More subdistricts armed to combat illicit drug trade in Jakarta
More subdistricts armed to combat illicit drug trade in Jakarta
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
As part of its war against drug trafficking in the capital, the
Jakarta administration revealed on Tuesday that it would flex its
muscles to make more subdistrict offices take active roles in
antidrug programs in their respective communities.
"Next year, hopefully, we will select 50 of 267 subdistricts
in the capital to receive funds to finance antidrug drives,"
Jakarta Narcotics Coordinating Agency (BNP Jakarta) chairman
Fauzi Bowo told The Jakarta Post.
Currently, only 10 subdistricts receive funding to fight the
illegal drug trade in their respective areas.
The city administration has allocated Rp 27.4 billion (US$2.9
million) for BNP Jakarta next year, up from around Rp 7 billion
in 2005.
Part of the funds allocated for BNP Jakarta are spent on
antidrug campaigns at the subdistrict level.
Fauzi, who is also Jakarta deputy governor, said there would
be fewer antidrug programs at the provincial level since the
funds would be distributed to subdistricts instead.
"We have learned from past experience that many antidrug
programs at the provincial level miss the targets and turn out to
be a circus rather than put a stop to the problem of drug
trafficking," he said.
He emphasized that community-based drives were preferable
since future programs would better contain trafficking.
"Local leaders and officials should know more about dealing
with drug trafficking involving their community members than
high-ranking officials here," he asserted.
The war against the illegal drug trade picked up momentum
following a BNP Jakarta report released on Monday revealed that
the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Jakarta rose 34
percent to 3,373 people this year from 2,505 cases last year.
At least 60 percent of those living with HIV/AIDS are active
injecting drug users (IDUs).
Activists estimate that there are between 10,000 and 15,000
IDUs in the capital, who a face higher risk of contracting
HIV/AIDS by sharing needles. More than 50 percent of them are in
the productive ages of between 20 and 29 years old.
Central Jakarta Mayor Muhayat welcomed on Wednesday the plan
to decentralize antidrug campaigns, saying that the move would
significantly hamper drug trafficking as in the case of Kampung
Bali subdistrict in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.
"In the past, the subdistrict was notorious as a safe haven
for drug pushers and dealers to sell drugs. But now the area is
relatively free from drug-related problems thanks to the presence
of many parties who help rid the subdistrict of drug woes,"
Muhayat told The Post.
Roxy, Menteng and Kemayoran are among areas where drug
transactions are known to be common in Central Jakarta.
BNP Jakarta has also listed Tangki, Kampung Ambon in
Cengkareng, West Jakarta; Warakas in Tanjung Priok, North
Jakarta; Pasar Minggu and Tanah Kusir in South Jakarta and Cawang
in East Jakarta as popular areas for drug traders to do business.