Has the world become a better place after the execution of eight drug traffickers in Indonesia? This is the question which is being raised by the non-supporters of the capital punishment around the world. The Indonesian Government came under a scanner and severe criticism for its Anti-Narcotics Laws. Indonesia has world's toughest drug laws, as the country is tackling severe drug menace. According to a survey by Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency, as many as 34 Indonesians die every day due to drugs.
On Tuesday night, a Filipino woman Mary Jane Veloso came into prominence as she was the only convict spared from the firing squad.
The Indonesian Attorney-General and the President have confirmed that her sentence was only postponed and not cancelled.
Mary, 30, was caught bringing heroin to Indonesia and was supposed to be standing in front of the firing squad, but was granted mercy at the last minute as the Police hopes to use her to testify in solving the case. She could be the key witness in prosecuting drug syndicates.
According to the online reports by the Time Magazine, a woman who allegedly recruited Mary surrendered to the Philippine authorities. Mary Veloso claims that she was a victim of human trafficking and duped into carrying 2.6 kg of heroin into Indonesia. Besides the diplomatic pressure on Indonesia from Philippines, Indonesia's migrant activist's and women's rights activist were aggressively lobbying on behalf of Mary Veloso.
The National Commission on Violence Against Women said that Mary was a victim who was nearly raped by her employer in Dubai. She fled the country and landed in a job in Kuala Lumpur, which led to her arrest in Yogyakarta in 2010.
Mary Veloso's supporters are hopeful of a miracle and expect that the she is granted a pardon from the Indonesian government.
While Mary's plight captivated the world, eight people were executed in early hours of Wednesday morning in Indonesia's Nusa