Govt submits draft bills on narcotics, transmigration
Govt submits draft bills on narcotics, transmigration
JAKARTA (JP): The government submitted to the House of
Representatives yesterday bills designed to ratify the United
Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances and one on transmigration.
The draft laws add to the 20 other government-sponsored bills
legislators will have to decide on by the end of their term of
office in August.
Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman said while submitting the
draft ratification bill that the government had found the
existing laws on these issues inadequate for combating the
illegal trade of addictive substances.
"Our law on narcotics and the draft bill on psychotropic
substances currently under deliberation does not discuss in
detail the traffic check of addictive drugs," Oetojo told the
House plenary session chaired by Deputy Speaker Soetedjo.
Deliberations on a new bill on narcotics, a revision of the
old law passed in 1976, and another bill on psychotropic
substances are underway.
Oetojo said there were fears Indonesia had become a target
destination for narcotic and psychotropic drug traffickers rather
than a mere transit point.
"Geographically, Indonesia is a strategic place due to its
proximity to two continents, two oceans and the Golden Triangle
area," Oetojo said.
The Golden Triangle, the remote hills on the borders of Laos,
Myanmar and Thailand, is believed to be the world's largest opium
producing region.
"The abuse and illicit traffic of addictive drugs have
threatened our security and defense and will adversely affect our
development programs," Oetojo said.
The draft bill contains 15 items, including the convention's
sphere of influence, crimes and sanctions, the bill's
jurisdiction, extradition, mutual legal aid between the
convention's ratifying countries, trade documents and export
labeling.
The convention enables ratifying countries to extradite drug
criminals, work together through international and regional
institutions, allow ship examinations and other forms of
conventional cooperation.
Indonesia took part in a UN conference in Vienna in November
1988 which agreed to the convention on narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances. Indonesia signed the convention six
months later.
Later yesterday, the minister of transmigration told the
plenary session the new transmigration law would be made
"simpler" than the old one passed in 1972.
"The bill will contain only the main ideas in order that it
can last long and anticipate rapid changes in the future,"
Siswono said.
Excluded from the new bill would be the security and defense
interests in transmigration. (amd)