Bali Nine smuggler Myuran Sukumaran 'nervous, worried' after executions
May 19, 2013: ONE of the Bali nine drug smugglers facing execution has been left "very worried and nervous'' after three prisoners in Indonesia were put to death by firing squad on Friday.
Myuran Sukumaran and fellow smuggler Andrew Chan remain on death row in Kerobokan Prison as Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono weighs up their bids for clemency.
The pair's lawyer Julian McMahon told News Limited yesterday that Sukumaran had heard of the executions of three Indonesian nationals convicted of murder.
"Myuran's response had been reliably confirmed to me, he said it made him feel 'very worried and nervous','' the Melbourne-based barrister said.
Myuran Sukumaran and fellow smuggler Andrew Chan remain on death row in Kerobokan Prison as Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono weighs up their bids for clemency.
The pair's lawyer Julian McMahon told News Limited yesterday that Sukumaran had heard of the executions of three Indonesian nationals convicted of murder.
"Myuran's response had been reliably confirmed to me, he said it made him feel 'very worried and nervous','' the Melbourne-based barrister said.
Mr McMahon said it was imperative the Australian government displayed ``clear expressions of solidarity with my clients''.
"The government either publicly or privately in meetings with Indonesia should speak strongly against the quota that is now being filled, and against the recent executions.''
In March, Indonesia said it would meet a quota of ten executions this year after it resumed capital punishment for the first time since 2008.
The Friday deaths take the total this year to four.
"The government either publicly or privately in meetings with Indonesia should speak strongly against the quota that is now being filled, and against the recent executions.''
In March, Indonesia said it would meet a quota of ten executions this year after it resumed capital punishment for the first time since 2008.
The Friday deaths take the total this year to four.
Sukumaran, 31, and Chan, 29, were arrested and jailed as part of the so-called Bali Nine in 2005 after attempting to courier 8.2 kilograms of heroin, worth around $4 million, from Bali to Australia.
Just this month the pair told News Limited of the chilling nightmares they were having of being shot dead by a firing squad.
They begged for a second chance, but their situation has become even more dire after reports Indonesia's national narcotics board and a top judge recommended Chan's clemency plea be rejected.
Foreign Minister Bob Carr yesterday said the Australian Government was doing all it could to help the two men.
He said the issue had been raised three times in person and once in writing with the Indonesian government since March 2012.
"The Indonesian authorities are well aware of our views against the death penalty but we will continue to proactively raise the issue,'' Senator Carr's spokesman said.
Amnesty International said all future executions in Indonesia "must be stopped''.
"They call into question many of the human rights reforms and commitments made by the Indonesian government in recent years,'' the group's Papang Hidayat said.
There are at least 130 people under sentence of death in Indonesia, including Chan and Sukumaran.
Executions in Indonesia are usually carried out by firing squad in the middle of the night in isolated locations. The prisoner is notified at least 72 hours beforehand.
Just this month the pair told News Limited of the chilling nightmares they were having of being shot dead by a firing squad.
They begged for a second chance, but their situation has become even more dire after reports Indonesia's national narcotics board and a top judge recommended Chan's clemency plea be rejected.
He said the issue had been raised three times in person and once in writing with the Indonesian government since March 2012.
"The Indonesian authorities are well aware of our views against the death penalty but we will continue to proactively raise the issue,'' Senator Carr's spokesman said.
Amnesty International said all future executions in Indonesia "must be stopped''.
"They call into question many of the human rights reforms and commitments made by the Indonesian government in recent years,'' the group's Papang Hidayat said.
There are at least 130 people under sentence of death in Indonesia, including Chan and Sukumaran.
Executions in Indonesia are usually carried out by firing squad in the middle of the night in isolated locations. The prisoner is notified at least 72 hours beforehand.
Courtesy: Herald Sun
