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Last ditch pleas to save death row foreigners in Indonesia

Foreign embassy officials summoned to island prison, indicating an execution date is near
Last ditch pleas to save death row foreigners in Indonesia

The family of Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso and various organizations appeal to the Indonesian government to show mercy toward the condemned Filipino woman, during a rally in Manila last week (Photo by Vincent Go)

Published: April 24, 2015 09:22 AM GMT
Updated: April 23, 2015 10:23 PM GMT

Relatives and diplomats scrambled Friday to make last minute appeals on behalf of several foreign drug convicts on Indonesia's death row as authorities, defying international outrage, made final preparations for their execution.

In Manila, various groups circulated petition letters addressed to Indonesian President Joko Widodo appealing for clemency and a pardon for Filipino drug convict Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso.

"We believe that [Veloso] is innocent and is a victim of human trafficking," said Nardy Sabino, executive secretary of the Promotion of Church People’s Response, an influential ecumenical group in the Philippines.

Veloso's situation "merits special attention" because she had no legal counsel for most of her trial and she did not understand most of the proceedings, Sabino told ucanews.com.

Lawyer Edre Olalia, secretary-general of the National Union of People's Lawyers, said Veloso's lawyers would file a petition for another judicial review in Yogyakarta on Monday.

The lawyers will highlight that "she is primarily a human trafficking victim and, therefore, must be protected", Olalia said.

Indonesia’s National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) on Friday called on Widodo to give Veloso "a chance to file her second judicial review".

"Indonesia must not execute someone who will be proven as a victim of human trafficking," the group said in a statement.

Komnas Perempuan wanted efforts to save Veloso seen as a model for Indonesia to save 227 Indonesian migrant workers facing the death penalty in other countries.

"Veloso's case is similar to the fate of Indonesian migrant workers. Mostly, they are dragged into international human trafficking," the group said.

Philippine Vice-President Jejomar Binay on Friday called for prayers for Veloso.

"I urge everyone to include [Veloso] and her family in their prayers," Binay said in a statement released to the media.

Binay on Wednesday sought the help of Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla to spare the life of Veloso and commute her death sentence.

The appeal remains unanswered.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's Attorney-General's Office spokesman, Tony Spontana, told ucanews.com on Friday that Veloso had earlier in the day been transferred to the island prison of Nusakambangan where the executions are carried out.

Indonesian authorities have also summoned embassy officials to go to Nusakambangan this weekend.

Ten convicts — from Australia, France, Brazil, the Philippines, Nigeria, Ghana and Indonesia — are being held on the island awaiting execution after losing appeals for clemency.

Philippine foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose confirmed that the "Indonesian government has ordered all prisoners up for execution with or without pending appeals to be transferred to the island".

Indonesian spokesman Spontana, however, said the timing of the executions "are not yet clear".

Authorities still need to wait for the results of a judicial review filed by Indonesian drug convict Zainal Abidin, he said.

"Prosecutors have received letters from the head of General Crimes, ordering prosecutors to start preparing for the executions," Spontana said, adding that the letters were received on Thursday. 

Australia, which has two drug traffickers on death row, said it was "gravely concerned" at reports that Indonesia's attorney general was pressing ahead with the executions.

"Our ambassador in Jakarta is currently engaged in making a series of representations," said Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs in a statement Friday morning.

France on Thursday accused Indonesia of "serious dysfunction" in its legal system that led to Frenchman Serge Atlaoui being sentenced to death, and said his execution would be "incomprehensible".

A lawyer for Brazilian inmate Rodrigo Gularte said that consular and legal teams for the condemned inmates were heading to Cilacap, the port town nearest the prison island, as soon as possible.

Anti-drug laws in Indonesia are among the world's toughest and Widodo, who took office in October, says the country is facing a narcotics emergency that requires the ultimate sanction for convicts.

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