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Indonesia Urged to Drop Death Penalty By Human Rights Group

Friday, December 19, 2014
PRESIDENT Joko Widodo of Indonesia should commute the death sentences of five individuals scheduled for execution ''as soon as possible'' for violation of drug trafficking laws, Human Rights Watch said today.

Widodo earlier this month authorised the executions of the five prisoners, whose names have not been publicly released.

''President Widodo should join the global tide toward abolishing the death penalty rather than approving multiple executions,'' said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

''Indonesia should demonstrate leadership among Asian nations by stopping the barbarous practice once and for all.''

Widodo justified his denial of the five prisoners' petitions for clemency on the basis that drug traffickers on death row had ''destroyed the future of the nation.''

He said during a lecture at a Yogyakarta college on December 9, 2014, that the death penalty for convicted drug traffickers was an ''important shock therapy'' for anyone who violates Indonesia's drug laws.

According to Attorney General Office statistics, there are 136 people currently on death row in Indonesia, of whom 64 have been convicted of drug trafficking, two for terrorism, and the rest for murder and robbery.

Indonesia ended a four-year unofficial moratorium on the use of the death penalty on March 15, 2013, when it executed by firing squad Adami Wilson, a 48-year-old Malawian national.

An Indonesian court had convicted Wilson in 2004 of smuggling one kilogram of heroin into Indonesia.

Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances because of its inherent cruelty.

Indonesia's use of the death penalty is inconsistent with international human rights law, statements of United Nations human rights experts, and various UN bodies.

Human rights law upholds every human being's ''inherent right to life'' and limits the death penalty to ''the most serious crimes,'' typically crimes resulting in death.

Indonesia should join with the many countries already committed to the UN General Assembly's December 18, 2007 resolution calling for a moratorium on executions and a move by UN member countries toward abolition of the death penalty, Human Rights Watch said.

In a March 2010 report, the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes called for an end to the death penalty and specifically urged member countries to prohibit use of the death penalty for drug-related offenses while urging countries to take an overall ''human rights-based approach to drug and crime control.''

The UN Human Rights Committee and the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions have concluded that the death penalty for drug offenses fails to meet the condition of ''most serious crime,'' under which the death penalty is allowed only as an ''exceptional measure'' where ''there was an intention to kill which resulted in the loss of life.''

The UN high commissioner for human rights and the director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime have likewise expressed grave concerns about the application of the death penalty for drug offenses.

''President Widodo should recognise that the death penalty is a barbaric punishment, not a crime deterrent,'' Kine said.

''If Widodo is serious about making Indonesia a regional model of a modern, rights-respecting democratic state, he should start by joining the countries that have abolished capital punishment.''

Comments

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If punishment is supposed to be the deterrent for crime and it is known by those involved in certain crimes that they will face death if caught, removal of the death penalty is hard to justify.

"The death penalty is barbaric punishment, not a crime deterrent", this maybe so but it is also barbaric that one can benefit from the addiction and suffering of many others.
Increasingly every day, we live in societies where the protection of the rights of criminals seems more important than those of the victims.

Posted by Manowar on December 20, 2014 05:37

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Personally, I think that as long as a majority of people in a certain country wants to keep the death penalty it should stay. Death penalty for drugs however is crazy. Unless you are selling to children or minors it's a transaction between two consenting adults. It's a non-violent crime. Carrying a bag through customs should get you hanged? Especially considering most illegal drugs are less dangerous than alcohol, which, if it were to be introduced today, would be classified as one of the hardest drugs of all.It's insane to put drug smuggling on a par with somebody blowing up a building with people in it.

Posted by christian on December 20, 2014 07:15

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As I myself are from a country were we not have the death penalty, ( and often the rights of criminals seem to be more important than those of the victims) I do understand that at other locations in the world the governments and her citizens feel different, like Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, China, a number USA States. Etc, etc. The only thing it takes not to be sent to death row is,...do not commit a crime on which by local law is a death penalty. Travelers should not carry drugs of any kind!

Posted by Kurt on December 20, 2014 10:21

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Mr Christian, the foreigner who carries a 'bag' through Customs is mostly just a courier, not a seller. The sellers do sell to minors. And what is a crime is different from country to country. Yes, if you try to carry a bag of drugs through Singapore customs you will be hanged, after a very 'good and fair' trial in court. It is their law, it is their punishment. Whatever we feel/think as foreigners is not of any importance to them. When you travel to Singapore (and many other countries) in the aircraft you fill out a Immigration Card prior touching down at destination. Om that card is clearly written that the countries have death penalty for carry drugs. You are warned in advance!

Posted by Kurt on December 20, 2014 10:47

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The UN Human Rights Watch is a very good organization. However, I think that they should not focus this moment on matters concerning what are legal matters by countries law, but instead put their time, money and energy in ILLEGAL practices of countries, like boat people from Bangladesh/Myanmar becoming slave in thai 'refugee camps' and on fishing boats. All these 'activities' are impossible unless Government Officials are involved. That is a important thing to handle now! Perhaps death penalty for slavery organizations and their money drains?

Posted by Kurt on December 20, 2014 11:48

Editor Comment:

Human Rights Watch has no direct connection to the UN, Kurt.

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You are correct, mr.Editor. I apologize. That is the UN Human Rights Committee. However, ( just personal thinking) Human Right watch can focus more on what I wrote about ( slavery of Asians with knowledge of Asian governments). Human Right Watch should leave the death penalty matter to UN Human Rights Committee.

Posted by Kurt on December 20, 2014 13:48

Editor Comment:

I am not sure that the UN Human Rights Committee manages to deal with all issues. Best to have as many people as possible helping with exposure.

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Kurt

I just stated my personal opinion, that the laws against drugs are completely out of proportion and not a little hypocritical. I have never used illegal drugs, and I know full well about the laws being strict. That's the whole topic of this article after all

Posted by christian on December 20, 2014 14:50

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President Joko Widodo, as son of a carpenter, worked himself up to a successful and appreciated Mayor of Jakarta (!), living simple, flying tourist class ( as a president!), well he has the full rights to order to shoot foreign illegal fishing boats out of the water ( or keep them) and to enforce laws about bringing drugs into the country.

Posted by Kurt on December 20, 2014 17:11


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