Execution of 2 Bali Nine Members Detrimental to AUS-RI Relations

Liputan6.com, Jakarta For the past few weeks, Australia has been trying to request for President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's pardoning gesture as the popular outcry demanding for the two alleged Bali Nine Ringleaders’ execution to be cancelled or at the very least postponed is becoming more sound than ever. Many influential individuals in the entertainment arena voice out their opinion responding to the recent decision of the Indonesian President, rejecting his way of punishing those who are subjects for drugs-offenses. Both Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, are now loitering for the President to change his mind but remain pessimistic as they are running out time and their clemencies continue to be rejected.

In an attempt to help these inmates to be freed from the death penalty policy, the Australian Minister of Foreign Relations Julie Bishop speeches in front of all members of Australian parliament, encouraging all individuals to help fellow Australians who have evidently changed to be better men and now have to face death.

"I am sure that Indonesia will have so much to lose should the President decide to execute these two Australian men," Bishop told BBC, Thursday (12/02/2015).

According to Bishop, Indonesia should sincerely give a clemency to both Chan and Sukumaran knowing that Indonesia is equally busy requesting clemency from other nations so that Indonesians living abroad who are subjects to death sentence would be reconsidered from their penalty. Bishop clearly demands Indonesia to be fair where if Indonesia wants its people abroad to be saved from death penalty, it has to apply the same policies at home even to foreigners.

Bishop continues explaining how the Australian Government knows the danger drugs posed to our society and that it is true that drugs should be abolished. However, Bishop views death penalty as ineffective method to punish those who have been subjects to drugs usage or distribution. Both Chan and Sukumaran have already showed their efforts to change to be better men. They have contributed so much in the correctional institutions that Bishop thinks they deserve another chance to live.

"Both men have paid their debts to the society, they have improved themselves to be better, they have supported and encouraged fellow inmates to become strong," Bishop said as she visited the Kerobokan Prison to see the artwork of both Chan and Sukumaran, Bali. 

president Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo rejected the clemency requests of two Bali Nine drugs- offenders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran from Australia. (Akp/Ein)