Indonesia's Drug War: President Widodo launches Duterte-style war on drugs

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Indonesia is trying to crack down on its illicit narcotics trade, and authorities are taking a stronger approach to dealing with traffickers operating across the nation. Experts say President Joko Widodo has launched a Duterte-style war on drugs to reduce the crisis. But many activists are calling his actions a big violation of human rights. CGTN's Silkina Ahluwalia has more from the capital Jakarta.

Raid and shoot if they resist arrest.Those were the orders given to the National Police by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who is now taking firmer actions to tackle the country's escalating narcotics problem.

SILKINA AHLUWALIA JAKARTA, INDONESIA "Drug use kills more than 30 people everyday in Indonesia and economic loss from the problem is estimated to have reached 4.8 billion US dollars. That's why President Widodo says Indonesia is in a state of emergency over drugs. In his own words, he has ordered law enforcers to show 'no mercy' to drug traffickers operating across the country."

Nearly 50 dealers have been shot in the past month alone. But activists are raising concerns over this war on drugs that many believe is inspired by Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte.

ANDREAS HARSONO HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST "The issue is of course abusive, it is against the Indonesian law. It is pushing the police to border in many cases in breaking their own standard procedures. "

The National Narcotics Agency, however, has differing views. They believe it's necessary.

BUDI WASESO CHIEF, NATIONAL NARCOTICS AGENCY " Indonesia's drug crisis is far worse than the Philippines. We have our own approach of handling the issue based on the country's laws. But the way Duterte handles the issue affects us as well. Philippines is our neighbor so drug networks over there can easily shift to Indonesia so we have to be cautious and keep an eye out on the Duterte. "

Authorities say there are 6.4 million drug users in the country. The government is currently working to decriminalize them, treating the problem as an illness instead of a crime. Widodo is also hoping to build proper facilities and targeting to send at least 400,000 drug users to rehab by the end of 2018. Silkina Ahluwalia, CGTN, Jakarta.