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Indonesia Executes 4 Prisoners Convicted of Drug Crimes Indonesia Executes 4 Prisoners Convicted of Drug Crimes
(about 3 hours later)
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia on Friday executed three foreigners and an Indonesian convicted of drug crimes, an official said, as the country resumed a “war on drugs” that drew international condemnation last year after two mass executions of foreign drug convicts.JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia on Friday executed three foreigners and an Indonesian convicted of drug crimes, an official said, as the country resumed a “war on drugs” that drew international condemnation last year after two mass executions of foreign drug convicts.
The official, Deputy Attorney General Noor Rachmad, said that the Indonesian convict and three Nigerians were executed by firing squad shortly after midnight, according to The Associated Press. The official, Deputy Attorney General Noor Rachmad, said that the Indonesian convict, two Nigerians and a Senegalese were executed by firing squad shortly after midnight.
Mr. Rachmad said a decision had not yet been made about when 10 others convicted of drug crimes and sentenced to death, mostly foreigners, would be executed, The A.P. reported. Mr. Rachmad said a decision had not yet been made about when 10 others convicted of drug crimes and sentenced to death, mostly foreigners, would be executed.
The list of the 10 still facing execution includes prisoners from Nigeria, Senegal, Zimbabwe, India and Pakistan. Three other Indonesians, including one woman, are also scheduled to die, according to the Community Legal Aid Institute, an Indonesian organization representing some of the convicts. News agencies previously reported that the three foreigners executed Friday were all Nigerians.
The list of the 10 still facing execution includes prisoners from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, India and Pakistan. Three other Indonesians, including one woman, are also scheduled to die, said the Community Legal Aid Institute, an Indonesian organization representing some of the convicts.
All 14 prisoners were convicted of drug-related offenses, including smuggling and trafficking, according to the organization, which released their names on Wednesday.All 14 prisoners were convicted of drug-related offenses, including smuggling and trafficking, according to the organization, which released their names on Wednesday.
There was a flurry of 11th-hour appeals to spare them, but to no avail for four of the prisoners.There was a flurry of 11th-hour appeals to spare them, but to no avail for four of the prisoners.
“The action that Indonesia takes now is just about law implementation and enforcement,” said Arrmanatha Nasir, the chief spokesman for the country’s Foreign Ministry. “Just like how Indonesia respects the law of other nations, we hope all countries will respect Indonesian law.” “The action that Indonesia takes now is just about law implementation and enforcement,” Arrmanatha Nasir, the chief spokesman for the country’s Foreign Ministry, said on Thursday. “Just like how Indonesia respects the law of other nations, we hope all countries will respect Indonesian law.”
In recent days, the attorney general’s office has transferred an unknown number of inmates on death row for drug-related crimes to the prison island of Nusakambangan, off the south coast of Java Island, where Indonesia’s executions are carried out. The prisoners have all been placed in isolation. In recent days, the attorney general’s office has transferred an unknown number of inmates on death row for drug-related crimes to the prison island of Nusakambangan, off the south coast of Java Island, where Indonesia’s executions are carried out. The prisoners were all placed in isolation.
On Wednesday, Attorney General H. M. Prasetyo told reporters that executions would occur this weekend but did not say when or of whom, Reuters reported. Typically, the Indonesian authorities have carried out executions shortly after midnight on Saturday.
Despite having dozens of convicts on death row, most of them for drug-related offenses, Indonesia in recent years has executed few prisoners. Between 2009 and 2014, only four were executed: three Indonesians for murder and one from Malawi for drug trafficking.Despite having dozens of convicts on death row, most of them for drug-related offenses, Indonesia in recent years has executed few prisoners. Between 2009 and 2014, only four were executed: three Indonesians for murder and one from Malawi for drug trafficking.
However, shortly after the current president, Joko Widodo, took office in October 2014, he declared that the country was facing a “drugs emergency” and rejected clemency appeals from more than 60 death row inmates. International analysts have questioned the claim that there is such an emergency.However, shortly after the current president, Joko Widodo, took office in October 2014, he declared that the country was facing a “drugs emergency” and rejected clemency appeals from more than 60 death row inmates. International analysts have questioned the claim that there is such an emergency.
Mr. Joko approved the mass executions in January and April of last year, telling the leaders of allied countries like Australia and the Netherlands, Indonesia’s former colonial master, not to interfere with the country’s sovereignty.Mr. Joko approved the mass executions in January and April of last year, telling the leaders of allied countries like Australia and the Netherlands, Indonesia’s former colonial master, not to interfere with the country’s sovereignty.
Firing squads executed 13 people in 2015 for drug offenses, all but one of them foreigners. One Indonesian was executed in January of last year for murder. Firing squads executed 13 people in 2015 for drug offenses, all but one of them foreigners. One Indonesian was executed for murder in January 2015.
The foreigners included a citizen of the Netherlands, which increased condemnation from Western nations.The foreigners included a citizen of the Netherlands, which increased condemnation from Western nations.
One female death row inmate from the Philippines and another from France were spared the firing squad last year after last-minute appeals, but they remain on death row.One female death row inmate from the Philippines and another from France were spared the firing squad last year after last-minute appeals, but they remain on death row.
The two executed foreign prisoners with the highest profiles were Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 34, members of the so-called Bali Nine group of Australians who were arrested in 2005 trying to smuggle 18.5 pounds of heroin out of the resort island of Bali.The two executed foreign prisoners with the highest profiles were Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 34, members of the so-called Bali Nine group of Australians who were arrested in 2005 trying to smuggle 18.5 pounds of heroin out of the resort island of Bali.
A Brazilian who was executed, Rodrigo Gularte, 42, had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, conditions that his lawyers said should have disqualified him from criminal prosecution under Indonesian law.A Brazilian who was executed, Rodrigo Gularte, 42, had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, conditions that his lawyers said should have disqualified him from criminal prosecution under Indonesian law.
The United Nations and international human rights groups have said that the majority of those executed last year did not receive fair trials.The United Nations and international human rights groups have said that the majority of those executed last year did not receive fair trials.
Advocates for the prisoners who were executed on Friday and those still facing the firing squad have also said that the prisoners either did not get fair trials, were not provided with adequate legal representation or were tortured into confessing.Advocates for the prisoners who were executed on Friday and those still facing the firing squad have also said that the prisoners either did not get fair trials, were not provided with adequate legal representation or were tortured into confessing.
The European Union issued a statement on Wednesday calling on Indonesia to halt the scheduled executions and to consider joining more than 140 nations that have abolished the death penalty.The European Union issued a statement on Wednesday calling on Indonesia to halt the scheduled executions and to consider joining more than 140 nations that have abolished the death penalty.
“The E.U. is opposed to capital punishment without exception and has consistently called for its universal abolition,” the statement said. “The death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity.”“The E.U. is opposed to capital punishment without exception and has consistently called for its universal abolition,” the statement said. “The death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity.”
The United Nations also weighed in, with Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the high commissioner for human rights, saying that Indonesia’s increasing use of the death penalty was “terribly worrying.”The United Nations also weighed in, with Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the high commissioner for human rights, saying that Indonesia’s increasing use of the death penalty was “terribly worrying.”
“I find it deeply disturbing that Indonesia has already executed 19 people since 2013, making it the most prolific executioner in Southeast Asia,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.“I find it deeply disturbing that Indonesia has already executed 19 people since 2013, making it the most prolific executioner in Southeast Asia,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.