Youth groups urge death penalty for drug offenses

JAKARTA (JP): Describing themselves as future leaders of the nation, heads of youth organizations declared on Saturday their full backing of an all-out war on drugs.

The chairman of the Indonesian Youth National Committee (KNPI), Adhyaksa, said the government should immediately institute the death penalty for convicted drug producers and traffickers, as well as strict sentencing of users.

"Indonesia is not only a consumer nation, but also a producer of drugs. The nation is already in a dangerous position," he told a media conference announcing an antidrug declaration by the New Millennium Youth Forum (FMMB), held at the KNPI building on Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said in Kuningan subdistrict, South Jakarta.

The forum, which derives its main support from KNPI, is working on an action program to pressure the government and legislative bodies to make Indonesia a "death-sentence area" for drug producers and traffickers.

It, in cooperation with other youth and non-governmental organizations, plans to mobilize students and young people in nine major cities -- Jakarta, Medan in North Sumatra, Bandung in West Java, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Balikpapan in East Kalimantan, Manado in North Sulawesi and Makassar in South Sulawesi.

FMMB chairman Jeffrey Rawis said they would soon organize activities to pressure the government to try law enforcement officers implicated in cases of drug abuse.

Adhyaksa added that a KNPI special team identified 18 cases of drug abuse involving law enforcers in four cities.

"We'll disclose all the officers' drug abuse cases, but first we have to complete the evidence," he said.

Adhyaksa challenged the National Commission on Human Rights to put drug cases at the top of its agenda.

"Drug abuse is already a national concern, and the commission should not only focus on political or military matters.

"Drug problems are far more crucial to solve."

He added that widespread drug abuse was threatening the country's future by destroying the younger generation.

"The human rights commission must have the courage to investigate and reveal the big names behind all the drug producing and trafficking here, and take them to court."

Adhyaksa said antidrug movements should be simultaneously conducted and well coordinated between the youth groups, society, the government and other concerned parties.

"Each antidrug movement will work individually, but move in unison to form a 'national movement'," he said.

A presidium member of the Indonesian Nationalist Students Movement (GMNI), Arif Fadillah, separately told The Jakarta Post that his group paid serious attention to the nationwide campaign against drugs, but focused on strengthening young people's resistance to taking drugs.

"People who are trapped by drug abuse are usually those who couldn't find the right way or place to express themselves," Arif said.

"So, we are thinking of establishing an organization to provide an umbrella for their creativity and interests.

"We'll reestablish the Indonesian Nationalist High School Students Movement (GSNI), which is expected to stimulate their interest in organizational activities or environmental concern."

He urged the government to provide the legal instruments, including strict regulations and principled law enforcement officers.

"There are still many loopholes in Indonesia's legal system," Arif said. (01)