KEEP
HOPE ALIVE (3)
It appears only a change of mind from the Indonesian
President can save the lives of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran from
execution.
STOP PRESS
Lawyers for the men said
they were planning to lodge an administrative appeal against Indonesian
president Joko Widodo's refusal to grant them pardons.
They said the president
should have considered each case and not just refused clemency for all drug
crimes, as he is doing.
But Indonesian
attorney-general Muhammad Prasetyo has dismissed the attempt at another legal
challenge, saying it is not possible to challenge the president.
"Clemency is a
prerogative right that cannot be obstructed by anybody, can not be challenged
by anybody. It's a prerogative right," Mr Prasetyo said.
"The president has
that prerogative right as the head of state and nothing can obstruct that.”
Two young Australians, Andrew Chan and Myuran
Sukumaran are awaiting execution by firing squad for attempting to smuggle
heroin (nine kgs) from Indonesia to Australia in 2005. They were sentenced to
death in 2006 by an Indonesian court.
Chan
and Sukumaran organized seven other young people (mules) to tape one kg each to
their bodies in an attempt to smuggle the drug into Australia from Bali. Their
offence was serious and they were aware of the risks. The mules are now serving
long prison sentences in Bali.
Ironically, they were all apprehended at Bali airport by the Indonesians
acting on information provided by the Australian Federal Police. Had the AFP
not done so, the (Bali Nine) could have been arrested on arrival in Australia
and, instead of facing a death sentence, would have, no doubt, received long
prison sentences. Not death by firing squad.
On
Monday night, on ABC television in Australia, Four Corners highlighted the
plight of these two young men, who are scheduled to be shot by the end of the
month after the Indonesian President recently refused pleas for clemency.
Despite the fact that both prisoners have turned their lives and attitudes
around and are not only rehabilitated, but also doing good for fellow prisoners
in their Bali prison.
Here
is the link to the Four Corners program. Please take the time to watch it.
Also,
here is another link to Amnesty International which is appealing to all
compassionate people to write to the Indonesian authorities and plea for
clemency – imprisonment, not death (via email or social media, using the
hashtag #KeepHopeAlive).
The
taking of people’s lives through Capital Punishment is barbaric. Everyone deserves
to be treated humanely, regardless of their crime. Long prison sentences are a
better deterrent with, at least, some hope of rehabilitation.
I encourage all who share my values in this
regard, to click on the link above and write to the Indonesian authorities
expressing your concern about the imminent execution of these young men.
djdelene.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment