In 2018, Indonesia sentenced 48 individuals, including 15 foreigners, to death, predominantly for drug-related offenses. Amnesty International’s report emphasizes ongoing capital punishment practices amidst a global decline, urging Indonesia to reconsider its approach, especially as it seeks a higher standing in human rights discussions. Legislative divisions complicate potential reforms, underscoring the need for political will to move towards abolition.
According to the latest global report on capital punishment from Amnesty International, Indonesia sentenced 48 people to death last year, including 15 foreigners convicted primarily of drug-related offenses. The report, released on Wednesday, specified that 39 of these death sentences stemmed from drug crimes, eight were for murder, and one for terrorism. Comparatively, in 2017, Indonesia had sentenced 47 individuals to death, including 10 foreigners. By the end of last year, at least 308 individuals remained on death row, awaiting execution without a scheduled date. Despite its ongoing application of the death penalty, Indonesia has endeavored to position itself as a leader in human rights within Southeast Asia. Notably, the country imposed a moratorium on executions for two consecutive years following a series of executions carried out in 2015 and 2016, under President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, where 18 inmates convicted of drug-related crimes, inclusive of foreign nationals, were executed in three rounds. Amnesty International indicates that, as an initiator of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Indonesia’s lack of progress toward abolishing the death penalty has been met with frustration by human rights activists. Furthermore, the country is currently seeking re-election for a fifth term on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Usman Hamid, the executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, stated, “As a pioneer of human rights in Southeast Asia, Indonesia actually has a wider chance to progress from the moratorium [to abolition].” He highlighted the irony of Indonesia’s situation, particularly in light of the global trend toward the reduction of capital punishment, with neighboring Malaysia having announced initiatives for reform. The Amnesty report also notes a global decline in executions, which dropped by 31 percent from 2017 to 2018, reaching the lowest figures in the decade. Last year, countries like Gambia and Burkina Faso made significant moves against capital punishment, with Gambia declaring a moratorium and Burkina Faso abolishing capital punishment altogether. Usman urged Indonesia to reconsider its approach, suggesting that the abolition of the death penalty could enhance its diplomatic standing, especially in advocating for approximately 188 Indonesian citizens facing death sentences abroad. Lawmaker Charles Honoris from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) remarked on the ineffectiveness of capital punishment in deterring crime, particularly drug-related offenses, yet acknowledged a division within the legislative body on the subject. He emphasized the necessity of presidential leadership to initiate the repeal process. Meanwhile, the government has shown signs of softening its stance by proposing to categorize the death penalty as an “alternative punishment” that could be commuted to life imprisonment based on the convict’s behavior; however, progress on this legislation remains slow.
Indonesia remains one of the states that actively implements capital punishment, primarily for drug-related offenses. This issue takes on significant dimensions when considering the country’s positioning in international human rights discussions. Despite a proclaimed moratorium on executions in recent years, the legal framework enabling the death penalty persists, creating contradictions in Indonesia’s human rights narrative. The political landscape surrounding capital punishment is deeply divided, affecting the potential for legislative reform. Amnesty International serves as a critical voice in championing the abolition of the death penalty globally, noting the shifting tides in public sentiments and policies towards capital punishment. The data presented by Amnesty International in its annual report spotlights the broader context of capital punishment practices in Indonesia and contrasts it with emerging trends towards abolition in other nations, reinforcing calls for reform in Indonesia’s legal system.
The recent report by Amnesty International reveals that Indonesia continued to impose the death penalty, with 48 sentences handed down last year, including 15 to foreign nationals for drug-related crimes. Despite patterns of global decline in executions and initiatives from neighboring countries toward reform, Indonesia has yet to take decisive steps toward abolishing capital punishment. Activists and lawmakers urge the government to reconsider its position, emphasizing the need for legislative changes to align with its human rights ambitions. Continued advocacy may pave the way for the eventual abolition of the death penalty in Indonesia, reflecting broader global trends and moral imperatives in human rights.
Original Source: www.thejakartapost.com
