Off Record: Indonesian President’s Political Rival Assured Him Support If Clemency Being Granted To Bali Nine Duo

The chief political opposition of Indonesia promised President Joko Widodo public support had he granted mercy to the Bali Nine duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

According to a report published in The West Australian, it is revealed that military heavyweight and former presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto discreetly assured Mr. Joko of no political consequences if Chan, Sukumaran along with eight death row convicts were reprieved.

It apepars that Mr. Prabowo had written to the President on the very weekend he spoke in favour of "postponing the executions indefinitely". Mr. Joko reportedly succumbed to the pressure from his political mentor, the former President of Indonesia Megawati Sukarnoputri and ignored the offer.

Meanwhile, two drug convicts, a Frenchman and a Filipina mother’s executions have been temporarily withdrawn. Deceased Chan and Sukumaran's bodies have reached Australia on Saturday morning.

The West Australian reported in March that Australian diplomats asked for Mr. Prabowo's help to save the Bali Nine duo’s lives, believing the army strongman’s could manage a change of decision. Importantly, Mr. Prabowo, the son-in-law of former dictator Suharto, lost presidential race to Mr. Joko in a narrow margin but still enjoys an influential position in Indonesian political system.

Though majority of Indonesians supported the decision to execute the drug convicts, a part of media urged the President to review case by case before taking a drastic step. "Backpedalling may be in the best interest of Joko and the nation," the Jakarta Globe newspaper said in its editorial this week. "There is no shame in accepting and correcting one's mistake. This is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it is a sign of greatness. "This is wisdom that will put him as a great leader."

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