[Closed] Indonesian Drug Laws?

Indonesia is the most populated Muslim country in the world, probably something to do with that?

Maybe they don’t want people bringing drugs in.

If you fly to Taiwan there is a big sign up saying “WE EXECUTE DRUG SMUGGLERS” in the arrivals hall at CKS Airport.

Smugglers know the risks. If they get then it is tough.

If you fly to Taiwan there is a big sign up saying “WE EXECUTE DRUG SMUGGLERS” in the arrivals hall at CKS Airport.

By the time your in the arrivals hall, it's too late.

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

Drugs ar baaaaaad !

Totally missing the point chaps.

By the time your in the arrivals hall, it's too late.

That crossed my mind too. I bet security are watching to see who look worried.

Totally missing the point chaps.

Go on then. What is the point?

OP,
Don't play with the angry tiger or you will die.
Don't jump from the plane without a parachucte or you will die
Don't smuggle drugs to our country or you will die
What's your point?

I didn't start the thread to talk about the right or wrongs of the death penalty, I was interested in any possible reasons for such harsh punishments. For example: could there be an economic element? Ie, something to do with trade rights or aid. Nations competing in sycophantic sucking-up to the US for cash. "You sentence smugglers to 30 years, we sentence to 100 YEARS!" etc

Christ. Why does every discussion about drugs always bring out loads of people shouting "DRUGS ARE ILLEGAL" without adding anything to the debate? 🙂

Indonesia has some of the toughest anti-drug laws in the world but in practice death sentences are rarely carried out, says the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Bangkok.

I was interested in any possible reasons for such harsh punishments.

Maybe they don’t want people bringing drugs in.

Maybe they don’t want people bringing drugs in.

Now we're getting somewhere...

But why are they prepared to prevent this with such harsh punishments? Is it for any specific reason, or do you get death for everything over there? That's all I'm asking.

Which part of the debate shall we join in? Java have a zero policy on drug trafficking. When a local is caught they will probably be put to death.
When you get a british woman crying she will probably not be decapitated due to the international scandal. She did however commit a crime there and should accept the fact that she should be punished.
Or should we let her go OP?

Walk into any country with 5kg of coke stuffed in your knickers and you are going to get punished somewhere near the top end of the local legal scale.

I bet Indonesia are pretty tough on murderers and rapists too.

The implication of the original post was that it was understandable why the US had strict punishment whereas it wasn’t for a place like Indonesia. I bet if you tried it in Singapore, Norway or South Africa they would throw the book at you as hard as they possibly could too.

Oh forget it.

➡

You started it.

If you get caught smuggling you will get hit as hard as the law will allow and in some countries that is pretty hard.

Maybe the Indonesian authorities view lax drug laws as the thin end of the wedge that would lead to western decadence creeping in, they probably despise western decadence and wish to retain a clear bench mark on what they consider is right and what is wrong, any country can do this if they wish its called sovreignty.

Zero tolerance and the ultimate penalty ought to be sufficient deterrent unless of course you are truly stupid.

Maybe Gloucestershire Police need to reassess their PCSO selection criteria to ensure stupid people are eliminated from their future recruitment processes.

I bet Indonesia exports far more drugs than it imports, maybe it's just part of their monetary policy.

I read an interview with an ex drugs trafficker a few years ago, he said something along the line of "drugs mules are just dumb patsies, they only exist to keep drug enforcement busy and allow them the odd public victory, the real trafficking is done by the tonne not just a suitcase full".

There's a selection process for PCSO's?

1. Can spell own name (without carer) Y/N

I bet Indonesia are pretty tough on murderers and rapists too.

I wonder if the rates of rape and murder are lower in Indonesia than in countries which don't have the death penalty? Also, how many countries have the death penalty for rape, a crime which is woefully under-investigated and prosecuted worldwide?

Jambourgie raises an interesting topic. Would be nice to see folk engaging with it, rather than sneering in wrongly assumed superiority.

Lovely to see the STW Police completely missing the point of the thread and then attacking the OP.

I think maybe because a mixture of reasons. Perhaps because in the more Islamic populated countries alcohol and drug use is considered the worst type of sin and is therefore punished in more severe ways, death being the most severe options available. These are countries where people still get hung or sometimes stoned to death, so this could be a reason?
Another factor could be because of the socio-economic effect on what is already a poor county could be seen to be at the top end of the crime scale and so punishable with maximum force available.

