Last goodbye? Families visit Bali 9 Australians on death row

The families of two Australian drug smugglers facing imminent execution in Indonesia visited them Monday on the prison island where they will be put to death. Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, the ringleaders of the so-called “Bali Nine” drug smuggling gang, were sentenced to death in 2006 for trying to smuggle heroin out of Indonesia. They recently lost their appeals for presidential clemency, typically the final chance to avoid the firing squad, and are expected to be executed soon with other foreign drug convicts.

We’re fairly excited to go see Andy today. It’s been a few days. We’re just looking forward to see him when we get over there, giving him a hug.

Michael Chan, brother of Bali Nine death row prisoner Andrew Chan

The families, escorted by consular officials, were expected to spend several hours on the island before returning to Cilacap. Foreign drug convicts from France, Brazil, the Philippines, Nigeria and Ghana also recently lost their appeals for presidential clemency, and are expected to be executed at the same time as the Australians on Nusakambangan. A lawyer for Chan and Sukumaran said at the weekend that a court will on Thursday hear the latest legal appeal by the pair. They had sought to challenge President Joko Widodo’s decision to reject their pleas for clemency - but a Jakarta court last month dismissed that bid. Their lawyers have now lodged an appeal against that decision.

We’ve been told he’s doing well, so we just want to see him for ourselves, just to make sure, and let him know that we love him.

Chinthu Sukumaran, brother of Bali Nine death row prisoner Myuran Sukumaran

Asia-Pacific Bali Nine