PARIS
French Foreign Affairs minister Laurent Fabius has summoned the Indonesian ambassador in a bid to prevent the execution of a French national in Indonesia.
The move on Wednesday came as French national and father-of-four Serge Atlaoui, who was arrested in 2005 in a laboratory producing ecstasy near Jakarta on drug charges and has been on death row since 2007, is believed to be facing imminent execution.
A statement issued by Fabius's office following a meeting with ambassador SE Hotmangadjara Pandjaitan expressed "extreme concern" over the situation adding: "The minister expressed France's firm opposition to the death penalty in all locations and all circumstances."
"The French Government will remain fully mobilized on the situation of Mr. Atlaoui," said Fabius.
- 'No pardons'
Atlaoui, 50, is among seven foreigners, including two Australians who recently lost their appeal for clemency.
A lawyer for Atlaoui said that, although no date had been set for the death penalty to be carried out, it was feared it may be imminent as five other foreigners had been executed for drug offences in Indonesia in January.
The Indonesian government executed the five, who including a Dutchman and a Brazilian, for drug trafficking on Jan. 18, despite appeals at the highest levels to spare them.
New Indonesian President Joko Widodo said shortly after taking office in October last year that Indonesia was in a state of emergency concerning drugs and no pardons would be granted to those who face the death penalty for drug trafficking.
