Immediate Execution of Death Row Criminals Urged

Medan, N Sumatra (Antara Bali) - The attorney general has been urged to immediately execute those in the death row after their final bid for leniency has been rejected by the president.

President Joko Widodo has said he would not grant clemency for drug offenders blaming them for the drug related death of 50 Indonesians everyday.

The president also said the country is in a narcotics emergency with millions of Indonesians have become addicted to drug.

Chairman of the National Anti Drug Movement (Granat) of North Sumatra H Hamdani Harahap said delay in the execution of the criminals would open an opportunity for foreign intervention.

"There are many foreign drug convicts in the death row to be executed this year," Hamdani.

Last year, execution of more than 10 drug offenders mostly foreigners created international uproars.

Hamdani said the government did not have to be bothered by protest from other countries.

"No country has the right to intervene in the execution of our law orders . We are a sovereign country," he said.

He said the drug offenders are responsible for the damages they caused to the country with millions of the country's youths losing hope for normal life in the future.

He said Indonesia should not become soft on drug related crimes as there are already more than 5 million Indonesians addicted to drugs and 40-50 of them died every day.

"Granat appreciates the decision of the Supreme Court rejecting call for the abolition of death sentence. The death sentence is still; necessary especially for drug offenders<" he said.

Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo said here last month "we would not bow to international pressure on death for drug convicts."
"We would continue to declare war against narcotics criminals," he said. (WDY)