MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Rousseff 'dismayed' with Indonesia for execution of Brazilian; ambassador recalled
Archer, the first Brazilian to be executed in another country, was shot “at 3:31 p.m. Brazilian time, after spending a little more than 11 years behind bars”. 
Rousseff “respecting Indonesia's sovereignty and justice system” spoke by phone Friday with Indonesian Prime Minister Joko Widodo to ask for clemency. President Dilma Rousseff expressed Saturday her “dismay” and “indignation” after learning of the execution of Brazilian Marco Archer Cardoso Moreira in Indonesia and recalled her country's ambassador to Jakarta for consultations.
“President Dilma Rousseff learned, to her dismay and indignation, about the execution of Marco Archer,” sentenced to death for drug trafficking. Meanwhile another Brazilian, Rodrigo Mexfeldt Gularte, is being held on death row in an Indonesian jail waiting for the date to be set for his execution by firing squad.
The communiqué confirmed that Archer, the first Brazilian to be executed in another country, was shot “at 3:31 p.m. Brazilian time, after spending a little more than 11 years behind bars.
Rousseff responded in a note that ”aware of the seriousness of the crimes that led to Archer's sentencing and respecting Indonesia's sovereignty and justice system,“ she spoke by telephone Friday with Indonesian Prime Minister Joko Widodo to ask for clemency.
The president ”deeply regrets that this last request, which followed so many others made in recent years, was not accepted by the Indonesian head of government“, the note said.
According to Rousseff, ”the death penalty, which global society increasingly condemns, gravely affects relations“ between Brazil and Indonesia.
In her message, the president sent her ”condolences to the mourning family“ and ended by saying that the Brazilian ambassador in Jakarta has been ”recalled to Brasilia for consultations.“
Some Indonesian television scenes, reproduced Saturday in Brazil, show some of the Archer family as they entered the prison for a final visit.
According to the local Brazilian press, among the things they were carrying was a dish of Portuguese salt cod known as bacalao, which the prisoner had requested along with other last wishes.
Also aired was a video shot this week by Archer himself in jail.
”This is a very difficult moment for me,“ the Brazilian said. ”I'm suffering. I know I made a mistake and committed a grave error, but I think I deserve another chance“ because ”everyone makes a mistake sometime.“
He also begs ”pardon“ and expresses his wish to ”show young people that drugs only take you to prison or to your death.“
With his last words, he confesses what he feels about his imminent execution: ”I will blindfold myself and the firing squad will shoot me. But I have hope. My life cannot end this way, so dramatically”.
Top Comments
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Read all commentsI don't condone capital punishment but if you are caught smuggling drugs in places like Indonesia then the consequences will be fatal.
Jan 19th, 2015 - 07:33 am 0The Indonesians don't treat foreigners any different than their own people hence why the pleas for clemency were ignored. They don't pardon their own people so why should they pardon foreigners who have come to their country to spread the evil of drugs?
I think that Brazil recalling its Ambassador over this is a mistake. On one hand Brazil has stated that it respects Indonesia's sovereignty and right to try criminals with their own laws and punishments, but their actions actually state: We respect Indonesia's rights unless its a Brazilian who is the criminal, and since you won't bend to our (Brazils will) we'll throw a hissy fit and remove our Ambassador.
Will this bother Indonesia? Not at all. In fact it will be Brazil that will eventually make the 1st move to reinstate diplomatic ties as Brazil needs Indonesia more than Indonesia needs Brazil.
I have no difficulty with this, only when drug dealers like this character use duped young women and the like for their purposes.
Jan 19th, 2015 - 09:53 am 0It's a bit difficult to correct things when you have shot them.
@1. With you on this. For instance, the UK's drug laws are ridiculously lenient. For example, I believe the worst a criminal is looking at these days is 14 years. Then they get it reduced for 'good behaviour'. Or on appeal. The longest sentence I ever saw handed down was 11 years. What's wrong with a year per kilo?
Jan 19th, 2015 - 10:49 am 0As for this guy, he knew the risks.
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