Antidrug activists demand death sentence for Zarina

Antidrug activists demand death sentence for Zarina

JAKARTA (JP): At least 100 activists grouped in the People's
Anti-Drug Movement, or Geram, packed City Hall on Monday and
demanded the death sentence for Zarina Mirafsur if she is found
guilty of drug offenses.

The antidrug campaigners said the heavy penalty was sorely
needed to end rampant drug trafficking in the capital.

"We urge Governor Sutiyoso to press all related parties in the
law enforcement system, such as police officers, prosecutors and
judges, to give Zarina, as well as other drug-related suspects,
the death penalty if they are proved guilty," Geram coordinator
Sofyan Ali said during the peaceful rally.

The activists, who included students and ulemas, arrived at
City Hall at 9 a.m. in five buses, unfurling posters and a big
banner that read: "Death sentence for Zarina and friends."

The protesters, who came from different areas, including Bogor
and Cilegon, wore red headbands decorated with Geram's name.

Zarina was detained together with nine other suspects after an
early morning raid last Thursday at five apartments in a West
Jakarta hotel.

The raid uncovered 835 ecstasy pills, 51.2 grams of shabu-
shabu (crystal methamphetamine), 28 pornographic movies, six
bongs and two small scales.

Zarina, 27, was dubbed the "Ecstasy queen" two years ago after
she was sentenced to four years in jail for possession of 29,677
ecstasy pills. She was granted a conditional release on Oct. 21
last year and worked for her former lawyer O.C. Kaligis until a
few months ago.

Deputy Governor for Social welfare Affairs Djailani, who
received the Geram activists, did not directly respond to the
group's demand, but voiced strong support for their antidrug
campaign.

"The drug traffickers, if found guilty, should be punished
according to the existing laws," Djailani said after signing the
banner.

He however reminded the public not to take the law into their
own hands against suspected drug users or traffickers.

Addicted officers

Separately, city councilor Syamsuardi Botan suggested on
Monday that the tough sentence should also be handed down for
suspects of drug-related cases, including police officers.

"Many police officers have been reported to have used drugs.
They should also be punished," said National Mandate Party (PAN)
representative Syamsuardi.

From City Hall, the Geram activists headed to the Central
Jakarta District Court, with the same demand for tougher
sentences for criminals convicted of drug-related offenses.

"The media have repeatedly reported on the terms of
punishments given to suspects by judges, which were much lighter
than those set by prosecutors," Sofyan Ali shouted.

He said such unpopular decisions had sparked the public's
concern on possible collusive, corrupt and nepotistic practices
behind the judgments.

"Tough sentences from the judges will help deter community
members from using or trafficking in drugs," Sofyan added.

The group was received by the head of the court, Sihol
Sitompul, who appeared with at least 10 judges.

An ulema with Geram, Habib Muchdar, read the following
statement to the judges: "The court must uphold the supremacy of
the law and reject all kinds of bribes which could prompt the
judges to reduce sentences for drug-related defendants."

He warned that should the judges fail to comply with their
demands, judges would face a series of similar protests in the
future.

Judge Sihol promised to meet the calls for reform, saying that
he would take tough measures against colleagues who were involved
in bribe taking.

Unplanned

Meanwhile, a source at Jakarta Police Headquarters revealed on
Monday that Zarina's arrest last Thursday was unplanned.

The officer, who asked for anonymity, said that a group of
city police detectives were in the process of apprehending a
suspected major Taiwanese drug dealer and his two friends at the
West Jakarta hotel when they by chance heard a noise in another
room in the hotel apartment.

"We found Zarina and Ahian Santoso in the room with the drugs.
We later searched four other apartments and found the remaining
eight suspects and confiscated the drugs and pornographic
movies," the police source said.

He said the Taiwanese man, identified only by his nickname
Chan, had been under intense police surveillance because the
foreigner allegedly planned to build a big factory here to
produce shabu-shabu.

"He and his two friends are still undergoing police
interrogation," he said.

Separately, a meeting held on Monday between officials from
the East Jakarta Cipinang penitentiary and city police detectives
concerning Zarina's conditional release status ended
inconclusively.

Should police be able to support accusations concerning
Zarina's involvement in the illegal drug business, Zarina would
most likely be returned to Tangerang Women's Penitentiary.

Zarina insisted again on Monday that she had been set up by
her interrogators to sign a statement in which she was named a
drug-related suspect in the Thursday raid.

"I did not know what the dossier was all about. I was set
up ... to sign it," Zarina said in a two-page letter released to
the media. (jun/ylt/asa)