Indonesia draws international outcry for executing drug traffickers

Last updated on: May 4, 2015 at 4:07 pm by CNA Daily News

Indonesia draws international outcry for executing drug traffickers 2015-05-04T16:07:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sydney, Australia, May 4, 2015 / 10:07 am (CNA).- The Australian bishops joined their voices to the international condemnation of the Indonesian government's execution of foreign drug traffickers last week.

Two Australian men – Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran – were among eight convicted drug traffickers killed by firing squad. The other inmates executed April 29 include four Nigerians, an Indonesian, and a man from Brazil, who was reportedly mentally ill. The Indonesian government said the executions were part of a crackdown on drug trafficking.

“Drug crime is abhorrent. Appropriate penalties must be considered to protect the community, but the imposition of the death penalty is cruel and unnecessary for what it does to those found guilty and for what it does to our society,” wrote Archbishop Denis Hart, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, in an April 29 statement.

“The imposition of the death penalty doesn’t achieve what people think it achieves. When it comes to crime and punishment, we must recognize and honor the human dignity of both victims and offenders.”

The execution has sparked international outrage. Australia has withdrawn its ambassador to Indonesia for the first time in history, according to the BBC. Brazil's foreign ministry expressed deep regret that Indonesia did not spare the Brazilian man because of his mental illness. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon urged an abolishment of the death penalty.

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has been leading a war on drugs since his election in 2014. Widodo has said he will refuse all clemency applications from convicted drug smugglers, according to the BBC.

Chan and Sukumaran were arrested in 2005 as part of the drug smuggling gang the “Bali Nine.” The gang was in possession of nearly 18 pounds of heroin, which they intended to smuggle from Bali to Australia. During their decade in prison, Chan and Sukumaran reportedly expressed remorse for their actions. Sukumaran started teaching art in the prison and Chan was ordained a Christian minister.

Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney said that drug trafficking is an evil that must be stopped. But he stressed that the death penalty is not the solution.

“We are all aware of the terrible damage drugs cause,” Archbishop Fisher wrote in a April 29 statement. “But refusing even to entertain appeals for mercy – even after the pair had demonstrably turned their lives around – seemed to us to damage our neighbour’s reputation for justice.”

Asia - Pacific

Previous Post

May 3, 2015

California's soon-to-be saint hailed as a man ahead of his time

Next Post

May 4, 2015 International Criminal Court should step up against ISIS, report advises

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Three of the four beasts from Daniel's vision are: a bear with three ribs in its mouth, a leopard with four wings and four heads, and a terrifying beast with iron teeth and ten horns. Which beast is missing?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A ram with two sets of gilded horns A bull breathing fire A lion with eagle's wings A dragon with seven heads