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Indonesia executes four convicted drug offenders
By Kathy Quiano
Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN)Indonesia executed four convicted drug offenders by firing squad early Friday, the country's deputy attorney general said.
Noor Rachmad told reporters outside the Nusakambangan prison in central Java that authorities have not decided when 10 other prisoners will be executed.
Executed were two Nigerians, one Senegalese and one Indonesian, CNN Indonesia, a CNN affiliate, reported. Petitions to review their cases had been denied.
One of the Nigerians was Humphrey Jefferson Ejike, who was unjustly killed, according to his legal team.
"At this stage, we can only say that we are extremely disappointed with the fact that Jeff was executed," said Raynov Tumorang by text message. "The government does not respect the ongoing legal process on Jeff's case."
"There is strong evidence of torture and he was not given a fair trial. Racism towards our client can be seen in the court decision."
Cheikh Niang, Senegal's ambassador to Japan, who also oversees Indonesia, told CNN that the executed Senegalese prisoner was in fact from Nigeria but had traveled to Indonesia on a fake passport.
He said he visited the prisoner on March 15 and informed the Indonesian authorities.
Cries for end to more executions
Amnesty International said the 10 people still facing the death penalty include more Indonesians, a Pakistani, an Indian, a Zimbabwean, a South African and three
Nigerians. Amnesty called the executions violations of Indonesian and international law.
"Any executions that are still to take place must be halted immediately. The injustice already done cannot be reversed, but there is still hope that it won't be compounded," said Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty International's director for South East Asia and the Pacific.
Before the executions took place, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir stressed that capital punishment wasn't against international law.
"For Indonesia, the death penalty is a positive law that is still effective here, and it's not against human rights under the context of the 1945 constitution," he said.
"The action that Indonesia takes now is just about law implementation and enforcement. Just like how Indonesia respects the law of other nations, we hope all countries will respect Indonesian law."
Indonesia is one of 33 countries worldwide that use the death penalty for drug offenses.
Controversy
Indonesian officials have said all measures will be taken to prevent the drama surrounding the executions in April last year.
Australian drug convicts Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed after numerous appeals from supporters who claimed they were reformed.
At the last moment Filipina Mary Jane Veloso, also sentenced to death, was spared. Indonesia apparently acceded to appeals to wait for a pending case against Veloso's alleged human traffickers in the Philippines.
Her lawyers said she was a victim of human trafficking and was tricked into carrying heroin in her suitcase.
Filipina drug convict and death row prisoner Mary Jane Veloso, clad in traditional Indonesian attire, is seen during a programme celebrating Kartini Day in honour of Indonesian national hero and women's rights activist Raden Kartini at Yogyakarta prison on April 21, 2015. Veloso, aged 30 and a mother of two whose appeal had been rejected by the Indonesian Supreme Court is expected to be executed soon along with other drug convicts including foreigners from France, Brazil, Nigeria and Ghana. AFP PHOTO / TARKO SUDIARNO (Photo credit should read Tarko SUDIARNO/AFP/Getty Images)
Why was Mary Jane Veloso spared execution? 01:53
Death in the dark
Executions in Indonesia usually take place late at night outside the Nusakambangan prison island in Cilacap, Central Java.
Inmates are given 72-hours' notice and are kept in isolation, with only the company of their religious counselors.
Veloso's sister told CNN that family are allowed to visit in the days before the execution, but afterward, the only confirmation they get the sentence has been carried out is the sound of gunfire in the distance.
War on drugs
Indonesia executes 8 prisoners, spares Filipina for now. 02:49
The Indonesian government insists the country faces a drug emergency that requires tough measures.
Its all-out war on illegal drugs has already seen a large number of executions in recent years.
Fourteen drug convicts faced the firing squad in 2015, six in January and another eight in April.
Under the administration of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a total of 21 convicts were executed from 2005 to 2013.
United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon appealed to Indonesia to halt the executions.
"Under international law, if the death penalty is to be used at all, it should only be imposed for the "most serious crimes," namely those involving intentional killing."
"Drug crimes are generally not considered to meet this threshold," the statement added.
Indonesia's prosecutors have always stressed that only death row convicts who have exhausted all legal avenues are put on the execution list. They are given the option to seek presidential clemency and a Supreme Court judicial review.
However, rights activists have long insisted the death penalty is not an effective deterrent to drug prevention.
"There is no evidence to support President Widodo's position," said Amnesty campaigner Josef Benedict.
"The death penalty does not deter crime. Carrying out executions will not rid Indonesia of drugs. It is never the solution, and it will damage Indonesia's standing in the world."
http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/28/asia/indonesia-drug-executions/
....................................'
Just in case anyone wanted a picture of this murderer..
