Incompetence rules Indon law: experts

Experts say Indonesia's reputation will be harmed by recent executions, but some have warned against witholding aid from the country.

The Indonesian legal system appears chaotic and incompetent in the wake of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran's executions, which experts warn will harm the country's international reputation.

Human rights, legal and Indonesia experts have condemned the arbitrary nature of the process which saw the men killed by firing squad along with six others early on Wednesday morning.

"It just seems there's a fairly arbitrary application of the rules, or the rules are ultimately flexible and dependent on who is there at the time," Monash University Professor Sarah Joseph told AAP.

"At the very least it's chaotic and it's hard not to conclude there was a lot of incompetence."

Prof Joseph is critical of the numerous dates indicated for the executions, and the final indignities faced by the pair and their families as news broke they were to be denied their preacher of choice, only to have the decision reversed.

She also queried delays in the official announcement of the pair's execution, and the handling of corruption allegations levelled at the original sentencing judges.

"The handling of these corruption charges - surely they have to be investigated properly," she said.

"It's a terrible blow to Indonesia's international standing and it will bring an enormous amount of focus on its application of the death penalty and the standards in its legal system."

Australian National University's Dr Ross Tapsell said the lack of communication from Indonesia to Australia about the executions was to be expected.

"I wouldn't take it as a complete snub to Australia, it just seems like this is just part of what has already been a rather chaotic process of executions," he said.

"Due process is not a thing that has been followed through from start to finish in this case."

Dr Tapsell noted Australia's decision to recall its ambassador matches the responses of Brazil and the Netherlands following the execution of their citizens in January.

But he warned against withdrawing aid from Indonesia, an option canvassed by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson.

"Poorer people would suffer and it makes the point that we use aid for our own interests as well," Dr Tapsell said.

Tim Harcourt from the University of NSW's business school cautioned the government against taking actions that economically disadvantaged the Indonesian people or Australia's trade relationship.

"Australians seem unaware of how trade, jobs and the economy could be put at risk if we rock the boat from Indonesia," he said in a statement.

But Monash University senior law lecturer Dr Kate Seear said Indonesia faced ongoing issues after the nation's constitutional court and judicial commission agreed to look at the judicial bribery allegations in May.

"It's just unfathomable that we'd have a situation where legal proceedings are still on foot and we're proceeding with an execution," she said.

"We can't un-execute these men."


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Source: AAP


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