[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Jan. 27



INDONESIA:

'No clemency' for Bali 9



Indonesian President Joko Widodo has indicated 2 Australians convicted of drug 
offences will not receive a reprieve from execution, a refusal to pardon that 
is likely to strain already fragile ties between the 2 neighbours.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has personally asked for clemency for the 
2 members of the so-called Bali 9 who were arrested at Bali's Denpasar airport 
in 2005 for attempting to smuggle 8kg of heroin to Australia.

But Widodo, who took office in October, pledged to continue Indonesia's 
hardline approach to drug traffickers, which saw executions resume in 2013 
after a 5-year gap.

"Imagine every day we have 50 people die because of narcotics, in 1 year it's 
18,000 people because of narcotics," Widodo told CNN. "We are not going to 
compromise for drug dealers. No compromise, no compromise."

Abbott had said Myuran Sukumaran, 33, and Andrew Chan, 31, were reformed 
characters who had assisted others in prison as he stressed Australia's 
opposition to the death penalty.

Widodo said the decision rested with the courts.

"They can ask for amnesty to the president but I tell you there will be no 
amnesty for drug dealers," he said.

He was asked: "So no relief for the Australians?" He responded by shaking his 
head.

It was not immediately clear when the executions might take place.

Indonesia's resumption of the death penalty has drawn criticism from human 
rights activists both at home and abroad. Australia's Foreign Minister Julia 
Bishop said last week she would not rule out recalling her country's ambassador 
should the executions be carried out.

Brazil and the Netherlands recalled their ambassadors from Jakarta, while 
Nigeria summoned the Indonesian ambassador in Abuja to protest against the 
execution of their citizens earlier this month.

Relations between Indonesia and Australia hit a low in late 2013 after reports 
that Australia had spied on top Indonesian officials, including then-President 
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife.

Indonesia froze military and intelligence cooperation with Australia before 
restoring relations last May.

(source: Reuters)