Comments: Widespread drug abuse, trafficking

Sat, 11/07/2009 1:02 PM  |  Reader's Forum

The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has blamed widespread drug abuse and trafficking on light penalties, suggesting that, like Singapore and Malaysia, Indonesia should impose harsher sanctions against drug abusers and traffickers.

The head of the agency's education and information division, Sapari, said that both the 1997 and 2006 rulings on psychotropic substances potentially carry the death sentence or life sentences and a maximum fine of Rp 750 million (US$79,000).

Your comments:
Sapari must be kidding. Indonesia's prisons are already overflowing due to the insistence to give ridiculously long sentences for minor drug possession offenses - two years for being caught with two marijuana joints.

That's plenty of time for them to become addicted to something far more harmful inside Cipinang or Salemba. When will Indonesia face up to the fact that the vast majority of drug offenses are fueled by social problems? Threatening people with death is not going to alleviate these social problems or stop people from having to use or sell drugs in order just to cope.

James Carroll
Jakarta

I am amazed the police still only look for ecstasy, hash etc, yet at many bars you can buy "magic mushrooms" that make people completely crazy, and are completely legal. They even advertise them on the blackboards.

Fred Johnson
Ubud, Bali

Men join in the fight against polygamy -- Nov. 2, p. 1

Pro-polygamy groups are now not only facing protests from angry housewives and women's rights activists; a new group of men calling themselves the Men's Coalition against Polygamy (Kolmi) has also joined the struggle.

Kolmi spokesman Abdul Hamim Fauzie said via a statement in Jakarta on Sunday that the coalition considered the practice of polygamous marriage degrading, not only to women, but to men as well.

Your comments:
We cannot say whether we agree with polygamy or not, because the Koran clearly says that polygamy can be practiced in certain circumstances. So, when in those circumstances, we can practice polygamy, and if we aren't, we can't.

Regarding the groups who support or who are against polygamy, I think they don't understand the meaning of polygamy.

Agus Riyanto
Jakarta

Polygamy is not under dispute; you may practice it or not practice it. In fact, polygamy may only be practiced if it is put into effect fairly. We may not prohibit others from practicing it; we may just advise that it may not be fair.

And if it is not fair, then we should not practice it. Allah (the one and only God) does not prohibit polygamy, why should we prohibit it. Please, don't look for justification

Sidah Mansyur
Bandung

The Muslim scholar Siti Musdah Mulia is absolutely right. It's a real pity this sagacious, and obviously very intelligent, warm-hearted Muslim lady hasn't become a top leader in the MUI yet.

Somehow, the picture that comes strongly to mind upon reading this article is the first wife of Muslim cleric Abdullah Gymnastiar (Aa Gym) bravely trying to bite back scalding tears as she publicly announces her approval of her husband taking a second wife - and, recently, seeing the tears of her elderly father as he states that his son-in-law hasn't visited him in two years.

Tami Koestomo
Bogor

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