Indonesia Postpones Executions Of Convicted Foreigners For Half A Month

Mar 13, 2015 08:55 AM EDT

Chintu Sukumaran, brother of Australian in death row, speaks with media in Indonesia's island prison, March 11, 2015.

(Photo : REUTERS/Darren Whiteside ) Chintu Sukumaran, brother of Australian death row prisoner Myuran Sukumaran, speaks to the media before visiting the prison island of Nusakambangan, where upcoming executions are expected to take place, in Cilacap Central Java March 11, 2015. The planned executions by Indonesia of the death row inmates, most convicted on drug smuggling charges, have been condemned internationally. The group includes citizens of Australia, France, Brazil, the Philippines, Ghana, and Nigeria, as well as Indonesia.

(I

Indonesia is postponing for half a month any executions of foreigners in its death row, in line with the system of the Attorney General's Office that carry out the death sentences in batches, all at once, instead of individual executions.

Indonesia was supposed to execute by firing squad this month 10 foreigners convicted of various drug offenses.

Like Us on Facebook

They have been brought to the prison island of Nusakambangan.

The convicts are citizens of Australia, France, Brazil, Ghana and Nigeria.

Indonesia had to postpone the firing squad, due to pending appeals by some of the foreign prisoners.

These include an appeal filed by two Australians after their request for clemency was rejected by the Indonesian government.

The court hearing for this plea is set on March 19.

Another court is also set to hand down its decision on a motion for reconsideration filed by a French convict.

The final verdict is expected to come out on March 25.

Despite the delays, the spokesman for Indonesia's Attorney General says, "there has been no change of plans from the Attorney General's Office that the executions will be done all at once."

He says, they just need to reset the schedule until "everthing is clear."

Indonesia's jail officials are required to issue a three-day notice before it proceeds with any executions.

Australia has been trying to save the lives of two of its nationals who were convicted almost 15 years ago for leading syndicates that smuggle heroin out of Indonesia.

The convicts are identified as 33-year-old Myuran Sukumaran and 31-year-old Andrew Chan.

Australia's strong campaign to spare its two citizens from Indonesia's death penalty has caused tension in the relationship between the two countries.

Indonesia has just put to death five foreigners last month for drug-related cases.

They were among the six of the executions performed since Joko Widodo assumed the presidency three months ago.

Indonesia imposes the ultimate penalty of death for drug trafficking offenses.

TagsIndonesia, foreigners, Australia, Bali Nine