Amid growing tensions between Australia and Indonesia, the Indonesia’s ambassador to Australia, has released a statement extending his government’s sympathies to the families and friends of executed Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan.
In the statement, ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema acknowledged the strain the men’s deaths at the Nusakambangan island prison had placed on relations between Indonesia and Australia.
The Bali Nine ringleaders and six other convicts were shot by an Indonesian firing squad in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the face of international condemnation and in spite of appeals for mercy from their families.
“Indonesia understands the views expressed by the people and government of Australia on the law enforcement measures taken against the two Bali Nine drug smuggling ringleaders,” Mr Kesoema said.
“The Indonesian people and government express our sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased.
“This is a difficult and challenging period for Australia-Indonesia relations.”
The statement also said that a good relationship with Australia was important to Indonesia and called on the media to report on the executions in a “proportional and objective” manner.
Indonesian president Joko Widodo has said he will refuse to grant drug offenders clemency as part of his country’s “war” on drugs.
The statement comes as Indonesia prepares for a third group of executions later this year.
Indonesian Attorney-General H.M. Prasteyo said that though it was too early to talk about the next round of executions, the latest were “more perfect” than the last, as authorities learnt from the experience.
