MEGAWATI LEADS THE ANTI-DRUGS WAR

JAKARTA (IO) -- Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri has urged the
National Anti-Narcotics Coordination Board (BKNN) to intensify its war
against drug abuse.

``There have been many movements against drug abuse, but after their
launch, we have not heard much about them anymore,'' Megawati was quoted as
saying by Antara yesterday.

She was speaking during a ceremony to launch the National Movement against
Drug Abuse.

The vice president noted that BKNN, which is led by National Police Chief
General Bimantoro, should lead the offensive against drug abuse.

She said drug use is on the rise in Indonesia, so the government must take
aggressive action rather than defensive moves.

``I call on the police, prosecutors, customs office, immigration and all
intelligence officers to work harder in handling [drug abuse].''

Megawati said mothers should be more vigilant as narcotics are reaching
some of the nation's young children.

During yesterday's ceremony there was an auction for the first edition of a
set of stamps with an anti-drugs theme. Megawati won the auction with a bid
of Rp210 million (US$23,000).

Drug laws have been toughened since 1997, when police started a major crack
down on ecstasy, marijuana, shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine), heroin
and other popular but forbidden substances.

Following the fall of ex-president Soeharto in May 1998, most users and
dealers who were previously untouchable can now be arrested and tossed into
the slammer.

According to data from AFP, the death penalty has been demanded over the
past year for an Angolan national, five Nepalese and one Indonesian
convicted of trafficking. None of the sentences have so far been carried
out.

Among the users serving jail terms are Maya Gusti Firanti Noor -- a
granddaughter-in-law of Soeharto, and Agus Isrok -- the son of former Army
chief General Soebagyo Hadisiswoyo.

Also due to spend some time in the clink for drug use are a few television
comedy entertainers from the allegedly zany Ketoprak Humor show.

Officials have said that from being a transit destination, Indonesia has
now become a major market and transit point for international drug
syndicates.

Police over the past year have shot dead 10 men of various African
nationalities, claiming they were members of an international drugs cartel.