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Australian activists protest executions at Indonesian consulates
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This picture shows police personnel readied in Nusakambangan prison island in Cilacap, Central Java, before the execution of eight death row inmates in April 2015. (thejakartapost.com/Agus Maryono)
A
n Australian human rights organization has organized candlelight vigils at Indonesian missions in Australia to protest the imminent executions of several drug convicts, which will be the third round of executions since President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo took office.
"To hold a protest is allowed as it is in accordance with Australian laws on freedom of expression. But, the Indonesian Consulate General in Melbourne would ensure that the protest would not disrupt activities of the office and staff members of the consulate," Information, social and cultural affairs consul O'Conroy Doloksaribu told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, referring to the protests in the evening.
O'Conroy said he had heard of the plans organized by Reprieve Australia through social media.
The organization, which on its website says it provides legal and humanitarian assistance to those facing the death penalty, has promoted its plans on Twitter alongside the hashtag #SayNoToDeathRow.
"It is a dreadful truth that, even as the government spends weeks speaking of imminent executions, many of those it plans to kill have not been named. Many prisoners on death row simply do not know who will be plucked out and shot," president Julian McMahaon said in a statement on its website, reprieve.org.au.
Another candlelight vigil will be held in front of the Indonesian Consulate General in Perth on Wednesday.
The government has yet to announce the date of the executions or a list of names of those who will face the firing squad. Authorities have beefed up security at Nusakambangan prison island in Cilacap, Central Java, indicating that the executions will be conducted soon. Nusakambangan is also the location where two Australian drug convicts, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, were shot dead in April last year, despite strong protests from the Australian government and activists. (ebf)
