British businessman Richard Branson has joined calls for clemency for convicted foreigners on death row in Indonesia, as an Indonesian minister warned of a renewed influx of asylum seekers into Australia if it continues to push the issue.
Virgin founder Branson said today he and fellow members of the Global Commission on Drug Policy had written to Indonesian President Joko Widodo, calling the planned execution of up to 11 foreigners a barbaric and inhumane form of punishment.
"What we have learned is that treating drugs as a health issue, not as a criminal issue, it actually helps lower the number of drug deaths," Branson told Australian Broadcasting Corp television.
The planned executions by Indonesia of the death row inmates, most convicted on drug smuggling charges, have been condemned internationally. The group includes citizens of Australia, France, Brazil, the Philippines, Ghana, and Nigeria, as well as Indonesia.
Australia's efforts to free two of its citizens, Myuran Sukumaran, 33, and Andrew Chan, 31, have raised particular hackles and led to tensions with its neighbour Indonesia.
Purdijatno, a controversial figure in Indonesia, noted that Canberra and Jakarta had been working together to prevent asylum seekers attempting to reach Australia by boat.
Purdijatno referred to comments by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who has called the planned executions "revolting", that appeared to link clemency for the Australians to financial aid it gave Indonesia after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
"I'm in the business of trying to find constructive solutions and we've made our position on the execution of these Australians pretty clear," he told reporters. "We think these two people who've been on death row now for a decade have been thoroughly rehabilitated and reformed."
Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem Javelin Series? Ex-Pakistan Star Says It'll Be Bigger Than... Former Australia Captain Demands Demolition Of India's Historic Win Venue, Reason Is This "Point To Prove": Ricky Ponting Makes Huge Prediction On India-Australia Series Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP This US City Has Been Declared America's Least Desirable, Survey Finds "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool Ukraine, Russia Both Claim Advances In Kursk Region Gaza Ceasefire Talks Underway In Qatar As Deaths Top 40,000 Trump To Hold Press Conference, His Campaign Adds Senior Advisers Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.