By: Zendrikus Magai *)
The booze is one of the main factors causing the rise of crime and high mortality rate. In Indonesia, the record of the National Anti-Alcohol Movement (Genam) noted that the number of deaths from alcohol reaches 18,000 people each year. Meanwhile, the Students of Tegah Mountains of Papua Association noted that in February 2016, there were nine students Papuans were killed due to alcohol. Additionally, in the middle of the same month, in the Jayapura District, three people were killed by adulterated drinks. Clearly, booze is a dangerous item.
Perhaps, with the incident, the Government of Papua are now very ambitious to reduce the number of circulation of alcoholic beverages in Papua committed to the issuance of instructions for Papua Governor No. 3 / INSTR-GUB / 2016 on the collection of indigenous Papuans and the banning of the production, circulation and sale alcoholic beverages in Papua. “This Instruction essentially wanted to collect data or census of indigenous Papuans in all districts or cities, or which is outside Papua appropriate residential status. Also prohibit or not recommend the production, circulation and sale of alcoholic beverages of any kind are intoxicating in this region, “explains The Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe, in Jayapura, Friday, April 1st, 2016.
Support emerged from various circles of society in Papua, one of which authorities Papuans Customary Council (DAP) for Lapago region. In Jayapura, Monday, April 18th, 2016 ago, Secretary of DAP Lapago, Engelbertus Surabut said that Enembe including the governor who dare to make decisions and tend to ignore the people who cons of the alcohol prohibition policy. They are counter to this policy must be a record for the Papua people, whether it is feasible or not to be a leader. Coinciding with the anniversary – 62 years of the entry of the Gospel into Jayawijaya, April, 20th 2016, Jayawijaya regent, John Wempi Wetipo also asked its citizens to replace a bad habits like alcoholism with a better habits again because it is very harmful.
Booze has become a source of revenue (PAD) in Papua. Head of Department of Revenue Jayapura, Fachrudin Pasolo said that PAD Jayapura of booze tax amounting to Rp 2.7 billion per year. That was the revenue derived from the sale of legal booze in Jayapura. So, it means there are more booze sold in Papua in an illegal way and in the other areas of Papua. We must be good to weigh which is more important, PAD or lives, because there is not little incidence of booze claimed the lives of victims, especially could increase crime rate in Papua. So it is time for us to abandon the bad habit of drinking booze that brings a lot of losses. We hope a similar new policies are just not tightened in Papua, but in the whole of Indonesia.
*) CIDISS Contributor
