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President Will Not Pardon Narcotics Convicts
President Will Not Pardon Narcotics Convicts
JAKARTA ~
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will not pardon narcotics convicts, maintaining a firm stance with regard to efforts towards fighting drug offenses, which he views as dangerous and serious.
“I have stressed that I will not pardon drug convicts who have been given the capital punishment,” the president said during a coordination meeting with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) on Wednesday.
He added, “Efforts towards eradicating narcotics cases should be stepped up and not ignored because we are now in an emergency situation. All related parties should cooperate well.” Jokowi revealed that at present, an average of 50 deaths occur every day due to narcotics abuse, which means some 18,000 victims die due to drug addiction in one year.
“I explained this to other heads of states as well, after the recent execution of drug convicts sentenced to death. I explained this to the presidents and prime ministers who contacted me asking for clemency (for convicts from their respective countries). They should know that as many as 50 people die every day due to addiction to drugs. This does not include the 4.2 to 4.5 million others who are undergoing rehabilitation,” Jokowi stated.
According to the president, the saddening figures necessitate the involvement of all people in the country to fight the crime.
“About 70 percent of inmates were involved in narcotics offenses. We have to adopt a firm and serious attitude to tackle this. Tolerance is no longer acceptable,” he emphasized.
Jokowi also admitted to have been under pressure from various sides in the run-up to the execution of the narcotic death convicts.
“When the executions were to be carried out, there were pressures coming in from all sides. I handled them easily. There are 64 narcotic convicts on death row,” he pointed out.
In keeping with these efforts, the president has asked governors, district heads and mayors to work in tandem to fight narcotics cases and to eradicate the crime by adopting a no-tolerance policy.
“I have also given orders to the BNN with regard to rehabilitation. Last year, there were 18,000 deaths. If the cases reach 18,000 every year, when will it end? So this year, the BNN should prepare faster ways of rehabilitating addicts. We should think about it,” Jokowi noted.
Furthermore, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno recently said that the rejection of clemency petitions of several drug convicts on death row was aimed at deterring narcotics smugglers.
“The president will continue to reject clemency petitions from drugs convicts. This is to create a deterrent effect among drug dealers,” Purdijatno stated.
14 Comments
As an Australia,n President Joko has my full support in his attitude to drug smuggling and the application of the death penalty.
I believe the majority of Australians also believe as I do .
The Australian Government has never been strong enough to put question of the public supporting the death penality in Australia.It would get beaten.
You don’t speak for me Mr Stait. It’s barbaric and when forgiveness is gone, peace is gone. Forgiveness does not mean no punishment either in case you can’t understand that and jail terms are the current preferred method, not death.
So what is Jokowi doing about Hengky Gunawan? And Geoffrey Stait, how the hell would you know what the majority of Australians think. you certainly do not speak for me or a large cohort of people I know. If Indonesia is to apply the death penalty then there should be consistency in its application. There is not. It is often discriminatory against foreigners and minorities in Indonesia. Further there is a problem as in Gunawan’s case, the death penalty was ruled unconstitutional? So how then can it be applied? It is hard to respect the sovereignity of a country’s law when its own Government does not respect the basic principles of that law as laid out in the constitition (eg the right to life). By the way your last sentence is nonsensical.
Any objective viewer of the situation can see that Indonesian President’s position on the death penalty as purely populist policy adopted without understanding the international and medium term repercussions. That the use of the death penalty will have no impact on solving the drug problem is of no consequence. No doubt he thought it an easy win.
Unfortunately for him, everyone can see his position for what it is. Hence his goal of appearing strong and decisive will not be achieved. His people will blame him for consequences though: less tourism, less aid, lower international standing.
My suggestion to him, think medium term. Don’t do what is popular just for today.
So lets get this straight. Indonesia wants to carry out the death penalty on the 2 Australians that were caught smuggling drugs out of Indonesia into Australia, but then the Indonesian government wants to save Indonesian people who are on death row in foreign countries for smuggling drugs. Some of which were intended to be smuggled into Indonesia where 50 people die each day from drug use. Doesn’t make any sense
You do NOT speak for me Mr Strait – these men are no longer drug smugglers but Artist and Pastor and to kill them is a far greater crime than the crime they originally committed which was a failed crime with the drugs being removed from society before they could harm anyone. These men did not directly harm anyone.
Please. lets just execute these two dealers of death and get over it.
Geoffrey Stait > Me nor any of my family or friends think that the death penalty is anywhere near a good idea, especially not for drugs. People choose to use drugs, so there will always be a demand and there will always be people to fill that demand.
Killing a bunch of people is not the answer. How about making more rehabs and detox centres and jailing people for larger drug crimes then sending them to these centres to clean up.
Or do you just like the idea of killing people? The death penalty is barbaric, and in many cases in the past in some places in the world is has come to light after the execution that the person executed was actually innocent. So what happens when someone is set up for a large amount of drugs then executed and they are later found to be innocent?!
Killing a bunch of people is not going to stop or even slow drug making, use or dealing. They should be selling the drugs legally just like BALI has done for along time with magic mushrooms (until recently). People who choose to use drugs then help support the local economy and it’s not all hush hush and behind closed doors.
