Nigerian, 5 others executed by firing squad

monjola sotubo

January 18, 2015 9:49 AM

Daniel Enemuo of Nigeria, Namaona Denis of Malawi, Tran Thi Bich Hanh of Vietnam, Marco Moreira of Brazil, Ang Kiem Soei of The Netherlands and Rani Andriani of Indonesia were killed despite pleas from the international community to spare their lives.

Indonesia has executed six people by firing squad after they were found guilty of drug trafficking.

Daniel Enemuo of Nigeria, Namaona Denis of Malawi, Tran Thi Bich Hanh of Vietnam, Marco Moreira of Brazil, Ang Kiem Soei of The Netherlands and Rani Andriani of Indonesia were killed despite pleas from the international community to spare their lives.

The six convicts were executed at about midnight on January 18.

"The execution of the six convicts has been carried out," spokesman for the attorney general's office, Tony Spontana, told news agency AFP.

The Dutch government and Brazil had made final attempts to save the lives of their citizens but failed. The two countries have recalled their ambassadors from Indonesia for consultations.

A spokesperson for Brazilian President Dilma Roussef said that she is "distressed and outraged" by the execution.

"Using the death penalty, which is increasingly rejected by the international community, seriously affects relations between our countries," the spokesperson said in a statement.

Dutch Foreign Minister, Bert Koenders said:

“My heart goes out to their families, for whom this marks a dramatic end to years of uncertainty. The Netherlands remains opposed to the death penalty.”

Indonesia's Attorney General, H.M Prasetyo, however justified the execution saying that the death penalty is not "something pleasing or fun" but had to be carried out in accordance with the law.

“Indonesia must be saved from narcotics... this is a crime against humanity that damages the morals of the younger generation. I hope everyone can understand this,” Prasetyo said.

The executions are the first in Indonesia since President Joko Widodo took office in October. Widodo has disappointed human rights activists who believed that he would stop capital punishment due to his image as a reformist.

monjola sotubo