(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
There were repeated, heartbreaking calls for Indonesia's President to show the Australians mercy.
But was granting clemency ever a real option for Joko Widodo?
An expert on Indonesia says "no".
Phillippa Carisbrooke reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
Greens leader Christine Milne says Joko Widodo's presidency may ultimately be defined for Australians by his refusal to grant Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran mercy.
"It is clear that President Widodo had more interest in a domestic audience in Indonesia than he did for international relations and relations or the consequences of the relationship with Indonesia."
But an expert on Indonesia says the President was politically "crippled".
Deakin University's Proffessor Damien Kingsbury says Mr Widodo had no choice.
"It was absolutely consistent with his election policy from last year and he simply couldn't be seen to go back on that policy. And secondly he is not travelling well in Indonesian politics. He is seen as a weak president. He is under a great deal of pressure from both the head of his own party, former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, and the legislature."
President Widodo's steadfast position on the execution of the two Australians stands in contrast to the last minute reprieve granted Filipino drug smuggler Mary-Jane Veloso.
Like Australia, the Philippines had appealed to the President for clemency.
"Giving in to Australia would very much be seen very much as a sign of weakness and not a sign of friendship. And I think that distinguishes why the Filipino was granted clemency and why the Australian pair were not."
Colin Brown is an Adjunct Professor at the Griffith Asia Institute at Griffith University.
He says since his election the president has lost support due to inaction in areas such as corrupt, and is looking for ways to recover support.
"I don't doubt that he believes in the line that he is pushing. I'm not suggesting he has down it purely for political reasons. But he is reinforced in that position I think by the fact that this is one area where he can almost certainly garner popular support."
Chan and Sukumaran's Australian lawyer, Peter Morrissey, says Indonesia's international standing has been diminished by the President's behaviour.
"The Attorney General has behaved poorly. The President has behaved appallingly badly. And they both look heartless and opportunistic. And they've tainted themselves."
Mr Widodo's tough stance doesn't bode well for more than a 100 prisoners still on death row.
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