RI seeks clemency for workers on death row

RI seeks clemency for workers on death row

JAKARTA (JP): The government is seeking clemency for five
Indonesian workers on death row in Malaysia, a senior official of
the manpower ministry said yesterday.

Director General for Manpower Placement Abdul Rachim said the
government, through the Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia, would ask
the Malaysian government to reduce the sentences to life
imprisonment.

"We are obliged to do something to help them because they are
Indonesian citizens," he told The Jakarta Post.

Five Indonesian workers have reportedly been sentenced to
death by Malaysian courts for their roles in murder, drug
trafficking and rape cases. Twelve others are facing capital
punishment for similar offenses.

Rachim said that the Indonesian government did not mean to
intervene in the Malaysian court system.

"Indonesia cannot pressure Malaysia to pardon the convicts
simply because the two countries are members of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)," he said.

He said the ministry will contact the Indonesian embassy in
Kuala Lumpur for the identities of the convicts.

Meanwhile, Soetarto, minister counselor at the Indonesian
Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, said that the Indonesian convicts will
have to await the decision of the Malaysian Pardon Board.

Malaysian laws are strict about cases of narcotic, rape and
murder, but the chance for clemency is still possible, he added.

"Somebody who is found guilty of having up to three grams of
certain narcotics in that country can be sentenced to death,"
Republika quoted him as saying.

Soetarto said Malaysia up to now has condemned almost 800
foreigners to death in narcotics, rape and murder cases. Over 400
foreign workers allegedly involved in similar offenses are now
facing the same fate.

Up to now, three Indonesians have been executed in the
neighboring country for various offenses. They were Ramli Kecik,
Basri Masse and Karno Marzuki, who were hanged in 1986, 1990 and
1991 respectively.

He said the Indonesian embassy was also seeking Indonesian
defense lawyers to accompany the 12 other Indonesians still being
tried for crimes punishable by death.

"We will do the best we can to help the Indonesian citizens,"
he said.

He said about 200 Indonesian prisoners have completed their
jail terms in several Malaysian prisons and will later be
repatriated. (rms)