Maybe the question should be would drug smuggling carry the death penalty if capital punishment were still in use in the UK. If not then for what crimes would it be exercised? Seeing that tax evasion can carry sentences rivaling that of murder or manslaughter!

Seeing that tax evasion can carry sentences rivaling that of murder or manslaughter!

No it doesn't

Fine to 7 years imprisonment (Value Added Tax Act 1994),
up to 7 years imprisonment (Theft Act 1968),
fine to 10 years imprisonment (Fraud Act 2006)

For murder you can get 30 years (+ in exceptional cases)

Iran also executes a lot of drug smugglers. Why? Because the EU pays them to.

http://www.iranhrdc.org/english/news/in-the-news/1000000309-how-european-taxpayers-are-fueling-executions-in-iran.html

It may well be something similar with Indonesia - aid and trad deals in exchange for being tough on drug smuggling.

I was sneering, i just failed to see the point.

There are plenty of places that will execute you for smuggling. Not all of them are islamic. They do it because that is their law. I suspect that there are all manner of other ways to get executed there too.

http://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_with_the_death_penalty_for_illegal_drugs

If you tried it in this country you would get a severe sentence also.

So will this woman be executed? I'm still looking for the point.

does anyone know why drug laws are so extreme in that part of the world?

In the UK ~4 people die each week directly from illegal drug use. IIRC that figure only includes OD's, bad batches, adverse reactions etc (i.e stuff you'll end up in hospital with accute problems) and ignores long term health effects from the drugs, catching HIV/HepC from needles, dying whilst on drugs for some other reason, or being killed for some other reason connected to the drugs (gangs, debt, etc).

When you look at it that way, maybe we're the ones being too leniant?

Indonesia is the most populated Muslim country in the world, probably something to do with that?

The USA executes people for breaking religious laws too, so not something you can single them out for really.

Don't worry OP I undertsood your meaning.

As above the answer is.... Islam, in particular sharia law, that is were the culture of harsh sentencing comes from.

America has some pretty spectacularly harsh laws too, three strikes etc, thats based on a different flavour or idiocy, sorry, religious conservatism.

As above the answer is.... Islam in particular sharia law, that is were the culture of harsh sentencing comes from.

Take a look at the list of countries that do it. China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Zimbabwe etc. I think if the country has strict laws, irrespective of religion, then you are going to get into trouble.

mr woppoit

If you cant do the time don't do the crime

If you cant do the time don't do the crime

In some countries, homosexuality is illegal.

In the UK ~4 people die each week directly from illegal drug use

In the UK, 4 cyclists have died this week from being hit by motor vehicles.

How many die each week as a result of tobacco or alcohol use?

I agree that some laws are barbaric. Uganda as an example do not condone homosexuality. I watched Stephen Fry there on tv last night.
The drug smuggling is a different entity completely.

This isn’t about the crime, or perceived crime in some cases, it is about the severity of the punishment.

In some of the countries on that list you could get executed for all sorts of things. I was in China a few years back when they paraded a load of people found guilty of piracy on TV then machine gunned them. Fraud on a large enough scale will get you shot too.

In Vietnam Gary Glitter’s crimes would have got him executed if he had been a local.

You can’t single out Indonesia, Islam or drug smuggling.

In the UK, 4 cyclists have died this week from being hit be motor vehicles.

I bet plenty would vote for that. Probably as many as want drugs banned.

Ban bicycles and execute bicycle importers?

Weren't the bicycles that killed them.

Very simple. That is the law of the land. The end. You traffic you lose.

Or if you want to put it in a more "civilized" PC way, in South East Asia they have no room for drug traffickers that want to create an already difficult livelihood.

They do rehabilitate drug users only if they do not cause any criminal offense but if they do they will be exterminate like pest (some on the spot). They try to rehabilitate the drug users but generally this is seen as self inflicted problems and funds to keep them off drugs is very limited. No, you CANNOT blame others that got you into drugs. You ARE responsible for yourself. If you are not force then you are guilty so they will get you to go cold turkey try to help you out a bit. You have one chance to get it right or you will be pest.

