Tens of Death Row Over Narcotics in Indonesia

Denpasar, Bali - Fifty-eight people convicted and sentenced to death in narcotics cases are awaiting execution in Indonesian prisons. "The executions have not yet been carried out, because the prisoners still seek ways to prevent the implementation by applying for pardons or judicial reviews through the Supreme Court," said the chief of the National Narcotics Agency, Commissioner General Gories Mere, after presiding over a roll-call of the security forces before the 34th Bali Arts Festival, the 29th IDEC meeting and the LPSK activities organised here on Friday. According to Gories, the prisoners keep buying time by seeking pardons from the government. He did not mention the prisoners' origins. Meanwhile, he remarked that around 250 Indonesians have been jailed abroad - for example, in China, Malaysia and some European countries - for their involvement in narcotics cases. Gories also reported an increase in the number of cases involving illegal drugs, especially meth smuggling and related crimes. He noted that while marijuana and cocaine had formed the bulk of the narcotic drug usage across the country in the past, methamphetamine has become predominant in the last few years. (*)