Bali 9 Aussie Pair Could Face Same Tragic End As 6 Drug Smugglers Executed By Indonesia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo turned down the request of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to commute the death sentence of Marco Archer Cardoso Moreira, a former pilot who was one of the six drug smugglers executed through a firing squad on Saturday midnight.
The same fate awaits the two members of Bali 9, Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, who have been in death row since 2005 following their conviction for heroin smuggling.
Also in danger is another Aussie, Norman Myer.
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The two, together with the 24 other death row convicts are expected to also face the firing squad this 2015, with Saturday's execution the signal of the impending end for illegal drug smugglers as Jakarta sends the message to the international community that it means business when it comes to curbing the drug trade.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has also spoken and said he would not press for the release of the two Aussies, apparently aware that Canberra and Jakarta just fixed its diplomatic row over the cellphone spying scandal involving former Indonesian Prime Minister Susilo Yodhoyono, his wife and several key officials.
And Opposition leader Bill Shorten appears to be in agreement with Mr Abbott as he said that at this point, it is best not to inflame the situation. He still wants to see the two being given clemency by Jakarta and promised to work with the Abbott government.
The boldest move that Mr Abbott is willing to take, without rocking the diplomatic boat, is to make "the strongest possible representations" to Jakarta for the two Aussies who tried to illegally bring to Indonesia over 8 kilogrammes of heroin from Australia.
Indonesia plans to execute 31-year-old Chan and 33-year-old Sukumaran at the same time, but there is no definite time table when would they meet their end.
Meanwhile Brazil and The Netherlands made good their threat to recall their ambassadors in Indonesia.
To contact the writer, email: v.hernandez@ibtimes.com.au