Anti-drug day, national illusion
On Wednesday, Indonesia for the first time took part in World Anti-drug Day, organized by the National Drug Agency (BNN).
Drugs have become the national enemy, but political awareness to fight the menace is still low. One of the indications is that BNN has yet to be "equipped" with adequate organization, management, budget and laboratory.
Thus, it is now time for the government to empower the BNN and to make it as strong as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Fighting against drug needs energy, goodwill and commitment that might be translated into a long-term strategy. Without all that quality, the anti-drug effort would be nonsense. And this will make us disappointed as drug can destroy generations.
The anti-drug effort is a claptrap. Or should we wait until one day our president's children also become victims before the government thinks it is time to fight it. -- Media Indonesia, Jakarta
;JP;ANT; ANPAk..r.. Other-State-Official Other Opinion JP/6/OTHER2
State officials' extravagance
Is it proper for a vice president to stage a wedding party in the holy city of Mecca? If the nation was in normal conditions, when all Indonesian people were wealthy enough, it would be a normal thing. But if it was done while the nation was in crisis, what would the people say about it?
Although it has been mentioned by only one or two media, Vice President Hamzah Haz's plan to hold the wedding party in Mecca have already raised pros and cons.
Those in favor say it is Hamzah's personal right, while those who are against it say it reflects the absence of a sense of crisis among the country's state officials.
Similar criticism was previously voiced about the lavish party Attorney General MA Rachman gave to celebrate his daughter's marriage and the extravagant observance of the birthday of Taufik Kiemas, President Megawati Soekarnoputri's husband, in Bali.
The criticisms should serve as a warning to all sides that the people are now keeping a close watch on what their leaders do, not only in their capacity as public servants but also as private individuals.
There is, in fact, a message in the criticisms, namely that leaders should feel compassion for the ordinary people who daily undergo the hardships of life. Hopefully, the leaders will understand the message. -- Republika, Jakarta
28 June 2002 ;JP;ANT; ANPAk..r.. Other-Conspiration Other Opinion JP/6/OTHER3
Conspiration between defendant and security personnel
Tommy Soeharto, a defendant in the Goro-Bulog embezzlement, admitted that security personnel had helped him when he was on the run for about 18 months.
The youngest son of former president Soeharto could move from one place to another place freely including from his residence in luxurious Menteng district to a comfortable apartment in Central Jakarta without other people's notice.
Tommy also told the court that he could stay in his relatives' houses freely such as in Taman Mini area and Solo (Central Java) thanks to the police.
Therefore the people who have allowed the defendant to go freely and did not tell the police about the defendant's whereabouts must be brought to court if not 210 million Indonesian people will never respect the law in this country. -- Republika, Jakarta