REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, YOGYAKARTA - ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) agrees to establish a working group to achieve drug-free ASEAN by 2015. The working group will consist of experts and institutions in each member country to harmonize the policy and the act on encountering drug menace. 

The President of AIPA, Marzuki Alie, said he supported the real act on encountering drugs trafficking and smuggling in ASEAN, especially in Indonesia. Marzuki sees drug as a complex problem as the continuing efforts cannot stop the trafficking. As people who represent the public, he continued, parliament must accommodate the people’s fear on drug problems. 

The ninth assembly of AIPA Fact Finding Committee to Combat the Drug Menace (AIFOKOM) finally generated two resolutions related to ASEAN efforts in addressing the menace of narcotic drugs. The first is the Role of Parliament in Drug Demand and Supply Reduction and the Plan of Action to Combat the Drug Menace Consistent with ASEAN Vision. The second is Establishment of Technical Working Group of AIFOKOM.

Proposed by Indonesia as an effort to encounter drugs trafficking in ASEAN, the resolutions will be ratified in the 33rd AIPA General Assembly in September.

Several important points in the draft, Marzuki said, were among others the commitment of each member to raise public awareness towards the risk of drugs usage. The resolutions also call upon all AIPA Member Parliaments to ensure progressive budget allocation to support therapy and rehabilitation program for drug abusers/addicts.

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