THE LETTER THE COURTS REJECTED: HOW MYURAN SUKUMARAN ASKED FOR A SECOND CHANCE:
27 January 2015
Your Honour President Bapak Joko Widodo and Your Honour Chairman of the Supreme Court.
First and foremost, I'd like to apologise to Bapak for my actions 10 years ago. I have caused so much trouble and I even don't know how to start apologising to Bapak for my actions in 2005. I know that whatever I say will not mean a lot, but I'm truly sorry. At that time, I was very young and foolish and uneducated. I know my words are weak, but I want you to know that I have been trying from the moment I realised the extent of the suffering caused by my actions.
After realising how many people I have hurt, I've tried to amend my mistake by doing positive and useful things for people around me. From that moment, I have tried to be a respectable man and someone my family can be proud of. I'm very ashamed of how bad I have embarrassed my family and my country because of my wrong doings. And I have tried to be a good man since that time.
So far, it has not been easy because jail is not an easy place to live. It's even worse when your family lives far away in different country. It's very difficult to be a good man inside prison and for a long time, I thought it was not possible for me to change who I was. But after learning Bahasa Indonesia and getting to know officers in Kerobokan prison, they taught me!
They showed me kindness and love, they showed me patience, they helped me to start a computer program and we teach Microsoft Office to other prisoners here and many people are happy to learn it. I know I'm a good person by living a good and productive life, by helping others. I must thank Bapak because it's Kerobokan prison and its officers here who have made me this way and I'm happy to become the person that I am now. Thanks to Bapak, because your country has taught me over the past 10 years. Many hard things, but honestly many (other) important, good things.
I know this letter will mean nothing to you Bapak or having an impact on my execution, which is getting closer, but I want you to know that I have changed, I'm now a good person because of my experience here.
The officers never stop encouraging me to behave well and do positive things. They are very enthusiastic to have further programs so that we can set up a design studio and teach Photoshop and Corel Draw to other prisoners. These courses are so very popular that we developed a printing course and finally the drawing and painting class, music class, philosophy and English class, psychology class and first aid class. We also have sports programs, tennis coaching, boxing and weight lifting and we also have competitions that people enjoy.
In a way, Bapak, I would like to thank you even though I'm in prison. If the lowest point of a society is prison, then it must be noted that your prison has changed me into an extraordinary person, a good man, an educated man.
I just want to give my appreciation to the officers in Kerobokan Prison who have taught me.
Thank you Bapak
Respectfully, Myuran Sukumaran
* Source: Handwritten letter, translated from the original Indonesian. Given to court as part of Chan/Sukumaran legal team application for a second judicial review, which was rejected.
