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Australia recalls Indonesian ambassador after execution
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:16 amby Atlanticatia
Australia has recalled its ambassador from Indonesia after two Australian men were executed for drug smuggling.
Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were among eight people from several countries executed by firing squad in the early hours of Wednesday on the prison island of Nusakambangan.
Brazil's government also expressed its "deep dismay" at the execution of one of its citizens, Rodrigo Gularte.
But the execution of a Philippine woman was called off at the last minute.
Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso was spared after Philippines officials said a woman she had accused of planting drugs on her was in police custody.
The families of the condemned prisoners paid them final, emotional visits on Tuesday afternoon before the sentences were carried out.
All eight refused offers of blindfolds and were singing together in their final moments, a pastor present at the execution told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Hours after the executions, ambulances left the prison island, taking the prisoners' bodies to their chosen funeral sites in Indonesia or their home countries.
Australia had mounted a lengthy diplomatic campaign to save Chan and Sukumaran, convicted in 2006 of being the ringleaders of a group of Australian heroin traffickers known as the Bali Nine.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Tuesday that the executions were "cruel and unnecessary", adding that Chan and Sukumaran had been "fully rehabilitated" while in prison.
"We respect Indonesia's sovereignty but we do deplore what's been done and this cannot be simply business as usual," he said.
This is the first time Australia has recalled an ambassador from Indonesia, and its first-ever recall over the execution of one of its citizens abroad.
Indonesian Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo defended the executions, saying his country was fighting a "war" on drugs.
Indonesia is an important country to Australia, the BBC's Jon Donnison says, with the two working closely together on asylum seekers and terrorism issues.
Joko Widodo, Indonesia's president, has publicly declared a war on drugs and said he will refuse all clemency applications from convicted drug traffickers - a stance that could prove legally problematic given that the very point of a presidential clemency is to evaluate each individual on a case-by-case basis.
But that will be little comfort to the families of the eight people who were executed.
Indonesia risks souring relations with other nations over its hardline approach, as it has already with Australia, home of two of the smugglers. But Indonesia's new president appears willing to take the risk, even if it means tarnishing his own reputation as a liberal, reform-minded leader.
Brazil's government later issued a statement saying the execution of Gularte marked "a serious event in the relations between the two countries".
Gularte's family had said he had schizophrenia and should not have been on death row.
Gularte was the second Brazilian to be executed for drug smuggling in Indonesia in four months. Marco Archer Cardoso Moreira was killed by firing squad at Nusakambangan in January, prompting Brazil to recall its ambassador.
British drug smuggler Lindsay Sandiford, who is on death row in Indonesia, called the execution of fellow inmates "senseless and brutal". Her lawyer said she could be among the next to be executed.
But there was delight on Monday for the family of Philippine woman Veloso, after her execution was called off at the last minute following a request by the Philippine president.
Her mother described the reprieve as a "miracle".
"We are so happy, I can't believe it. I can't believe my child will live," Celia Veloso told Philippine radio station DZMM.
Sonny Coloma, a spokesman for the Philippine president, told the BBC he was "relieved and thankful" but stressed "the death sentence on her has not been lifted".
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32508722TL;DR: Indonesia has executed an Australian citizen for drug smuggling as part of its 'war on drugs', which led Australia to recall its ambassador to Indonesia.
I think Australia is right to recall its ambassador. I am wholeheartedly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances, and it is especially barbaric that they were executed for drug smuggling after being in prison for many years and being rehabilitated. It is shameful that these people had to die. Sure, they are criminals, but they served time and that should be enough. The death penalty is not okay in any situation and the war on drugs needs to come to an end.
So, what say ye NSG? Was Australia right to recall its ambassador? Was the death penalty appropriate in this situation, or any situation?
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:19 amby British Empire Strikes Back
Australia should place sanctions on Indonesia for such a barbaric act. If Indonesia was still Dutch, they would not be executing people in 2015. Capital punishment needs to be banned, especially for such offenses as drug trafficing.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:24 amby Romano-Germanic Empire
I totally agree. Every single one of those prisoners had reformed. When they were arrested they definitely deserved their sentence. However, things change over 10 years and by now they had become upstanding members of society. One of them even took up painting! They definitely didn't deserve to die. On top of that the defendant from Brazil belonged in a mental institution not death row because he clearly had schizophrenia (he kept rambling about angels and whatnot).
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:38 amby Wisconsin9
I mean, I can understand wanting to deter drug smuggling, but execution is going way too far.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:50 amby Novorobo
"Indonesian ambassador" nothing, any country that's against the death penalty for drug smuggling needs to cut off all ties with Indonesia, period.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:52 amby Calimera II
The Dutch King, Prime Minister, Ambassador and Minister of Foreign Affairs tried to prevent a dutch guy from being executed in Indonesia, it didn't work. So honestly, I don't think this will work either.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:55 amby Genivaria
Wisconsin9 wrote:I mean, I can understand wanting to deter drug smuggling, but execution is going way too far.
