Indonesia Moratorium on Executions Shifts Focus on Economy

Indonesia’s moratorium on state executions will allow the Pacific nation to shift its focus to economic growth, Australian media reported Thursday, citing a presidential chief of staff.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – “The coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, Luhut Panjaitan…said he had told his Australian counterparts that killings would stop for now,” the ABC broadcaster said.

The moratorium would allow Indonesia “to focus on fixing its weak economy,” Panjaitan was quoted as saying at a media conference.

Indonesia resumed capital punishment in 2013 after a four-year pause and has since executed 19 prisoners, according to international watchdog research.

Two Australians, four Nigerians, two Indonesians and a Brazilian – the so-called Bali Nine – were executed in April, sparking an international outcry and frayed relations with Australia. A total of 14 individuals – including Dutch, Vietnamese and Malawian nationals – were executed this year following convictions for drug trafficking.

At least 35 of approximately 120 prisoners awaiting execution in Indonesia are thought to be foreign nationals.