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RI 'must not bow to pressure from any country'
The government must not bow to pressure from any country that is disappointed with the executions of eight death row inmates, according to University of Indonesia international law expert Hikmahanto JuwanaâAt the core of the Indonesian governmentâs actions is the view that if the sovereignty of the nation has been put at stake [by strong pressure from the inmatesâ home countries], then there is no way for the government to compromise
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T
he government must not bow to pressure from any country that is disappointed with the executions of eight death row inmates, according to University of Indonesia international law expert Hikmahanto Juwana
'At the core of the Indonesian government's actions is the view that if the sovereignty of the nation has been put at stake [by strong pressure from the inmates' home countries], then there is no way for the government to compromise. The government must not bow to pressure from any country,' Hikmahanto said as quoted by Antara news agency in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He was speaking in response to the Australian government's protest over the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, two ringleaders of the so-called Bali Nine heroin trafficking ring.
Hikmahanto said tougher actions that Indonesian government could now take were varied, such as halting cooperation with Australia on handling asylum seekers or fighting terrorism.
He said the government could also impose a moratorium on the importation of cattle from Australia. If Australia stopped aid to Indonesia, the government must see the move positively as this would free Indonesia of foreign assistance, making it more sovereign.
'Foreign aid has often been used to control the implementation of Indonesia's sovereignty,' said Hikmahanto.
The government executed eight death row prisoners early on Wednesday on Nusakambangan prison island near Cilacap in Central Java. (ebf)(+++)
