News Digest

Australia asks Indonesia to rethink death penalty for two drug offenders

Australia called on Indonesia on Friday to reconsider its decision to execute two Australians convicted of drug offences, a move that is likely to strain already fragile ties between the two neighbours. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the two members of the so-called ‘Bali Nine’ - Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran - who were arrested at Bali’s Denpasar airport in 2005 for attempting to smuggle 8 kg of heroin to Australia were reformed characters who had helped rehabilitate other prisoners.

The prerogative of mercy should be extended to them. Australia opposes the death penalty at home and abroad.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who took office in October, has pledged no clemency for drug offenders, drawing criticism from rights activists at home and abroad. Indonesia executed six convicted drug traffickers, including five foreigners, by firing squad last week. Brazil and the Netherlands recalled their ambassadors from Jakarta, while Nigeria summoned the Indonesian ambassador in Abuja to protest against the execution of their citizens. Abbott said he and Foreign Minister Julia Bishop had made direct representations to their Indonesian counterparts and “are continuing to make every possible effort through the most effective channels” to stop the executions. It was not immediately clear when the executions of Sukumaran, 33, and Chan, 31, might take place.