Jakartans declare war against drugs

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Amid mounting concern over serious abuse of drugs and their widespread distribution, Jakarta residents gathered on Sunday in the vicinity of the National Monument park to launch a city-wide antidrug campaign.

"Jakarta residents pledge today to wage war against the distribution and abuse of drugs," said the antidrug pledge read out by two Muslim leaders, Alie Yafie and Nurcholish Madjid.

"The war against drugs aims at making Jakarta safer, more comfortable and a drug-free place," it added.

Jakarta has become a haven for both drug users and drug traffickers. The drugs can easily be obtained here and law enforcers are dragging their feet in the enforcement of law against them.

Recently, people were shocked at a police discovery of an ecstasy laboratory in Tangerang, described as "one of the world's largest drug laboratories."

Drugs users can easily be found in schools, with students becoming drug abusers and even pushers. A survey made by nongovernmental foundation Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa says that nine students in every hundred here have taken drugs.

The law enforcers' failure to uphold the law in combating drug abuse and trafficking has inspired noted poet Taufiq Ismail.

In his poem, titled Perang Melawan Benda Setan Bernama Narkoba (the War Against the Satanic Substance, Narcotics), Taufiq called on law enforcers, including the police, to be consistent when enforcing the law.

"They must refuse any form of bribery, which could hamper their effort to rid us of drug abuse here," he said.

Present at the antidrug campaign were National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, City Council Head Edy Waluyo and Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanegara.

More than a thousand people joined the campaign, including students, civil servants, and police.

Popular singers Oppie Andaresta, Nugie and Rhoma Irama also took part in the campaign to attract spectators.

During the campaign, Sutiyoso also inaugurated committee members for Jakarta's antidrug body. The committee will be chaired by Djaelani, deputy governor for public welfare affairs.

In his speech, Sutiyoso shifted the blame to the worsening economic situation coupled with the impact of globalization, which were major factors in the widespread drug distribution and abuse in the city.

"Drug (abuse) is like the tip of an iceberg, as only 10 percent of users seek help, while the remainder are ignored by society," he said.