Indonesian Prisoners Beg for Life of ‘Bali Nine’ Member

This file photo taken on Sept. 21, 2010, shows Australian drug smuggler Andrew Chan, one of the so-called ‘Bali Nine’ gang, attending his appeal at a court in Denpasar, Bali. (AFP Photo/Sonny Tumbelaka)

Jakarta. Eight inmates in Denpasar’s infamous Kerobokan Prison have penned letters to President Joko Widodo, begging him to grant clemency to Andrew Chan, a convicted member of the “Bali Nine” drug trafficking ring scheduled for execution.

In separate, handwritten letters submitted to officials on Saturday, the prisoners described how drastically the Australian citizen has changed to serve as a positive example for fellow inmates.


Some even offered to take his place in front of the firing squad.

But the Indonesian government remains insistent on executing Chan and fellow “Bali Nine” member Myuran Sukumaran this month.

The two are among eight prisoners due to be executed as Joko pursues a hard-line approach to drug trafficking, drawing criticism from human rights activists.

“We received notification from Bali’s attorney general yesterday that the two Australians whose clemency has been rejected by the president will be executed in February 2015,” Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir said on Friday. “We have informed the Australian embassy of this.”

Last month, Indonesia executed six drug traffickers by firing squad, including five foreigners from Brazil, Malawi, the Netherlands, Nigeria and Vietnam.

In response, Brazil and the Netherlands recalled their ambassadors from Indonesia, while Nigeria summoned Indonesia’s ambassador in Abuja.


Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said last month she would not rule out recalling the country’s envoy if the executions go ahead.