PEOPLE'S PART IN DRUG RAIDS HAILED

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso praised on Tuesday the involvement of
Jakartans, including housewives, on recent police raids against drug
traffickers and consumers.

Sutiyoso said the role of family members in eliminating drug trafficking in
the city was important.

"Housewives should be on the front line of a campaign against drugs. I
support it," he said at City Hall.

He said housewives should not only report incidents to the police, but also
be proactive in telling their children to avoid using or selling drugs.

Hundreds of residents in Kayu Putih subdistrict, East Jakarta, helped police
on Saturday arrest at least 30 men for allegedly selling drugs in houses in
the area.

In the raid, police confiscated one kilogram of marijuana, 35 grams of a
derivative of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) and Rp 13.5 million in cash.

East Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Tjiptono said 24 of the suspects were
released and the remaining six were still being detained.

Sutiyoso called on school teachers in the city to join the antidrug campaign
by supervising students.

He warned that drug trafficking had reached elementary schools and claimed
students as victims.

City Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman also praised Jakartans'
involvement to help police arrest drug traffickers.

"I welcome people telling us that there were drug trafficking activities in
their neighborhood and helping in the arrest of dealers and traffickers,"
Noegroho said.

But he called on the public to hand over suspects to the police and not put
justice into their own hands.

City councilor, Abdul Aziz Matnur, praised the public for having the spirit
to fight drug trafficking in the city.

He questioned, however, the police's duty in arresting drug traffickers.

"It's a police duty and not the public's. It would be better if people just
report to police if they know of any drug trafficking in their
neighborhood," Aziz of the Justice Party (PK) said.

He said people should not get involved in subsequent police duties as they
might mistakenly arrest the wrong suspect.

"Their involvement in subsequent police duties could be used by certain
people to arrest people whom they dislike," he said. (jun)