Countdown on for Bali Nine executions

The count-down is on for the execution as soon as tomorrow of the two Australian drug smugglers on death row in Indonesia.

Countdown on for Bali Nine executionsCountdown on for Bali Nine executions

Countdown on for Bali Nine executions

(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)

The count-down is on for the execution of the two Australian drug smugglers on death row in Indonesia.

Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were given notice on Saturday of Indonesia's intention to execute them in a minimum of 72 hours.

Siblings, friends and other relatives of the two Australians have gone to the prison island Nusakambangan, along with consular officials.

As Zara Zaher reports, the families of the Bali Nine ringleaders are still pleading for Indonesia's President, Joko Widodo to call off the firing squad.

(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)

"We ask the President to please, please show mercy. There are nine people with families that love them, that's mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brother and sisters. And we please ask the President to use his powers and intervene and save their lives."

A desperate plea for mercy from Myruran Sukumaran's brother Chinthu.

The families of the Bali Nine pair say their executions would be a grave injustice.

Chinthu Sukumaran says his brother's last wish is to paint for as long as possible.

Myruran Sukumaran has signed one of three self-portraits hes just painted with the words, "72 hours just started".

After spending some time with his brother Andrew Chan, Michael says his brother's last wishes will be to go to church with his family.

He has also made an emotional appeal to the Indonesian government to spare the men's lives.

"The two boys are still holding up pretty well considering they feel that there's injustice to what has happened over the last ten years with their whole case and that somewhere in the legal system for Indonesia there's got to be mercy. And the President needs to show that now and he's the only one that can stop it. And it's not too late to do so. So I ask the President to please show mercy."

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has called for a last-minute change of heart from the Indonesian President over the fate of the two Australians.

Acting Labor leader Tanya Plibersek says Indonesia is seriously damaging its ability to plead for its own citizens in trouble overseas when it continues to ignore pleas to stop the execution of two Australians.

Ms Plibersek says there will be far-reaching implications if the executions go ahead.

"I believe it seriously damages the ability of Indonesia to plead for its own citizens internationally when it is ignoring the pleas of countries such as Australia for the lives of our citizens."

Indonesia has so far informed seven of the 10 death row inmates, including Sukumaran and Chan, that they will be executed in a matter of days, possibly as soon as Tuesday.

The Australian pair was arrested in 2005 as ringleaders of the Bali Nine drug-smuggling group as they attempted to smuggle eight kilograms of heroin from Bali to Australia.

During their families' recent visit to the island of Nusakambangan, a group of activists gathered in front of the port to protest against the death penalty, which was resumed in 2013 after a five-year gap.

Holding up a banner bearing a portrait of Filipina drug convict Mary Jane Veloso, activists have called for the government to see her as a victim of a drug trafficking ring and to review her case.

Veloso, a mother of two ch9ó)ildren, is among those to receive notice of execution.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has granted a temporary reprieve to a French death row inmate - Serge Atlaoui - who was also due to be executed.

It's not clear why his death sentence was postponed.

 

 


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4 min read

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By Zara Zaher


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