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John Key to put death penalty on agenda during Indonesia visit

Author
Newstalk ZB staff ,
Publish Date
Mon, 18 Jul 2016, 8:51AM
John Key will discuss the death penalty, meat exports and global security among other things during his visit to Indonesia (NZME).
John Key will discuss the death penalty, meat exports and global security among other things during his visit to Indonesia (NZME).

John Key to put death penalty on agenda during Indonesia visit

Author
Newstalk ZB staff ,
Publish Date
Mon, 18 Jul 2016, 8:51AM

UPDATED 11.37am John Key's promising to discuss the death penalty in Indonesia when he meets with its president.

The Prime Minister arrived last night for three days of talks about global security and trade.

Key and his counterpart - Joko Widodo are also tipped to go over developments in the South China Sea dispute.

Amnesty International campaigns director Meg de Ronde said they're calling on Mr Key to speak out against the death penalty.

"Indonesia has resumed the firing squad people and 15 possible deaths are imminent."

Mr Key said a definite thing he'll be raising, is what he calls New Zealand's "deep opposition" to putting people to death.

"Our main point is, as we say to all these countries, while we absolutely have sympathy for what they're dealing with, and while those that commit crimes should be held to account, there are better ways than the death penalty so we'll certainly be raising those issues."

Meat exports will also be on the agenda after New Zealand, along with the U.S, lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organisation over Indonesia's introduction of import restrictions on beef products.

The restrictions led to a 80 per cent fall in New Zealand's beef exports since 2010.

"We'd like to have better access to this market. We know that they have a problem because beef prices are very high here for domestic consumers and we can help reduce those beef prices for them so yes we will be raising that issue in the case, Mr Key said."

Our government says the ongoing dispute won't overshadow this week's trade talks.

Mr Key addressed a business delegation of 25 New Zealand CEOs at a function room at the Shangri-La Hotel.

The delegation includes leaders from the dairy, energy, aviation, construction, education and tourism sectors, all of which New Zealand believes have potential to grow within Indonesia.

Mr Key also wants to bring up Indonesia's troubled Papua province.

"Those issue are ones where I think the precedence has been trying to have more openness in the situation, but from his own mouth we'll be interested in hearing exactly what he says is going on there."

 

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