President upholds death sentence for drug dealers
President upholds death sentence for drug dealers
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Despite protests from both international and national human
rights groups, President Megawati Soekarnoputri reasserted on
Sunday her support for the death penalty for drug dealers.
Speaking during the launch of a national campaign against drug
abuse and trafficking here, Megawati said a maximum punishment
was necessary due to the imminent danger of drug-related crimes
among youth.
"Due to the great dangers of drug abuse that has threatened
our younger generation, I will uphold the capital punishment for
all drug-related crimes," Megawati said.
Megawati has rejected requests for pardons from convicted drug
dealers.
Last month saw the execution of Indian national Ayodhya
Prasadh Chaubey, who was convicted in 1994 of smuggling heroin
into the country. Thai nationals Saelow Praset and Namsong
Sirilak, who were also convicted in connection with the case, are
on death row, after failing in their appeals for a presidential
pardon.
Megawati said she had rejected dozens of appeals from convicts
sentenced to death for drug-related crimes as a deterrence to the
increasing cases of drug trafficking.
District courts across the country, particularly those of
Tangerang and Banten provinces, have sentenced 27 drug dealers to
death within the past year.
The 1997 law on narcotics stipulates a maximum death sentence
for drug-related crimes, but cases of drug abuse have been on the
rise over the last five years.
According to the latest survey from state-owned University of
Indonesia, 3.9 percent of children have tried drugs.
"Drug-related criminals account for half of all criminals we
arrest now," National Narcotics Agency chief of operations Comr.
Gen. Makbul Padmanegara said before the launch of the campaign.
In her speech, Megawati also warned of drug trafficking, which
had reached youths in rural areas.
In addition, she expressed her concern that drug abuse was
also found among elementary school students.
"We have to raise community awareness and commitment to the
fight against drug abuse and trafficking. Just say no to drugs,"
Megawati said.
About 12,000 people attended the launch of the national
antidrug campaign at Bung Karno stadium, Central Jakarta,
including representatives of various community groups and non-
governmental organizations.
Two popular rock bands, Padi and Dewa, performed at the event,
and educational videos on the dangers of drug abuse were shown.