Teachers urged to join antidrug drive

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso called on some 6,000 teachers and school principals on Thursday to participate in a massive antidrug campaign across the capital.

Speaking in front of the audience at the Senayan basketball hall in Central Jakarta, the governor also asked the teachers to take stern measures against students who use drugs.

Sutiyoso suggested the teachers regularly inspect students' bags and wallets for any drugs.

"Once a week at different times, you have to check your students' bags and wallets," he told the meeting.

The retired three-star general expressed concern over reported drug trafficking at elementary schools in the city.

He urged the teachers and school principals to cooperate with the public and police to help cut the distribution link of the drugs in the capital.

"Are you ready to join together to fight against drugs?" He ask the teachers.

"Ready!" replied the teachers.

Besides talking about drugs, the governor also called on the audience to help stop student brawls, which have claimed dozens of lives and damaged hundreds of buses in the city.

"Do not let your students die meaninglessly," Sutiyoso, who claims his father was an elementary school principal, said.

Separately, head of the city office of the Ministry of Education and Culture Alwi Nurdin said his office had discovered that at least 50 students from 18 junior and senior high schools had taken drugs.

"Some of the students were seriously addicted," Alwi said without giving further details. (jun)