JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo firmly said on Tuesday (Dec. 9) that he will refuse to grant clemency to 64 convicted drug dealers sentenced to death.

President Jokowi, in his speech in a general stadium held at the Yogyakarta’s Gadjah Mada University (UGM), said he wants to give a shock therapy to the drug dealers.

The President mentioned the drug problem as a national emergency. The government, president said, needs to take a strong and firm action against the drug dealers.

Haris Azhar from the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), meanwhile, criticized Jokowi’s decision. According to Haris, President Jokowi does not understand the human rights, or, instead, the President might be violating the human rights.

As reported earlier, Jokowi’s administration continues its effort in combating drug dealers in the country. Coordinator Minister for Politic, Law, & Security Affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno earlier revealed that the government will soon execute five out of 64 death-row drug convicts this month.

Minister Tedjo said the execution is just waiting for the decision letter from the newly Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo. Tedjo, however, has not yet revealed the identity of the five death-row drug convicts to be executed this month. He said that five convicts are Indonesians and foreigners. (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)