Indonesian president insists death penalty ‘positive’ for country

ABEPURA, Indonesia—Indonesian President Joko Widodo insisted Saturday that the death penalty was “positive” for his country after the execution of seven foreign drug convicts by firing squad last month sparked international outrage.

Jakarta put to death two Australians, a Brazilian, and four Nigerians on a prison island, along with one Indonesian, despite worldwide calls for them to be spared and heartrending pleas from their families.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo. AP

Canberra recalled its ambassador from Jakarta at what it called the “cruel and unnecessary” executions while the United Nations expressed deep regret.

However Widodo, who took office last year, has been unswayed by the international appeals, insisting that Indonesia is facing an emergency due to rising narcotics use.

In an interview on Saturday with journalists in Abepura, eastern Indonesia, he voiced no regret at the executions and insisted: “The death penalty is still our positive law.”

Asked about the anger in other countries, he said: “My duty as president of Indonesia is to carry out the law and I’m sure other countries will understand this.”

And he added: “Every day 50 young Indonesians die, in one year that is 18,000 dead. I hope they understand about that.”

Widodo was referring to figures that he has often used to back up his claims about Indonesia’s drugs emergency, including claims that more than 4.5 million users are in need of rehabilitation.

Firestorm of anger

However, academics have questioned the accuracy of those figures and analysts believe Widodo is trying to present himself as a tough leader after his position was weakened by a series of political crises.

There has been particular anger in Australia—a neighbor and key ally of Indonesia—at the execution of its citizens, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the ringleaders of the so-called “Bali Nine” heroin-trafficking gang.

Canberra mounted a sustained diplomatic campaign to save the pair, in their 30s, saying they were reformed characters after a decade behind bars.

Meanwhile the Brazilian among the group, Rodrigo Gularte, was delusional and oblivious to his fate until the final moments before he faced the firing squad, according to his priest and a lawyer.

His family had said he was a paranoid schizophrenic and his lawyer Ricky Gunawan told AFP that he had a “delusional mind.”

A Filipina had been among the group due to be executed last month, but was given an 11th-hour reprieve.

The single mother had claimed she was the victim of human traffickers, and just before she was due to face the firing squad her alleged recruiter surrendered to police in the Philippines.

A Frenchman had also been due to be put to death but was removed from the list several days before the executions after Paris stepped up pressure on Jakarta.

Indonesia had an unofficial moratorium on the death penalty between 2008 and 2012 but resumed executions in 2013.

Widodo has accelerated the death penalty campaign—so far 14 drug convicts have been executed during his presidency, 12 of them foreigners.