INDONESIA’S world class hypocrisy over the death penalty has been laid bare in statistics that reveal it fought for and won execution reprieves for nearly 200 of its own citizens.

As Bali 9 drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran await execution on the prison island of Nusakambangan, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has warned that the plan to proceed with executions at home could risk the lives of citizens facing the death penalty overseas.

While the Indonesian Government is still refusing to commute the death sentences of Australians, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that 189 Indonesians had their own death sentences commuted in the last three years alone.

Some experts estimate there are 360 Indonesians facing the death penalty overseas including vulnerable migrant workers in the Middle East.

The Indonesians who had faced execution but had their death sentences suspended were convicted of crimes including drug smuggling in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, China, Iran, Singapore.

“I am not requesting of Indonesia anything that Indonesia does not request of other nations where Indonesian citizens face the death penalty,’’ Ms Bishop told The Sunday Telegraph.

“Indonesia has sought and has received from other nations stays of execution for Indonesian citizens on death row, including for drug offences.

“I welcome the fact that Indonesia opposes the death penalty for its citizens abroad and that’s why the Australian Government is seeking the same mercy for Mr Sukumaran and Mr Chan.’’

Indonesian President Indonesian President Joko Widodo defended his stance in an interview broadcast yesterday on Al Jazeera television.

media_camera Indonesian President Joko Widodo is not relenting despite pressure from around the world to spare the Bali Nine duo the death sentence.

“As a head of state of course I’m going to try to save my citizens from execution,” he said.

“That’s my obligation as a president, as a head of state ... To protect my citizens who are facing the death penalty but on the other hand we have to respect other countries that apply capital punishment.

“The constitution and the existing law still allows the death penalty. But, if the Indonesian people want to change it in the future, then it’s possible, why not?”

Last year, Indonesia paid $2.1 million in blood money to stop the execution of an Indonesian maid on death row in Saudi Arabia for murder. Politicians who called for mercy included new Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who has subsequently rejected appeals for clemency for the Bali 9.

Satinah Binti Jumadi Ahmad had been due to be beheaded within days and her case prompted a huge wave of support in Indonesia with workers collecting coins to pay the blood money. Indonesian Security Minister Djoko Suyanto later agreed to top up the blood money to meet a demand for $7 million.

media_camera Satinah Binti Jumadi Ahmad.

‘‘This will help to save Satinah from the death penalty,’’ he said.

Ms Bishop noted the case of Satinah this week in Parliament warning that Indonesia’s stance on the Bali 9 pair may jeopardise Indonesia’s ability to plead for mercy for their own citizens.

“There was the famous case of Ibu Satinah, whom the previous Indonesian government saved from beheading in Saudi Arabia after she had been convicted of murdering her elderly employer,’’ she told Parliament.

“The new Widodo government has signalled it will do the same. This week, the Jakarta Post reported on a cabinet meeting in which it is said the President instructed his ministers to seek clemency for Indonesian migrant workers abroad on death row.

“According to Indonesian NGO Migrant Care, representatives of whom met with Andrew and Myuran’s families this week in Jakarta, up to 360 Indonesians face the death penalty overseas, including around 230 on drug charges.

“Migrant Care and other reputable Indonesian institutions, including the National Commission on Human Rights, have said that Indonesia’s current policy of proceeding with executions at home would risk undermining its representations abroad.’’

On Friday, Ms Bishop condemned as “undignified and degrading” the decision of Indonesian police to pose for photographs with the condemned pair on board the flight to the Nusakambangan island where they will be executed.

“It seems that our citizens have been singled out for treatment designed to maximise publicity that was certainly at odds with the treatment of other citizens of other countries in the same position,” she said.