Crackdown on Ecstasy criticized as ineffective

Crackdown on Ecstasy criticized as ineffective

JAKARTA (JP): The recent crackdown against the banned Ecstasy
trade at discotheques and other nightspots in the city was an
ineffective and inappropriate way to stop the drug's circulation,
said a prominent criminologist Mulyana W. Kusuma.

Mulyana said that Ecstasy transactions were sometimes done
openly. "But as a criminal network the Ecstasy business is really
closed. The police should find the best way to trace the
invisible business path accurately," he told The Jakarta Post
yesterday.

He said that raids on entertainment centers would "catch small
fish". But if the authorities continue their raids, the drug
dealers and users will find new spots for trade.

"There has been a good relationship between the traffickers and
the users. Door to door deals are possible," he said.

Discotheques' managements said the raids had affected their
businesses.

The Marketing Manager of Poster Kafe, Devi I. Kartika, said
yesterday that the number of visitors dropped for a few days
following last week's raids.

"On Friday and Saturday we usually have at least 1,500
visitors, but we got 1,200 after the raids," she said. "I need
time to find out how much our daily income has dropped,"

She said the raids, by military and police officers who
frightened patrons, were, however, good advertisements for
Ecstasy: "More people get curious about Ecstasy."

Wawan, the alias for an employee of a large discotheque in
West Jakarta, shared his opinion saying that patrons who had
never tried Ecstasy would eventually try it because of the "free-
of-charge advertisements".

Wawan said he did not mind the crackdown: "The police and
military officers just do their jobs like I do mine. The problem
is sometimes the officers treat the guests harshly. This annoys
me."

Nervous

Yono, the alias for an executive of a leading discotheque in
Central Jakarta, said the raids made him nervous. He then said,
"Actually, I don't have to worry because as long as the money
flows, my disco won't be closed."

Asked to comment on Governor Surjadi Soedirdja's threat to
close all nightspots used for Ecstasy trade, criminologist
Mulyana said that discotheques and other entertainment centers
are legal. "Such establishments have become big sources of city
revenue. Discotheques are also linked to tourism, and have become
a part of the new middle class' life style," he said.

Devi of Poster Kafe said that discotheques should not take
responsibility for drug deals among visitors. "We provide a place
for entertainment. It's impossible for us to search our guests
one by one," she said, adding that the authorities' efforts to
deal with drug abuse must be supported by the public.

Wawan said he thought the threats to close nightspots would
evoke people's curiosity about Ecstasy: "Drug traffickers and
users will most likely be more careful, instead of being afraid."

"Nobody can control what goes on in the entertainment world,
be it in movies, TV or discos. Cigarettes, alcohol and drugs are
inseparable from entertainment," he said.

Yono said there was no explicit law against Ecstasy: "So there
is no legal basis for closing discotheques just because patrons
use, buy or sell Ecstasy."

The Ministry of Health plans to submit a draft bill on
psychotropic laws to the House of Representatives next month.
According to the draft bill, users, sellers or buyers of Ecstasy
could be imprisoned for up to 15 years and fined up to Rp 140
million (US$59,778). (sur/25)