Branson begs Indonesia not to execute Nigerian

English businessman and founder of Virgin Group, Richard Branson, has written a letter to Joko Widodo, president of Indonesia, to spare the lives of Agbaje Salami and eight others awaiting clearance to be executed for drug-related offences.

The letter was also signed by former presidents Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil and Ruth Dreifuss of Switzerland, who are members of the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

All three also expressed willingness to travel to Indonesia “in the next few days” to speak with Widodo and discuss their research on better approaches for treating drug crimes.

“Several years of studies show that treating drugs as a health issue rather than a criminal issue would dramatically improve Indonesia’s drugs problems, as has happened in countries like Portugal,” Branson said.

“As I wrote recently, the death penalty is a barbaric and inhumane form of punishment that has long been proven to achieve absolutely nothing to deter or prevent crime. It is important that everyone continues to speak out for all those facing execution.”

Last week, President Goodluck Jonathan made a similar plea to Harry Purwanto, Indonesia’s new ambassador to Nigeria, but an Indonesian court subsequently sanctioned Salami’s impending execution, turning down his appeal against Widodo’s rejection of his clemency plea.

Indonesia maintains strict adherence to its anti-drug laws. On January 18, it executed (by firing squad) two Nigerians, Solomon Chibuike Okafor, (alias Namaona Denils) and Daniels Enemuo (alias Diarrassoube Mamadou). A woman from Indonesia, another from Vietnam, and two male Brazilian and Dutch nationals were executed on that day as well.

The full letter reads:

Dear President Widodo,

As members of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, which includes some ten former Heads of State and Government as well as experts on drug policy, human rights, law enforcement and public health, we are writing to ask for clemency for Australian nationals Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, Brazilian national Rodrigo Gularte, French national Serge Atlaoui, Ghanaian national Martin Anderson alias Belo, Nigerian national Raheem Agbaje Salami, and Indonesian nationals Iyen bin Azwar, Harun bin Ajis, Sargawi alias Ali bin Sanusi, and Zainal Abidin, who are awaiting their execution by Indonesian authorities, following earlier convictions for drug-related offences.

It is not our intention to weigh in on the judicial particulars of these cases. Nor do we suggest that those named above did not commit the crimes for which they were convicted, or that they should not serve time for their misdeeds.

However, we feel strongly that the death penalty is an inhumane form of punishment that has been proven time and again to fail as a deterrent of crime. Countries that still carry out executions for drug offences have not seen any significant shifts in supply and demand. The drug trade remains remarkably unaffected by the threat of capital punishment.

Furthermore, the death penalty removes any chance of forgiveness for the remorseful. It is our understanding that several of the defendants, many still in early adulthood when convicted, have expressed enormous regret for their offences and resolved to live better, more purposeful lives.

We have the highest consideration for the laws of Indonesia and your responsibility as President to keep your nation and its people safe from crime and harm. However, as advocates of evidence-based drug policy reform, we have studied different national approaches in great depth. We have learned that treating drugs as a health issue and not as a criminal one, helps lower the number of drug deaths, limits the spread of infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis, reduces drug-related crime and allows people who struggle with addiction to become useful members of society again.

If you were to find it helpful, we would be happy to come to Indonesia to discuss the issue with you and your administration.

Mr. President, we hope you will consider our plea and spare those named above this ultimate and irreversible punishment. Granting clemency would be a humane and righteous act, and a first step towards sensible reform that could become a shining example for the entire Asian region.

Please accept assurances of our highest consideration.

Sincerely,

Sir Richard Branson
Founder, Virgin Group
Commissioner, Global Commission on Drug Policy

Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Former President of Brazil
Chair, Global Commission on Drug Policy

Ruth Dreifuss
Former President of Switzerland and Minister of Home Affairs
Commissioner, Global Commission on Drug Policy