{"id":17287,"date":"2020-07-06T15:36:46","date_gmt":"2020-07-06T15:36:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reprieve.org\/uk\/?p=17287"},"modified":"2020-07-08T08:21:34","modified_gmt":"2020-07-08T08:21:34","slug":"indonesias-drug-control-regime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reprieve.org\/uk\/2020\/07\/06\/indonesias-drug-control-regime\/","title":{"rendered":"Indonesia’s drug control regime is filling its prisons – and undermining sustainable development"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Indonesia is one of the most strongly committed countries to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But what does that mean on the streets – or on the country’s death row?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 17 SDGs in total and they are part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; a framework that all countries accepted in 2015 to ensure no one is \u2018left behind\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All countries agreed to achieve the goals by 2030. Indonesia is among those taking the lead. It wants to be the \u201cforemost pioneer and role model\u201d of the SDGs. This commitment has been led by President Joko Widodo since 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The catch is that Indonesia also has one of the world\u2019s most punitive drug control regimes.<\/p>All 18 people executed in Indonesia in 2015-16 were convicted of drug offences.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The catch is that Indonesia also has one of the world\u2019s most punitive drug control regimes. It is the reason behind the country’s massive prison population and the majority of death sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All 18 people executed in Indonesia in 2015-16 were convicted of drug offences. Among those, 15 were foreign nationals – and 11 were allegedly couriers. That means 83% of those executed in that period were foreign nationals. Yet, foreign nationals are suspects in only 0.4% of drug-related police investigations each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by: Josh Estey for AusAID (Flickr)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Trafficking 5 grams or more of certain drugs can result in a death sentence. Alleged drug offenders have been targeted for executions and extrajudicial killings since Indonesia accepted the SDGs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of people in prisons for drug-related offences increased from around 7,000 in 2002 to more than 130,000 in 2019. This has meant a sharp deterioration in prison conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has become a national crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The regime intended to curb drug use and supply has:<\/p>\n\n\n\n