Death penalty Urgent Appeal of Amnesty International - Stop the executions in Indonesia

Amnesty International

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Eleven people, including Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, now face imminent execution in Indonesia.

Alongside Andrew and Myuran, those facing death by firing squad include Indonesians, as well as foreign nationals from France, Ghana, Spain, Brazil and the Philippines.

Indonesia has already demonstrated its deadly intent by executing five foreign nationals and one Indonesian just after midnight on 18 January. International condemnation followed and the Brazilian and Dutch Ambassadors to Indonesia were recalled.

Death sentences in Indonesia are carried out by a firing squad of 12 gunmen. Prisoners are given a choice of whether to stand or sit and whether to have their eyes covered, by a blindfold or hood. Three rifles are loaded with live ammunition, while the other nine are loaded with blanks. Prisoners are then fired on from 5-10 metres.

The death penalty is a violent, inhumane and outdated punishment that has no place in today’s criminal justice system.

Evidence from around the world has shown that the death penalty does not work to deter crimes. State sanctioned killing only serves to endorse the use of force and to continue the cycle of violence.

More than 140 countries have now abolished this barbaric practice, and Indonesia must join them.
Please, urge the Indonesian authorities to halt plans to execute the 11 death row prisoners and to establish a moratorium on all executions with a view to ending the death penalty for good.