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ndonesia witnessed executions that were unprecedented in terms of the international spotlight shortly after midnight on Wednesday, on the prison island of Nusakambangan, Central Java.

One convict, Filipina Mary Jane F. Veloso, had her execution postponed at the eleventh hour following an appeal by her lawyers and Manila after her alleged recruiter surrendered on Tuesday to the Philippine police. The other eight drug trafficking convicts '€” two Australians, three Nigerians, one Ghanaian, one Brazilian and one Indonesian '€” were killed by firing squad, following the rejection of their appeals. As predicted, domestic and global uproar ensued. Australia may recall its ambassador, as did Brazil and the Netherlands when their nationals were executed on Jan. 18.

While Australia and other countries might feel compelled to take diplomatic measures it should be noted that Indonesia'€™s actions are not prejudiced toward one country or another. There are more Indonesians on death row due to be executed than any other nationality.

There is no need to unnecessarily escalate the tensions, which could jeopardize the bilateral relationships that have been so carefully built.

Indonesia, too, has reacted and given due assistance when its citizens have been on death row; yet its recent response to the executions of two migrants in Saudi Arabia, who were among over 200 Indonesians on death row overseas, were measured to ensure mutual respect for state sovereignty.

The issue here is a distinct and opposite narrative of countries opposed to the death penalty and those who still apply it as punishment.

What Jakarta needs to focus on now is ensuring that all the rights of those still on death row are respectfully observed and the executions as well as the treatment of families are conducted with due dignity.

Diplomatic measures are acceptable means of political discourse. We should consider them as the norm in diplomatic language. The concerns of all friendly countries related to this case should be considered carefully by Jakarta. Indonesia should not react harshly to a protocol in international diplomacy. However, all sides must resist the temptation to use coarse language and veiled threats, which will only inflame the situation further.

Every country will respond in accordance to threats and act in their own national interests. In the same way Australia has disregarded international humanitarian pleas not to turn back migrant boats because the Tony Abbott government believes it is in its national interest, so too has the Jokowi administration acted.

What many outside this country do not realize is that there is as much if not greater debate concerning the executions as there is abroad. Nevertheless, it is a policy that has been made based on the due process available, no matter how imperfect, and thus should be respected.

Indonesians themselves should step up the war on corruption to better ensure a clean, reliable judiciary.