VP Kalla Asks for Sympathy from Amnesty Int`l over Death Penalty

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla has asked Amnesty International to have more sympathy for Indonesia over death penalty particularly in relation to drug abuse.

“Look at the impact of drug [abuse] that has killed more [people] than the 15 people sentenced to death,” he said on Thursday after a meeting with the Secretary General of Amnesty International Salil Shetty in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN, Salil questioned Indonesia’s firm stance who will carry out the third round of executions of drug dealers.

“The law has different characteristics in different countries. Death penalty [is part of the law] in Indonesia, especially for drug and terrorism [offenses],” he said.

Thus, the government will adhere to the law for as long it is applicable, the Vice President said.

Earlier, in a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Mohamad Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Kalla asked about the death sentence imposed by Malaysian court against Rita Risdiyanti, Indonesian citizen, for an alleged possession of 4 grams of crystal meth in Penang.

“I knew that he would responded that Indonesia also imposes the same for drug [offenses],” the Vice President said.

However, Kalla said that the Indonesian government will continue to take legal action as far as the highest level of courts.

ANTARA