STATEMENT ON CHAN AND SUKUMARAN

Indonesian authorities today advised Australian consular officials that the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran will be scheduled imminently at Nusa Kambangan prison in central Java.

The thoughts and prayers of many Australians would be with Mr Chan and Mr Sukumaran.

I spoke to Mr Sukumaran’s mother Raji yesterday and assured her the government would continue to seek clemency from Indonesian President Widodo for both men.

They have been rehabilitated in a most remarkable way over the past ten years and are genuinely remorseful for their serious crimes.

Nothing can be gained and much will be lost if these two young Australians are executed.

Legal challenges remain before the Constitutional Court and Judicial Commission, which raise fundamental questions about the integrity of their sentencing and the clemency process.  These claims should be heard.

I again respectfully call on the President of Indonesia to reconsider his refusal to grant clemency. It is not too late for a change of heart.

Australia asks no more of Indonesia than it has asked of other nations where Indonesian citizens on death row have been granted clemency including for serious drug offences.