Pubdate: Mon, 02 May 2016 Source: Jakarta Post (Indonesia) Copyright: The Jakarta Post Contact: http://www.thejakartapost.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/645 Authors: Margareth S. Aritonang and Agus Maryono POLICE, TROOPS IN PLACE FOR EXECUTION AS GOVT STAYS SILENT It is still fresh in the memory when the Indonesian public witnessed fellow citizens holding hands in solidarity to ask the government to spare the lives of drugs traffickers months before the execution last year. The calls grew louder approaching the execution date of April 29, especially following the revelation of the convicts' identities. Leaders of Australia, France and the Philippines urged Indonesia to save their citizens from capital punishment. But no such actions are seen today, since the government has kept the plan below the radar. Although it has announced that another round of executions lies ahead, no further details have been provided, raising concerns among families of inmates and human rights activists. Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo was economical with his explanations on the third round of executions during a recent hearing at House of Representatives Commission III overseeing law and human rights, unlike last year, when he provided details on the preparations and the lineup. Prasetyo and other officials from the Attorney General's Office (AGO) remained tight-lipped when asked for further information. "I am sorry. I have no updates regarding the execution," is all AGO spokesperson Amir Yanto said in response to The Jakarta Post's query on Sunday. Despite Jakarta's silence, the National Police and military troops are on guard on the Nusakambangan prison island in Cilacap, Central Java, where executions take place. Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Condro Kirono, who is in charge of the local police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) that will carry out the execution, has been at the location for a week to personally ensure security in and around the Nusakambangan facility. A firing squad from the Central Java Police's Brimob was ready to execute drug traffickers, who would each face 14 shooters, said Condro. He added that 140 Brimob personnel had been sent to the scene and were prepared to put 10 drug traffickers to death, in addition to a team of doctors and spiritualists to check the physical and mental condition of the convicts. Condro declined to discuss further details. The government's silence has raised speculation that the next round could include convicts of the so-called "Tangerang Nine" ring, who were found guilty of drug trafficking following a 2005 police raid on what was considered Southeast Asia's largest illicit drug-manufacturing factory in Banten, West Java. Adding to such speculation, the Supreme Court recently rejected a case review filed by several Chinese nationals implicated in the case and Frenchman Serge Areski Atlaoui, who escaped execution last year. "All calls for pleas have fallen on deaf ears. President [Joko "Jokowi" Widodo] insists on carrying on with the death penalty instead of implementing a moratorium to review all cases and at the same time improve the judicial system of the country to minimize miscarriage of justice," said Al Araf, director of human rights watchdog Imparsial. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom