A Dutch national who police said ran one of the largest drug operations in Southeast Asia, was sentenced to death today by an Indonesian court.
Ang Kiem Soei, an ethnic Chinese holding a Dutch passport and an Indonesian identity card, had been charged for owning a huge factory making the drug ecstasy. Police found the factory in April 2002 in the city of Tangerang, west of Jakarta.
Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri is a strong supporter of the death penalty for drug dealers and often peppers her speeches with references to the dangers of drug use by youths.
Anti-drug campaigns have been on the rise in recent years, and activists have been attending Ang's trial since it started. In contrast, Indonesia has few groups campaigning against the death penalty, which is carried out by firing squad.
Several Indonesians and foreigners are on the death row over drug cases.