Indonesian President Joko Widodo, right, speaks
to reporters in Jakarta on Feb. 24 as his recalled ambassador to Brazil
looks on.
© Reuters - SADACHIKA WATANABE, Nikkei staff writer
Australia is among the nations stepping up pressure on Indonesia over the imminent executions of seven foreign convicts -- two of whom are Australians. The dispute between the regional powers threatens to hinder economic and security cooperation. It is also testing the diplomatic prowess of new Indonesian President Joko Widodo, whose economic reform program is showing promising signs.
Widodo on Tuesday stressed that it is Indonesia's "sovereign right to exercise our law." Widodo warned foreign countries against "intervention" in domestic judicial processes.
With Widodo refusing to budge, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop suggested the planned executions could prompt Australian tourists to boycott Bali and other Indonesian destinations. Australians will show their disapproval by "making decisions about where they wish to holiday," Bishop said.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott made a plea for the lives of the two Australians, who were convicted over a heroin-smuggling plot. Abbott referred to his country's aid to Indonesia after the tsunami disaster in 2004. This angered Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who shot back that Jakarta would repay the money if it was not humanitarian assistance.
Indonesia typically gives the death penalty to criminals convicted of involvement in major drug smuggling and trafficking operations. Six death-row inmates were executed by firing squad in January; five were foreigners.
Brazil and the Netherlands recalled their ambassadors from Indonesia after their nationals were killed.
France, which has a citizen among the convicts facing imminent death, has also recalled its ambassador from Jakarta. And Indonesia's ties with Brazil are deteriorating fast.
Security implications
All of this puts Widodo, a former mayor of a midsize city and governor of Jakarta, in a difficult position with limited diplomatic experience to draw on.
The president has described the spreading use of illegal drugs in the country as an "emergency" and declared a "no clemency" policy for drug-related crimes. He has expressed support for capital punishment for smuggling and trafficking offenses, regardless of a convict's nationality.
The Widodo administration, which was inaugurated in October, has announced a series of reform measures to fix the country's public finances and promote investment. The announcements have sent domestic stocks soaring. But on the international front, can the president bridge the gap with countries that have radically different justice systems and views on capital punishment?
Indonesia's increasingly emotional row with Australia, its neighbor and a host to U.S. forces, could have serious implications for regional security. Both Indonesia and Australia see potential threats from the Chinese military's expanding presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
The latest spat between Canberra and Jakarta erupted roughly half a year after they resumed intelligence exchanges and military cooperation last August. Those activities had been suspended in November 2013 after Australia was accused of spying on then-Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his aides.
Indonesia is not the only one feeling the heat, however. The country, which has the largest economy and population in Southeast Asia, is also capable of turning the tables.
For Brazil, which is grappling with economic stagnation, Indonesia is an important trade partner. In a worrying development for Brasilia, Indonesia's vice president has expressed his intention to reconsider purchases of defense equipment from the South American country.
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