ADPAN urges the Indonesian president to reconsider executions

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ADPAN urges the Indonesian president to reconsider executions

10 December 2014

The Anti-Death Penalty Network Asia members are shocked and disappointed at the announcement by President of Indonesia Joko Widodo that he authorised 5 executions of drug offenders to occur this month. In addition, we are equally alarmed by the announcement of the new Attorney-General HM Prasetyo that 20 other death row inmates would be executed next year, a majority of whom are also drug offenders. These executions directly violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Indonesia has ratified in 2005.

ADPAN, as a network of organisations and individuals working to abolish the death penalty across Asia, urges that President Jokowi immediately reconsider these executions, initiate a formal review of all death penalty cases, and put in a concrete plan toward the abolition of the death penalty.

Currently, there are 162 individuals on death row in Indonesia. According to Jakarta-based human rights monitor Imparsial, 66 are foreigners from 23 different countries. 77 individuals have been on death row since 2004 for drug offences, of whom 9 have already been executed. International data indicates that a majority of persons arrested and sentenced to death for drugs are from low socioeconomic backgrounds and are low-level drug couriers instead of large kingpins. (Harm Reduction International. 2012) In addition, there is no evidence that the death penalty for drugs reduces the use of drugs, reduces drug-related crime, or that it reduces trafficking.

President Jokowi, who brought forward human rights issues during the election campaigns, must re-evaluate his stance based on his promises to the Indonesian people. He must also uphold Indonesia’s international obligations under the ICCPR. We look forward to President Jokowi taking positive steps to reversing this decision. He is the Chief Executive, and should not be the Chief Executioner.

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