Indonesian President Refuses Amnesty For Drugs Offenders

Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has reiterated that he will not compromise on having drugs offenders executed by firing squad – despite Australia's pleas that two rehabilitated nationals from the Bali Nine smuggling ring be pardoned.



"We are not going to compromise for drug dealers," Jokowi said in an interview with CNN marking his 100 days in office.



Explaining that it was Indonesia's courts that determined the death sentences handed to offenders who could ask him for clemency, he added, "But I tell you, there will be no amnesty for drug dealers."



Asked whether he meant that there would be no relief for Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, Jokowi just shook his head.



The duo -- both from Sydney -- were ringleaders of a group dubbed the Bali Nine, who attempted to traffic more than 18 pounds (eight kilograms) of heroin valued at about A$4 million ($3.2 million) from Indonesia to Australia in April 2005.



Last Thursday, Jokowi rejected Chan's requests for clemency after having previously done the same to pardons filed by Sukumaran.



Pastor Paul Wiratno, Chan's religious advisor at Bali's Kerobokan Prison, told Konpas.com that Chan – who manages church services at the facility – had "began to appreciate how important life is," confessing his readiness for execution.



Julian McMohan, the Australians' Melbourne-based lawyer, told the news website that the two prisoners had realized their smuggling activities would have consequences, and should be rewarded for changing for the better during their incarceration.



Indonesia's attorney general has yet to decide on the execution date for Chan and Sukumaran.



The first executions since Jokowi came to power in October were held Jan. 18, when five foreigners and an Indonesian were killed by firing squad despite international pleas for a last minute reprieve. Brazil and the Netherlands – from where two of the convicts hailed -- recalled their ambassadors from Jakarta in response.



Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has written to Jokowi asking for clemency for Sukumaran and Chan, despite refusing to speculate on whether the country might recall its ambassador in the case of the executions being carried out.



Last month, Jokowi said he would refuse clemency for 64 drugs offenders facing execution, citing the harm caused to Indonesian society by illegal narcotics.



Indonesia has said 20 executions are scheduled for this year.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Endonezya