Indonesia prioritizes human rights in Mary Jane’s case: Legislator

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s decision on the repatriation of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino sentenced to death for drug smuggling, reflects Indonesia’s respect for human rights, Commission XIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) stated.

“This decision shows that President Prabowo takes humanity values and international friendship into consideration,” the commission speaker Willy Aditya remarked in Jakarta on Thursday.

Aditya observed that the decision to transfer the death-row convict arrested in Yogyakarta Province in April 2010 while carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin also demonstrates Indonesia’s commitment to the United Nations’ Vienna Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

Aditya then stated that the president’s decision to allow the convict’s repatriation further polished Indonesia’s international image and reputation, considering that the issues revolving around Mary Jane have been under the spotlight of international human rights activists for years.

“This decision reflects the president’s prudence in considering the mechanism promoted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and his respect for the legal sovereignty of the Philippines,” he pointed out.

Related news: Mary Jane transferred to the Philippines as prisoner: Minister

Furthermore, the lawmaker expressed belief that the prisoner transfer has set a good precedent for Indonesia to step up its ties with the Philippines and other nations.

Earlier on Wednesday (November 21), Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra explained that the Indonesian government had agreed to transfer Mary Jane to her homeland as a prisoner rather than acquitting her from her sentence.

“Hence, it is not an acquittal, not a pardon, but (she will be) transferred to the Philippines as a prisoner,” Yusril noted through a video statement.

On the same day, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. noted on his official Instagram account, @bongbongmarcos, that Mary Jane would eventually come home following years of negotiations between the Indonesian and Philippine governments.

He also thanked President Prabowo and the Indonesian government for their goodwill.

Related news: Expect Philippines to reciprocate transfer of death-row convict: RI