Bali Nine: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Says Death Penalty Has 'No Place In The 21st Century' While Indonesia Expresses Sympathy To The Families

The Indonesian government has expressed sympathy over the Bali Nine executions while United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed deep regret.

According to 9news, on Thursday night, Ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema said that the government of Indonesia understands the views of the people and the government of Australia about the Bali Nine, specifically with the two drug smugglers from Australia -- Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. The duo was executed on Wednesday through a firing squad after the government of Indonesia rejected all calls for clemency.

"The Indonesian people and government express our sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased," the statement said.

Furthermore, Kesoema said that "good relations" with the government of Australia is important for Indonesia and he "trusted that they were also important for Australia."

"We remain strongly committed to improve and strengthen our overall bilateral relations," he said. "We trust that currently personal, cultural, business and academic links between the people of Australia and Indonesia remain strong."

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released a statement on April 29 over the Bali Nine issue.

"The Secretary-General expresses deep regret at the execution carried out in Indonesia on 29 April despite numerous calls in the country and internationally for a reprieve," it said.

He urges the government to "exercise its authority and commute all death sentences" and added that the death penalty has "no place" in this century.

"The Secretary-General reaffirms his belief that the death penalty has no place in the 21st century. This is also the conviction of a growing majority of the international community: a record 117 States voted in the UN General Assembly in December 2014 for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty," it said.

"The Secretary-General urges all countries where the death penalty is still in place to join this movement and declare a moratorium on capital punishment with a view toward abolition."