Especially after they went through rehabilitation.
That's a Rick Perry level of unnecessary execution.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:56 amby Washington Resistance Army
Execution for drug smuggling is pretty batshit crazy.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:56 amby Atlanticatia
Indonesia has also attempted to ban alcohol sale and consumption.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:57 amby Genivaria
Atlanticatia wrote:Indonesia has also attempted to ban alcohol sale and consumption.
Ugh, Puritanical morality.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:58 amby Arcanda
If they spent as much money and time on actually tracking down kingpins instead of smugglers, maybe it'd be more efficient.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:59 amby Lyrian Oligarchic Royal Empire
Arcanda wrote:If they spent as much money and time on actually tracking down kingpins instead of smugglers, maybe it'd be more efficient.
You mean arrest the ruling elite and members of the military?
Bite your tongue, Prole.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 12:22 pmby Norstal
Atlanticatia wrote:So, what say ye NSG? Was Australia right to recall its ambassador? Was the death penalty appropriate in this situation, or any situation?
Indonesia is one of the countries I wish the U.S would liberate. Australia wasn't right to recall its ambassador. Australia needs to outright disrespect their "sovereignty" and use the necessary force to remove the Islamic-minded national government and free their citizens.
I really would rather lose all of my life savings that I stored in Jakarta if it will get rid of the Muslim fundies in parliament.
Atlanticatia wrote:Indonesia has also attempted to ban alcohol sale and consumption.
And internet memes. Imgur is banned there because memes will...do...something. But this is what you get when you bring democracy to illiterate peasants who thinks wearing green to the beach will summon a sea-witch.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 12:23 pmby Lindenholt
British Empire Strikes Back wrote:Australia should place sanctions on Indonesia for such a barbaric act. If Indonesia was still Dutch, they would not be executing people in 2015. Capital punishment needs to be banned, especially for such offenses as drug trafficing.
The UN should step in to give back our rightful clay.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 12:28 pmby Norstal
Lindenholt wrote:British Empire Strikes Back wrote:Australia should place sanctions on Indonesia for such a barbaric act. If Indonesia was still Dutch, they would not be executing people in 2015. Capital punishment needs to be banned, especially for such offenses as drug trafficing.
The UN should step in to give back our rightful clay.
If only it was that easy. I'd rather have Dutch rule in Indonesia than whatever this mess we have now.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 12:57 pmby Geilinor
While I oppose execution for drug smuggling, it's too late. Nothing can bring them back now.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 1:01 pmby The Nuclear Fist
Indonesia sounds like it has a primitive, shitty government. What a bunch of cunts.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 1:03 pmby Allentyr
The Nuclear Fist wrote:Indonesia sounds like it has a primitive, shitty government. What a bunch of cunts.
Welcome to South East Asia
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 1:21 pmby Norstal
Allentyr wrote:The Nuclear Fist wrote:Indonesia sounds like it has a primitive, shitty government. What a bunch of cunts.
Welcome to South East Asia
Singapore and Malaysia isn't that bad. At least, they're not primitive.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 1:21 pmby Cetacea
13 people have already been executed in the USA this year too, so is the US also a barbaric hellhole? - Abbot should follow through and recall the US ambassador as well
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 1:25 pmby Cabana
Norstal wrote:Allentyr wrote:Welcome to South East Asia
Singapore and Malaysia isn't that bad. At least, they're not primitive.
Doesn't Singapore also have the death penalty for drug smuggling too?
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 1:27 pmby Norstal
Cabana wrote:Norstal wrote:Singapore and Malaysia isn't that bad. At least, they're not primitive.
Doesn't Singapore also have the death penalty for drug smuggling too?
Seems like they do. Nevermind then, I stand corrected.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 1:31 pmby Cabana
Norstal wrote:Cabana wrote:Doesn't Singapore also have the death penalty for drug smuggling too?
Seems like they do. Nevermind then, I stand corrected.
Malaysia too.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 1:32 pmby MERIZoC
Too little too late. Abbot only offered a half-hearted attempt to get them to stop the executions—there should have been way more pressure from the international community.
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2015 1:33 pmby The United Colonies of Earth
The Nuclear Fist wrote:Indonesia sounds like it has a primitive, shitty government. What a bunch of cunts.
Jokowi might be listening to those madrassas a bit too much if alcohol is now coming under government proscription. This seems like an overreaction.