Gov’t Readies Alternative Policies on Drug Eradication, Control

Mahfud MD gives a press statement at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta, Thursday (10/12). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat)

The Government is preparing policies on drug users, dealers, and cartels, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD has said.

“The victims are users, which caused correctional institutions to be so densely packed. As for [actions on] dealers, cartels, and the like, there will be specific measures that are currently being designed by the Indonesian National Police and the Head of the National Narcotics Agency,” he said in his press statement following a limited meeting on drug eradication and control in Indonesia led by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Thursday (10/12).

Furthermore, Mahfud pointed out that the Government is preparing supporting infrastructure for drug eradication and control, such as correctional institutions with high security system readied by Ministry of Law and Human Rights.

“Ministry of Law and Human Rights has prepared super-security prisons or correctional institutions, which will also be inspected, God willing, by the President. The inauguration will probably take place in Nusa Kambangan,” he said.

Mahfud also stated that his ministry is granting mass clemency to drug users.

“They will be examined one by one, then we will propose a grant of mass clemency, which must certainly be discussed with the Supreme Court. We are currently designing it,” he said, adding that this is not the first mass clemency in the country as a mass clemency used to be granted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mahfud expressed hope that the mass clemency for drug users can be granted shortly.

“The mass clemency is expected to be granted before 2024 ends. It should have been granted by then. However, it is still at the level of Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs and [related] ministers. Once everything is ready, we will submit it to the President to be decided at a cabinet meeting,” he remarked. (FID/UN) (DH/MUR)