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)