`Police rely on money from drug dealers'

Drug abuse is one of the serious problems facing the country, especially big cities like Jakarta. Under the antidrug laws which allow the death penalty for drug traffickers, 21 people have been sentenced to death. But none have been executed. The Jakarta Post talked to several people about the government's efforts to deal with drug problems.

Kremi, not his real name, 28, is a civil servant who works for the Ministry of Justice. He resides in East Jakarta:

It's common for the death sentence to be given to high-profile drug traffickers. Unfortunately, I'm not optimistic that it will have a significant impact on the efforts to eradicate drug cases. In fact, none of the 21 defendants who have been given the death penalty have been executed so far.

Only if the firing squad shot to death one of the defendants, it might be a deterrent.

I think the problem is complex because the police need money from drug traffickers to support police operations. A police officer has once told me that the police indeed need financial support to continue cracking down on criminals.

The fight against drugs will be effective only when law enforcers are clean and the corrupt are replaced by the new generation.

I'm responsible for upholding the image of law to the public, but in fact I'm ashamed to admit that law enforcers' attitude is embarrassing. Nobody trusts the law and its enforcers now. This is ironical, isn't it?

We have heard how lawyers, prosecutors and judges often extort defendants in exchange for freedom. Police even offer various prices for different quality cells to convicted felons.

In short, it's hard to describe the rotten court mafia. Money again has ridiculed justice.

Rita Olivia, 29, has worked as a lawyer at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute for six years. She resides in Bekasi:

I think the death sentence for caliber drug dealers has no significant impact on drug problems. There are still many drug dealers and abusers out there.

Everybody knows that some nasty police officers might back up the illegal business. So, law enforcement is questionable in the eyes of the public.

I wonder if the arrest of drug traffickers is really in accordance with legal procedures. I'm skeptical about drug abuse eradication in the country. Only when the law enforcers have a strong commitment problems could be overcome.

Personally, I disagree with the death sentence because it's against the international covenant on human rights.

Tatok, 27, a sidewalk vendor, sells accessories in Blok M, South Jakarta. He resides on Jl. Petukangan, South Jakarta:

I do agree with the death penalty for drug traffickers because the rampant drug problems are intolerable.

Regretfully, none of them has been executed. What's the significance of a verdict without its execution? The public is waiting for this.

If law enforcers were honest and dedicated to their jobs, the drug problems would be less rampant. We can see that some of the evidence is never brought to the court because some of it (illegal drugs) has been taken by police for their own benefit.

Personally I have never taken any kind of drugs. I prefer alcoholic drinks.

-- Leo Wahyudi S