Indonesia postpones executions to focus on economy, ties

He said Indonesia needed to concentrate on the economy.

Indonesia will not be executing death row prisoners in the near future, the country’s top security minister said.

“If confirmed, that report is certainly welcome not only for Mary Jane Veloso but for all; and we hope it leads to a permanent abolition in time, as we have serious objections and questions about its effect and goal in deterring crime”, Olalia said.

Mr Panjaitan, who visited Australia earlier this week, said discussions were “preliminary”.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton visited Jakarta this week, but wouldn’t say whether he’d discussed boat turnbacks with his counterparts, revealing only that talks had focused on the economy and security.

“The attorney general’s office is now helping the government in prioritizing the economy”, Prasetyo told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

And at the time Mr Prasetyo said the 2016 budget, which was agreed on by the Parliament on October 30, included the money to carry out a further 14 executions.

At the beginning of this year Indonesia’s President, Joko Widodo, announced plans to execute all 64 drug traffickers on death row this year, saying it was “shock therapy” for drug felons.

Two of the convicts were Australian drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, who were executed in April, causing tension between the two countries and leading to Australia recalling its ambassador from Indonesia.

Her execution was deferred in a stunning, last-minute stay order last April 29, after several other foreigners on death row for drugs cases had been put to death.

Reports revealed that the Indonesian government postponed the executions as its government wants to fix its economy, which is experiencing a slowdown.