The announcement came just days after the Amnesty International said the total number of executions worldwide increased by more than half in 2015.
“Surely, we have never said the executions would cease. We will continue when the time is right,” Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo said in Jakarta on Friday.
Prasetyo refused to identify those death-row convicts, only saying that details are still being processed by the Attorney General’s Office and that the executions would probably be carried out in few months.
The chief of Jakarta prosecutor’s office was quoted by the local media as saying that four Nigerians, two Americans, two Malaysians, one Senegalese and one Zimbabwean are set to be executed.
In compliance with its extremely strict drug laws, Indonesia has been prioritizing the execution of drug convicts.
“We are still concentrating on drug convicts. We want to see a deterrent effect,” Prasetyo said, adding those convicted of other death-penalty crimes would also be executed as they are just “waiting for the right time.”
Last year, Indonesia executed by firing squad at least 14 drug convicts despite repeated calls for mercy by international organizations and foreign governments. Some of those executed were from Australia, Nigeria, the Netherlands and Brazil.
On Wednesday, the Amnesty International said last year’s 1,634 executions worldwide have been the highest since 1989, according to an AFP report.
“The rise in executions last year is profoundly disturbing,” said Salil Shetty, secretary general of Amnesty International. “Not for the last 25 years have so many people been put to death by states around the world.”
The annual report of the London-based human rights organization said the increase has been largely attributed to Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan, which are sending more men to the gallows.
“Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have all put people to death at unprecedented levels, often after grossly unfair trials. This slaughter must end,” Shetty said.
But Amnesty said China remains the world’s top executioner, saying “available information indicates that thousands of people are executed and sentenced to death in China each year.”
