Since the city administration aired its campaign against drugs
\nlast July, hundreds of banners have been put up, initially in
\nKampung Bali subdistrict, Tanah Abang and Central Jakarta, before
\nspreading out to other areas of the city.<\/p>\n
Several movements to support the city's campaign have also
\nbeen established, including the Society's Antidrug Movement
\n(GERAM) and the People's Movement against Drug Abuse (GRANAT).<\/p>\n
The movements have demanded newly appointed lawmakers in the
\nHouse of Representatives and the People's General Assembly to
\nseriously review laws on drug trafficking, which are lenient on
\nconvicted traffickers.<\/p>\n
Meliala said although residents had actively staged a war
\nagainst drugs, it is still possible that there were distortions
\nin judiciary procedures, which likely lightened the sentences
\nimposed on drug traffickers.<\/p>\n
Meliala, commenting on Governor Sutiyoso's proposal to impose
\na death sentence on drug dealers, said there was nothing new in
\nthe proposal as it was already stipulated in Indonesia's laws.
\nAccording to the 1997 Law on Narcotics, capital punishment can be
\nimposed on convicted drug dealers.<\/p>\n
"However, until now, no drug traffickers have been sentenced
\nto death," Meliala remarked.<\/p>\n
He said Malaysia and Singapore were successful in battling
\ndrugs through imposing capital punishment on drug traffickers.
\nSeveral executions held by the two countries acted as "shock
\ntherapy" to scare criminals and were also useful in cutting
\ngovernment spending on rehabilitating drug users.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia doesn't have a similar burden like Malaysia and
\nSingapore, so it would be more effective if the government and
\npolice actively warn society about the dangers arising from drug
\nabuse," he said, adding that public participation in combating
\ndrugs should be enhanced.<\/p>\n
Noted psychologist Dadang Hawari told the Post that the
\nincrease of a public movement against drugs indicated the
\nineffectiveness of the government and law enforcement officials.<\/p>\n
Dadang, however, acknowledged that officials often came to a
\ndead end in investigations, due to a lack of evidence and a
\nweakness in Article No. 78 of the Law on Narcotics, which allows
\ncriminals leeway in possessing a contraband.<\/p>\n
He said the government should revise the law and equip it with
\na governmental regulation as its operational guideline to give
\nmore power in netting suspects.<\/p>\n
"We have to handle this matter seriously and we have to do it
\nfast. Drugs cases should also involve the Ministry of Health, not
\nonly the police department. There should be an interministerial
\ncoordination," Dadang added. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/stricter-laws-on-drugs-required-experts-1447893297",
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