Pubdate: Sat, 27 Feb 2016
Source: Jakarta Post (Indonesia)
Copyright: The Jakarta Post
Contact:  http://www.thejakartapost.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/645
Note: Media Indonesia, Jakarta

ON THE BRINK OF FAILURE

The recent arrest of a number of soldiers, a police officer and a 
lawmaker for drug possession constitutes an achievement for the team 
involved and as well as a nightmare for the nation. The number of 
police and military personnel who were caught is an indication of the 
strong grip drug syndicates have on those institutions.

It is regrettable that law enforcers who should be fighting drug 
trafficking and soldiers who are given the duty of protecting the 
nation were involved in drug crimes.

At the end of last year, two policemen were caught using drugs and an 
Army member was detained for possessing 1,000 ecstasy pills. It seems 
as if this disloyalty has brought the nation to the brink of failure 
in its war on drugs.

Integrity in an institution should be nurtured. Law enforcement 
agencies should cultivate integrity and uphold ethics in executing 
all of their duties. As such, any involvement in drug crimes should 
be treated very seriously. This commitment must be reflected in leadership.

In addition, maximum punishment is needed to produce a deterrent 
effect. Personnel implicated in drug cases should be prosecuted as 
drug traffickers. Rather than just conducting raids, routine checks 
in police and military offices are imperative. The nation must not 
move further to the edge of the abyss.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom