UK urges Indonesia to spare life of drug smuggler
Hans Nicholas Jong, Ina Parlina and Ni Komang Erviani
The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA: -- Just three days after a British newspaper revealed the suspension of a diplomat for allegedly having an affair with a drug convict in Bali, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond came to Jakarta on a mission to save the life of British drug trafficker Lindsay Sandiford, who is on death row.

During his visit, Hammond met Indonesian officials including vice president Jusuf Kalla and foreign minister Retno LP Marsudi. Apart from bilateral economic issues, the British foreign secretary raised his government’s opposition to the use of the death penalty against Sandiford.

“We share the fight against international crime, including drug trafficking. But I have made it clear that the UK opposes the use of the death penalty,” he told reporters after the meeting with Retno at the foreign ministry.

Hammond said his government would provide support for Sandiford, who was sentenced to death for smuggling 4.8 kilograms of cocaine into Bali.

However, Hammond admitted that the UK government could only help Sandiford to a certain extent. “There are specific limits to how we operate and what kind of support we can offer,” he explained.

Minister Retno, for her part, said that Indonesia was consistent on its position on the death penalty. “Our position is consistent, every time there are countries who express their concerns, we explain our position.”

Meanwhile, president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reiterated his call to jointly fight drug abuse on Wednesday during a national coordination meeting held by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), which was also attended by governors, regents and mayors from across the country.

Full story: http://www.asianewsnet.net/news-71405.html


-- ANN 2015-02-05

Everybody who opposes the use of the death penalty for drugdealers shouldt think how many kid are the targets of this dealers and how many Drug addicts die from / by the drugs. These dealers are nothing but murderers out of greed. Away with these scum.

She's guilty, she knew the risks.

If you don't want to die, don't smuggle drugs. Simples!

I don't think she has a chance...

"...the British foreign secretary raised his government’s opposition to the use of the death penalty against Sandiford."

Simple. Don't let your citizens travel to places with laws you oppose.

These idiots that risk smuggling drugs in a country that have a death penalty for smuggling drugs are not real bright. No great loss.

I bet Indonesia wouldn't top a Saudi prince.

I bet Indonesia wouldn't top a Saudi prince.

No because someone would get a nice wad of cash to turn a blind eye.

As sad as her story maybe, and that other people involved in it haven't been given death sentences, she knew the risks very well. These countries are quite clear about there way of dealing with drug smuggling, so if you play the game, then you got to also accept the costs of getting caught.

I very much doubt she will avoid the firing squad, Indonesia is clearly sending out a warning to those that might be thinking of smuggling.

Lock and Load!

I personally think execution for any crime other than direct murder is highly inappropriate punishment. That being said, she likely knew what the penal risks were when she did it...I, like a lot of others expressing their opinions on here do have sympathy for her. That doesn't have to translation into condonation or whatever else.

There is no right to kill a man. A law can never justify the death of a person. Therefore, it is always correct to point those responsible for their wrongs.

I bet Indonesia wouldn't top a Saudi prince.

does a Saudi prince need to smuggle drugs? I wonder how many Indonesians have been beheaded in Saudi for crimes? I doubt they would have a problem with putting anyone in front of a firing squad if found guilty.

Just going by the cover of the book, she looks like an awful person anyway. I don't think the world would be a poorer place without her.

The only reason for the death penalty is to deter others...

But it does not work, case in point she knew the risk and still did it...

But then any political fallout is likely to hurt Indonesia harder, must have taken a lot of diplomatic pressure from Indonesia to get the FO to drop their travel warning regarding flying in Indonesia, any excuse will almost certainly see it re-imposed even harder.

How many would 'nourish' their own families with this type of drugs?

Then why give it to others?

Drugs = Death

Maybe they could swap her for a prisoner with ISIS.

Every one knows the consequence of trafficking drugs in and from Indonesia, i bet she was aware of it too, still took a chance, easy money bet, and she lost. Besides all these drug dealer kills so many lives and destroys people lives with the drug addiction, there should not be any Merci for these type of people in my opinion.

I guess I don't have a problem with the death penalty for the drug crime,they (the British lady and two aussies ) it's just the firing squad method I disagree with..correct me if I'm wrong please but didn't Thailand do away with this method because it sometimes went wrong?

*they most likely knew the consequences I meant to say.

she knew exactly what she was doing .take her round the back and shoot her

Everybody who opposes the use of the death penalty for drugdealers shouldt think how many kid are the targets of this dealers and how many Drug addicts die from / by the drugs. These dealers are nothing but murderers out of greed. Away with these scum.

In my country the drug laws were so strict. It made it almost impossible to get drugs. What did the addicts do. "Stop"? no.

They invented their own drugs. Homebake. Then came P .when they couldn't get drugs. They were wasted on alcohol. Drinking mouthwash. You cannot stop them. What people are finding out is, if you let them get on with it, they will find their own way. Some will die. No different from when it is illegal. In Amsterdam, the crime rate plummeted, the prisons emptied and the death rate of addicts dropped. I know many an addict, who now live normal healthy lives when they got older. To think that anyone of them would be murdered for having a different life problem doesn't bare thinking about.

Edited February 5, 201511 yr by greenchair

The only thing sick in this issue is the use of a firing squad, what a waste of ammunition. The Chinese know best how to execute, tie a thin board around the neck, shoot through the board with a pistol in the back of the head, dead guaranteed with one bullet. The board protects the executioner from brain splatter, the criminal suffers no pain.

The key figure in this is only serving six years in prison while the mule faces the firing squad.

Not fair or just.

Just three days after a British newspaper revealed the suspension of a diplomat for allegedly having an affair with a drug convict in Bali, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond came to Jakarta on a mission to save the life of British drug trafficker Lindsay Sandiford, who is on death row.

What a waste of taxpayer's money. Put a bullet in her head and have done with it. Yeah I know all you liberal progressives will be having a heart attack but the truth is these people peddle DEATH they don't care that some poor family has to deal with an addict in the family and they don't care about the misery they peddle.

There's only one good drug trafficker ... the one that's just been executed. Give me the gun I'll pull the trigger and I'll know it's the most humanitarian act I've undertaken because I've just saved thousands of lives.

This woman knew the consequences so now it's time the piper played the tune ... end of.

Troll post and replies removed.

I personally think execution for any crime other than direct murder is highly inappropriate punishment. That being said, she likely knew what the penal risks were when she did it...I, like a lot of others expressing their opinions on here do have sympathy for her. That doesn't have to translation into condonation or whatever else.

Drug dealers/Couriers can be likened to murderers as they supply products that kill people.

How many would 'nourish' their own families with this type of drugs?

Then why give it to others?

Drugs = Death

Cocaine = death? Really? She was very stupid but does not deserve to die.

Sorry not much sympathy from me....don't do the crime f you don't want to be punished...smuggling drugs into Indonesia is idiocy or incredible greed

BrewserBudgen is the only one showing a lick of sense.

There is so much wrong with the statement that drug couriers could be likened to murderers. First of all what it does is eliminated any personal responsibility and accountability on the part of the drug taker. The Ones who could potentially overdose and die have no one but to blame but themselves, no one forced the drug down their throats. Secondly with that logic, distillers who make say for example Jim beam could be likened to murderers as well because a high school kid drank too much and died of alcohol poisoning (and yes, its the exact same kinda thing, but we tend to overlook that because one is legal and one is not)

I personally think execution for any crime other than direct murder is highly inappropriate punishment. That being said, she likely knew what the penal risks were when she did it...I, like a lot of others expressing their opinions on here do have sympathy for her. That doesn't have to translation into condonation or whatever else.

Drug dealers/Couriers can be likened to murderers as they supply products that kill people.

Agreed, so do governments and numerous industries also, but that is another subject.

The death penalty can be opposed on the grounds that so many people who suffer it are found innocent post-mortem

Beyond that, there is the question of its efficacy as a deterrent.