Tuesday, 12 August 2008

Indonesia: More to die for drugs

Indonesian officials have again flagged a surge in drug executions, with comments suggesting up to 39 prisoners would be executed before the end of 2009.

The remarks raise concerns of an increase in executions generally, with seven shot for drugs and murder in the past six weeks, and preparations underway for execution of the three Bali bombers.

According to a report by Reuters, Bonaventura Daulat Nainggolan, a spokesman for the attorney general, said last week the executions would be carried out this year and in 2009.

"The president has rejected clemency for 39 people, so the next stage for them is execution," said head of the national police drugs unit Indradi Thanos.

The seven recent executions in Indonesia include two Nigerian men shot on 26 June for heroin trafficking.

Coordinating for death
Attorney-General Hendarman Supandji said in late July that his office would speed up the execution of the 57 drug offenders on death row.

The National Police Chief and Chairman of the National Anti-Narcotic Body (BNN) said at the time his agency was "coordinating closely with the Attorney General`s Office as the agency responsible for carrying out executions".

"To give them a lesson, drug traffickers must be executed immediately," General Sutanto told a function for the International Day against Drugs Abuse and Trafficking.

Related stories:

Indonesia: Seventh execution in six weeks -- 11 August, 2008
Indonesia: Record number executed in four weeks -- 20 July, 2008
Indonesia: Drug offenders executed, more to come -- 29 June, 2008
Executions in Indonesia since 1995 -- 26 September, 2006

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