- Indonesia executes less prisoners than Japan
- Bali Nine cases raised with Indonesia: Bishop
- Fury as Indonesia executes foreigners
Brazil has recalled its ambassador from Indonesia to protest against one of its citizens being executed by firing squad for drug offences.
Indonesia executed six people, including the Brazilian and a Dutch citizen and the Attorney General says the country won't compromise on drugs.
The killings don't augur well for the two Australian ringleaders of the heroin smuggling group known as the Bali Nine.
Drug smugglers tend to get lengthy prison terms in Indonesia and sometimes they're put to death for their crimes.
Six were executed by firing squad on Sunday and now there are fears Myuran Sukamaran and Andrew Chan could experience the same fate.
Indonesia has rejected Sukumaran's bid for clemency and Chan is still waiting to hear the outcome of his clemency appeal.
Amnesty International Australia's crisis co-ordinator Diana Sayed fears the Australians could be next.
“We are very seriously concerned about the two Australian who are also facing the death penalty as the president announced late last year that there would be another 20 prisoners named this year who are facing imminent execution,” she told SBS.
Amnesty said Indonesia's use of the death penalty is not deterring people from trafficking drugs.
“The fact that this punitive measure of executing them does not deter those who are drug running throughout South East Asia and all signs do indicate that these are the little fish and we don’t condone the death penalty for anyone under any circumstances,” she said.
Lawyer Julian McMahon has told the ABC he's hoping the Indonesians will recognise that both his Australian clients have shown a commitment to rehabilitation.
“Our leaders, national leaders have very strong arguments to put in Indonesia on the basis of a long process of very well documented and internationally recognized rehabilitation and assistance to other prisoners. So that’s a powerful and compelling argument. It’s an argument that the rule of law welcomes and it should open the door wider to see if we can get somewhere.”
Foreign Minister Julia Bishop has told Channel 9 more than 50 separate representations have been made so far all to no avail.
“At this point, the foreign minister has rejected my pleas on their behalf but we will continue to do all we can. I met with the families over the weekend and I assured them that we would continue to make representations. Over many years there have been about 50/55 personal, one on one meetings between Australian leaders and Indonesian leaders. Prime Minister Abbott and I have continued to raise the cases every time we meet with the senior leadership of the Indonesian government.”
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