(Reuters) — Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Friday (April 24) she feared the worst for two Australians facing execution on drug charges in Indonesia and appealed to President Joko Widodo to show mercy.
“I fear the worst, I fear that Indonesia will seek to proceed with the execution of the two Australian citizens. I’m deeply and profoundly concerned by this, I have sought to make contact with Foreign Minister Marsudi to register a concern and to speak with her to see if there is any opportunity for Australia to persuade Indonesia to change its mind,” Bishop told reporters during a visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels.
“I am asking of President Widodo what he asks of other countries in relation with Indonesian citizens who face death row overseas. Australia opposes the death penalty, whether at home or abroad, and we again appeal to President Widodo to show mercy,” she added.
Bishop registered her concern on Friday with her Indonesian counterpart after Jakarta asked foreign embassies to send representatives to a maximum security prison ahead of the expected execution of 10 drug convicts, including two Australians.
The executions, which will be the second round under President Joko Widodo, have drawn international criticism and sparked diplomatic tensions with Australia, France, the Philippines and Brazil, which have nationals on death row.
Widodo has pledged no clemency for drug offenders, citing a “drug emergency” in the world’s fourth-largest country, but has said he was open to abolishing the death penalty in the future.
No date for the executions has yet been announced.
