Indonesia executions spark international anger, debate on death penalty

Australia’s Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, along with other international leaders, has called for a national debate on the death penalty after Indonesia put seven foreign drug convicts before a firing squad. Australia withdrew its ambassador in protest at what it called “cruel and unnecessary” executions, Brazil expressed strong regret and France vowed a diplomatic battle to save a citizen still on death row. Brazil expressed “deep regret” at the execution of its national, who was mentally ill according to his family, and said it was weighing its next move.

The secretary-general reaffirms his belief that the death penalty has no place in the 21st century.

U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq on behalf of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

A Filipina originally set to be executed was given an 11th hour reprieve after a woman who allegedly duped her into ferrying drugs to Indonesia came forward to police in the Philippines. The reprieve for Mary Jane Veloso was hailed in the Philippines as a miracle and a gift from God, but Indonesian Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo stressed it was only a “postponement” to allow time for police investigations.

Asia-Pacific Bali 9