Indonesian President orders officers to shoot drug traffickers

JAKARTA - Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has instructed law enforcement officers to shoot drug traffickers to deal with a narcotics emergency facing the country.

"Be firm, especially to foreign drug dealers who enter the country and resist arrest. Shoot them because we indeed are in a narcotics emergency position now," Widodo said in a speech delivered at an event held by one of Indonesia's political parties late on Friday.

His remarks have drawn comparison to that of Philippine's President Rodrigo Duterte, who launched a brutal anti-drug crackdown about a year ago that saw many alleged drug dealers killed.

The bloody campaign in the Philippines has drawn condemnation from the international community, including the United Nations.

Indonesia also has tough laws against drugs. Widodo has previously been criticized for ordering executions against convicted drug traffickers who were given a death penalty by the court. Rights activists and some governments have called on Indonesia to abolish the death penalty.

Friday's shooting order from Widodo came a week after Indonesian police shot dead a Taiwanese man in a town near the capital Jakarta.

The man, who was part of a group trying to smuggle one tonne of crystal methamphetamine into the country, was killed for resisting arrest, police have said.

After the incident, Indonesian National Police chief Tito Karnavian was quoted by media saying he had ordered officers not to hesitate shooting drug dealers who resist arrest.

Reporting by Jakarta bureau; Writing by Gayatri Suroyo; Editing by Shri Navaratnam

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LOOK: Suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa's cars

ALBUERA, Leyte – Vehicles, including brand new luxury cars allegedly owned by suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, have been surrendered to police in Albuera, Leyte.

According to Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, Albuera police chief, the vehicles were voluntarily turned over by individuals who were supposedly keeping them for Espinosa.

There are already 15 vehicles parked near the police station, and Espenido said they expect more will arrive as other individuals have called their office to facilitate the turnover of the younger Espinosa’s vehicles in their possession.

Kerwin, the son of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, would allegedly buy vehicles then place them under the care of his men who have garage in their homes.

SCARED RESIDENTS

Residents of Albuera said some things have changed since their town’s first family was named in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of alleged “narco-politicos.”

Some vendors in the Albuera market said business has not been as vibrant in recent times. "Natatakot kami," said Shirley Abad, a vendor of dried fish in the market.

Families of individuals who admitted to authorities that they worked for Kerwin and his alleged drug business also confessed to fearing for their lives, despite being placed under police protection, as they were told that unidentified men with harmful intentions were supposedly roaming their area.

"Lagi akong palingon-lingon," said the wife of one witness, who refused to be named.

Police chief Espenido blamed the mayor for threats to the residents’ lives.

"Alam na kasi ng tao na sila ang tagapamatay. Threatened ang mga tao dahil sa pagbalik niya sa opisina,” he said.

However, some Albuera residents continue to stand by their mayor, as they believe that he is a good man.

"Masaya kami dahil bumalik siya rito. Ngayon binabantayan namin. Kahit magdamag, hindi namin siya pababayaan," said Mary Ann Romero.

Other residents declined to comment when approached by ABS-CBN News.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com