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03/28/2024 05:21:26 pm

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Indonesia's Execution of Drug Convicts Angers Brazil, The Netherlands

Indonesia Executed Drug Smugglers

(Photo : Reuters) An ambulance carrying a coffin for executed drug smuggler arrives at the ferry crossing to Nusa Kambangan prison at Wijayapura quay, Cilacap, Central Java, January 17, 2015.

Brazil and The Netherlands recalled their ambassadors to Indonesia for consultation, following the Saturday midnight execution of six drug smugglers, including two from the two nations.

Besides recalling the country's envoy, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff expressed outrage and dismay over the execution of 53-year-old Brazilian Marco Archer Cardoso Moreira. She said the incident definitely affected the relations between the two nations, BBC reports.

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Moreira, a pilot, was found guilty of hiding 13.4 kilograms of cocaine in his hang glider. In a video recorded by his friend, Moreira said he regrets the smuggling attempt, adding, "I am aware that I committed a serious offence, but I believe I deserve another chance. Everyone makes mistakes."

Likewise, The Netherlands recalled its envoy, following the midnight execution through firing squad of 52-year-old Dutch citizen Ang Kiem Soe, which Foreign Minister Bert Koenders described as "an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity."

When Ang was arrested in 2003, police found equipment that has been making 15,000 ecstasy pills daily for three years and seized 8,000 pills and thousands of dollars.

The four other drug convicts who were also executed at midnight Saturday were from Indonesia, Malawi, Nigeria and Vietnam. Indonesia's spokesman Tony Spontana confirmed that the six convicts were executed. Five of the six were executed by firing squads made of 12 paramilitary police at the same time.

Before they were shot, they were permitted to see their families, who arrived on Saturday morning at Nusa Kambangan Island, and their religious advisers. Their visitors stayed with the convicts up to the execution, which they witnessed, reports News.com.au.

Before they were lined up, a penitentiary staff placed an apron with a reflector over their heart on the convicts.

Despite the threats of diplomatic repercussions, particularly from Brazil and The Netherlands whose national leaders even personally appealed to Indonesian President Joko Widodo to stay the execution, Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo said Jakarta hopes the executions would deter people from smuggling drugs into the country.

The convicts also left instructions on what to do with their bodies after the execution. Ang Kiem Soie instructed that his corpse be cremated and given to his Dutch wife.

Likewise, cremation was what Vietnamese woman Tran Thi wanted and then her ashes be deposited at the women's penitentiary in Semarang where she was detained. Indonesian woman Rani Indriani requested to be buried in Cianjur, beside her mother's grave.

Rousseff's threat of diplomatic repercussions is not new since many countries have at some point recalled envoys over disagreement with how their nationals involved in crimes were treated.

In July 2014, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and El Salvador recalled their ambassadors from Israel to protests Israel's operation in Gaza strip. Also on the same year, many European nations recalled their ambassadors from Moscow over Russia's row with Ukraine.

However, Australia - which has nine citizens jailed in Bali also for drug crimes - will not risk jeopardizing its relationship with Jakarta again by seeking the release of convicted Aussie drug smuggler Myuran Sukamaran.

Canberra, after all, just resumed diplomatic relations with Jakarta over mobile phone spying done by Australian intelligence agencies on top Indonesian officials, including the prime minister and his wife.


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