Officials shift blame for blunders in war on drugs
Officials shift blame for blunders in war on drugs
JAKARTA (JP): City officials blamed each other on Tuesday over
the lack of coordination in the city's war against drugs.
An aura of incongruity was observed in a meeting discussing an
antidrug campaign at City Hall.
"I can't understand why drug dealers and users receive minimum
sentences, not maximum ones," Governor Sutiyoso, who hosted the
meeting, said.
The governor regretted that no representatives from the
Jakarta Public Prosecutors' Office, the city's five district
courts and the Jakarta High Court were present at the discussion.
"I'm very disappointed because we want to know the reasons for
imposing minimum sentences on narcotic cases," he said.
Chief of city police narcotic detectives Lt. Col. Abdullah
said the police's duty was only to prepare dossiers for the
respective prosecutors' office.
"It's up to the prosecutors' office to decide whether to
continue with the prosecution and it's up to the judges at the
respective district court to issue the verdict," he said.
Abdullah said in November alone the city police received
reports of 44 cases of drug abuse and trafficking from residents.
"And we have taken the necessary actions to follow up the
reports."
Head of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport customs
office Tonny Soenanto said most of the drugs distributed in
Indonesia were locally made.
Participants at the meeting used the opportunity to express
their personal opinions on how to eliminate drug abuse and
trafficking in the city.
Coordinator of the Society's Antidrug Movement (GERAM) Sofyan
Ali said the war against drugs should also be aimed at
celebrities.
"Celebrities are also drug users. Sometimes they take drugs
for fun or for experimental purposes," Sofyan, who is also a
concert promoter, said.
"We'll propose to all music producers here not to use drug-
addicted singers on their albums as shock therapy."
Sofyan's opinion was shared by veteran dangdut singer Rhoma
Irama.
"We have to impose 'social' sanctions on such singers," he
said.
He urged television stations not to include drug-addicted
artists on their programs.
"All artists appearing on our TV screens must be free from
drugs," he said.
Rhoma supported the city residents' active involvement in
fighting drugs, including the storming and burning of places
suspected as drug-dealing spots.
Meanwhile, Sutiyoso said the city administration would soon
conduct urine tests on its officials following reports they were
involved in drug abuse.
"We'll conduct the tests randomly because they are expensive
and there are many city officials," he said.
Similar measures have been taken by the city police and the
city military command.
Night life
Later on Tuesday afternoon, Sutiyoso warned owners of
nightspots to comply with the operational schedule guidelines
issued by the city administration.
"I've taken a risk allowing nightspots to operate during the
Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan. Several groups of residents
have demanded that they cease their operations during fasting
month," he said.
He admitted that his decision would not satisfy all
residents.
"Therefore the owners must follow the city administration's
instructions to reduce their opening hours during Ramadhan," he
said.
Chairman of the Jakarta branch of the Association of Nightspot
Owners (Asphindo) Affendi Tasra said he supported the city
administration's decision to revoke the permit of any nightspot
if they were involved in drug distribution. (05)