Locals rally against drug trafficking

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of residents of Kampung Bali subdistrict, Central Jakarta, staged a rally against drugs on Saturday.

The protesters, most of them were children below 10 years of age, walked through the subdistrict carrying posters and banners appealing to people to beware of the danger of drugs. The children, wearing Islamic clothes, were members of Al Qubah Koranic recital group.

Members of Tanah Abang Family Union and activists of the Islamic Defenders Front also took part in the campaign against drug trafficking in the subdistrict.

Four youths carried a bier, symbolizing death for drug users, in the one-hour rally. The bier was inscribed with "Five million people have died of drug abuse."

The rally, which drew many people's attention, started at the subdistrict's hall and ended at nearby Hati Suci elementary school.

Siswanto, chief of Kampung Bali subdistrict, said the campaign was intended to increase people's awareness of the dangers of drugs.

"We expect people's participation in providing information to police officers after they detect the presence of drug users or traffickers in their neighborhoods," he said at his office on Saturday.

Siswanto said the children's participation in the rally was meant to instill an awareness of the dangers of drugs in young children.

He said the subdistrict had declared war against drug users and traffickers in July.

"So far, 15 drug users and one drug trafficker have been arrested by community members in a series of raids," he said, adding that the suspects were handed over to Tanah Abang Police station for legal processing.

The 15 arrested drug users included Deborah Limardo, 25, who was arrested on Saturday during the rally held in the subdistrict.

Deborah was caught while sitting on her Isuzu Panther van on Jl. Kampung Bali. She was reportedly waiting for a drug trafficker who sold putaw (low-grade heroin) and shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine). The alleged seller of the drugs, Rizky, was also on the same street.

Scores of local residents and security officials caught and frisked Deborah, an employee at a private company, and reportedly found 17 packages of shabu-shabu worth Rp 20,000 each, one gram of putaw and a set of drug inhalers in her bag.

The officials, including several police and military personnel, went to Rizky's house after Deborah made a statement. The officials then arrested Rizky, a student at Sahid University in South Jakarta, and Adam Sumardi, an suspected drug user who was allegedly attempting to procure putaw from Rizky, at the latter's house. The officials seized a set of drug inhalers from Adam.

Deborah developed severe withdrawal symptoms while being escorted to the subdistrict's hall. She repeatedly asked the officials to give her drugs, saying that she desperately needed them.

"Please help me ... I cannot stand the pain," she said in tears.

The officials, closely observed by reporters and subdistrict officials, apparently gave her a some putaw to alleviate her pain.

Deborah, who said she had been a drug user for five years, admitted to feeding her habit every two hours.

The three suspects were handed over to the Tanah Abang Police station for investigation.(asa)