Governor declares war on Ecstasy in Jakarta
Governor declares war on Ecstasy in Jakarta
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has declared war on
Ecstasy and vows to stop its spread despite the fact there are no
laws against the recreational drug.
Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said yesterday that his
administration will not just stand by quietly while so many,
mostly young people, enjoy this drug.
"We must do something to curb the distribution of ecstasy
while the government is working out the laws," Surjadi said.
He added that the administration does not need special laws to
prevent Ecstasy distribution.
He said the city administration plans to intensify its
supervision of discotheques and bars.
"The regulation on the issuance of operating permits for
entertainment centers will be reviewed," he said.
Ecstasy, which can be used as a medicine, is a mixture of
amphetamine derivative, caffeine, the hallucinogen LSD and other
substances.
In their efforts to stop the distribution of ecstasy, police
cannot use the 1976 Anti-Narcotics Law, because Ecstasy cannot be
classified as a narcotic. The law covers only marijuana, cocaine
and morphine.
The police can, instead, use law No. 23/1992 on health which
stipulates that the use, production and distribution of addictive
substances should meet certain conditions, but the law is only
suitable for pharmaceutical factories, not retailers.
In the absence of any legal basis for prosecution, the police
has had to release a number of people suspected of selling
Ecstasy. The release of 29 people who were caught in Sunday's
raid on Zodiac discotheque in West Jakarta on Monday could be
cited as an example.
Eleven of those released by the police on Monday were Armed
forces members.
When asked whether ABRI members are behind the Ecstasy
business, the governor said, "It is not right to be afraid of
such people. Just let me know if officers in the field have had
to confront high rank officials or military officers."
Surjadi is a retired Army major general.
Many people accuse law enforcers of being unusually reluctant
to take action against those involved in the Ecstasy business.
(yns)