Three Nigerians and one Indonesia were executed by firing
squad shortly after midnight local time, reports say. Those
who were executed have been named as three Nigerians -
Seck Osmane, Humphrey Jefferson Ejike, Michael Titus
Igweh and one Indonesian Freddy Budiman.
Those who remain on death row include three other
Indonesians, a Pakistani, an Indian, two other Nigerians and
two Zimbabweans. It is not clear why their executions did
not proceed.
"Of course there are considerations for it," was all Deputy
Attorney General for Crimes, Noor Rachmad would say. He
said those who had been executed had filed for judicial
reviews twice and both were rejected.
There has been no confirmation yet from the government.
The remaining 10 are expected to be put to death in the
coming days. Human rights organisation Amnesty
International condemned the executions as a "deplorable
act that violates international and Indonesian law".
Relatives had gathered there earlier in the day to say
goodbye to loved ones. It also said 17 ambulances were
sent to the island - 14 of them carrying coffins, Jakarta
Post reports.
All 14 had been moved into isolation cells ahead of the
executions. A vigil was held outside the presidential palace
on Thursday night to protest against the executions,
although most Indonesians support the death penalty for
drug offences according to opinion polls.
The government insists they are a necessary deterrent in
the war against drugs, with officials regularly citing
statistics that 40 to 50 people die from drug-related causes
a day.
"It is an action to stop the rapid spread of drug in
Indonesia - today Indonesia has become the main
destination in the Asian market," said Foreign Ministry
spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir.
Source: The Age/BBC/