As for this lady I see no reason why she should not be hanged or shoot between the eyes if she intends to poison the people of the country. Actually, they should apply the rule of Henry VIII - hang, drawn and quartered her in public.

In other part of South East Asia, if the numbers of drug traffickers become epidemic the gov't will enforce legal death punishment to exterminate the pest ... in front of the parents.

As for the concern from Western Countries ... unless they can come up with something viable then it is of no concerned to them. If you do not like those countries then banned traveling to and from. You do not have to be friend with those countries and vice versa.

Solution ... in exchange for life:

1. Pay the Indonesian govt huge compensation each time a British drug trafficker is caught there. Like £500million per trafficker because of the damage one drug trafficker can do the population is huge and that money should go to deal with those social problems. Then the British govt can have their drug trafficker(s) back ... do whatever they like.

2. Alternatively, give asylum or permanent residency to certain number of drug users from that part of the world for every drug trafficker caught from the West. They will have to feed them in their respective country. For example, for every drug trafficker caught the country where the trafficker comes from should absorb 500 drug users to their country - feed, house, educate, employment and rehabilitate them forever.

As for whether drugs are produced in those countries and being exported out ... well ... very easy just exterminate the maggots that try to traffic the drugs into your country.

🙄

Bloke down the pub once told me that the reason places like Indonesia have such tough drugs laws is as follows:

They have such a thriving drugs manufacturing and export industry that 'partially funds' the country. So to throw the rest of the world off the scent, and to make it look like they are all Mr Goody-Two-Shoes they adopt a zero-tolerance stance on small-scale smuggling in and out of the country, and do stuff-all about the big guns.

That's what the bloke down the pub reckons anyway. And he's normally right.

I'm strongly opposed to the death penalty, I think it is little more than a barbaric retaliation, and not how civilized society should behave.
However, I also believe you should respect the laws of the countries you visit, and if you don't like them don't go there.

It is no secret that many countries execute drug smugglers, so those who've been caught knew the risks they were taking, and were only acting out of greed.

I feel the UK Government should make a stand, if only to have their sentences commuted to life in prison, however, these people have landed themselves in this position, so I'm not sure we should loose too much sleep over it.

Thisisnotaspoon, funny how the medical community feel that drugs should be dealt with as a health issue not a criminal issue.

Prescription drugs kill a lot of people as well. Chekw, lets not even get started on the fact that the death penalty is a total disaster for public health as it contributes to a loss of respect for life and higher murder rates.

Anyway, harry most of those countries are islamic. In fact id wager its a statistically significant factor when it comes to the use of the death penalty for drug offences.

Tom_W1987 - Member

Anyway harry, most of those countries are islamic.

Nothing to do with religion there rather it is a matter of the act of trying to poison the population by the drug trafficker(s).

Tom_W1987 - Member
Chekw, lets not even get started on the fact that the death penalty is a total disaster for public health as it contributes to a loss of respect for life and higher murder rates.

That is the twisted western mindset ...

🙄

True, but not all of them and there are Islamic countries that don't execute drugs smugglers.

Total bullshit, why doesnt the Philippines execute people for drug offences?

We poison people everyday with car fumes, industrial chemicals, weapons, food additives etc etc

That is the twisted western mindset .

No its rational and informed by science. It's your mindset that is twisted.

Tom_W1987 - Member

Total bullshit, why doesnt the Philippines execute people for drug offences?

They do but just not reported. In Southern part the country they will even chop off the head. My advice is not to travel to Southern part of the country if you are a Westerner. Unless you can pay huge ransom ...

🙄

Yeah muslim mindanao.

Lol

This is going round in circles now.

I’ll leave you lot to it. I’ve got a flight to catch.

Tom_W1987 - Member

Yeah muslim mindanao.

Lol

Not only Mindanao but the entire old Sulu Kingdom.

I still don't get the OP's point.
Just accept it. She did wrong. Maybe she'll be executed, probably not.
Am I missing something?

iolo - Member

I still don't get the OP's point.
Just accept it. She did wrong. Maybe she'll be executed, probably not.
Am I missing something?

If you really want her back then pay their govt at tax payers expense ... problem solved.

🙄

Let's leave her there then eh. She got there quite un assisted.

