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eb. 16, p2

 The Indonesian government has requested the international community, including the United Nations, to respect the country'€™s sovereignty in upholding Indonesia'€™s laws through its firm decision to execute drug convicts, whose crimes have caused serious damage to the country.

Following a call from the UN to drop the plan to execute drug traffickers later this month, President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo insisted that he would not submit to pressure from any parties, including the UN, and thus would be firm in rejecting clemency for narcotics-related convicts who were on death row.

Your comments:

How can Indonesia expect to successfully plead for the life of Indonesian nationals who are on death row in other countries when they always say '€œno'€ to petitions for mercy from other countries?

In future, other countries will ignore the pleas of the Indonesian government to assist or spare the lives of its death-row citizens, and they will cite these two Australians as the reason. This is so very short sighted '€” Indonesia is damning their interests overseas by proceeding with this.

Indonesia, withdraw the death penalty for these two rehabilitated young men, if not out of mercy, then ultimately for the strong support of your own case in defense of your own people in the same predicament. So many lives depend on it.

LAT

Why does everybody only criticize Indonesia? Is there no other country that executes criminals? Let us be fair, Singapore, Malaysia, even the United States still has the death penalty.

Tallang Sura

I have never seen anything like this in Australia '€” the level of anger is remarkable. There will be enormous pressure on politicians in Australia to act very firmly, very decisively and quickly in relation to all relations with Indonesia. This will cast a shadow over aid and cooperation at all levels for a decade.  The outcome, however, could still be very different. Find the wisdom Mr. President.

Nat Simmons

It appears that the Indonesian government sees this issue as a show of strength and sovereignty. But the sad reality is the rest of the world will view the executions as a sign of immaturity and weakness. Indonesia is a great nation and should be proud enough without needing to use executions to gain respect.

Stevo

To be morally consistent, Australia should condemn China and the US who also have the death penalty. Australia should implement diplomatic sanctions against both, or understand all these countries have the death penalty and respect that.

America does not offer apologies for using the death penalty, nor do Indonesia and China who have made their position on drug trafficking very clear to the international community. Most countries do not apologize for killing people in war for far less serious matters than drug trafficking.

Every country implements the death penalty in war '€” those countries that go to war and protest against the death penalty are not morally consistent. In many moral matters people are not consistent.

AWT

I don'€™t hear anybody supporting those practices in the other countries but short of invading these countries there is not much one can do except for economic sanctions. I don'€™t think Australia'€™s sanctions could amount to much. Back to the old saying '€œTwo wrongs do not make a right.'€

Bron Bruce

Personally, I reject the death penalty. I only wonder how many people have been executed by the Malaysian government related to drug cases, but no country opposes it. Tourists never cease to visit the country. On one side I oppose the death penalty, but on another side I beg all of you to offer smart and quick solutions to stop this drug circle. It really destroys people'€™s whole lives. My family has undergone hard times for 15 years since two of my brothers got involved as drug users.

It is difficult to deal with this terribly situation. We sacrifice like crazy, not only assets, but mentally; it effects all my family. I oppose the death penalty, but people offer your suggestions how to eliminate this drug cycle.

Berdikari

Lock up drug barons, drug manufacturers, drug importers and, most importantly, corrupt police officers who allow all the aforementioned people to thrive. Killing drug mules is like trying to get rid of an ant infestation by killing one scout ant a day. You'€™ve got to go for the queen.

Yuchan

Drug trafficking kills; bombs kill; poison kills. The only question what do we do with the killers? The answer is apply the law of the country.

KJ Zimmer

While having respect for Indonesia'€™s sovereignty and the difficult drug-related issues the government is committed to changing I would still like to ask of the Indonesian government '€œWhat support can be given to them in order for them to stop the executions?'€

Lisa Ballen