by Mathias Hariyadi

The Bishops' Conference warns that prison is not the solution for drug addicts who need instead help to reintegrate in society. At the same time, the fight against drug producers and traffickers should be total. In 2013, more than 4.9 million Indonesians made use of illicit drugs.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Indonesia's Catholic bishops have come out openly against drug use, calling for programmes aimed at rehabilitating users. At the same time, the prelates noted that prison is not the right solution for addicts, who instead need help to kick the habit and reintegrate society in an active way. The decision to take a stance came at the end of the annual meeting of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI), held in Jakarta in mid-November.

Two weeks later, the bishops issued a pastoral "exhortation" calling on all Indonesian Catholics "to show strong attachment to life by fighting drugs everywhere". The issue is especially urgent and sensitive because, as anonymous sources in the KWI noted, many Christians, including many Catholics, are drug users, some even producers.

For the Indonesian bishops, "we should not turn a blind eye" on drug trafficking of any kind, because it is "a serious social crime".

In fact, according to General Anang Iskandar, from Indonesia's anti-drug agency, the problem is very serious. In 2013, the number of addicts exceeded 4.9 million, mostly cannabis users.

Drugs are present at all levels of society, including students, professionals and even politicians. However, most users are upper-middle class, i.e. people who can afford the cost of "illegal goods". What is more, drug use has generated a "chain of violence and destruction" that affects everyone.

For the prelates, those who make and traffic in illicit drugs are "criminals". However, drug addicts should be seen as victims and "handled with care".

For addicts, they warn, "Prison is not the best solution." Instead, "We have to do something together with other stakeholders to address this social evil" and try to restore the victims "physical and psychological health" so that they can start their life again.

In view of this, the Bishops' Conference wants to see the development of a national movement, starting from the grassroots: individuals, families, schools and others groups present in the community, as well as in "parishes and dioceses."

In Indonesia, the most populous Muslim nation in the world, Catholics are a small minority of about seven million people, equivalent to about 3 per cent of the population. In the Archdiocese of Jakarta, the faithful represent 3.6 per cent of the population.

The nation's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but Christians have often been the victims of acts of violence and abuse, especially in areas where extremist forms of Islam are entrenched, like in Aceh.

As an active component of society, Catholics have contributed to the nation's development and have played a major role in providing aid during emergencies, as the case during the devastating floods of last January.

• indonesia
• bishops
• drug
• abuse
• campaign