ELIMINATION OF A GENERATION

26 June is commemorated as the International Anti-Drug Day. According to the latest survey, around 1.5% of Indonesia population are inflicted in drug abuse. However, the result number in this survey, does not show the real problem in the society and the number may increase when we consider the actual drug abuse in community. In every major cities in Indonesia, drug problems become the main element in moral and physical decadence especially among youths. Even this problem has penetrated small town which for long time considered as drug-free area. Government along with evry social elements have drained a lot of resources trying to solve this problem but uptill now, the number keep on growing instead of falling.

There are many factors why Indonesia has to face such a hugh problem. for many years, Indonesia was considered as the transit area between The Golen Triangle area of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar to East Asia and Australia. But now, Indonesia has become one of the mai producer in Asia especially for drug in Amphetaminae class and ecstasy. Indonesia's geographical situation which close to Mallacan Peninsula and Australia has give the advantage as the bridge between the two region which in result, to cut the production cost, the production is resettled in Indonesia. The loose border control has make it easy for the international narcotic network to smuggle their product in and out Indonesia.


The factor above is only the external geograpical element of the problem. Internally, the obstacle to eliminate drg abuse are more complicated. Strong effort has been shown by Indnesia government - institutionally. But it is a common knowledge in the society that most of drug lords are backed by persons in the army and the police corp. Even in some cases, drug lord whom jailed for years stil able to control his business from inside prison. Tis fact show us that even punishment system in Indonesia is not strong enough to strangle drug network in Indonesia. and also this is the proof of how corrupt is law enforcement in Indonesia. This reality will lead to unimplemented policies of the government. So many cases where persons inthe enforcement agencies are inflicted in drug abuse either as user or dealer. The persons inflicted were not stricted in low rank level but also up to the high rank level.

So much so, the permissive behaviour in the community only worsen the problem. In urban area where the life complexity is higher than in the rural area either in composition wise or in economical demand, the permissive attitude has become common phenomena. It is so easy to rive an issue from a simple one to a more complex one. And also cultural differences between ethnics which comprise urban population make communal control loose.

In a polpulation where poverty an unemployment rate are so high as Indonesia, te economic burden has become the main factor to psh drug abuse and drug trafficking. Betwen youth in Indonesia, it is easy to earn money in drug business where they could easily get the supply and consumer among themselves.

Hugh amount of money is circulated in drug business in Indonesia itself. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent ach year in drg consumption in Indonesia which if this money is invested in education will surely give a better standard of educationas well as cheaper education in Indonesia.

If the drug problem in Indonesia ould not be solve or at last reduced, in a decade, one generation of Indonesian will loose their ability to compete in international market. it is not only government's responsibility to solve this problem but everyone shold joint forces to destroy drug network in Indonesia.

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POLITICAL INDONESIA

It’s been nine years since Suharto’s falling in May 1998 and Indonesia started the new era of civil life. Preceding Suharto’s falling from his 32-years reign, Indonesia had become one of the worst countries hit by monetary crisis turbulence in 1997 and this economic phenomenon had changed Indonesia in every aspects of its life, in positive way and in negative way.

Nine years and four presidents later, Indonesia still struggles to overcome the damage done by this crisis. Politically, Indonesia now is miles away from a decade ago. Ok, we might not as democratic as what so-called the champion of Democracy, USA, because we are not a liberal state. But we are in the right track to start for a much more democratic life. A free election, freedom of speech, freedom to gather, and many other freedoms, now, have become a practical discourse in Indonesian daily life, not just a theoretical discourse as before.


Of course, life has changed a lot in the last decade. The last time Indonesia had more than three political parties was in 1973, but now more than forty political parties participate in two general elections after 1998, in 1999 and 2004. The increasing number of political parties in Indonesia shown that seed of democracy has grown rapidly but this circumstance also creates more problems where the winning party will have a little chance to win the election as the sole winner. To form a strong government the winning party should form a coalition power to have a proper parliamentary support in each and every policy it will make.

This reality force the new president to think more of his or her political support from a fragile coalition than to think of the actual necessity when it is time to choose person in his or her cabinet. The political bargain in forming the new cabinet may cause instability in the cabinet itself because we cannot put aside the possibility of double loyalty of the person chosen to fill the position in the cabinet. In one hand, the person has to pledge of loyalty to the president and the state but in the other hand he or she also has to show their loyalty to his or her party. And this double loyalty in one point will face the person in conflict of interest.

We can observe this kind of political bargain in the recent cabinet reshuffle. Most of the people chosen are politicians from party which is part of the ruling coalition. Their political support is more important than their capability to run the government.

The other thing is that more than fifty percent of people taking part in active politic in Indonesia have relation with the old regime. This relation influenced their way of thinking and acting in political stage. We might see a lot of new faces in national level but in regional and local level, the faces are the same. They might in different vehicle but they are the same person.

In real life situation, regional and local level politicians have more effect and interest to common citizens because these people are the one who interact directly with grass root community. So, whatever political decisions made in the national level, the implementation still rely on much to these people. And most of the violations are happening in this level and most of the time out of reach of our spectacles.

Again, the political reality in Indonesia is not a pleasant scene especially for them who have no claws in it. But still, we can expect that in the near future some more of positive changes will happen in Indonesia. At this time, Indonesia is still in transition period especially in political concern. Many among the people are still dreaming of the golden era in the past when everything was certain as long as people did not try to disturb the power and it’s hegemony or if the person was part of the power. In the past, stability and certainty only on the surface but below the surface, the float of unjust swept away freedom and justice.

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