Serge Atlaoui, a French drug convict who is on Indonesian death row. Photo: AFP
Indonesia has gotten some scathing criticism from the international community over its use of the death penalty as a form of punishment for drug smuggling, but don’t expect that to change anytime soon.
National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Chief Anang Iskandar reiterated that the death penalty is the appropriate punishment for drug smuggling in Indonesia.
“The death penalty in Indonesia is constitutional, don’t diminish it,” Anang said at an International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking event in Cawang, East Jakarta yesterday, as quoted by Kompas.
Anang added that he hopes Indonesia will stay true to its principles and remain as one of 34 countries in the world that allows capital punishment.
“Those who don’t agree wish for a world without the death penalty. This can’t be allowed [in Indonesia], the sovereignty and law of each country can’t be forced [to be changed],” he said.
