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Australian FM makes last-minute plea for clemency for Bali Nine duo
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop once again called for clemency for Bali Nine duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran on Saturday after Indonesian authorities told Australian consular officials that their executions were imminent
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ustralian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop once again called for clemency for Bali Nine duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran on Saturday after Indonesian authorities told Australian consular officials that their executions were imminent.
In a statement posted on the Foreign Minister's website, Bishop 'respectfully' called on President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo to reconsider his refusal to grant clemency to the two Australians, who were caught smuggling heroin out of Bali to Australia in 2005.
Bishop said that the pair has been rehabilitated 'in a most remarkable way' over the past decade and that the legal challenges that remained before the Constitutional Court and Judicial Commission raised fundamental questions about the integrity of the clemency process.
'I spoke to Mr. Sukumaran's mother, Raji, yesterday and assured her the government would continue to seek clemency from President Widodo for both men,' Bishop said in her statement on Saturday. 'It is not too late to have a change of heart.'
Chan and Sukumaran are currently on the Nusakambangan prison island in Central Java awaiting their executions. (dyl)(+++)
STATEMENT
Indonesian authorities today advised Australian consular officials that the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran will be scheduled imminently at the Nusakambangan Island prison in central Java.'¨'¨
The thoughts and prayers of many Australians would be with Mr. Chan and Mr. Sukumaran.
I spoke to Mr. Sukumaran's mother, Raji, yesterday and assured her the government would continue to seek clemency from Indonesian President [Joko] Widodo for both men.
They have been rehabilitated in a most remarkable way over the past 10 years and are genuinely remorseful for their serious crimes.'¨'¨
Nothing can be gained and much will be lost if these two young Australians are executed.'¨'¨
Legal challenges remain before the Constitutional Court and Judicial Commission, which raise fundamental questions about the integrity of their sentencing and the clemency process. These claims should be heard.'¨
I again respectfully call on the President of Indonesia to reconsider his refusal to grant clemency. It is not too late for a change of heart.
Australia asks no more of Indonesia than it has asked of other nations where Indonesian citizens on death row have been granted clemency, including for serious drug offences.
