Subdistrict heads told to fight against drugs

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso warned on Tuesday he would fire subdistrict heads who failed to show a commitment to the mass antidrug campaign across the city.

Speaking after meeting with representatives from the People's Movement Against Drugs (Geram), the governor said that he would soon arrange meetings with all of the 265 subdistrict heads, neighborhood chiefs and teacher representatives to ask them to participate in the campaign.

"I could fire or demote any of the subdistrict heads if I thought they were not participating in the antidrug campaign," said the retired three-star Army general.

He said he would soon order the subdistrict heads to put up antidrug posters and banners in their areas to help support the drive.

The subdistrict heads will be asked to pay for the materials as a sign of their commitment to the drive.

"They do not need to ask for money from the city administration to make posters and banners, for example.

"I'll directly monitor and evaluate the work of the subdistrict heads in the campaign."

In the upcoming meeting, he said he would instruct all neighborhood chiefs to also explain the dangers of drug use to residents and their families.

The governor believed teachers should be recruited for the campaign because drug dealing has been reported in schools, including elementary schools.

Sutiyoso also agreed with Geram's proposal to build communication posts in neighborhoods in an attempt to halt drug trafficking.

He appealed to Geram's members not to take the law into their own hands, saying that the matter should be handled by police as required by the law.

"I told them not to overreact. If they arrest suspected drug dealers, they should hand him or her over to the police," he said.

No punishment

He promised he would soon set up a team to monitor the progression of cases of drug suspects caught by citizens who were handed over to the police. Some groups have accused the police of releasing well-connected dealers and users without punishment.

"I could ask the city police chief for an explanation if there are drug suspects released by the police," he said.

Geram's coordinator businessman Sofyan Ali thanked the governor for his strong commitment to supporting the group's drive.

"So far, we see that only Kampung Bali (Central Jakarta) who has erected antidrug banners. We hope that all subdistricts will join the antidrug campaign soon," he said after the meeting.

Sutiyoso said he could understand the frustration of residents who discovered that suspects were released or that their reports were not followed up.

Public anger over soaring drug use and the perceived lax handling by the police has boiled over into violence.

On Sunday morning, local residents of Pondok Kopi area in Jakarta damaged and burned at least 13 houses of alleged drug dealers.

One alleged drug trafficker was beaten to death while 13 drug dealers were handed over to the police by the residents.

Earlier this month, hundreds of Kampung Bali residents in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, also conducted raids in their neighborhoods.

The residents were furious after the police released a suspected drug trafficker, claiming lack of evidence. (jun)