[JURIST] An Indonesian court on Thursday delayed a hearing for two Australians that are known leaders of the Bali Nine [Guardian backgrounder] narcotics organization. Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan are currently facing execution for drug smuggling charges, including heroin. Earlier this year an Indonesian court scheduled the appeal [JURIST report] which is now delayed. Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs in Indonesia, stated earlier this month that the attorney general’s office was about 95 percent ready to move forward with the executions, but these recent developments have served as an impediment.

Indonesia has been under severe international scrutiny due to its frequent use of the death penalty in recent sentencing. Last month a spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) [official website] urged [JURIST report] the Indonesian government to halt all executions of people convicted of drug-related offenses. In January another spokesperson for the OHCHR voiced concern [JURIST report] over the continued use of the death penalty in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The OHCHR reported that eight more people convicted of drug trafficking in Vietnam had been sentenced to death. Also in January Brazil and the Netherlands recalled [JURIST report] their ambassadors from Indonesia after an Indonesian firing squad executed six convicted drug traffickers [JURIST report], sparking international condemnation from human rights groups and foreign leaders.