Australia needs to show respect for Indonesia's laws and sovereignty

The death penalty is a controversial issue and especially so when foreigners are involved. Indonesia's planned execution of two Australians convicted of drug trafficking has sent ties between the neighbours into a tailspin, just as happened last month with Brazil and the Netherlands when citizens from those countries went before a firing squad for the same offence. President Joko Widodo is refusing to bow to pressure to grant clemency, contending that his nation has a serious drug problem. Nor should he. Sovereignty, especially when the right to exercise the law is involved, has to be respected by others.

Many Australians do not see it that way. Calls to spare the lives of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the alleged ringleaders of a gang of nine caught in Bali in 2005 for trying to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin to Australia, have escalated into a campaign boycotting the popular tourist island. Prime Minister Tony Abbott stepped on Indonesian sensibilities last month when he implied the generosity his country showed with aid for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami should be reciprocated by calling off the executions. That has deepened Widodo's resolve and sparked a nationalist fervour among Indonesians to stand up to what is perceived as bullying.

The incident is the latest of several over the past two years that have damaged relations. Incursions of Australian vessels into Indonesian waters to prevent boatloads of refugees from reaching Australia has led to angry exchanges between officials. Documents leaked by US National Security Agency whistle-blower Edward Snowden indicated Australian intelligence agents may have tapped the electronic communications of senior Indonesian officials. Indonesians have long accused Australia of looking down on them. To equate the lives of two Australian criminals with aid for a disaster that killed 170,000 Indonesians is seen as offensive.

The sovereignty and laws of other nations have to be respected. Indonesia is getting economically stronger and for Australia, that should prompt partnership, not intimidation.