Maybe I wasn't very clear in my original post. My abhorrence to the death penalty and the ludicrous 'war on drugs' was probably shining through and confusing the issue I was trying to raise. Anyway, some interesting replies...

Thisisnotaspoon, funny how the medical community feel that drugs should be dealt with as a health issue not a criminal issue.

And I agree with them, users have a health problem, not a criminal one. Thats not an argument for decriminalising drugs though is it, just moving the responsibility for 'treatment' of users and those addicted from the judicial system to the healthcare system?

However the smugglers, dealers etc aren't the users are they?

Same as someone compared them to bike deaths, which is going to be more effective at preventing future deaths? A life scentance for being involved in a traffic collision involving a cyclist, or ASL's and segregated bike/car lanes?

I dont agree with the death penalty. But if I were to draw up a list of crimes which deserved whatever the max penalty available was, then smuggling, distribution and dealing of illegal drugs would be high up on the list.

It would be a lot easier for healthcare professionals to help drug users if it was a properly regulated industry.

Remember the outcry about the government chief scientist who called for legalisation, all arguments against it are either ideological or emotional.

Chewkw, the sulu kingdom was muslim. Any cases of the death penalty in those areas are summary executions without due process.

jambourgie - Member

Maybe I wasn't very clear in my original post. My abhorrence to the death penalty and the ludicrous 'war on drugs' was probably shining through and confusing the issue I was trying to raise. Anyway, some interesting replies...

I get you.

The bottom line is the Western ideology on human rights/wrongs cannot be imposed on others. i.e. it's like trying to carry out an [u]ideology genocide [/u][b](TM)[/b] on others. Why should the world (developing nations and 3rd world) follow the Western rules?

What you are trying to argue or to justify is the twisted notion of legitimising the cause of harm to other population. i.e. let the trafficker(s) go because s/he comes from developed world with human rights or give him/her a short punishment.

What you have forgotten is that others do not have time for that and in that part of the world daily survival is already harsh, so why should a trafficker from another country be given the rights above their own people.

Life has no meaning if that life (one) is going to cause massive misery to many other families. The logical scientific statistical approach is to eliminate that cause to prevent multiplication of misery.

Like I say, the simplest solution is pay compensation to their gov't and people.

Oh ya, just don't try to be tight fisted by trying not to pay and yet try to dictate terms/ideology to others.

You pay! Good money!

🙄

p/s:

Tom_W1987 - Member

Chewkw, the sulu kingdom was muslim. Any cases of the death penalty in those areas are summary executions without due process.

Yes, quick and easy. Problem solved.

Haha...chewkw.....Honda Fireblades kill people. Does Indonesia line up Honda importers against firing posts?

The naivety is hilarious.

Yes, quick and easy. Problem solved.

See what I mean guys, death penalty advocates have very little respect for life.

I couldn't find anything really useful out with googling, I'm wondering what the history of this is- drugs are old but this sort of smuggling is relatively new, is this something that goes back to the earliest days of their trade with the world, or is it recent? If it's recent, who brought it in?

thisisnotaspoon - Member

In the UK ~4 people die each week directly from illegal drug use. IIRC that figure only includes OD's, bad batches, adverse reactions etc (i.e stuff you'll end up in hospital with accute problems) and ignores long term health effects from the drugs, catching HIV/HepC from needles, dying whilst on drugs for some other reason, or being killed for some other reason connected to the drugs (gangs, debt, etc).

Most of which are caused or worsened by criminalisation and proscription of course.

So, approximately 1/1923th as many people as die as a result of smoking.
The fact that the number is so small does make it hard to work out why we put so much effort into Wars On Drugs eh.

Tom_W1987 - Member

Haha, chewkw.....Honda Fireblades kill people. Does Indonesia line up Honda importers against firing posts?

Honda pays! Good money! You payyyy ...!

Tom_W1987 - Member

See what I mean guys, death penalty advocates have very little respect for life.

Don't change the topic. You payyyy ... ! Good money ...!

Northwind - Member

So, approximately 1/1923th as many people as die as a result of smoking.

Cigarette pay good money. You payyyy ...!

😈

p/s: don't be tight fisted ... there is a way out. You payyy ...! Good Money!

it is strange how a countries' perception of what is acceptable for the death penalty changes over time.

