Corby Clemency Violation Of Presidential Oath

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's decision to grant clemency to Australian drug convict Schapelle Leigh Corby potentially breaches the Presidential oath regarding the execution of the law, according to an observer.

"The granting of clemency to Corby could potentially violate the oath of the President to follow the state's Act and its implementation rules righteously," University of Indonesia international law expert Hikmahanto Juwana said here on Monday.

The President's decision potentially violates the oath because, since 1997, Indonesia has ratified the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs And Psychotropic Substances, 1988, by Law No. 7 of 1997 on Combating Illicit Drug trafficking.

"In the labelling convention of narcotic drugs and psychotropic materials, trafficking is termed as a serious crime in article 3, wherein paragraph 6 determines the government should ensure maximum sanction against it," Hikmahanto said.

"According to article 3, paragraph 7, if a drug convict is granted an early release, clemency or parole, the authority must consider the case as a serious crime," he added.(IGT)