COUNCILORS SAY SUTIYOSO'S DRUG POLICY ILL-ADVISED

JAKARTA (JP): Councilors doubted on Friday the prudence of the city
administration's plan to impose a "reward-and-punishment" scheme to
eradicate drug use in schools, believing law enforcement officials should
lead the war on drugs.

"It's unwise for Governor Sutiyoso to punish schools which are unable to
stop drug consumption among students. It's not the schools' responsibility
because the distribution of drugs involves outsiders," Dani Anwar of the
Justice Party (PK) told The Jakarta Post.

He said priority should be put on measures to tighten control at the
country's entry points, such as airports and seaports, to stop drug trafficking.

PK faction chairman Ahmad Heryawan said the most effective measure was to
conduct patrols in schools located in areas where drug use was a known problem.

"The presence of security personnel at schools, even only one officer at
each school, could frighten the traffickers from trying to influence the
students."

Ahmad said school authorities should also encourage parents to become
involved in fighting drugs because "it's the responsibility of all members
of the community".

Maringan Pangaribuan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) said Sutiyoso should establish an integrated special team on
eradicating drugs which involved schools.

He also recommended the police conduct routine raids on schools where drug
use was common.

Agus Darmawan of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Siti Ma'rifah of the
National Awakening Party (PKB) supported the planned reward-and- punishment
system on the condition the city administration established criteria.

"The reward-and-punishment system will be effective only when there are
clear guidelines," Agus said.

Siti opposed the placement of police officers in schools.

"Their presence will have a negative impact on students, as though a crime
has occurred there. School authorities are the most appropriate party to
carry out the movement," she said.

In the war on soaring drug use among the young, Sutiyoso said on Wednesday
the city administration would reward state schools from the elementary
through senior high school levels which were able to halt drug use on their
premises. He warned of punishment for those which failed.

The administration's declared campaign of drugs does not appear to have
frightened the dealers.

Darsono, a teacher at SDN 01 Elementary School in Pegangsaan subdistrict,
Central Jakarta, said that a woman accosted 10 of his students several weeks
ago and took them for a picnic to the National Monument square in Central
Jakarta.

He believed the woman was trying to win the students' trust before providing
them with drugs.

"We have warned the students not to consume anything offered by the woman or
anybody else, and threatened them with dismissal if they take up the woman's
invitation again," he told the Post. (ind)