Indonesia recalls envoy to Brazil amid row over drug-trafficking execution
New ambassador called back to Jakarta after authorities in Brasilia stop a ceremony sealing his appointment as a Brazilian waits on death row in Bali
Indonesia has recalled its new ambassador to Brazil after the South American country postponed a ceremony sealing his appointment, Jakarta said on Saturday, amid a row over the execution of a Brazilian national for drug trafficking.
Brazil and the Netherlands withdrew their ambassadors from Indonesia, which has some of the strictest drug trafficking laws in the world, after two of their citizens were among six people executed for drugs offences last month.
Indonesia is also involved in a diplomatic spat with Australia over the fate of two Australian members of the “Bali Nine” drug trafficking ring due to be executed this month.
Toto Riyanto, who was chosen to be Indonesia’s new ambassador to Brazil in October, had been invited to present his credentials at Brazil’s presidential palace on Friday but the ceremony was postponed at short notice, an Indonesian Foreign Ministry statement said.
“The manner in which the foreign minister of Brazil suddenly informed [us of] the postponement ... when the ambassador designate was already at the palace, is unacceptable to Indonesia,” the ministry said.
In response, the ministry summoned Brazil’s ambassador late on Friday before recalling Riyanto. Brazil’s embassy in Jakarta could not be reached for comment on Saturday.
