Addressing Global and National Concerns into Local Actions: Reflecting Customary Institution’s Involvement in Combating Drug Abuses

Anak Agung Ngurah Wirasila,Jana Takácová

doi:10.24843/ujlc.2019.v03.i01.p02

Abstract

The massive movement of transnational drug-dealers has now been approaching society at the lowest level. This article is aimed at exploring how customary institution in Bali-Indonesia, namely desa pakraman (customary village) is involved in any efforts of combating drug abuse, as a complementary means of the official measures taken by Indonesian agencies that responsible for this matter. It is legal research that inquiries relevant legal documents. Besides, it discovers customary village leaders opinion by using informant interview questionnaires as well as impression obtained from direct observation. This paper discovers that there have been many customary villages modified their customary rule by incorporating the norms on prohibition of the use and sale of narcotics as well as adopted customary sanction to be imposed on those who violate it. This article also suggests that the involvement of customary institution may be used as a lesson learned regarding how the non-state actors, especially a community-based institution, may play a role to support the government in the eradication of drug abuses and crimes.

Highlights

Introduction“Bali is currently in an emergency situation of drug abuse!” This statement was repeatedly spoken by government officials, politicians, and activists.2
The result of questionnaires showed the knowledge, perception, expression, and expectation of customary village leaders regarding the efforts to combat drug abuse in general and in a specific issue that is the involvement of the customary community
The questionnaires feedback revealed that most customary village leaders appreciated the works done by law enforcement agencies in eradicating narcotics abuse including the hard punishment imposed on perpetrators

Summary

Introduction

“Bali is currently in an emergency situation of drug abuse!” This statement was repeatedly spoken by government officials, politicians, and activists.2 It is, not a surprising fact as data shows an increasing number of drug cases in Bali. 3 Besides, the Integrated Service Center for the Protection of Women and Children discovered that it handles cases in which 70 percent of them are about drugs, and the most common case is that children become drug couriers.4 These facts strengthen the general opinion that the more Bali opens for global tourism, the more risk of negative impact of tourism and transnational activities, such as drugs circulation, would potentially endanger the locals. The national government, especially through the National AntiNarcotics Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (Badan Narkotika Nasional/BNN), has made a set of efforts to overcome this problem This including some criminal law enforcement measures that have been taken to perpetrators. The government looks at some alternative approaches in complementing its programs

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion