REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The executive board of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country`s largest Islamic organization, said they regreted clemency granted by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) for two drug convicts. SBY has granted clemency to drug traffickers Deni Setia Maharwan alias Rapi Mohammed Majid and Merika Pranola alias Ola alias Tania, changing their punishment from death to life`s imprisonment. 

NU Chairman Said Aqil Siroj fears the clemency will weaken the fight against drug abuse. "With all respect I do not agree with the the decision to grant clemency to drug convicts," Said Aqil said on Friday. 

Chairman of NU Legal Aid Institution Andi Najmi Fuaidi also expressed hir regret with the clemency granted by the president. Andi said the president had been unfair in exercising his constitutional right .

"Granting clemency is a constitution right of the president but by exercising the right in this case, the president has badly hurt the feeling of the people," he said. 

The clemency for Deni was signed by the president in January this year and the clemency for Merika Pranola was granted in September last year. The decision of the president hit the media after public protest against the Supreme Court`s decision to cancel death sentence for Henky Gunawan, who owned drug processing factory.

The Supreme Court in defending its decision cited the clemency granted by the president. Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said the clemency was granted based on constitutional consideration and humanity reason.

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