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BNN shrugs off rights criticism, saying drug dealers' lives not to be respected
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National Narcotics Agency (BNN) chairman Budi Waseso (center, in white shirt) attends a hearing at the House of Representatives Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, human rights and security, on Sept.6. (Antara/Puspa Perwitasari)
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ational Narcotics Agency (BNN) head Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso has shrugged off criticism that the nation's war against drugs disregards human rights principles, saying that drug dealers' lives should not be respected since they commit "mass murders".
Those who circulate narcotics in such a big amount and have been involved in the illegal drug network for years, have committed serious crimes since they have killed or caused people to suffer, Budi said. Harsh punishments such as the death penalty, therefore, are comparable to the crime, he went on saying.
"Let's say [the drug dealer] has killed 100 people. Which one is more serious: a human rights violation that the BNN commits by executing one drug dealer, or killing 100 people? It's definitely the latter, so it's not a problem," he said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
However, Budi asserted that such harsh punishment would only be handed down after the BNN and law enforcement agencies had verified and found evidence that proved the suspect was indeed a drug lord. If the verified suspect shows hostility during arrest, he might be shot on site, Budi said.
Even though not to the extent of the Philippine’s move for a bloody crackdown on the illegal drug trade, Budi asserted that Indonesia should indeed impose strict punishment against those who had committed drugs abuse and trafficking, in order to save the country's younger generation. (ags)
