Indonesian Ambassador in London, H.E. Mr. Yuri O. Thamrin held a meeting with the Chairman of Arise Nigeria, Dr. Idaewor Philip and Charles Eze (Chief Operating Officer) and Jenny Okafer on last July at the Indonesian Embassy in London. Arise Nigeria is a London based organization that voices the interests of Nigerians, especially those who lived in the UK.
The meeting was held to deliver a petition from Arise Nigeria addressed to the President of Indonesia appealing for the clemency of the 18 Nigerians who are currently sentenced with the death penalty in Indonesia for their crimes of drug trafficking.
Dr. Idaewor conveyed his organization’s intention to approach the Indonesian Government appealing for clemency of the 18 convicted Nigerians. Although he understood the impact of drug trafficking on Indonesian people as well as fully understood the need to enforce law and order in Indonesia, he conveyed their opposition to the death penalty.
In addition, Dr. Idaewor also underlined that the plea for clemency is not intended to interfere with the legal process in Indonesia, but solely based on humanitarian consideration. He also conveyed his organization’s plan to visit Indonesia to meet with relevant parties in discussing the plea for clemency for those 18 Nigerian.
Responding to the concern of Arise Nigeria, Ambassador Thamrin mentioned about Indonesians living abroad who are also on death sentence; and the efforts that have been made by the Indonesian Embassies in tackling these issues.
The Ambassador also explained about the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking in Indonesia and the penalty imposed by the Indonesian court to all criminal drug abusers and traffickers, including the death penalty to its own citizen and foreign nationals.
However, Ambassador Thamrin gave his assurance to convey the requests and concerns to the relevant authorities in Indonesia, and hope that this issue should be understood as a legal matter which the executive cannot interfere in. Additionally, he hoped that this issue will not adversely effect the very good existing bilateral relations between Indonesia and Nigeria.
The meeting between the Indonesian Ambassador and the representative of Arise Nigeria is seen as an essential part of the embassy’s missions in the UK as the organization voices the aspirations of its members in the UK.
