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Your letters: On the death penalty
High alert: Police officers with their weapons at the ready guard the shores of Nusakambangan Island in Central Java on Wednesday as convicted drug smugglers were being transferred to the prison island, where they will be executed
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span class="inline inline-center">High alert: Police officers with their weapons at the ready guard the shores of Nusakambangan Island in Central Java on Wednesday as convicted drug smugglers were being transferred to the prison island, where they will be executed. JP/Agus Maryono
Life sentences for drug convicts have proven to be ineffective in Indonesia. After many years of delaying the execution of drug convicts ' the execution of Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan has been postponed for almost a decade ' drug trafficking still lingers.
Life sentences never prevent drug traffickers from continuing their businesses. The case of the Nusakambangan prisoners Sartoni and Sutrisno was an obvious example that drug trafficking gets worse day after day. It is strange that they could manage such prohibited businesses from the prison.
Today, millions of drug victims stay in hospitals across the country for treatment while tens of them die every day. Indonesia's declaration of a war against drugs and the issuance of its emergency status is a reasonable reaction, as Indonesia is still a haven for drug traffickers.
Six drug convicts were executed last January and another 10 are about to face the firing squad.
Although opposition from foreign leaders arises against this tough stance along with demands that Indonesia abolish capital punishment, many Indonesians and their government believe that the international community should respect Indonesia's sovereignty, law and legal system.
The leaders from Brazil, Australia, France, the Netherlands and the Philippines are too experienced to be taught a lesson on national sovereignty, politics and law. But law is often made thoroughly and based on the history, sociology and philosophy or religion of the nation. Law is final. Law prevailing in Indonesia is always made in Indonesia.
Have outsiders once conducted research on the condition of Indonesia? Have they realized that most drug victims are youth whose parents are, if not desperately poor, ordinary people? Who provides them with basic needs and children's school fees?
No matter how experienced foreign parliaments are, they are unable to make law for Indonesia. Outsiders know a little about Indonesia from their media. It is unfair that the media focuses intensively on Nusakambangan and the executions there.
Drugs, along with terrorism and corruption, are the people's main enemies; thus, death penalties related to such issues is not only in line with prevailing laws but also many people's opinions and aspirations. The Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Budiono administration fulfilled its obligation to the people by executing the terrorists.
But the Yudoyono-Budiono administration failed to execute drug dealers or smugglers. The execution of drug convicts has been delayed for many years and it is now the the responsibility of the Jokowi-JK administration to finish things off.
Resi Adiyasa
Banten
