IN PHOTO: Australian Andrew Chan (L) and Myuran Sukumaran wait in a temporary cell for their appeal hearing in Denpasar District Court in Indonesia's resort island of Bali September 21, 2010.
IN PHOTO: Australian Andrew Chan (L) and Myuran Sukumaran wait in a temporary cell for their appeal hearing in Denpasar District Court in Indonesia's resort island of Bali September 21, 2010. They are members of a group known as the Bali Nine, arrested in April 2005 in Bali with 8.3 kg (18 lb) of heroin strapped to their bodies. Chan and Sukumaran were sentenced to death in 2006. They requested for a judicial review for their death sentence to be reduced to 20 years jail. REUTERS/Murdani Usman

The Australian government is appealing for Bali Nine co-ringleaders Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan’s lives. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has asked Indonesia to reconsider the death penalty imposed on the two Australian nationals.

Mr Abbott has released a statement on Friday to assure people that the government continues to support Sukumaran and Chan, vowing to “make every possible effort” to prevent the execution of the convicted drug smugglers. He added that he and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop have reached out to their Indonesian counterparts to discuss the matter.

“Both men are reformed characters and both have helped to rehabilitate other prisoners,” the PM said. “The prerogative of mercy should be extended to them.”

The Australian government will not be making any further comments to the public. Mr Abbott also thanked the opposition for its cooperation.

On Thursday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has denied clemency to 31-year-old Chan through a letter he signed on January 17. With Chan’s plea rejected, Mr Widodo has officially signed Chan’s death sentence, the date and venue of which would be determined by the attorney general at a later time.

Sukumaran’s plea for clemency was also denied earlier in January. As they have committed their crime together, they would be executed at the same time, Attorney General HM Prasetyo previously said.

Chan and Sukumaran were arrested on April 17, 2005 along with seven other Australians for attempting to smuggle drugs. Their group was dubbed the Bali Nine. As the two were determined to be the ringleaders of the group, they were sentenced to death, while the others received long prison sentences.

Indonesian lawyer Todong Mulya Lubis told the press on Thursday that he will be filing a second judicial review for Chan and Sukumaran. However, he admitted that the process would be difficult as Chan and Sukumaran’s presence would be required in court before they can lodge the second judicial review, or PK. As he explained, the bringing of death row inmates in court would require a lot of security apparatus to guard them.

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