08 July 2004 :

Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri rejected appeals for clemency made by seven drug traffickers who had been sentenced to death. "Today, I rejected pleas for leniency from seven drug traffickers, although it was a difficult decision to make," she said during the commemoration of International Anti-Drugs Day held at the state palace here. Megawati's speech received an ovation from the audience of about 300 guests, who included First Gentleman Taufik Kiemas and Indonesian Police chief, Gen Da'i Bachtiar. Among the drug traffickers who made an appeal was Indian Ayodya Prasad Chaubey (67), who had been sentenced to death for possessing 12.19 kg of heroin.