Drug convicts fill most Indonesian penitentiaries
Drug convicts fill most Indonesian penitentiaries
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Medan
Indonesia marked International Anti-drug Day 2003 on Thursday
with grave concerns about the rapid growth in the drug trade.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the fact that
half the prisons across the country were housing large numbers of
drug convicts proved that drug abuse was a serious challenge
facing the police.
In general, he said the level of drug abuse in the country was
increasing as shown by the rise in the numbers of cases and
suspects, and the quantity of evidence seized.
"Now that the suspects include foreign citizens, we have to be
careful as it is clear that international drug syndicates have
entered the country," said Da'i.
Meanwhile, National Anti-drug Day was marked at the Vice
Presidential Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan in Central
Jakarta.
The executive chairman of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN),
Insp. Gen. Togar Sianipar, said that drugs had become a lifestyle
for some people, giving a boost to the use of illegal drugs.
He regretted that some law enforcers were thwarting the anti-
drug movement. He said some police officers and prison guards had
even become part of the drug trafficking rings, as well as users.
Marking the commemoration, Vice President Hamzah Haz conferred
awards on 14 individuals, and representatives of institutions and
non-governmental organizations, for their leading roles in
curbing drug abuse.
In Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, local government
officials and police officers burned over one ton of various
illicit drugs seized as evidence during raids since last year.
The event took place in the grounds of the gubernatorial offices
in the city.
Governor T. Rizal Nurdin and provincial police chief Insp.
Gen. Eddy Sunarno expressed their concerns about the involvement
of state employees in the use and trafficking of illegal drugs.
"There will be no mercy for civil servants who are found
guilty," Rizal told the audience.
The Drugs Information Center revealed that 71 percent of the
1,174 drug suspects recorded in the first half of 2003 were state
employees.