The Indonesian Institute Center For Public Policy Research
The clemency that was granted by the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to Schapelle Leigh Corby has drawn various reactions from the public. Corby is an Australian citizen who is being punished to serve 20 years in jail. She is being sentenced after she was caught for bringing 4.2 KGs of cocaine into Bali on October 8th 2004.
The president’s decision was formalized in the President Decree No 22/G dated in May 15th 2012. The decision gave a 5-year “discount” to Corby’s punishment. It means that she only has to stay in prison for 15 years, although she still has to pay IDR 100 million fine.
Rejections came from many, following the clemency. Many questioned reasons behind it. This mostly is due to the fact that it was considered contradictive to Indonesian’s efforts to fight the spread and use of narcotic drugs. Some people even argued that SBY broke his Presidential Vow by making this decision.
Some arguments were given to support the decision. Most of them were stated by ministers. The reasons were diverse, from humanity reasons; political considerations, the Supreme Court support; to the fact that it is the President’s prerogative to grant a clemency, so no one should question it. This edition of the Indonesian Update raises a main theme on the irony of the war on drugs.
This edition of the Indonesian Update also raises some important topics in the fields of the economy, politics, and social affairs. On the economy, it discusses Community Empowerment National Program (PNPM). On politics, it talks about the first round of the Jakarta Governor’s Elections. On social affairs, it discusses flooding in Jakarta and the women’ s poverty burden.
The regular publication of the Indonesian Update with its actual themes is expected to help policy makers in the government and the business sector, academicians, and international think tanks get actual information and contextual analyses on economic, political, social, and cultural developments in Indonesia.
Happy reading!
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