Indonesia
has recalled its envoy to Brazil after the South American nation delayed
finalizing his appointment. The countries are locked in a dispute over the
planned execution of a Brazilian citizen for drug trafficking.
Deutsche Welle, 21 Feb 2015
Indonesia's
Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday it "strongly protested the
unfriendly action" by Brazil's government and had recalled newly assigned
ambassador, Toto Riyanto, who was selected for the post in October.
Riyanto was
to present his credentials for approval during a ceremony at the presidential
palace in Brasilia on Friday, but Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff (pictured
above) decided to hold off on the step at the last minute.
"The
manner in which the foreign minister of Brazil suddenly informed (us of) the
postponement ... when the ambassador designate was already at the palace, is
unacceptable to Indonesia," the Indonesian Foreign Ministry statement
said.
Relations
between the two countries have been tense since the execution of Brazilian
national Marco Archer Cardoso Moreira last month. The 53-year-old was charged
with drug smuggling in Indonesia was put before a firing squad, despite a
personal appeal from Rousseff for clemency.
Brazil is
now trying to prevent the execution of Brazilian citizen Rodrigo Gularte, 42,
who is on death row for drug trafficking, along with a number of other foreigners from France, Ghana, Nigeria, the Philippines and Australia.
Jakarta has
twice rejected appeals for mercy from Brazilian authorities, who have argued
that Gularte is a paranoid schizophrenic and in need of psychiatric care. While
no date has been given for the executions, Indonesian Vice President Jusuf
Kalla has indicated they could take place within the next few weeks.
Diplomatic
tensions
Rodrigo Gularte has been on death row since 2004 for smuggling cocaine |
At the
ceremony in Brasilia on Friday, Rousseff said the approval of the Indonesian
representative would be "held up a little."
"We
think it is important that there is an evolution in the situation in order to
clarify the state of Indonesia's relations with Brazil," she said.
Indonesian
foreign ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told news agency AFP the case
showed "immaturity for a head of state."
"As a
sovereign and democratic country which has a legal system that is independent
and impartial, no foreign country or any party can interfere with law
enforcement in Indonesia, including in its law enforcement in combating drugs
trafficking," an Indonesian foreign ministry statement added.
Indonesia
has some of the strictest drug trafficking laws in the world, and Indonesian
President Joko Widodo has repeatedly pledged to give no clemency to drug
offenders.
Australia
has also clashed with the southeast Asian nation over the planned execution of
two Australian members of the "Bali Nine" drug smuggling ring.
Jakarta had vowed to put the pair to death before the end of February, but
agreed to a one month delay under heavy pressure from the Australian
government.
nm/sms (Reuters, AFP, AP, dpa)
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