... wait and see...Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The death penalty is applied in compliance with Indonesian law and does not conflict with human rights guaranteed under the Constitution; therefore, it can be imposed for the most serious crimes.
However, numerous countries, including Australia, Brazil, and even the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, have appealed to Indonesia to revoke the death penalty policy.
Australia is pursuing a last-ditch deal with Indonesia to save its two condemned citizens, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, the Australian Bali nine members on death row in Indonesia.
UN Chief Ban Ki-moon has also urged Indonesia to not execute the prisoners on death row for drug crimes, including the citizens of Australia, Brazil, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria, and the Philippines.
However, a member of the House of Representatives' Commission I, Ahmad Zainuddin, has urged the Indonesian Government to not show leniency due to foreign pressures to abolish the death penalty.
"The government of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo should remain strong to face the pressures from numerous countries, including the UN secretary general," Zainuddin stated here on Tuesday.
He noted that the pressure tactics deployed by Brazil and other countries is understandable as the government, in the past, has easily granted clemency to drug convicts, due to which the dignity and sovereignty of the rule of law and Indonesias foreign policy are currently being tested.
"But now, the government should be strong and not be lenient and should withstand foreign pressures," Zainuddin remarked.
The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Central Executive Board Chairman explained that the Brazilian Governments refusal to accept the Indonesian Ambassador Toto Riyantos credential letter should be addressed firmly and carefully.
According to Zainuddin, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's actions were clearly intended to insult Indonesia.
"The Brazilian Government's policy can be interpreted as a diplomatic gesture to pressurize and protest against the legal policies adopted by other countries," he noted, adding that one of the drug kingpins to be executed later in Indonesia is from Brazil.
Indonesian Ambassador-designate to Brazil Toto Riyanto had been officially invited by the Brazilian government to submit his credential letter to President Dilma Rousseff on Friday (February 20).
However, when he arrived at the presidential palace after being received as per the official protocol, he was informed that the ceremony was postponed.
The Indonesian government believes that this incident is related to its plan to execute the death penalty granted to Rodrigo Gularte, a Brazilian national who was convicted in 2005 after being arrested for smuggling six kilograms of cocaine concealed inside his surfboard.
Despite the ambassador being recalled as a mark of protest, Fachir clarified that the mission representative of the Indonesian Embassy in Brasilia was functioning normally.
"In terms of service, everything is working normally, such as the issuance of visas and other services. The mission representative is still operating as we have a charge d affaires in Brazil," Vice Foreign Affairs Minister A.M. Fachir remarked here on Tuesday.
Earlier, on Monday evening (Feb. 23), Ambassador Riyanto arrived in Jakarta and reported about the incident to Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi.
Ambassador Riyanto emphasized that the foremost thing he plans to do after reporting the incident to the minister was to meet President Jokowi to explain about the matter.
President Jokowi has remarked that the Brazilian act of rejecting the credentials of Indonesias ambassador-designate has been an unusual diplomatic behavior.
"Well, an act such as this, according to me, is an unusual code of ethics," the president noted during a visit to a fish auction center in Pandeglang, Banten, on Monday.
Jokowi has ordered the foreign affairs ministry to recall the country's ambassador-designate to Brazil following the Brazilian presidents action.
"Just wait and see," Jokowi stated when questioned whether he would sever diplomatic ties with Brazil.
The Brazilian president declined to accept the credentials of the Indonesian ambassador-designate after Indonesia executed a Brazilian citizen over a drug offense last month and is set to execute another citizen for drug smuggling.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander General Moeldoko on Monday cautioned anyone intending to disrupt the impending executions of the 11 death convicts, including some foreign drug convicts.
"Never try to disrupt the executions in any way. Our military is ready to secure it. There must never be any attempt to disrupt it," he affirmed at the end of a course program at the TNI Headquarters.
He noted that the TNI has implemented measures to ensure security before and after the executions.
When questioned about the dispatch of three Sukhoi fighter jets to Denpasar in Bali, Moeldoko remarked that it was part of the governments anticipatory measures.
"The TNI has made all security arrangements to handle the worst-case scenario," he added.
Two of the 11 death convicts to be executed soon are Australian nationals Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran who have been sentenced to death for attempting to smuggle 8.2 kilograms of heroin from Bali to Australia.
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
