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Your letters: Suspension of death row executions
Itâs a step forward for the government to suspend the executions of death row convicts no matter what the reason behind it is, and itâs better late than never
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I
t's a step forward for the government to suspend the executions of death row convicts no matter what the reason behind it is, and it's better late than never.
Ending the practice of executions is a must for the government; when we put them before a firing squad, we are cursed and will be repaid back as we have seen in the events our nation has gone through in the last few years, mountain eruptions, plane crashes, long drought, haze and fires, etc.
So I give two thumbs up to the government for the breakthrough in suspending the executions.
I suggest that the government sentence them to life imprisonment, a sentence that still upholds the law so prospective drug dealers won't commit similar major crimes.
But I disagree with the government's reason behind the suspension; that it was decided upon to improve our economy. There is no relationship between the suspension and our economic slowdown.
I suggest that the government abolish the death penalty in Indonesia for humanitarian reasons and not because of the economic slowdown. Such a reason is unacceptable, and neither is taking the decision as a result of the recent visit of Australian government representatives. The only reason is in for the sake of humanity.
The government must show other countries that Indonesia will abolish the death penalty so the around 250 Indonesian migrant workers abroad who are waiting to be executed will be given clemency in line with the suspension of death penalty for drug convicts in Indonesia. And not because Indonesia is concentrating on the economy, Mr. Luhut, but because we are saving other people's lives and our own from being cursed.
The government and President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, should listen to the condemnation Indonesia receives from foreign countries and human rights groups for implementing the death sentence on drug convicts as stipulated in the Criminal Code (KUHP).
Hotsaut
Jakarta
