Although Indonesia has rejected the offer, the President noted, the country will maintain good relations with neighboring countries, albeit with some restrictions that must be mutually respected.
Bogor, W Java (ANTARA News) - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has confirmed he will not accept Australias prisoner-swap offer.

"Nothing like that will happen," Jokowi told reporters, when asked about Australias prisoner-swap offer, after attending the Cap Go Meh celebration here on Thursday.

Although Indonesia has rejected the offer, the President noted, the country will maintain good relations with neighboring countries, albeit with some restrictions that must be mutually respected.

Jokowi stated that good relations with friendly countries have some limitations and that cannot be overlooked.

"Legal sovereignty is legal sovereignty and political sovereignty is political sovereignty," he added.

Jokowi reminded that drugs-related crimes have grown massively because of narcotics distribution by drug dealers and international mafia.

"Some 4.5 million people have already fallen victim (to drugs). Lets not just look at executions only," he pointed out.

Australia has reportedly made a prisoner-swap offer as part of its efforts to save its citizens Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, who are scheduled to be executed soon. President Joko Widodo had earlier rejected the clemency pleas of the two drug convicts.

Australia has offered to hand over three Indonesian prisoners, who are currently jailed in that country for narcotics-related crimes, in exchange for the release of Chan (31) and Sukumaran (33).

The duo, who were leaders of the Bali Nine drug ring, have been moved from Balis Kerobokan Prison to a maximum security prison in Nusakambangan, Central Java, along with another convict on death row ahead of their execution. They will soon face a firing squad.

The two were arrested along with seven other Australians while they were attempting to smuggle out 8.3 kilograms of heroin from Bali to Sydney, Australia, in 2005. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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