President Should Set Up Independent Team to Eradicate Drug Mafias

"The team should comprise independent people, and should not be related to any state agency investigating drugs. It can have academics from Indonesian universities," Todung Mulya Lubis said here on Monday.

The team can be assisted by National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the Indonesian Military (TNI), and National Police. The law enforcement agencies can work jointly with the team to dismantle drug syndicates in Indonesia.

Without such cooperation, the establishment of an independent team would not be able to make much progress in eradicating drugs.

The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) earlier emphasized that the efforts to eradicate drug mafias in Indonesia need to be brought under the presidents control.

"We want President Joko Widodo to form an independent drug mafia eradication team under his coordination," KontraS coordinator Haris Azhar stated in Jakarta on Friday.

As the head of KontraS, he stressed that the institution recognizes the approach of the National Drug Agency (BNN), the National Police, the military force, and the ministries to undertake individual and partial efforts to put an end to the drug abuse problem.

He believed that the current efforts will merely lead to the dismissal of a few individuals and not end the bigger problem in the country, which is the spread of illegal drugs.

"For instance, the BNN has admitted to the challenges in eradicating the use of illegal drugs and has cited the presence of a large number of illegal harbors (from which illicit goods would come in). As a Drug Eradicating Agency, they should be able to pinpoint each such harbor by coordinating with the Fisheries and Maritime Ministry, Villages, Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Ministry, and the Coordinating Maritime Ministry. Coordinating with these ministries will also establish a more integrated surveillance mechanism for the public," he noted.

Azhars statement was praised by Hendardi, the head of Setara Institute, an Indonesian NGO fighting for democracy and peace. He said joint efforts are necessary to solve the drug menace in Indonesia whilst simultaneously strengthening the countrys law enforcement system.

As of now, there are a large number of cases of drug abuse that need to be solved, he added.

"The law enforcement process against state officials found involved in illegal drug cases needs to be prioritized and strictly enforced," he remarked.(WDY)