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AG secures job by capitalizing on executions: Watchdog

Jakarta Globe - July 28, 2016

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Jakarta – H.M. Prasetyo has continued to secure his position as attorney general despite President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's cabinet reshuffle due to his tenacity to execute drug convicts, Hendardi, chairman of political watchdog Setara Institute told Suara Pembaruan on Thursday (28/07).

"[Attorney General] Prasetyo, who lacks any [significant career] achievements, continues to capitalize on the executions [and the president's apparent zero tolerance policy on the issue] to mask his shortcomings in anti-corruption enforcement and resolving human rights violations," Hendardi said.

Prasetyo, according to Hendardi, was in panic over the cabinet reshuffle as plans for the executions were already underway.

"The future of human rights is hardly [promising given that we have] an attorney general who has no interest in human rights. Moreover with [newly appointed] Chief Security Minister Wiranto, it is almost certain that Jokowi's campaign and promises on human rights would be hard to fulfill," Hendardi added.

Misguided priorities

"[On an] evaluation of law enforcement process, drug eradication and penitentiary management should be the main priorities instead of taking the lives of death row convicts, which ultimately does not have any deterrent effect," Hendardi said.

Hendardi strongly condemned capital punishment saying that it is against basic human rights and its enforcement is a violation of the Indonesian constitution.

"I refuse and condemn [capital punishment] and I urge the government to scrap death penalty sentences from the Indonesian legal system," Hendardi said.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/ag-secures-job-capitalizing-executions-watchdog/.