Jakarta Globe, Suara Pembaruan, Feb 24, 2015
Jakarta.
Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has demanded an explanation from Brazil
after President Dilma Rousseff refused to accept the diplomatic credentials of
Indonesia’s ambassador-designate.
The
diplomatic snub was reportedly over the imminent execution of a Brazilian
convict on death row for drug trafficking in Indonesia, but Foreign Affairs
Minister Retno LP. Marsudi has summoned the Brazilian ambassador for an
official explanation.
“We don’t
know the official reason, the information received by the
ambassador[-designate] from the Brazilian foreign affairs minister was the
postponement was related to the execution,” Retno said on Tuesday.
Toto
Riyanto, Indonesia’s incoming ambassador-designate to Brazil, was informed that
his credentials would not be accepted after he had arrived at the president’s
palace, expecting to become an ambassador.
Toto has
since been recalled to Indonesia and will meet with President Joko Widodo when
he returns.
The
incident is just the latest diplomatic spate that has been caused by Joko’s
decision to press on with the execution of inmates — a practice that was only
resumed in 2013 after a four-year de-facto moratorium.
The
Australian government has been vocal in its opposition to the death penalty and
has requested clemency for two members of the “Bali Nine” drug trafficking
ring, who are among the next group of inmates scheduled to be shot.
Brazil and
the Netherlands withdrew their ambassadors from Indonesia “for consultations”
last month after two of their citizens were among six people executed for drugs
offenses.
Retno said
Joko was noticeably upset with Brazil’s latest action.
“This is
about the country’s dignity and sovereignty because an ambassador’s presence
represents the Indonesian president,” Retno said.
The foreign
affairs minister said the Indonesian government was confused by Brazil’s
actions, especially as the two countries had until recently enjoyed good
bilateral relations.
Dina Wisnu,
an international relations expert from Paramadina University, said as a
president, Joko has an obligation to explain to Brazil why the execution was
deemed necessary. Brazil abolished capital punishment in the 19th century, the
academic said.
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