Eight prisoners, including Bali nine organisers Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, have been executed in Indonesia.
The ninth condemned prisoner, Filipina maid Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, was given a last-minute reprieve from the firing squad.
The executions were carried out at 12.35am local time (3.35am AEST) on Nusakambangan prison island. But it took up to 27 minutes for all the prisoners to die, with a spokesman for the Attorney-General Tony Spontana saying they were “shot at 00.35 and died at 01.02.”
All eight prisoners refused blindfolds and met their fate staring straight ahead, according to one one the priests who witnessed their executions.
“Everyone was looking forward, it seems everyone accepted their fate,” said Father Charles Burrows, who provided spiritual guidance to Brazilian man Rodrigo Gularte.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Wednesday morning the unprecedented move that the Australian ambassador to Indonesia would be withdrawn in protest at the executions.
“These executions are both cruel and unnecessary,” Mr Abbott said.
“We respect Indonesia’s sovereignty but we do deplore what’s been done and this cannot be simply business as usual. For that reason, once all the courtesies have been extended to the Chan and Sukumaran families, our ambassador will be withdrawn for consultations.
“I want to stress that this is a very important relationship between Australia and Indonesia but it has suffered as a result of what’s been done over the last few hours.”
Andrew Chan’s brother, Michael, took to Twitter on Wednesday morning to express his grief.
I have just lost a Courageous brother to a flawed Indonesian legal system. I miss you already RIP my Little Brother
— Michael chan (@Changa5378) April 28, 2015
“Today we lost Myuran and Andrew,” the Sukumaran and Chan families said in a statement.
“Our sons, our brothers. In the ten years since they were arrested, they did all they could to make amends, helping many others.”
The family said they asked for mercy, but there was none. “They were immensely grateful for all the support they received. We too, will be forever grateful.”
Australia’s Consul-General for Bali, Majell Hind, will formally take possession of the bodies of Chan and Sukumaran on Wednesday before they are transported by ambulance to a funeral home in Jakarta.
Families of the duo will follow the ambulance on the 12-hour journey. The bodies are then expected to be flown back to Australia on Friday morning.
Veloso spared from the firing squad
Mother-of-two Veloso was supposed to be shot along with the rest of the condemned prisoners, but a last-minute development in her case saw her execution postponed.
Attorney-General spokesman Tony Spontana said Veloso’s execution had been postponed because of the Philippine president’s request in connection with the human trafficking suspect surrendering herself in the Philippines.
He said Veloso was required to provide her testimony.
Veloso, a maid who was arrested smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin into Yogyakarta, always maintained she was innocent and was not aware there was drugs in the lining of her suitcase.
She said she was set up by her godsister Kristina, who allegedly bought her a suitcase and new clothes in Malaysia and told her a job as a domestic helper was waiting for her in Indonesia.
Veloso’s recruiter, