According to Jokowi, the imposition of a death sentence to drug dealers should be acted on because 64 drug dealers have been sentenced to death so far, but no further action has been taken.Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo insisted that the government will not pardon heavy drug dealers sentenced to death by the court.
"This crime warrants no forgiveness," Jokowi said here on Tuesday.
According to him, the imposition of a death sentence to drug dealers should be acted on because 64 drug dealers have been sentenced to death so far, but no further action has been taken.
"It has been years and I say it must be decided on immediately," he emphasized.
Indonesia is in a state of emergency with regard to drug abuse, the president pointed out, adding that the number of drug users had reached 4.5 million, with 1.2 million of them beyond the point of rehabilitation because of the extreme natures of their cases.
"I think we are aware that Indonesia is in a state of emergency with regard to drug use," he affirmed.
The president is concerned about the increasing number of drug users who die every day. He noted that daily some 40 to 50 young people die due to drug abuse.
In addition, he indicated that drug use had also made its way into government agencies.
"We have to be careful because thousands of tons of drugs enter Indonesia," Jokowi added.
The president made these remarks during his visit to the University of Gadjah Mada. Jokowi was accompanied by Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasona H. Laoly, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Anies Baswedan, and Secretary of State Pratikno.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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