Drug seminar 'poorly organized'

JAKARTA: A number of participants of a national seminar on the eradication of illegal drugs held by several government ministries complained the event was poorly organized.

"As a national seminar, this is poorly organized. Participants don't have the slightest idea about the topics as we weren't given any information prior to the presentation," a participant from Bengkulu said.

The seminar, organized by the National Narcotics Board (BNN) in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, was expected to discuss the action plan for next year in combating drug abuse. Representatives of regional governments and non-governmental organizations were invited to the two-day event.

Another participant from Bali complained about the absence of written copies of the presentations, saying it had created confusion among participants as they could not understand the messages the presenters were trying to deliver.

"The presenters are supposed to be giving information on what they have done over the year, what are the obstacles encountered, and what needs to be done in the coming year. But what they are presenting are only structural issues," he said. -- JP