Indonesia Takes Diplomatic Steps Post Execution of Foreign Drug Convicts

Jakarta (Antara) -- Indonesia has taken measures to sort out bilateral relations with countries whose citizens were executed recently to prevent the issue from prolonging, Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) said. "The president and the Foreign Ministry have taken diplomatic measures in the wake of countries protesting the execution of their citizens," Chairman of Commission I Mahfudz Siddiq stated here on Wednesday. He added that the government had explained the urgency of the situation to the nations that protested the step, wherein Indonesia executed their citizens over drug-related crimes on Sunday (January 18). According to him, these countries (the governments of the Netherlands and Brazil) must respect laws enforced in Indonesia, particularly those related to drug abuse. Moreover, he pointed out that Indonesia was not worried about the Dutch and Brazilian ambassadors being recalled by their respective countries as a sign of protest. "The ambassadors were called back for consultation; diplomatic ties have not been severed," Siddiq affirmed. (*)