I recently visited Bodmin Jail and there was a notice up next to the execution chamber with people who met their end there and why.

There were the usual murderers etc but there were quite a few for theft, one for setting fire to some wheat and one for beastiality 😯

Chewkw's bedtime reading:

[img] [/img]

CountZero - Member

Chewkw's bedtime reading:

You paayyyy ...! Good money ...!

😆

I know it's a touch off topic but I'm inclined to agree with my local Chief of Police (Durham). Decriminalising hard drugs results in an instant cessation of drug-related crime. Instant. If done properly, overnight.

What's not to like? Those who wish to **** themselves up may do so with impunity and with no harm to old ladies collecting their pensions. And by, "...done properly", I also mean that there should be rehab programs put in place for those who want them, perhaps paid for by the new government tax on drugs, or by the savings made due to the police now having a 40% (guessed number) drop in their work. FWIW, I've never met a junkie who didn't bleat on about going clean and I've met many, so the underlying desire is there, but the means to do so are not.

The methadone programme is a complete and utter waste of resources and tax payers' cash. It doesn't work. Addicts treat the meth as a top up, or as a commodity to sell to those even more desperate than themselves.

And as for the argument that your children are more likely to try hard drugs if they are decriminalised - this is easily managed. Just ensure that addicts have to be referred into the legalised purchase system by a GP (in the same way as they currently are for the free meth programme). That is [i]instantly[/i] uncool. They are now patients in the medical system. Victims if you like. And I guarantee that 99% of addicts would go through the system because it's a hell of a lot easier than dealing with, well, dealers. And again, set up properly, there's no reason for the drug to be more expensive than that bought from a stinking flat in a sink estate, with all the attendant dangers.

By going through the system there is also the offer of real help through rehab.

I'd sleep easier in my bed if the above suggestions were implemented.

user-removed - Member
I know it's a touch off topic but I'm inclined to agree with my local Chief of Police (Durham). Decriminalising hard drugs results in an instant cessation of drug-related crime. Instant. If done properly, overnight.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment, it's hardly evienced based. Take tobacco as an example, legal to buy, dont even need a percription as you suggested would be needed for the purchase of 'illegal' drugs. But theres still a huge black market of cigaretts being brought in and sold cheeper than the legitimate ones. If we sold morphine at £10/hit, they'd sell heroin at £9.

And thats without the more 'casual' drug users using coke, extacy, marajuana, rtc.

set up properly, there's no reason for the drug to be more expensive than that bought from a stinking flat in a sink estate, with all the attendant dangers.

The reason people buy black market / fake tabs is because they're cheaper than the real thing.

 

If we sold morphine at £10/hit, they'd sell heroin at £9.

But theres still a huge black market of cigaretts being brought in

No its a tiny market.

Harry_the_Spider - Member
As above the answer is.... Islam in particular sharia law, that is were the culture of harsh sentencing comes from.
Take a look at the list of countries that do it. China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Zimbabwe etc. I think if the country has strict laws, irrespective of religion, then you are going to get into trouble.

Fails to read question, fails to read reply.

The question was WHY it had strict laws. The reply was WHY it has strict laws? It was what makes their sentencing so different from our own?

And the answer was its a country which is strongly guided by a religion where harsh sentencing is the norm.

It was not why other countries have strict laws.
It was not whether it was a fair or just.
It was not wether it was likely to be seen through to carrying out the sentence.
It was not wether there are better ways to deal with it.

Why is it so difficult to read properly?

If we sold morphine at £10/hit, they'd sell heroin at £9.

Make the 'legal' product far purer and safer than the illegal one, make availability of the legal product much easier, and the vast majority will prefer paying the small premium. If I am in Amsterdam and I want Cannabis, I simply pop into a convenient coffee shop, and purchase in safe, comfortable surroundings. I don't have to venture into the bowels of some nasty 'sink estate' and deal with some scrote with a pitbull who's going to use the money to buy a gun. 😉

People are gonna use regardless. Decriminalisation creates a better environment for users, more openness about use (which leads to improvements in being able to administer healthcare), and the evaporation of the social stigma towards users.

