Indonesia adopts new repressive narcotics law

A new Narcotics Law was adopted by the Parliament in Jakarta in September 2009. Although a careful textual analysis of the legislation is still needed, it is clear that the political considerations far outweighed sensible drug policy arguments in the adoption process, which is reflected in the texts. As a consequence, the new law did not represent a move away from a repressive approach to drugs and their use towards a more considerate and complex legislation. At the same time with the adoption of the Narcotics Law, a new health law was passed by the legislative assembly. The linkages between these two pieces of legislation and their impact on drug treatment are still unclear. The appropriate response is still considered by both national and international stakeholders. A report from the Community Legal Aid Institute in Jakarta printed in their newsletter CAVEAT outlines the problems with the new legislation.