Indonesia - Australia Diplomatic Relations Strained by Executions
Tony Abbott, Prime Minister of Australia, said that a diplomatic fallout may occur between Australia and Indonesia if the latter sticks to its plan to execute two Australian citizens who are on death row in Indonesia on drug charges. On several occasions the Australian government requested for clemency but these requests were rejected by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Widodo takes a tough stance on drug-related crimes as the spread of forbidden substances jeopardizes people’s health in Indonesia.