Sultan shows royal concern in antidrug campaign

Sultan shows royal concern in antidrug campaign

By R. Agus Bakti

YOGYAKARTA (JP): "Excuse me, may I put an antinarcotics
sticker on your car? Where would be the best spot for it?"

The speaker was no ordinary antidrug campaigner. Sultan
Hamengkubuwono X, the hereditary ruler of Yogyakarta and also its
governor, took part in an event held to mark a proclamation by
the group Antidrugs Yogyakarta (YAM) two weeks ago.

With the driver's approval, a sticker reading "Prestige, Yes,
Narcotics, No" was placed on the front windshield of the BMW. It
was the first car to receive the sticker in the campaign along
Jl. Malioboro.

The sultan's involvement showed his concern for the future of
the younger generation, particularly with the spread of drugs.
They have already made their way into schools, and stories about
the arrest of dealers and users fill the media almost daily.

In a speech before the provincial legislature, the sultan said
people should realize that the prevalence of drugs would soar
when a country was in crisis.

"Thus if we proclaim a war against drugs, it's not just a
diversion. It's not just because we recently marked World
Antidrugs Day."

He said people were so wrapped up in the problems of the
country that they overlooked the fate of the younger generation.

Scientific advances over time are inevitably leading to an
increasing array of narcotics. The use of illegal substances not
only destroys the health of users, but also causes more dangerous
social ramifications.

Experts warn that in the fight against drugs, if we do not
have a collective recognition of the dangers of drug use and are
lax in handling offenders, it is not unthinkable that the country
will have a lost generation of young people.

YAM chief H. GBPH Yudhaningrat said there were 61 community
groups in Yogyakarta which were concerned about the dangers of
illicit drugs.

"What makes me proudest is the groups are handled by young
people who care about prevention and also the rehabilitation of
drug users."

He said several drug cases in Yogyakarta indicated there was
already physical and mental harm to the younger generation.

The sultan has issued a gubernatorial instruction and a decree
to support the antidrug campaign. Gubernatorial Instruction No.
1/2000 concerns gambling, alcoholic beverages and narcotics.
Gubernatorial Decree No. 19/2000 involves the establishment of an
illegal substances coordinating board for Yogyakarta.

They are intended as both preventive and curative approaches,
and to inform the public of the great danger of addictive
substances.

The sultan said it was not a problem of the substance of laws
on drugs, but the consistency of their implementation.

"We are weak in law enforcement. We are fond of making
decrees, we even specialize in doing it, but a lot of the
regulations made by the House of Representatives are only paper
tigers."

He said he had great respect for the non-governmental
organizations and religious groups which were proceeding with
their vision and mission to safeguard the future of the young. He
said their concrete efforts were equal to movements for democracy
and the upholding of human rights.

"But most of them deal with victims, whereas it is more
important for prevention before drugs swallow their victims," he
said.

He added that the world of drugs, synonymous with violence and
money, was also used for political means, especially outside of
Indonesia.

Faustinus Mudjiyono of YAM said it was not only important to
stamp out drugs, but the use of a respected figure like the
sultan could be availed of as an example in antidrug campaigns.

"Yogyakarta's drive led by Sri Sultan could be followed in
other areas. Figures who are looked up to by the people should be
involved, such as the clergy, ulemas. The dangers of drugs have
been proven," said the civil servant from Kulonporgo, Yogyakarta.

The sultan appealed to the people to have the courage to live
their lives by the words of the sticker -- prestige, yes, drugs,
no. He reminded them that Yogyakarta was famed as a city of
tourism, culture and study, an image which should not be
destroyed by the drug menace.