PHOTO: Courtesy Aktual Post
EXCLUSIVE: The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ACBC) have written to Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressing concern for the circumstances of Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, who are facing the death penalty.
The letter, signed by Archbishop of Melbourne and President of the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart on 21 January, recognised the seriousness of the offences committed in Indonesia, as well as the devastating effect of drugs on communities both in Indonesia and Australia.
“Justice must prevail and appropriate punishment used for the common good of our societies when such crimes are committed,” the letter stated.
“However, we believe that jail sentences, not execution, are the more appropriate means of punishing offenders and deterring those who would consider committing such crimes.”
Archbishop Hart, on behalf of the ACBC, went on to express his concern for the sacredness of life which, he said, motivates the plea for clemency by the ACBC.
“I am aware that Andrew and Myuran are remorseful and have been reformed.
“They have initiated education programs with the intention of supporting and reforming other prisoners.
“This is testimony to the opportunity for rehabilitation afforded them in Indonesia’s penal system and to the commitment of these two men to make a positive contribution to the lives of fellow inmates and to the broader Indonesian community.
“It is my hope that their lives will be spared and that their contribution can continue.”
The letter concluded with an impassioned plea for the sentence to be commuted.
“With great respect, I therefore seek Your Excellency’s compassionate response to the dire situation of these young men and appeal to you to commute the death sentence in these cases.
The two men, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, had their appeals for presidential clemency formally rejected last week and are awaiting the news that they will be executed by firing squad. The notification would arrive 72 hours before execution.
News reports on Wednesday, 28 January reported that the men are among those set to be executed in the next round of Indonesian death sentences to be carried out but no date has yet been set.
Indonesia’s Attorney-General made the comments on Wednesday to a House of Representatives Committee in Jakarta, stating that the next round of executions of drug traffickers was planned for next month (February), listing some of the countries the condemned come from as France, Ghana, Cordova, Brazil, Philippines, Australia and Indonesia.
Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were arrested in Bali, Indonesia in April 2005, along with several others, for their attempts to smuggle heroin into Australia. The two men and the other seven Australians arrested came to be known collectively as the Bali Nine.
Myuran Sukumaran is an Australian citizen who was born in London in 1981 and whose family is of Sri Lankan heritage, while Andrew was born in Sydney, Australia in 1984.
Both men attended Homebush Boys High School in Sydney, where they met and became friends.
Since their arrest, Andrew and Myuran have been housed in Kerobokan Prison, and are described as model prisoners who’ve had an extremely positive effect on other inmates.
Robert Pelletier, Lecturer in Law at the University of Notre Dame Sydney, spoke with Communications and Media Office e-Record Editor Jamie O’Brien about the plight of the two men.
Mr Pelletier said that while there is no doubt that the two men were involved in a serious drug offence, there has to be some moral equivalence between the crime and the sentence.
“These two men have undergone rigorous rehabilitation,” Mr Pelletier said.
“There is strong evidence to show they are very different from the two much younger men who were arrested in 2005,” he said.
They have worked to assist others resolve issues with drug addiction.
In his interview for the e-Record, Mr Pelletier outlined the purposes of sentencing for criminal crimes, such as those committed by Andrew and Myuran.
Mr Pelletier highlighted when being sentenced, factors to take into consideration include deterrence, rehabilitation, safety and restorative justice.
Mr Pelletier concluded that when looking at these factors, the death sentence for Andrew and Myuran does not fit.
“Pope Francis has called for the abolition of the death penalty.
“The fundamental factor for us as Catholics is that all of Catholic social doctrine is based on the dignity of the human being,” Mr Pelletier said.
While Andrew counsels and mentors inmates, helping them through down periods, Myuran provides computer lessons and graphic design courses, giving fellow inmates much needed job skills.
In the past few years, following a period of self-reflection and facing the gravity of his possible execution, Andrew has reportedly begun practising the Christian faith, taking a course in theology and running the English Language Church Service in the prison.
Andrew says that his faith has helped him cope with life in prison.
“I trust that this (death by firing squad) isn’t God’s divine plan for me, and he has a better hope and plan for my life.”
Myuran is also attempting to establish a drug-counselling program in the prison.
His aim is to provide rehabilitation and to give something back to the Indonesian community.
Myuran describes his arrest as ‘a blessing’.
“You know, when I think back at my life, I never really contributed to anything. Now I’m doing all sorts of stuff around here. It feels good, really good,” he said.
A keen artist, Myuran mentors a number of fellow artists, organising materials and selling their work. His work was recently exhibited at Bali’s G Gallery & Living. Proceeds are returned to the jail and then allocated to pay for more art materials, the twice-weekly classes and to a local drug rehabilitation centre.
Prison authorities have appointed Myuran a kelian banjar under a program of prison leadership set up by prison governor Siswanto, modelled on the Balinese system of village government. Myuran supervises a group of around 20 prisoners, assigning them tasks, liaising with guards, resolving disputes, overseeing penalties, and making small repairs in the prison.
In extraordinary evidence at the final appeal, Governor Siswantosaid he believes Myuran is a well-behaved prisoner who has turned over a new leaf and was unlikely to commit similar crimes in the future. He asked that Myuran be spared execution.
As recently as Friday, 23 January, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a statement to the ABC that the two men deserve mercy, describing them as reformed characters who had helped to rehabilitate other prisoners.
The Prime Minister’s statement did not detail whether or not he had spoken to Indonesian president Joko Widodo personally about the matter, but said he and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop were maintaining “every possible effort” to prevent Sukumaran and Chan being executed.
Mr Abbott said he spoke to the families of both men and would continue to offer them the Government’s support.
– Information courtesy ABC and mercycampaign.org
A copy of the letter from the ACBC is available at https://www.catholic.org.au/acbc-media/media-centre/media-releases-new/1629-indonesia-death-penalty-acbc-letters/file