By Kathy Quiano
Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN)Indonesia executed four convicted drug offenders by firing squad early Friday, the country's deputy attorney general said.
Noor Rachmad told reporters outside the Nusakambangan prison in central Java that authorities have not decided when 10 other prisoners will be executed.
Executed were two Nigerians, one Senegalese and one Indonesian, CNN Indonesia, a CNN affiliate, reported. Petitions to review their cases had been denied.
One of the Nigerians was Humphrey Jefferson Ejike, who was unjustly killed, according to his legal team.
"At this stage, we can only say that we are extremely disappointed with the fact that Jeff was executed," said Raynov Tumorang by text message. "The government does not respect the ongoing legal process on Jeff's case."
"There is strong evidence of torture and he was not given a fair trial. Racism towards our client can be seen in the court decision."
Cheikh Niang, Senegal's ambassador to Japan, who also oversees Indonesia, told CNN that the executed Senegalese prisoner was in fact from Nigeria but had traveled to Indonesia on a fake passport.
He said he visited the prisoner on March 15 and informed the Indonesian authorities.
Cries for end to more executions
Amnesty International said the 10 people still facing the death penalty include more Indonesians, a Pakistani, an Indian, a Zimbabwean, a South African and three
Nigerians. Amnesty called the executions violations of Indonesian and international law.
"Any executions that are still to take place must be halted immediately. The injustice already done cannot be reversed, but there is still hope that it won't be compounded," said Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty International's director for South East Asia and the Pacific.
Before the executions took place, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir stressed that capital punishment wasn't against international law.
"For Indonesia, the death penalty is a positive law that is still effective here, and it's not against human rights under the context of the 1945 constitution," he said.
"The action that Indonesia takes now is just about law implementation and enforcement. Just like how Indonesia respects the law of other nations, we hope all countries will respect Indonesian law."
Indonesia is one of 33 countries worldwide that use the death penalty for drug offenses.
Controversy
Indonesian officials have said all measures will be taken to prevent the drama surrounding the executions in April last year.
Australian drug convicts Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed after numerous appeals from supporters who claimed they were reformed.
At the last moment Filipina Mary Jane Veloso, also sentenced to death, was spared. Indonesia apparently acceded to appeals to wait for a pending case against Veloso's alleged human traffickers in the Philippines.
Her lawyers said she was a victim of human trafficking and was tricked into carrying heroin in her suitcase.
Filipina drug convict and death row prisoner Mary Jane Veloso, clad in traditional Indonesian attire, is seen during a programme celebrating Kartini Day in honour of Indonesian national hero and women's rights activist Raden Kartini at Yogyakarta prison on April 21, 2015. Veloso, aged 30 and a mother of two whose appeal had been rejected by the Indonesian Supreme Court is expected to be executed soon along with other drug convicts including foreigners from France, Brazil, Nigeria and Ghana. AFP PHOTO / TARKO SUDIARNO (Photo credit should read Tarko SUDIARNO/AFP/Getty Images)
Why was Mary Jane Veloso spared execution? 01:53
Death in the dark
Executions in Indonesia usually take place late at night outside the Nusakambangan prison island in Cilacap, Central Java.
Inmates are given 72-hours' notice and are kept in isolation, with only the company of their religious counselors.
Veloso's sister told CNN that family are allowed to visit in the days before the execution, but afterward, the only confirmation they get the sentence has been carried out is the sound of gunfire in the distance.
War on drugs
Indonesia executes 8 prisoners, spares Filipina for now. 02:49
The Indonesian government insists the country faces a drug emergency that requires tough measures.
Its all-out war on illegal drugs has already seen a large number of executions in recent years.
Fourteen drug convicts faced the firing squad in 2015, six in January and another eight in April.
Under the administration of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a total of 21 convicts were executed from 2005 to 2013.
United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon appealed to Indonesia to halt the executions.
"Under international law, if the death penalty is to be used at all, it should only be imposed for the "most serious crimes," namely those involving intentional killing."
"Drug crimes are generally not considered to meet this threshold," the statement added.
Indonesia's prosecutors have always stressed that only death row convicts who have exhausted all legal avenues are put on the execution list. They are given the option to seek presidential clemency and a Supreme Court judicial review.
However, rights activists have long insisted the death penalty is not an effective deterrent to drug prevention.
"There is no evidence to support President Widodo's position," said Amnesty campaigner Josef Benedict.
"The death penalty does not deter crime. Carrying out executions will not rid Indonesia of drugs. It is never the solution, and it will damage Indonesia's standing in the world."
http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/28/asia/indonesia-drug-executions/
....................................'
Just in case anyone wanted a picture of this murderer..