The 9^th AIFOCOM to Combat the Drug Menace has been completed yesterday, July 10^th, 2012. The meeting was convened as part of the AIPA Parliamentarians’ effort in combating illicit drug use and trafficking in the region. In accordance with Article 1 of the Term of Reference of the AIPA Fact Finding Committee (AIFOCOM) to Combat the Drug menace, which stated that the Chair should be from the host country, Hon. Mr. Sidarto Danusubroto was chosen as the Chairperson of the 9^th AIFOCOM to Combat the Drug Menace. Meanwhile, the Vice Chairperson is selected from the next host of AIPA General Assembly, and therefore H.E. Mr. Pehin Haji Judin Bin Haji Asar was elected the Vice Chairperson. As for the Secretary of the meeting, the AIPA President appointed the Secretary General of AIPA, Hon. Mr. Antonio V. Cuenco to take the position.

The meeting was started by presentation from the Head of the National Narcotics Board, Gen. Gories Mere. In his deliberation, he stated that one of the board’s tasks in fighting drug menace involves stopping illegal drug trafficking, which also includes nationals from various countries. In addition, law enforcers also play their role in uncovering illicit drug cultivation and manufacturing in different regions across Indonesia, namely the cannabis cultivation in Aceh. In this regard, the Indonesian National Narcotics Board has implemented the ASEAN Work Plan on combating illicit drug production, manufacture, trafficking, and abuse in its programs.

The presentation from the Indonesian National Narcotics Board was followed by a deliberation by Chairman of the ASEAN Senior Official on Drug Matters (ASOD), Mr. Oungseng Vixay. In his presentation, Mr. Chairman highlighted join efforts that can be taken on sustainable reduction of illicit drugs in the region, particularly the regional formulation of workplan and comprehensive strategies. In accordance with the Indonesian policy regarding rehabilitation, ASOD pointed out that ASEAN should develop a standard approach on rehabilitation that would keep victims of drug abuse from relapsing.

The second session of the 9^th AIFOCOM was allotted for presentations of country progress. In Brunei Darussalam, the Al-Islah Center has been the only approved rehabilitative center in the country which adopts the psycho-social model focusing on behavioral changes throughout the program. In terms of fighting illegal drug-related activities, Brunei Darussalam has signed an MoU with the Republic of Korea and established the Asia-Pacific Information and Coordination Center (APICC) which is based in the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office in Seoul, republic of Korea.

In Cambodia, the government has laboriously continue the fight against drug abuse through the 5 multi-sectoral strategic plans, which include: reduction of drug demand, reduction of drug supply, reduction of drug danger through cure and rehabilitation, strengthening effectiveness of law enforcement and international relation. Furthermore, the country is also bound by a bileral MoU on drug control cooperation with a number of countries, such as Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Russia and UNODC.

In Indonesia, the National Narcotics Board carries out the countermeasures for drug problems. To support these countermeasures, the government has ratified all UN Convention on drug control, enacted Law No.35 Year 2009 on Narcotics, as well as issued Government Regulation No.44 Year 2010 and other regulations by relevant ministries.

In 1998, Lao PDR was ranked the 3^rd largest illicit opium producer and one of the highest opium addiction rates in the world. Through the country’s National Drug Control Programs, however, they managed to suppress drug trafficking. As the result, in 2006, Lao PDR was declared free from opium cultivation. In addition, Lao PDR is also involved in the establishment of Border Liaison Officer (BLO) with China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar to increase patrolling along the Mekong River.

In the world of drug trafficking, Malaysia continues to be a transit country for drugs distributed to international markets. In responding to this phenomenon, the Malaysian authorities have enacted several legislations, such as the Dangerous Drug Act 1952 and the Drug Dependents (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983. In addition, the national Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA) formulates policies relating to drugs, especially the drug abuse preventive education and treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependents. The shift from punitive approaches to harm reduction models regarding drug abuse in Malaysia have been recognized as good practices by the World Health Organizations (WHO).

Myanmar has developed the 15-year Narcotics Elimination Plan, which was divided into 3-year phases and implemented in year-by-year projects. The Myanmar government and UNODC have observed that poppy cultivation still took place in the country, particularly in Shan State. The government has fought to reduce domestic income obtained through opium production. However, recent food shortage and poverty has hampered the government effort in counter-measuring illicit drug production. Therefore, income substitution is more needed in this area rather than crop substitution.

In Philippines, the government has accomplished quite a substantial amount of things in fighting drug-related activities, one of which is the seizure and destruction of multi-million dollars worth of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia. On the contrary, restrictive laws have prevented law enforcers from identifying the bigger fish in drug trafficking, and financial constraints is a problem to wage an all out war against drug traffickers. The Republic Act 9165 addressed issues and concerns of its time but recent events prove that there is an urgent need to strengthen drug-related laws. This entails the enactment of remedial legislation, and the apprehension and conviction of the financiers.

Apart from other ASEAN Member Countries, Singapore has managed to keep the country relatively drug-free, thanks to its strict laws and vigorous enforcement actions. The Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) strategy against drug trafficking is to detect and arrest all local traffickers before they band together and develop into big players in the scene.

Recently, “the Kingdom’s Unity for Victory over Drugs” strategy was introduced as guideline on drug control for all relevant agencies in Thailand. The National Command Center for Drugs Elimination (NCCDE) is trusted to enforce and supervise the implementation of all agencies responsible for drug control at the national and regional level. For Thailand, combating drug problems depend not only on one country’s policy, but also coordination among AIPA Member Countries, therefore Thailand called for more concrete cooperation among AIPA Member Countries to cope with transnational drug problems.

In Viet Nam, law enforcers have uncovered cases of synthetic drug production, such as Methamphetamine from some cough and cold medicines. In this regard, since August 2011, the Ministry of Health temporarily banned Pseudoephedrine import to prevent such means of drug production from happening again in the future. Viet Nam has also completed the Bill of Handling of Administrative Violations, sustaining that drug addicts must submit themselves to a rehabilitation center.

The third session (Drafting Committee) of the 9^th AIFOCOM was led by Hon. Mrs. Evita Nursanty and adopted the following:

1. Draft resolution on the Role of Parliaments in Drug Demand and Supply Reduction and the Plan of Action to Combat the Drug Menace Consistent with the ASEAN Vision
2. Draft Resolution on Establishment of Technical Working Group (TWG) of AIFOCOM
3. Report of the Ninth Meeting of AIFOCOM