Indonesia prepares firing squad for 10 inmates on death row

Indonesia prepares firing squad for 10 inmates on death row
By Everton Gayle with REUTERS
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Indonesia has begun preparations for the execution of 10 inmates on death row.

The 10 have been found guilty of various drug-related offences. They have all had their appeals for clemency rejected by President Joko Widodo.

Consular officials have been asked to go to a maximum security island prison of Nusakambangan for the expected execution, although an official 72-hour notice has not been given yet, officials said.

“It’s true, we have been told to be there on Saturday,” said a foreign embassy official who asked not to be identified. “We still don’t know when the actual date of execution will happen but we expect that it will be in days,” she told Reuters.

Australia has asked for urgent last-minute talks in a bid to avert the sentences being carried out. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop registered her concern on Friday with her Indonesian counterpart.

“Ms Bishop has made contact with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marsudi to register her concern at recent developments, following her further written representation to her this week,” an Australian foreign ministry spokeswoman said.

“Minister Bishop has been informed that Foreign Minister Marsudi is attending the Asia-Africa Conference and is unavailable to speak with her. Therefore, our embassy has lodged a formal request for a telephone call to take place.”

The foreign minister later added: “I fear that Indonesia will seek to proceed with the execution of the two Australian citizens. I am deeply and profoundly concerned by this.

“I again appeal to President Widodo to show mercy, to have a change of heart and to grant clemency to these two Australian citizens.”

The inmates are Myuran Sukumaran, born in London but is an Australian citizen; Andrew Chan (Australian); Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso (Filipino); Serge Areski Atlaoui (French); Martin Anderson, a London-born Ghanaian; Zainal Abidin bin Mgs Mahmud Badarudin (Indonesian); Raheem Agbaje Salami, a Nigerian on a Spanish passport; Rodrigo Gularte from Brazil and Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise of Nigeria.

Indonesia summons Saudi envoy over execution of worker: Indonesia has summoned the Saudi ambassador in Jakarta... http://t.co/pA2QZlKQGR

— Paco's Project (@compay69) April 15, 2015

Minister Fabius: Atlaoui's execution is the result of serious dysfunctions in legal system http://t.co/tKzk0nWVjcpic.twitter.com/SVCDhpFZn7

— The Jakarta Globe (@thejakartaglobe) April 23, 2015

Indonesia recently criticised Saudi Arabia after it executed two maids in one week despite calls for clemency from Jakarta. The government recently said the protection of its citizens abroad was a “priority”.

But its appeals for its citizens have led to calls of double standards as Indonesia has consistently rejected calls for clemency for the 10 due to go before a firing squad imminently.

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