Everyone knows alcohol is by far the most harmful and dangerous drugs, along with tobacco, both which kill millions all over the world, so why can’t people choose to use other drugs that are addictive or harmful to themselves?
I’m an Australian and I completely agree with Indonesia’s stand on this matter. Australia (so as other countries) have right to ask for clemency, but should not try to interfere or pushed. Indonesia is a sovereign country and should respect the law of that country.
17 February 2015
Attorney General
ll. Sultan Hasanudin No.1 Pusat Instakrim – fakarta Selatan
Dear Attorney General
We respectfully write to you offering an alternate view with respect to the “Bali 9” media fiasco.
The Australian media, in its entire voracious, ratings-hungry, opinionated and completely biased and selfish construct, are endeavoring to influence the Sovereign Authority of Indonesia.
Australians, beyond politicians, duly acknowledge and respect the laws and customs of Indonesia in respect of the manner you justly deal with the abhorrent crimes of those willfully engaging in the practice of narcotics (drug) trafficking / dealing.
Notwithstanding the origin or nationality of those with a premeditated intent of quick monetary gain through known criminal activity, and with no due regard or consideration of the devastating consequences and impact that illicit drug[s) distribution inflicts on societies, the perpetrators are well aware of the impending consequences of their actions.
Attorney General, Australians are largely being misrepresented by the belligerence and intemperance of our politicians. We, as a respecting nation of people whom enjoy a meaningful social and economic relationship with Indonesia, are deeply concerned, at this time, of the potential for the Sovereignty of Indonesia to be brought into disrepute by unrelenting media hype.
Australians sincerely and vehemently request you remain steadfast in your proactive measures against the proliferation of drug trafficking. We stand by your decision to justly implement and administer your laws and customs, as is your Sovereign right, deprived of the political and media-circus currently pervading and threating our strong relationship.
We strongly envisage this matter will be dispensed with expediently, and, on behalf of our politicians, we convey our sincerest apologies for this display of embarrassing, disruptive and damaging behavior.
Yours Faithfully
‘.r’
Citizens of Australia
Friends and Neighbours of Indonesia
1) you have forgoten about following and obeying the law when you visit a country?
2) there is no right or wrong, humane or inhumane..its the law and you follow and dont commit crime..dont start lecturing regarding human rights when aussie failed terribly on abroginies issue.
3) the execution will take place..it would be a lost for both countries should there be a boycott..but if thats the best decision so be it..we indonesian are prepared for the consequences..but i really hope once you leave this country dont ever come back for investment!!
4) too much talking..tooo little action..its getting clear that indonesian market is way too important than the foolish nine? Everyone is flocking to indonesia just to grab a slice of the market..and australian wants to walk away?? I doubt it..
The Indonesian President declares drug emergency in their country and starts to execute drug dealers to cause shock to future drug dealers Well Mr President Australia has boat people emergency this doesn’t mean that we should sink their boat in Australian waters to scare future boat people
The people that own and run illegal drug labs in Indonesia are addicted to all the money they can make The drug dealers are addicted to supplying drugs to the vulnerable and the president of Indonesia is addicted to executing
I don’t know where to start and where to finish. I ask myself the question, have the so-called Bali Nine ringleaders have committed a horrible crime? The answer is of course yes. Another question that must be asked is; which country would have been affected had they succeeded? The answer is Australia. Therefore, you surely must ask yourself, which country should be administering the punishment.
We all know the corruption in Bali, from police to the judges to the prison guards and all the way up to the government. Many traffickers are bribing their way out of trouble, whilst directly affecting the Indonesian people. A higher punishment is given to those who are affecting a foreign country. The punishment is not necessarily dependant on the legal system, but rather the person you bribe.
The God above sees us in silent. It will be a moment that he will come to speak and will manifest the truth. But if forced to speak today, he would say the same thing that he said to those who once brought him in front of a woman who had been captured and accused of adultery and her punishment was to be stone. Jesus replied (John Viii 8) “Whoever is without sin, let him throw the first stone on”. Having a little bit of self-awareness each one of them, stood up, left, and not continued with the stoning.
In today’s society, we stand very differently against the crime. Because of all the members of our rotten society, we should cry and we need to pray harder. We need to look more at ourselves, because we are sinners, to see whether we have committed a similar act.
When Christ spoke of the dead circulating around us, he meant, the spiritually dead, killed by the passions and sins, after this little self-examination, who could argue that one is not guilty of anything? Who is innocent?
The voice of Christ is timeless! To the sinless, you first throw the first stone! Anyone who feels sinless, can throw stones first to the culprits.
I wonder Mr Widodo are you and your courts so sinless? Are you so perfect?
All those years your country has executed so many drug dealers. Why is it that you still have more people to execute? Clearly, executions are not the answer but the rehabilitation is. The two people have made mistakes, yes. However, they have repented, they have asked for forgiveness. Your system rehabilitated them. Ask yourself, if it were your sons were on death row, would you still show no mercy?