Execution delay has nothing to do with Australia: President

"No, the delay has nothing to do with Australia. It is our legal sovereignty. It has something to do with on-field technical matters," President Jokowi said.

Bogor, West Java (ANTARA News) - The delay in the execution of the two Australians and nine other death row convicts has nothing to do with the request made by Australia and the convicts families, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo stated.

"No, the delay has nothing to do with Australia. It is our legal sovereignty. It has something to do with on-field technical matters," President Jokowi noted at the Bogor Palace here on Friday.

The president remarked that Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had contacted Vice President Jusuf Kalla to clarify Prime Minister Tony Abbotts statement that Indonesia should remember the 2004 tsunami relief assistance.

Vice President Kalla explained that Bishop clarified that there was a misunderstanding, and she stated that the relations between Indonesia and Australia were sound, including Australias participation in the 2004 tsunami relief effort.

"That means Australia wants to continue cooperation in the fields of economy, defense, and drug eradication efforts," Kalla emphasized.

The vice president noted that the law in Indonesia should be enforced, and the one who decides the death penalty is the court and not the president.

He stated that with regard to the second phase of execution, the Attorney Generals Office will handle the execution of the two Australian death row convicts: Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, and nine others whose petition for clemency had been rejected.

The 11 death row convicts are Syofial alias Iyen bin Azwar of Indonesia, Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso of the Philippines, Myuran Sukumaran alias Mark of Australia, Andrew Chan of Australia, Harun bin Ajis of Indonesia, Sargawi alias Ali bin Sanusi of Indonesia, Serge Areski Atlaoui of France, Martin Anderson alias Belo of Ghana, Zainal Abidin of Indonesia, Raheem Agbaje Salami of Cordoba, and Rodrigo Gularte of Brazil.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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