Councilors say Sutiyoso's drug policy ill-advised
Councilors say Sutiyoso's drug policy ill-advised
JAKARTA (JP): Councilors doubted on Friday the prudence of the
city administration's plan to impose a "reward-and-punishment"
scheme to eradicate drug use in schools, believing law
enforcement officials should lead the war on drugs.
"It's unwise for Governor Sutiyoso to punish schools which are
unable to stop drug consumption among students. It's not the
schools' responsibility because the distribution of drugs
involves outsiders," Dani Anwar of the Justice Party (PK) told
The Jakarta Post.
He said priority should be put on measures to tighten control
at the country's entry points, such as airports and seaports, to
stop drug trafficking.
PK faction chairman Ahmad Heryawan said the most effective
measure was to conduct patrols in schools located in areas where
drug use was a known problem.
"The presence of security personnel at schools, even only one
officer at each school, could frighten the traffickers from
trying to influence the students."
Ahmad said school authorities should also encourage parents to
become involved in fighting drugs because "it's the
responsibility of all members of the community".
Maringan Pangaribuan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said Sutiyoso should establish an
integrated special team on eradicating drugs which involved
schools.
He also recommended the police conduct routine raids on
schools where drug use was common.
Agus Darmawan of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Siti
Ma'rifah of the National Awakening Party (PKB) supported the
planned reward-and-punishment system on the condition the city
administration established criteria.
"The reward-and-punishment system will be effective only when
there are clear guidelines," Agus said.
Siti opposed the placement of police officers in schools.
"Their presence will have a negative impact on students, as
though a crime has occurred there. School authorities are the
most appropriate party to carry out the movement," she said.
In the war on soaring drug use among the young, Sutiyoso said
on Wednesday the city administration would reward state schools
from the elementary through senior high school levels which were
able to halt drug use on their premises. He warned of punishment
for those which failed.
The administration's declared campaign of drugs does not
appear to have frightened the dealers.
Darsono, a teacher at SDN 01 Elementary School in Pegangsaan
subdistrict, Central Jakarta, said that a woman accosted 10 of
his students several weeks ago and took them for a picnic to the
National Monument square in Central Jakarta.
He believed the woman was trying to win the students' trust
before providing them with drugs.
"We have warned the students not to consume anything offered
by the woman or anybody else, and threatened them with dismissal
if they take up the woman's invitation again," he told the Post.
(ind)