I remember when Ecstasy was [i]de rigeur[/i]; everyone ignored the Daily Mail style scaremongering, and just got on with enjoying their weekends. Millions were taking the drug, yet deaths were extremely rare (and often caused by other factors). Violence at raves/clubs was very low compared to pubs etc, and the whole atmosphere was pretty good. The only thing that really soured the fun, was the criminal gangs distributing and controlling sales. Because a drug which is relatively far safer to use than alcohol was illegal. It's daft.

Decriminalising it?

Why should the taxpayers have fund it for minority?

Are the users going to hold the taxpayers ransom? i.e. if public don't fund their habits will they rake havoc by stealing etc to fund their habits?

Or are you suggesting that everyone should be addicts since they have already paid for it via tax so might as well have some?

I agree that addicts should be rehabilitated.

😯

Why should the taxpayers have fund it for minority?

Becuase treating drug addiction as a medical issue rather than a criminal one is far far cheaper.

gonefishin - Member

Why should the taxpayers have fund it for minority?

Becuase treating drug addiction as a medical issue rather than a criminal one is far far cheaper.

Or Health & Safety ... 😯

Other things wot get you shot in Indonesia:

Attempt with intent to deprive the President or Vice-President of his or her life or liberty or to render him or her unfit to govern (KUHP Art. 104)
Aiding or protecting Indonesia’s enemies at war (KUHP Art. 123 & 124)
Fraud in delivery of military materials in time of war (KUHP Art. 127)
Killing the head of state of a friendly state (KUHP Art. 140)
Premeditated murder (KUHP Art. 340)
Robbery or theft resulting in grave injury or death (KUHP Art. 365
Piracy resulting in death (KUHP Art. 444)
Instigating or inciting rebellion or riot against a state defense company during times of war (KUHP)
Extortion with violence (KUHP)
Possession and misuse of firearm and/or other explosive (Emergency Law No. 12/1951)
Criminal acts during air flights or against aviation infrastructure (Law No. 4/1976)
Production, transit, import and possession of psychotropic drugs (Law No. 5/1997 on Psychotropic Drugs)
Production, transit, import and possession of narcotics (Law No. 22/1997 on Narcotics)
Corruption under “certain circumstances,” including repeat offenders and corruption committed during times of national emergency/disaster (Law No. 31/1999 on Corruption)
Gross violations of human rights, including genocide and crimes against humanity (Law No. 26/2000 on Human Rights Courts)
Acts of terrorism (Law No. 15/2003 on Combating Criminal Acts of Terrorism)

Make the 'legal' product far purer and safer than the illegal one, make availability of the legal product much easier, and the vast majority will prefer paying the small premium. If I am in Amsterdam and I want Cannabis, I simply pop into a convenient coffee shop, and purchase in safe, comfortable surroundings. I don't have to venture into the bowels of some nasty 'sink estate' and deal with some scrote with a pitbull who's going to use the money to buy a gun.

People are gonna use regardless. Decriminalisation creates a better environment for users, more openness about use (which leads to improvements in being able to administer healthcare), and the evaporation of the social stigma towards users.

I remember when Ecstasy was de rigeur; everyone ignored the Daily Mail style scaremongering, and just got on with enjoying their weekends. Millions were taking the drug, yet deaths were extremely rare (and often caused by other factors). Violence at raves/clubs was very low compared to pubs etc, and the whole atmosphere was pretty good. The only thing that really soured the fun, was the criminal gangs distributing and controlling sales. Because a drug which is relatively far safer to use than alcohol was illegal. It's daft.

Careful Cybicle, you're veering dangerously into the realms of common sense here. Someone will be along shortly to shout "DRUGS ARE ILLEGAL" at you.

Hi all,

I have worked in Indonesia and the SE Asian region in a diplomatic capacity, though never in counter-narcotics.

The question is an interesting one as the severity stands in stark contrast to western policies on this issue. The best answer I can come up with is four-fold. First, the region has always had a problem with opiates given its proximity to the Golden Triangle. It is this concern that typically drove early posy-independence policy responses in Indonesia as much as it is Islam's traditional hostility/fear of intoxication of any kind. Proponents of a harsh response - at least in the early year's following independence - could also point to genuine opiate addiction problems among Singapore's ethnic Chinese community, and indeed the regional Chinese diaspora, as a warning.

