14 more drug convicts to be executed in Indonesia

By Ainur Rohmah

TUBAN, Indonesia (AA) – Indonesia’s attorney general announced Wednesday that 14 convicted drug smugglers will be brought before firing squads in the next round of executions.

Muhammad Prasetyo declined to reveal the names and nationalities of the inmates, but said all were being held in isolation cells in the notorious island prison of Nusakambangan in Central Java province.

"If not changed, 14 people will be executed," he was quoted as saying by kompas.com.

Earlier this week, Indonesia tightened security around Nusakambangan, closing Wijaya Pura dock in Cilacap, the port town nearest the prison, while authorities prohibited people visiting incarcerated family members.

On the two occasions in 2015 that Indonesia executed death row inmates on the island similar suspensions occurred.

Prasetyo said Wednesday that notifications were sent to the families and embassies of the inmates.

"I hope that all parties can understand," he told reporters.

Prasetyo refused to reveal the date of the execution, but did not deny the possibility that they could be carried out at the end of this week.

According to a document seen by an Anadolu Agency reporter that appeared to be official, the death row inmates include: Obina Nwajagu (Nigeria), Ozias Sibanda (Nigeria), Michael Titus Igweh (Nigeria), Humprey Ejike (Nigeria), Eugene Ape (Nigeria), Zulfiqar Ali (Pakistan), Merri Utami (Indonesia), Pujo Lestari (Indonesia), Agus Hadi (Indonesia), Freddy Budiman (Indonesia), Gudrip Singh (India), Fredderik Luttar (Zimbabwe), Seck Osmane (Senegal) and Okonkwo Nonso Kingsley (Sierra Leone).

There was no official authentication of the document, although it included firing squad arrangements.

Prisoners are usually given three days notice before they face the squad.

Indonesia has some of the harshest anti-narcotic laws in the world. President Joko Widodo declared a "drug emergency" last year, on the grounds that use reportedly kills around 40-50 people in the country daily.

Last year’s executions were heavily criticized by the international community, with some countries -- whose nationals had been put to death -- withdrawing ambassadors from Jakarta.