No Longer Arresting Drug User Artists, BNN Is Reminded By DPR Members To Maintain Justice Principles

DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Member of Commission III of the DPR Abdullah responded to the policy of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) which no longer arrests drug-using artists.

He reminded BNN to maintain the principle of justice and transparency in implementing this policy so as not to give the impression of legal inequality in the eyes of the community.

"We support an approach that humanizes victims of drug abuse, including through rehabilitation. However, the state must be careful so that this policy does not cause the perception that celebrities receive special treatment compared to ordinary people," Abdullah said, Wednesday, July 2.

Abdullah assessed that handling drug cases among public figures does require sensitivity to protect public spaces. However, according to him, the elimination of legal action against users from among artists must be accompanied by clarity of mechanisms, strict supervision, and avoiding double standards.

"If artists are not arrested in order to avoid drug glorification, what about ordinary people who are caught on the side of the road and immediately prosecuted? Are they also entitled to the same protection and rehabilitation?" Abdullah said.

"This concerns procedural justice. So rehabilitation for drug users is not only for artists, but must be fair to all people," he continued.

Abdullah also emphasized that the eradication of narcotics, especially large networks, should not be temporary. He emphasized that there must be a clear roadmap to break the chain of drug supply from upstream to downstream.

"By involving cross-institutional coordination, both BNN, Polri, Customs and Excise, to the TNI," he said.

The member of the commission in the DPR in charge of law enforcement and security affairs also encouraged the change in the approach taken by BNN to be part of the transformation of a more just narcotics control system. So, Abdullah said, the law was not sharp downward but blunt upwards.

"The point is, we want new directions in dealing with drugs to really bring justice and effectiveness," he said.

Abdullah also ensured that the DPR would continue to oversee the issue of drug eradication. Including in terms of legislation in the process of evaluating the implementation of the ongoing Narcotics Law.

"Don't let good policies backfire because their implementation is unfair, not transparent, or only benefit certain groups," he concluded.

BNN has decided not to arrest narcotics user artists anymore. Head of BNN Commissioner General Martinus Hukom said the public spotlight on the arrest of artists could actually backfire.

Because artists are considered to be public figures who have many followers so that all their actions will be widely reported and easily become public meals.

Therefore, the arrest of drug-using artists is considered the same as campaigning for drugs for free. Therefore, BNN decided to use a rehabilitation approach for drug-using artists.