REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Law and Human Right Ministry said the government is considering clemency for convicts of drug abuse.

"We are assessing the plan to give the clemency," Law and Human Right Minister Yassona Laoly said after a meeting with Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa here on Friday.

The two ministers also discussed program to simplify process of issuing birth certificate.

Chapter 54 of the Law No. 35 of 2009 rules that drug addicts and victims of drug abuses are entitled to medical rehabilitation and social rehabilitation.

The health ministry is responsible for medical rehabilitation and the social affairs ministry for social rehabilitation.

In 2015, the social affairs ministry hoped to be able to carry out rehabilitation of 10,000 victims of drug abuses through 118 units of rehabilitation center(IPWL).

Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa confirmed that the government has plan to grant clemency for convicted drug users.

"This is being verified that no mistake is made in granting the clemency.

"It is being discussed as drug users should not be jailed, but they should be rehabilitated, but there are courts giving jail term for drug users," she said.

Imprisoning drug users is a controversy in the country with some observers saying drug users should be sent to rehabilitation center instead of to jail, but other agree that they should be punished as criminals.

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