It’s not over yet: there’s still apparently a chance that the two Bali Nine Australians on Indonesian death row may have their executions postpone and the decision reviewed again, according to a spokesman for the Attorney General’s office.
Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran who were convicted as the ringleaders of a 2005 plot to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of heroin out of Bali may live to see more days than they had thought.
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Even though Indonesian’s Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo has previously said the death row pair will go down together and face the firing squad in 2015, his spokesman, Tony Spontana has now said that while the executions should take place as soon as possible, there’s a possibility that they will be delayed. He revealed in an interview with the Berita Satu News Network that there were technical ways the execution could be postponed. Spontana made this concession when asked about the sticky political situation with Australia from these executions.
“But with regards to death penalty, we have the mechanism to review the decision,” Spontana said, as quoted by Australia’s ABC.
“Starting from the decision made by the District Court all the way to decision in Judicial Review, including the clemency decision.”
Apparently nothing was said about how a review would be conducted or how long the two could push back their executions, but they might at least be able to buy some time if they get one.
According to Spontana, there are other “technicalities” that could end up postponing the executions like the inmates’ health or their right to religious support.
Sukumaran and Chan have demonstrated their desire for rehabilitation and have even started a petition amongst their supporters. But even Indonesia’s Human Rights minister does not think it’s enough to redeem them from their crime.
“We appreciate our friends’ effort in fighting for their citizens in trying to request for clemency – Mercy [Campaign, an advocacy group] – but we made our decision,” Indonesia’s Justice and Human Rights minister Laoly said, as quoted by ABC.
“Take a look at Malaysia, Singapore, who dares to do it there? No one,” Laoly said.
“Because they have strict law. And we have to be in that phase with ours.”
Photo by AFP
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