By Ainur Rohmah
JAKARTA
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Tuesday it was unacceptable for other countries to intervene in Indonesia's legal process as it prepares to execute five foreign drug smugglers.
"We will permit no intervention relating to death sentences because it is the rule of our law, our political sovereignty," he told reporters at the presidential palace in Jakarta.
Widodo said Indonesia's ambassador to Brazil Toto Riyanto had been recalled in response to “inappropriate” treatment from Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who rejected his diplomatic credentials last week. Rousseff claimed that all she had done "was to delay the reception of the credentials, no more than that.”
In recent weeks, Australia, Brazil and France have all launched diplomatic efforts to save the lives of their nationals on death row in Indonesia.
Last month, Brazil recalled its ambassador to Indonesia after the execution of one of its nationals for drug offences. Foreign Ministry spokesman Armanata, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, told The Anadolu Agency the Brazilian ambassador returned to Jakarta "about two weeks ago."
With a second Brazilian, Rodrigo Gularte, 42, among those due to be executed in the next few weeks, tension between the two countries has been high.
Referring to the withdrawal of Riyanto from Brasilia, Widodo said: "It is about state honor, the honor of the nation… Because, for me, this is a big problem."
He said he had no plans to re-evaluate relations with Brazil but would observe developments before taking further actions.
Widodo said he had spoken with the heads of state of Brazil, France and the Netherlands over the pending executions, noting that contact with Rousseff had come before the "credential incident." He did not mention Australia, which has made high-level representations to have two of its nationals spared.
Meanwhile, Kompas.com news website quoted Vice President Jusuf Kalla as saying: "Brazil has insulted us, while Australia has made demands of us."
He said Indonesia was considering canceling trade with Brazil and re-evaluating the purchase of Brazilian-made Super Tucano fighter jets and multiple launch rocket systems.
"If Brazil's attitude is like that, we also have to show political and economic attitudes," Kalla said. "We can reduce the import of defense equipment from Brazil."
However, Indonesia would maintain trade relations with Australia, particularly the importation of meat. Kalla added: “It would be difficult if there were no meat options on menus at hotels. So we should maintain good relations.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Jakarta’s administrative court rejected an appeal by Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the two Australian death row prisoners. Their lawyers had argued against Widodo's blanket denial of clemency in drugs cases.
Judge Hendro Puspito said the challenge was not an administrative matter the court could rule on but rather fell under presidential powers.
Todung Mulya Lubis, a lawyer for the pair, said they had 14 days to appeal the ruling. "We accept the decision, but we will also convey our resistance,” Kompas.com quoted him as saying.
Indonesia has been preparing military aircraft to transport Chan and Sukumaran from Bali’s Kerobokan prison to a high security prison on Nusa Kambangan island as part of an execution process that has strained relations with Australia.
Widodo has declined clemency for 64 drugs offenders facing execution, citing the harm caused to Indonesia by illegal narcotics.
On Jan. 18, five foreigners and an Indonesian convicted of drugs offenses were executed by firing squad despite diplomatic pleas for a last minute reprieve.
