The consumption of alcoholic beverages among local community members might have contributed to the shortened life expectancy of native PapuansJayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - The police in Jayapura Port, Papua Province, seized 157 bottles of alcoholic drinks from Motor Vessel "Labobar" which arrived at the port from Bitung, North Sulawesi Province, on Saturday evening but the policemen did not arrest anyone in this bootleg liquor case.
The policemen found the bottles of home-made alcoholic drinks under the beds of several passengers on the vessel's deck 4, 5, 6, and 7 during a raid against bootleg liquor, Papua Police Spokesman Sen.Coms.Ahmad Kamal said here on Sunday.
The bootleg liquor, packed in tens of mineral water and whisky bottles, might belong to the vessel's passengers, he said, adding that the confiscated liquor bottles had been brought to the Jayapura Port's police precinct.
The police investigators questioned several passengers who stayed near the confiscated liquor bottles but none knew the owners, Kamal said.
On early Sunday, MV Labobar departed to Biak - Serui - Nabire - Manokwari - Sorong - Ternate - Bitung - Pantoloan - Balikpapan – Surabaya by carrying 1,104 passengers, he said.
The sales of alcoholic drinks are banned in Papua. In early December 2019, the Papuan provincial government had ordered all district and city administrations to ban sales of alcoholic drinks ahead of the 2019 Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations, and the convening of the 2020 National Games (PON).
First Assistant of the Papua Provincial Government's Secretary Doren Wakerwa said the Papuan government had effectively banned the production, distribution and sales of alcoholic beverages since 2016 based on the Regional Government's Regulation Number 15/2013.
Every district and city administration needs to support the policy, he told journalists after opening the focus group discussion on law enforcement against the violators of the liquor ban policy.
The regional government's regulation number 15/2013 could protect the Papuan people from the harmful impact of alcohol consumption, such as loss of consciousness, and engaging in acts of domestic violence and crimes, according to Doren Wakerwa.
The consumption of alcoholic beverages among local community members might have contributed to the shortened life expectancy of native Papuans, he said.
Considering the harmful impact of liquor, the native Papuan people are expected to be collectively aware of the dire need to support the liquor ban by supervising the sales of alcoholic beverages at minimarkets and kiosks.
Being aware of the dangers, Chairperson of the Papuan Women's Solidarity (SPP) - Mimika Chapter Ros Namsa Kabes has urged the Mimika district government and local police to enforce legal sanctions against those selling liquor to Papuan children.
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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