Second, in an Indonesian context this fear was amplified as although the Chinese community in Indonesia have a long history - serving as a merchant class - their place in Indonesian society has always been uncertain (as evidenced by periodic and violent anti-Chinese riots, inc as recently as 1999). As such, the a policy of intolerance played neatly into long-standing ethnic rivalries and prejudice.

Third, the newly independent state had limited means for policing and even judicial enforcement so it was decided that the best means to deter the trade was a straight no questions approach, wherein it was hoped that the limited risk of being caught would be outweighed by the severe penalty. This approach, given the opportunity and likely means to bribe judges, also limited judicial discretion in sentencing.

Fourth, once Sukarno and his successor Suharto planted themselves firmly in the Anti-Communist camp the policy was actively supported by the United States. However, having worked on Free Trade Agreements, inc with Indonesia I can confirm that agreements are in no way dependent on adherence to US foreign policy prescriptions concerning narcotics and foreign aid budgets in support of such policies have never figured large among the flood of aid money into that country for fifty years.

Perhaps my final thoughts are that it is complex, Indonesia is plagued by corruption at every level, so while it is true that Indonesia does execute its own for drug smuggling, these are exclusively low level traffickers - Mr Big never ever gets caught in Indonesia. Moreover, it is widely rumored that the army have long controlled the drug trade (they are a law unto themselves) in Indonesia). Certainly `many prominent Indonesian I spoke with assumed Marijuana across Indonesia (excepting Bali where it is grown locally to supply the tourist trade)(grown in Sumatra) was trafficked by the military. Indeed, I can bear witness to shoot outs between the military and the police whenever the latter attempted to investigate the former, inc for drug trafficking.

There you go folks . . . for those that read until the end . . just doing my bit for informed debate on the forum!

Good to hear some views from our man in the [s]north[/s] east! It basically sounds like the army are protecting their cash cow then?

Brilliant! Thanks mjdcc 🙂

Something I think a lot about is how these laws came to be. I mean, when you take away the obvious problems associated with prohibition: crime, contaminated drugs etc, what damage does a recreational drug user cause to society? Was it an economic question, ie, the belief that people having fun on drugs wouldn't want to go to work? Doesn't happen generally with legal booze. Actually, I have two-day hangovers these days so... 😀

mjdcc - Member

Perhaps my final thoughts are that it is complex, Indonesia is plagued by [b][u]corruption at every level[/u][/b], so while it is true that Indonesia does execute its own for drug smuggling, these are exclusively low level traffickers - Mr Big never ever gets caught in Indonesia. Moreover, it is widely rumored that the army have long controlled the drug trade (they are a law unto themselves) in Indonesia).

That's the reason why you shouldn't be tight fisted if you are caught ... pay and you should be free.

🙄

You want live ...! You payyyy ...! Good Monney ...! You no eat cake for yourself ... You ppaayyy ...!

on one level you are right chewkw but it is a very high risk strategy. Again, there are several reasons for this. One, you have to pay the right person/people and foreigners in Indonesian jails do not know nor do they have access to the right people. And you can be guaranteed - in all but a handful of cases - that their local lawyer will be of dubious renown unless they are very rich (for this reason their lawyer will likely not know what to do either). Besides 99% of those caught couldn't afford the required bribes to make the problem go away. Moreover, it doesn't always work, I am aware of cases where monies changed hands amounting to 6 figures with no result. Finally, there is a socio-political element to enforcement. In the minds of many low ranking Indonesian police officers and bureaucrats an anti-drug policy has been woven into the 'nationalist psyche' so that arresting a bule (foreigner) for a crime associated with decadence (Judeo-Christian or otherwise) is seen as a way to strike back at an perceived/imagined Western dominance and meddling. This is, of course, supported by a bellicose brand of Islam in central Java, which stands ready to condemn a perfodious and immoral west. But again this is belied by the stark fact that the vast majority of foreigners executed in Indonesia for this are Nigerians - and here there is an added racial element.

My warning is this . . . sentencing authorities are keen to convict low level foreign traffickers and ven those caught in possession as doing so does not disrupt local distribution channels (power structures) and it brings rewards for local police chiefs who can use it to promote a tough on drugs image given foreign news coverage. Also, the law fails to discriminate between what we would call class A, B and C drugs.