Rights Group Urges Govt to Include Death Penalty Moratorium in Law Reform Package

Jakarta Globe, Alin Almanar, October 08, 2016

The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) has urged the Indonesian
government to include a moratorium on the death penalty in a law reform
package expected to be released this month. (Antara Photo/Widodo S. Jusuf)

Jakarta. A legal rights group has urged the Indonesian government to include a moratorium on the death penalty in a law reform package expected to be released this month.

The government is currently preparing the package, which officials have said would focus on improving legal instruments, law enforcement institutions and legal culture.

The government could begin reforming the country's legal system by imposing a moratorium on the death penalty, the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) said.

"As the most severe form of punishment, the imposition of the death penalty must comply with much highest standards," ICJR executive director Supriyadi Eddyono said on Friday (07/10).

In its call for the moratorium, the Jakarta-based group cited unfair trials, a problem it said has been rampant in cases that resulted in the imposition of the death penalty.

"Proper legal procedures, strong evidence and effective legal assistance must all be guaranteed," Supriyadi said. "Based on the rampant problems in our criminal justice system, it is already appropriate for the government to examine the matter of the death penalty before it releases the law reform package."

Having declared a state of emergency over the high rate of drug abuse in the country, the government has pressed ahead with the execution of death-row inmates, especially those convicted of drug offenses.

The government executed four inmates by firing squad in a third round of executions three months ago. Fourteen other drug convicts were executed last year, some of them foreign nationals.

Amid a national and international outcry, the Indonesian government has repeatedly called on other countries to respect its legal system.