The nation of Indonesia is one of a handful of countries around the world that still use the death penalty for some drug offenses. Indonesia has been in the spotlight recently because of the planned execution of a group of people, known in the media as the Bali Nine, who were convicted on drug charges.
The news source Malaysian Insider reported on April 28th, 2015, that:
"Indonesia will execute nine drug convicts, including eight foreigners, after midnight on Tuesday (1am Wednesday Malaysian time), the country's attorney-general has confirmed."'The execution of nine convicts will be carried out after midnight,' Attorney-General Muhammad Prasetyo told reporters.
"The official confirmation came as Australia, the European Union and France released a joint statement urging Indonesia not to go ahead with the executions.
"'The governments of Australia, France and the European Union call on President Widodo to halt the planned executions. It is not too late to change your mind,' said the joint statement released by the Australian embassy in Jakarta.
"President Joko Widodo has been determined to push ahead with the execution of the nine convicts, who include foreigners from Australia, Brazil, Nigeria and the Philippines as well as one Indonesian."
The Australian foreign minister has warned that there will be repercussions if Indonesia proceeds with the executions. The Malay Mail Online and Agence France-Presse reported on April 28 that:
"Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop today criticised Indonesia’s 'chaotic' handling of the execution of nine prisoners, including eight foreigners, saying there would be “consequences” if the killings were carried out."Two Australians, 'Bali Nine' drug traffickers Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, are among the convicts being held at the high-security prison island of Nusakambangan, where they are expected to be put to death by firing squad in several hours.
"'I think the ghastly process that the family have been put through today just underscores how chaotic this has been,' Bishop told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"'They do deserve respect and they do deserve to have dignity shown to them at this time of unspeakable grief. But that doesn’t seem to have been extended to them at this time.'
"The families had to push through a huge scrum of journalists when they arrived at Cilacap, the town that serves as the gateway to Nusakambangan, to visit the two men. Sukumaran’s sister Brintha collapsed into the arms of family members who had to carry her.
"Bishop said her government had made several requests to the Indonesian government, including asking for formal notifications on when the executions would take place, but had not received any response.
"'They have not responded to any of our requests and there are a number of outstanding requests to which we have still not yet received a response,' the minister said.
"She added that she was 'very dismayed' and 'deeply disturbed at some of the aspects of how this has been handled'.
"Bishop said 'there will be have to be consequences' if the two Australians were executed, but would not provide any details.
"Australian media have speculated the government could recall its ambassador from Jakarta.
"Brazil and the Netherlands recalled their ambassadors from Indonesia after two of their citizens were executed in January along with four other drug offenders."