Liputan6.com, Jakarta The member of commission III from the Indonesian Legislative Assembly in Bali, I Putu Sudiartana hopes that the execution of the two 'Bali Nine' ringleaders will not take place in Bali. The two alleged ringleaders, Andrew and Chan and Myuran Sukuraman have already submitted their request for clemency to President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo but then it was immediately denied. Both figures have been known to be part of the infamous group Bali 9 as they attempted to smuggle heroin back to Australia from Indonesia.
According to the statesman, the execution is best carried out elsewhere but not in Bali. He considers the theological implication it will bring should the execution continue to happen in Bali. He points out the pejorative ramifications it would bring if the execution of those in the death row continues to occur in Bali in both the short and long term.
Advertisement
"The Balinese people would inevitably be affected by the execution. They will be the one suffer from the tragedy as trauma will arise. Not to mention, they have to perform religious ceremonies everytime an inmate bites the dust," Sudiartana told Liputan6.com, Denpasar, Thursday (28/01/2015).
He understands the fact that death execution has to be done where the inmates are imprisoned. It is the rule applied everywhere. On the other hand, he still values the fact that Bali is an area where religious values are still prioritized and that the land is viewed to be sacred.
"The law states that death row inmates should be executed at the place where he or she is being imprisoned. But if the Balinese people reject this notion, I support them. I respect the people who live around the spot where the prisoners are being detained. So, if they dissaprove the decision to execute the death row inmates there, I personally support that. Because I know, should the execution continue here, it would wreck the already harmonious Bali," Sudiantara explained.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Bali Made Mangku Pastika and Bali Police demand for the execution to be done outside of Bali in trying to prevent any discontentment among the Balinese people and also to maintain the image of Bali as a holiday destination, not a place for execution.
Up until now, there has been no confirmation from the Attorney General as to when or where the two 'Bali Nine' ringleaders will be executed.
The President Decision number 9 and 10 year of 2015 stated the Jokowi has denied the Presidential pardoning requested by the two 'Bali Nine' ringleaders. Both individuals were captured as they were carrying 8,2 kg worth of heroin. The local police was detaining them on 17 of April 2005. For more than 10 years they have been imprisoned and now they have to face death as the ultimate consequence. (Akp/Tnt)