News Digest

Indonesia delays moving two Australian drug smugglers for execution

The transfer of two Australians on death row in Indonesia to an island for execution has been delayed to allow them more time with their families. But as every surviving former prime minister of Australia urged Jakarta to spare Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran from the firing squad, Indonesia’s Attorney-General H.M. Prasetyo insisted they would still be killed. Eight convicted drug smugglers, including seven foreigners, will be transferred to an Indonesian prison island this week for imminent execution despite international appeals for clemency. Among the eight are Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 33, the ringleaders of a group of nine Australians arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of heroin to Australia from the Indonesian resort island of Bali. The seven other members of the group - dubbed the “Bali Nine” by Australian media - have received prison sentences ranging from 20 years to life.

We want the families to meet with Myuran and Andrew, to give them more time to be with the convicts on death row. This is not delaying the executions. This is just to provide the families with more time.

Indonesia’s Attorney-General H.M. Prasetyo

Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has rejected appeals by Australia’s government for clemency for Chan and Sukumaran, and vowed not to grant mercy to any other drug offenders. United Nations human rights experts have expressed concern at reports indicating trials for some of the defendants did not meet international standards of fairness and have called for an immediate halt to further executions in Indonesia. Indonesia has extremely strict drug laws. On Jan. 18, it executed six drug convicts by firing squad, including foreigners from Brazil, Malawi, Nigeria, the Netherlands and Vietnam, brushing aside last-minute appeals by foreign leaders.

Like millions of Australians, I feel sick in the pit of my stomach when I think about what is quite possibly happening to these youngsters.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott