Indonesia needs to be consistent on death penalty at home and abroad

A couple of months ago, on 18 June 2011, Ruyati binti Sapubi, an Indonesian migrant worker, was beheaded in Saudi Arabia after being convicted of murdering her Saudi employer. Riyadh carried out the execution by sword without notifying the Indonesian Embassy, denying it the chance to take action.  

Upon hearing of the unexpected beheading, the Indonesian public fumed with rage prompting the government to recall its ambassador to Saudi Arabia in protest.

Addressing the House of Representatives on 20 June, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa proclaimed:

“To save hundreds of Indonesian migrant workers who are facing the death penalty, the foreign ministry will form a team to fight at the international level to prevent the execution of the death sentences.”

Saudi Arabia swiftly apologised during a meeting between Natalegawa and Saudi Ambassador Abdurrahman bin Mohammed Al-Khayyat on 23 June. Michael Tene, a spokesman for Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry, said after the meeting:

“The ambassador apologised and regretted the situation and said that such a thing wouldn’t happen again in future.”

One might have hoped that this tragic event could have been a catalyst for Indonesia to re-examine its own attitude towards the execution of foreign nationals.

Just one day before Ruyati was executed Indonesia’s Supreme Court quashed a final death sentence appeal by Andrew Chan, an Australian national convicted for attempting to smuggle heroin off Bali. Six weeks after, Andrew now relies on clemency from Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to save him from the firing squad.

Yet within days of Ruyati’s execution and his government’s promise to form a task force to deal with the cases of Indonesians abroad facing the death penalty, Yudhoyono emphasised that Indonesia would not soften its stance on foreigners facing execution.

The Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has joined Andrew’s family in their claim for clemency, stating that she would go as far as possible to try and have his sentence commuted. However, her efforts are yet to have any apparent impact.

Indonesia’s newfound mission to save citizens facing the death penalty abroad is welcomed. Its legitimacy however depends upon a change in attitude at home.

The Mercy Campaign is petitioning the Indonesian President to spare the lives of two Australians on death row, one of whom is mentioned in this article. Their petition can be found here: http://mercycampaign.org/petition