Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Alcohol distribution and production are officially prohibited in Papua province starting Thursday to save Papuans from the disastrous effects of alcohol consumption, the Papua governor has said.

The prohibition came into effect with the signing of an integrity pact on Thursday. The document was signed by Governor Lukas Enembe, regents and mayors in Papua, the Papua Provincial Council (DPRD), Papua Police, military command and district court chiefs during a coordinating meeting.

The integrity pact would support the existing 2013 Provincial Regulations on alcohol prohibition to prevent alcohol distribution in Indonesia's easternmost province, Enembe said.

Several regional leaders expressed their support of the integrity pact, saying that alcohol had only brought issues such as domestic violence to Papua. "Alcohol destroys Papuans. It could be the cause of their extinction," Enembe said on Thursday.

The integrity pact consists of several points, including prohibition of the production, distribution and sale of alcohol, cooperation with relevant offices in monitoring alcohol prohibition and implementation the 2013 Provincial Regulations.

Fien Yarangga, an activist from group Papuan Women (Perempuan Papua), applauded the provincial administration's move, saying that it showed that local officials cared about the issues. "Women are most often the victims of alcohol consumption. They fall victim to domestic violence triggered by alcohol," Fien said.

The group is currently assisting three victims of alcohol-related violence. One of them is the wife of a Jayapura public official who was tortured by her drunk husband. The two other women were raped by drunk men. The group urged the provincial administration to promote the regulation and integrity pact among the public to raise awareness.

According to Papua Police data, 86 people have died, 264 have been heavily injured and 839 suffered light injuries since 2013 in alcohol-related cases. (rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/03/31/papua-bans-alcohol-consumption.html