With the recent firing squad executions Wednesday, Indonesia has shown the world it is hell-bent in its fight against illegal drug trafficking. However, not only are the families of the executed prisoners angered, the Muslim nation is catching the ire of the countries involved and is in for a rough outlook in the future. This time, the South East Asian nation could be biting off more than it can chew as it draws unhealthy animosity from countries many of which are its trade allies.
Already Australia has withdrawn its Indonesian ambassadors. Brazilian outrage is at a fever pitch while France is sending its strongest opposition as one of its citizen awaits a similar fate. For its part, the United Nation Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has issued statements expressing "deep regret" about the executions.
As fears grow that such a tension-filled scenario could escalate, rumors of a possible World War III consequence arise, however unlikely.
Amongst the most affected is Australia after its government pleaded repeatedly for the lives of two of its citizens, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukuraman, two men among the eight eventually executed by firing squad.
Australia has made its displeasure immediately apparent recalling its ambassadors from Indonesia, notes BBC.
The executions were done off the island of Nusakambangan and involves sentenced drug traffickers: two Australians, four Nigerians, one Brazilian and one Indonesian.
Specifically, the executions were done in a forest clearing near an Indonesian prison within earshot of nearby family members of the sentenced who with a lighted candle wanted to stand witness to the last minutes of their loved ones - sans the actual visual confirmation.
Interestingly, all eight prisoners refused blindfold in the final minutes.
Indonesian Attorney General H.M. Presetyo confirmed to reporters: "All eight were executed at the same second at 0035 hours."
In the nick of time, a ninth prisoner, a lady from the Philippines, was spared apparently after the two governments involved reached an agreement to go after drug syndicates with greater resolve.
Long before Australia, Brazil has already withdrawn its ambassador to Jakarta as Indonesia executed a Brazilian in January this year. Reportedly, the South American nation is contemplating further steps in protest.
Both Brazil and Australia denounce capital punishment as a crime deterrent and have railed at newly-elected Widodo who has stepped up the executions since his term in July.
And in classic fashion, the backlash against Indonesia has poured like heavy rain.
Rupert Colville, U.N. human rights spokesman in Geneva lashed at Indonesia's death penalty stand.
He stipulated, "Indonesia appeals for clemency when its own nationals face execution in other countries, so it is incomprehensible why it absolutely refuses to grant clemency for lesser crimes on its own territory."
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott did not mince words telling reporters, "We respect Indonesia's sovereignty but we do deplore what's been done and this cannot be simply business as usual."
Adding, Abbott detailed, "I want to stress that this is a very important relationship between Australia and Indonesia but it has suffered as a result of what's been done over the last few hours."
However, it seems tensions may soon defuse.
PM Abbott not only stopped short of encouraging trade or tourism backlash, he cautioned against it.
Brazil maybe riling but it could be putting its tongue in check as the South American nation has a $5 billion trade surplus with Indonesia, currently the biggest economy in Southeast Asia.
Indonesia's attorney-general Prasetyo echoed his government's tough stance saying, ""We are fighting a war against horrible drug crimes that threaten our nation's survival."
But the Philippine government may have provided a better way to look at the growing drug problem. Secretary to the cabinet, Jose Rene Almendras indicated how his government negotiated their way out of the execution.
"I think both sides, both legal sides, have decided let's pursue this legal angle of not just hitting a mere courier and trying to go to the bigger root of the problem," he detailed.
Join the Conversation