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)