Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal received by Amnesty International regarding the death sentence of three men involved in the Bali bombing, that occurred in 2002 and who were convicted under a new law brought into force in 2003, that introduced the death penalty for terrorist acts. Their execution is imminent following the rejection of various actions for appeal. Please send letters to the relevant authorities and urge them to stop the use of the death penalty.
For further queries please feel free to contact Kathryn Duff, research and campaign assistant, Asia-Pacific Programme by his email Kathryn.Duff@amnesty.org.
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
———————————————————————
AI Index: ASA 21/020/2008 16 October 2008
INDONESIA: Amrozi bin H. Nurhasyim (m), Ali Ghufron alias Mukhlas (m), Imam Samudera (m)
Amrozi bin H. Nurhasyim, Ali Ghufron and Imam Samudera, who were convicted of involvement in the 12 October 2002 bombings on the island of Bali, which killed 202 people and injured a further 209, are facing imminent execution by firing squad within the next week.
In January 2008, police and court officials informed the three men that their renewed demands for a second judicial review had been rejected. The men appealed against this decision, but on 17 July the Indonesian Supreme Court rejected this appeal and announced that they had exhausted their right of appeal, stating only one judicial review is permitted.
The executions were due to take place in September, but were delayed for the holy month of Ramadan. Jasman Simanjuntak, spokesman for the Attorney-General’s office, stated on 14 October that the date of execution will be announced on 24 October. However, as executions in Indonesia are usually carried out in the early hours of Friday morning, and the date of execution is never normally announced in advance, Amnesty International fears that the announcement will simply confirm that they have already been executed. Amnesty International is also concerned that the men will be executed despite their outstanding petition to the Constitutional Court, alleging that the method of execution by firing squad amounts to torture.
Amrozi bin H. Nurhasyim, Ali Ghufron and Imam Samudera were sentenced to death by the Denpasar District Court in 2003. The law they were convicted under was brought into force in 2003 and introduced the death penalty for ‘terrorist’ acts, and allowed for those involved in the 2002 bombings in Bali to be tried retroactively. Under international law (Article 15 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights- ICCPR) and the Indonesian Constitution, a person cannot be tried under legislation brought in after the incident took place.
A pardon from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is extremely unlikely. All three men have stated that they will not apply for Presidential pardon. The President has also previously indicated in a television interview that he will not give clemency and will allow the process to be seen through to the end.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Death sentences in Indonesia are carried out by firing squad. The person under sentence of death has the choice of standing or sitting and of using a blindfold or cover for their head. Firing squads consist of 12 people, six of whom are supplied with live ammunition and six whose guns are loaded with blanks. The squad fires from a distance of between five and 10 metres.
To Amnesty International’s knowledge, at least 107 people are believed to be under sentence of death in Indonesia. Eleven of these were convicted and sentenced to death in 2007. Indonesia has executed seven people since 26 June 2008.
In 2006, Indonesia ratified the ICCPR, which states that “every human being has the inherent right to life.” However, the Indonesian authorities did not authorize ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, aimed at the abolition of the death penalty.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Bahasa Indonesian, English or your own language:
– calling for the death sentences of Amrozi bin H. Nurhasyim, Ali Ghufron alias Mukhlas and Imam Samudera to be commuted;
– expressing concern that the Law on Combating Criminal Acts of Terrorism, under which these men were sentenced to death, was applied retrospectively to include all those involved in the Bali bombings, violating international law and the Indonesian Constitution;
– calling on the Indonesian authorities to commute all death sentences in Indonesia;
– recognizing that Indonesia has a right and responsibility to address serious crime, and expressing sympathy for its victims, but pointing out that there is no clear evidence that the death penalty is an effective deterrent;
– calling on the authorities to sign and ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR and establish a moratorium on executions, as a first step towards the abolition of the death penalty as advocated in the UN General Assembly Resolution of 18 December 2007.
APPEALS TO: Please remember Indonesia is 6 hours ahead of GMT, and fax machines may be switched off outside of office hours.
President
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President RI, Istana Merdeka, Jakarta Pusat 10110, Indonesia
Fax: + 62 21 345 2685
+ 62 21 526 8726
Salutation: Dear President
Attorney General
Mr. Hendarman Supandji, Jaksa Agung, J. Sultan Hasanuddin No. 1, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta, Indonesia
Fax: + 62 21 725 0213
Salutation: Dear Attorney General
COPIES TO:
Governor of Bali
Governor Dewa Made Beratha
Jl. Basuki Rahmat Renon Denpasar 80361, Bali, Indonesia
Fax: +62 361 236 037
Salutation: Dear Governor
and to diplomatic representatives of Indonesia accredited to your country.
————————–
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
