Why should President Joko Widodo repeal the planned execution of 10 drug convicts on death row?

Forget the human rights argument for now – what about Indonesia's national interest and the people's aspirations? Will executing these convicts benefit the country and its people? Executing drug convicts has never been an issue for Indonesian voters. It's not an issue they think about when they vote a president into office.

Yes, most of us fully support efforts at eradicating drug trafficking, but by killing, supposedly to create a deterrent effect? That's not what Indonesians want.

Are the executions in the interest of the nation? Inviting massive international condemnation is not in the interest of Indonesia at all. We have been criticized as murderers.

Destroying our relations with otherwise friendly countries like Australia, Brazil and France is hardly an act of defending our interests either.

Arguing that executing these convicts can create a deterrent against drug traffickers is all myth. How many people have been sentenced to death? Has the amount of drugs in circulation gone down? No, it hasn't.

Saving Indonesian youths from drugs will need clean law enforcers. As long as law enforcers take bribes, we can never eradicate drug trafficking.

So is there any reason why should Joko continue with the planned executions? Political leverage, perhaps? Few voters will care about this enough, while the international community – which supported his ascension to the presidency – is turning against him.

It is time to put a stop to the executions – a policy initially meant only to divert attention away from the conflict between police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Joko will come out as a human rights hero and a winner. That is something that people will remember.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/opinion/editorial-executions-go-indonesian-interests/