Indonesia's Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo speaks to journalists about the upcoming executions at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia April 28, 2015.
IN PHOTO: Indonesia's Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo speaks to journalists about the upcoming executions at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia April 28, 2015. Nine drug traffickers met their families for what could be the final time at an Indonesian maximum security prison on Tuesday, after Jakarta rejected international pleas for clemency and ordered their mass execution to proceed, possibly within hours. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

The execution of the Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran was “perfect,” according to Indonesian Attorney-General HM Prasetyo. The official also issued a warning to anyone planning to commit drug crimes in the country.

Just as Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott called the execution of Chan and Sukumaran “cruel and unnecessary,” Prasetyo proudly declared that the grim event, where the two Australians and six other drug offenders were killed by firing squad, was a success.

“The result of the second execution was better, more orderly and more perfect than the last,” he told reporters in Cilacap, near Nusakambangan Island, adding that the bodies were treated more “humanely” this time around. He was comparing it to the first execution batch, in which five foreigners and one local were killed over drug offences.

He added a warning to others planning to commit drug offences in Indonesia to “think a thousand times” because the Asian country has strict punishment for such acts. As of the expected repercussions on the relationship of Indonesia with other countries such as Australia, Prasetyo didn’t think much of it, saying their reaction is just “a momentary ripple.”

On Wednesday morning just after Chan and Sukumaran’s executions, Mr Abbott addressed reporters in Canberra, announcing that they are withdrawing Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Grigson. Although Australia recognises Indonesia’s sovereign right, the PM said they deplore what the other country did to the two Australians.

The move is unprecedented for Australia. When Australian Van Tuong Nguyen was executed in Singapore in 2005 for drug crimes, the country did not pull out its ambassador to Singapore. Then-Prime Minister John Howard decided against taking punitive action against the small Asian country.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, meanwhile, has denied Mr Abbott’s assertions that the executions were unnecessary, saying Indonesia they were in line with existing regulations. Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi was not also worried about the other country’s withdrawal of ambassador. She said it was Australia’s right to recall Grigson.

“Every time we communicate with Australia, we always emphasise Indonesia’s interest in continuing to having a good relationship,” Marsudi told MetroTVnews.com, as quoted by SMH. “Australia is an important partner for Indonesia and, I think, Indonesia is an important partner for Australia.”

To contact the writer: a.lu@ibtimes.com.au

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