Indonesia to resume executions as it steps up 'war on drugs'

Indonesia's Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo speaks to journalists about the upcoming executions at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia April 28, 2015.

Reuters/Darren Whiteside


JAKARTA Indonesia said on Thursday it will resume executions of drug traffickers this year, after a brief hiatus since last year's controversial executions of mostly foreign convicts.


Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo told reporters "more than one" person would be executed for drug offences this year and foreigners were also on the list.


"We will not stop. We will step up the war on drugs," Prasetyo said.


He declined to name the nationalities of the convicts on death row.


Indonesia executed 14 convicts, including nationals of Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands and Nigeria, by firing squad last year despite repeated pleas for mercy from foreign governments and international organizations and activists.


Amid international outrage, Indonesia postponed other scheduled executions. Officials said it was so the government could focus on reviving a flagging economy.


(Reporting by Jakarta bureau; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Nick Macfie)




The Most Influential Scientific Minds
Using citation analysis to identify authors whose papers wield outsized influence

• Global Innovation in 2015
• The Year in Biopharma

 

Ugh, Indonesia is a really messed up place in regards to drug laws. They are taking what the U.S is doing in regards to the "Drug War" (which is failing miserably), and making it even more draconian. I don't see how their strict laws are helping them in any way.

 

Not helping in any way? I think it's a pretty good deterrent to know that you might be executed for pedaling drugs. Do I agree with it? Hell no. Do I think that it might lower drug traffic? Probably, although I can't claim to know their annual statistics in Indonesia.

 

Oh God! Executing someone for using drugs is insane! That's so sad. They need help not death

 

No ever since they started this "drug reform" in 2004 it's just been getting worse. Their government uses it as a form of control. You can watch the documentary Ganja Queen to get an idea of how absurd their drug laws are.

Also all the Indonesia statistics are skewed due to corruption in the government, so you would have to dig hard for a 3rd party study.

 

Yes, exactly! People with addictions need help but seeing how the situation in Indonesia is getting worse day by day, I doubt that will happen.