Clubbers throw support behind antidrug drive
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A thick haze of cigarette smoke hung over the room as partiers crowded onto the dance floor, moving to the deafening house music being played by the disc jockey.
It seemed like just another Friday night at Millenium discotheque on Jl. Gajah Mada in West Jakarta. Except something different was going on, as evidenced by the anti-drug signs posted around the room and the plainclothes police officers checking everyone entering the club.
"We want to introduce you to having fun here without taking drugs. So, enjoy the party," Indra Bekti, a host, shouted to the crowd.
The DJs then took over, pumping out house music to get the crowd moving.
As the waitresses delivered drink orders, Miss Indonesia contestants visited tables to hand out anti-drug pins to guests.
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani, Jakarta Tourism Agency head Haryanto Bajuri, Miss Indonesia Nadine Chandrawinata and several celebrities were also on hand to enjoy the "Party Without Drugs" campaign.
Several youth groups, including the Anti-Drug Youth Group, whose members all excel in music, sports or academics, were also invited to the party to show the guests what they could achieve if they stayed away from drugs.
The party reached its climax when several performers took to the stage to sing and dance, all the while delivering an anti- drug message.
The event marked the beginning of a new anti-drug campaign by the Jakarta Police that will move away from the raids that nightspots owners said were killing their businesses.
"We know that drug dealers use nightspots to sell their merchandise. Partygoers are potentials drug users. We will continue to monitor all nightclubs in Jakarta," the head of the Jakarta Police's drug unit, Sr. Comr. Carlo Brix Tewu, told The Jakarta Post.
Although doubts remain about the police's commitment to the campaign, several of the guests at Millenium welcomed the effort.
"We just want to have fun here. We know that several of our friends use drugs, but not all of us. We will prove that we are drug-free. However, we hope the drive will not just disappear after a month or two," Akian, a resident of Kota, West Jakarta, told the Post.
A guest from South Jakarta who asked not to be named expressed similar support and doubt.
"We want to know how far the police will go. We want to cooperate. The question is whether the campaign is just to boost the police's image or if it is just another business for them," he said.
The police are scheduled to hold "Party Without Drugs" events at Embassy and Dragon Fly in Central Jakarta, Hai-Lai in North Jakarta, Athena in West Jakarta and Blowfish in South Jakarta.