Aussie drug smugglers arrive at execution spot
Seven other foreigners also await death by firing squad on island prison
TWO CONVICTED Australian drug smugglers arrived yesterday at an Indonesian island prison where they are to be executed by firing squad along with seven other foreigners despite clemency appeals from several of their governments. An Indonesian is also scheduled to be executed.
The preparations at Nusakambangan Island’s maximum-security prison facilities had been completed, Attorney-General Muhammad Prasetyo said. He refused to say when the executions would take place.
Besides the two Australians, a Nigerian national born in Spain was also transferred to the island prison off Indonesia’s main island of Java. Two other Nigerians, a Philippine woman and four men from Brazil, France, Ghana and Indonesia are also scheduled to be executed. It was not immediately known how many had been transferred to the island.
The planned executions have soured relations between Indonesia and other countries involved, especially Australia and Brazil. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo received phone calls from some foreign leaders asking that the executions be cancelled, but has rejected their requests. He has vowed not to grant mercy to drug offenders because Indonesia was suffering a “drug emergency”.
Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto told reporters yesterday the government was following Indonesian law carefully in preparing for the executions and was being particularly cautious about the impact on relations with other countries.
Australia has repeatedly pleaded for clemency for its two citizens, Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 33, who were arrested in April 2005 while trying to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin from Bali to Australia.
Chan and Sukumaran were moved from the Kerobokan Penitentiary on Bali – where they’ve spent the past decade – in two police armoured vehicles in a pre-dawn operation involving scores of riot police. They were taken to Nusakambangan Island by plane and then boat. Australian media camped there reported their arrival.
Prison authorities earlier turned away Chan’s older brother, Michael Chan, who attempted a visit. Television footage showed Michael Chan walking away from the prison with his brother’s Indonesian girlfriend, who was in tears.
Prison governor Sudjonggo, who goes by a single name, told reporters that Chan and Suku- maran did not appear upset as they left the prison. Sukumaran took pencils in a plastic bag, clothes, a Bible and a drawing book, he said.
The Indonesian government recalled its newly designated ambassador, Toto Riyanto, to Brazil last week to protest over the postponement of the approval of his credentials by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff amid tensions over the imminent execution of its citizen, Rodrigo Gularte, 42.
The Spain-born Nigerian, Raheem Agbaje Salami, 45, and 30-year-old Filipino Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso have also been convicted of drug smuggling.
Attorney-General Prasetyo said authorities were waiting for the completion of a last-minute judicial review of Veloso’s case.
“Actually, they exhausted their legal options when their clemency request was rejected (by the president) because by asking for the president’s pardon, they admitted that they were guilty and were asking for clemency,” Prasetyo said. “But because they are on death row and this is related to their life, we will respect their legal efforts.”
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called on Indonesia to “reciprocate” for Australia’s $1 billion aid package after the 2004 tsunami by sparing his two countrymen.
“Right now millions of Australians are feeling sick in their guts at the prospect of execution for these two,” Abbott told reporters.
Australians are feeling sick in their
stomach for pair