Execution Of Eight Drug Traffickers Criticized By Brazil And Australia

The execution of eight drug traffickers in Indonesia strengthened the hard line stance of President Joko Widodo in his war against drugs. It also set off criticisms from Brazil and Australia, which pleaded for clemency for their respective citizens.

Two Australians, one Brazilian, four Nigerians and an Indonesian faced the execution squad in a clearing close to the prison. Indonesian Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo said the execution was carried out at 0035 hours in Calicap, which is near the Nusakambangan prison island.

A last minute deal between Manila and Jakarta spared the life of a woman from the Philippines. The deal aims to obtain information that can be used in going after drug syndicates in the region.

Indonesia mourns Rodrigo Gularte's death

Brazil and Australia criticized the move of Widodo in fast-tracking the executions of eight drug traffickers after he took office last year. Both countries oppose capital punishment. Australia has recalled its ambassador to Indonesia due to the unpleasant incident. Brazil is looking into what it will do since it already recalled its ambassador after another prisoner was executed last January.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the recall of the Australian ambassador will be temporary as the Southeast Asian country shrugged off the diplomatic protest of Australia. The executions are not expected to affect the trade relations between the two countries. On the other hand, Brazil is concerned that its defense contracts with Indonesia may be affected by the executions.

Even as the actions of Widodo on the executions enjoy strong support in his own country, he has been criticized for wavering in some policy issues since his assumption to the presidency last July.

All eight prisoners refused blindfolds before the execution, according to the religious counselor of the convict from Brazil, Charlie Burrows. The families of the prisoners were initially calm as the prisoners were brought to the execution site. However many started to become distraught when they heard the gunshots. The lawyer of the Brazilian prisoner, Christina Widiantarti, said the prisoners were singing and praying as they were executed.

The use of capital punishment of Indonesia was also criticized by UN human rights spokesperson Rupert Colville. He said it is incomprehensible that Indonesia refuses to grant clemency to prisoners even as it appeals for clemency for its nationals facing the death penalty in other countries.

The recall of an ambassador due to the execution of a prisoner is an unprecedented move for Australia. While Australia respects the sovereignty of Indonesia, it deplores the situation and it should not be treated as a normal part of life, according to Prime Minister Tony Abbot of Australia.

He also said that the execution of the eight prisoners may have affected the relationship between Indonesia and Australia. However, he cautioned against any effects on tourism and trade between the two countries.

In contrast, Brazil enjoys a $5 billion trade surplus with Indonesia. The South American country is concerned about the possibility that it may lose a major military deal with the biggest economy of Southeast Asia. Brazilian authorities were shocked with the execution of the eight prisoners, including one Brazilian.

The execution of the Brazilian is the second in three months. The foreign ministry of Brazil is taking its options into consideration before deciding on what actions to take. Indonesia revealed earlier that it will review its second order of Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano aircraft from Brazil along with an order for multiple rocket launch systems after the new ambassador of Indonesia was not allowed to join a credentials ceremony.

Meanwhile, the woman from the Philippines was spared from execution after the arrest of a woman involved in affair, Philippine cabinet secretary Jose Rene Almendras said. Almendras said both countries decided to go after main reason for the problem instead of targeting simple couriers.

Posted by James Fried on Wednesday April 29 2015, 10:09 AM EDT. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0