December 18th, 2008

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For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa34608.pdf

18 December 2008

UA 346/08 - Imminent Execution

INDONESIA Jurit bin Abdullah (m)
Ona Denis (m)

The two men named above are in imminent danger of execution.
The Deputy Attorney for General Crimes told the Indonesian
news agency Antara on 5 December that the executions would
be carried out before the end of the year. According to
Antara, both men have exhausted all the legal avenues to
avoid execution, including an appeal for presidential
clemency. However, the president still has the power to
commute their sentences.

Jurit bin Abdullah has been sentenced to death twice, for
two murders, carried out in May and August 1997. He received
the second death sentence in April 2008.

Ona Denis was born in Nigeria but traveled to Indonesia 2001
on a Malawian passport. He was convicted of smuggling 1kg of
heroin into the country in 2001, and sentenced to life
imprisonment. He appealed, and the High Court of Appeal
sentenced him to death.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Death sentences in Indonesia are carried out by firing
squad. The prisoner can choose to stand or sit, and has the
option of a blindfold or a cover for the entire head. There
are 12 people in each firing squad, who fire from a distance
of between five and 12 meters. Six of the rifles are loaded
with blanks.

At least 107 people are known to be under sentence of death
in Indonesia, 11 of who were convicted and sentenced to
death in 2007. After a 14-month hiatus, Indonesia resumed
executions on 26 June 2008. Since then it has executed 10
people.

In 2006, Indonesia ratified the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which states that
“every human being has the inherent right to life.”
However, the Indonesian authorities did not authorize
ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR,
which requires the introduction of a moratorium on
executions, preparatory to complete abolition of the death
penalty.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly
as possible:
- calling on President Yudhono to commute the death
sentences imposed on Jurit bin Abdullah and Ona Denis;
- acknowledging that Indonesia has a right and
responsibility to address serious crime, and expressing
sympathy for its victims, but pointing out that there is no
clear evidence that the death penalty is an effective
deterrent;
- calling on the authorities to sign and ratify the Second
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights and establish a moratorium on executions,
as a first step towards the abolition of the death penalty,
as advocated in the UN General Assembly Resolution of 18
December 2007.

APPEALS TO:
Please note that fax machines may be switched off outside
office hours (GMT+6).

President
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President RI, Istana Merdeka,
Jakarta Pusat 10110, INDONESIA
Fax: 011 62 21 345 2685
011 62 21 526 8726
Salutation: Dear President Yudhoyono

Attorney General
Mr. Hendarman Supandji, Jaksa Agung, J. Sultan Hasanuddin
No. 1, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta, INDONESIA
Fax: 011 62 21 725 0213
Salutation: Dear Attorney General

COPIES TO:
Ambassador Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
2020 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington DC 20036
Fax: 1 202 775 5365
Email: http://www.embassyofindonesia.org/detail/contactus.php

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals
after 31 December 2008.

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This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including
contact information and stop action date (if applicable).
Thank you for your help with this appeal.

Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
600 Pennsylvania Ave SE 5th fl
Washington DC 20003
Email: uan@aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 202.544.0200
Fax: 202.675.8566