The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Thu, June 25 2015
The Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the Indonesian government had upheld the legal rights of Serge Atlaoui, a French death row convict whose lawsuit challenging President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s refusal to grant him clemency had been rejected by the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN).
“In the case of the French death row convict, Atlaoui, this is a legal process. What we have carried out has not in any way violated his legal rights,” said the ministry’s spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir as quoted by Antara in Jakarta on Thursday.
He said Atlaoui’s decision to file a lawsuit via his lawyers with the PTUN against President Jokowi’s clemency refusal was the final step he could take according to the legal process in Indonesia.
“What will happen next is that we will see what response comes from French authorities. Up to now, however, we haven’t received any new information from the French Embassy,” said Arrmanatha.
He further said the Indonesian government understands the French government providing every legal support possible to Atlaoui. Such support he continued, was the right and the duty of all governments as they defend and fight for the rights of their citizens.
“We want all governments who want to defend their citizens facing legal problems in Indonesia to follow the Indonesian legal process,” said Arrmanatha.
French Ambassador to Indonesia, Corrinne Breuze, said her government was certain that there would be justice in the legal process for Atlaoui, who was convicted of drug offences.
“We still believe that there is justice in Indonesia. We are striving to do our best through his [Atlaoui’s] lawyer to find a solution. We know there is justice in the Indonesian legal system; we believe that,” Breuze said on Monday.
Atlaoui was arrested by security authorities during a raid at a drug factory in Cikande, Tangerang, in 2005. The Tangerang District Court sentenced him to life in prison, which was later upheld by the West Java High Court.
The Supreme Court rejected Atlaoui’s appeal against his life sentence and instead upgraded it to a death sentence. President Jokowi rejected his clemency request in December last year. His execution, initially scheduled for the end of April earlier this year, had been delayed while he filed a lawsuit against President Jokowi’s clemency rejection.
In his second case-review hearing in March, Atlaoui denied that he was involved in drug manufacturing activities in Cikande, Tangerang.
*
do 25 jun 2015 - 15:22