Every day some 40 drug addicts die in the country."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Law and Human Rights Minister Yasona Laoly stated that Brazil and the Netherlands had the right to withdraw their ambassadors from Indonesia following the execution of their citizens convicted of drug crimes.

"The governments of Brazil and the Netherlands had sought clemency for their citizens. If the Indonesian government had refused to pardon them, it means the matter had been about Indonesias legal sovereignty," the minister said here on Wednesday.

Laoly noted when a narcotics death convict is executed, his citizenship should not be the most important aspect that gets attention. The execution should be considered from the aspect of trans-boundary crimes that have left damaging effects on a large number of citizens.

The Indonesian government has decided to carry out the death sentences of drug convicts because drug trafficking has been damaging Indonesias younger generation.

"Every day some 40 drug addicts die in the country," the minister pointed out.

So, the execution of the death penalty was not about punishing Brazilian and Dutch citizens, but about protecting a large number of Indonesian citizens from the hazards of drugs.

On Sunday, Indonesia executed six drug convicts. Attorney General HM Prasetyo confirmed that the execution of six drug convicts by a firing squad had been carried out well and smoothly.

"Five of the death row convicts were executed at the Nusakambangan prison compound while the sixth convict was executed in Boyolali," he stated on Sunday.

According to him, he received a report from the team in Nusakambangan at 00.41 a.m. assuring that the convicts had been pronounced dead by doctors at 00.40 a.m.

"Although they died instantly, our team of doctors waited for some 10 minutes before confirming their deaths," he had revealed.

He added that three of the bodies of the convicts were cremated while the other three were buried as per their wishes.

"Ang Kim Soeis wife was present as he wished. His body will be cremated and his ashes will be taken home to the Netherlands," he had stated.

March Archer from Brazil was also cremated and his ashes handed over to his aunt.

Tran Thi Bich Hanh from Vietnam was cremated in Semarang, Central Java, and, as per her wish, her ashes "will be buried beside the tomb of her spiritual leader who had baptized her," he had said.

"Rani Andrianis body was taken to her village in Cianjur," he had revealed.

The remains of Dani Enemuo, alias Diarrassouba Mamadou, of Nigeria was taken to his country while that of Namaona Denis of Malawi was buried in Nusakambangan.

Indonesias foreign affairs ministry stated on Monday that the execution of six drug convicts had been carried out in line with international standards.

"In terms of law, the executions have been done against a vicious crime, namely narcotic drug trafficking. Its implementation has also been carried out in accordance with international law principles," foreign ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said.

The Indonesian foreign ministry issued the statement in response to protests from the Dutch and Brazilian governments over the execution of their nationals.

The Dutch and Brazilian governments recalled their ambassadors to Indonesia for consultations following the execution of six drug convicts.

Arrmanatha noted that the Indonesian foreign ministry received an official notification from the Brazilian government with regard to the recalling of its ambassador to Indonesia on Sunday morning.

"In the evening, we received a similar notification from the Dutch government," he added.

He remarked that the execution was not a diplomatic issue but a law enforcement one.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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