War on drugs is much more serious than war on terrorism, claimed Chairperson of the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, at the 1st AIPA Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD) in Singapore, on 18-21 June 2018. 

“Drug-related crime is more dangerous than terrorism as more people die from drugs each day. Drugs also imperil youth generation as well as country and nation,’’ she said. 

At the event, she was accompanied by two other delegation members, Fadel Muhammad (Golkar Party Faction) and AchmadFarial (United Development Party Faction/PPP). As the head of delegation, she declared war on drugs and called on all ASEAN elements to combat the cross-border organized crime. 

In front of the attendees, she delivered the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (BNN) report. It is stated in the report that the Indonesian law enforcement apparatus have successfully cracked down the drug-related crime, collecting evidence of 4.71 tons of sabu-sabu (crystal methamphetamine), 151.22 tons of ganja (cannabis), and almost 3 million ecstasy pills.

Those efforts indicate that the Indonesian law enforcement apparatus was determined to fight against drug-related crime, and prove the law enforcers’ commitment for strict actions against drug syndicate network. 

“BNN has introduced a demand reduction approach through some feasible measures as an effort to establish a drug-free and drug-resilient community. They have also initiated programs and events to decrease the prevalence of drug abuse among youth (children, teens, pupils, and students) which are the main target of drug syndicate networks,” she said. 

Regarding ASEAN’s hope in drug trafficking and rehabilitation and prevention, Nurhayati expects the commitment, spirit, and determination from all members to address the borderless problem. Our common priority is to fully eradicate drug-related crime. 

“So we need support from all the ASEAN members to do this job and carry out the people’s mandate. Let’s fight together, as hard as we can, to make sure that our countries are free from drug abuse and drug trafficking,” she said. 

AIPACODD itself is a transformation of the AIPA Fact Finding Committee to Combat Drug Menace (AIFOCOM), which aims to make real steps for better efficiency and coordination to drug threat in the ASEAN region, and also to strengthen parliamentary role and mandate to beat the menace of drugs. 

The first AIPACODD meeting in Singapore brought about two resolutions to be adopted at the 39th  AIPAGA, namely Resolution on Securing a Drug-Free ASEAN Community for Future Generation and Resolution on the Terms of Reference for the AIPACODD. The second AIPACODD meeting will be held in 2019 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (dep/sf-mut)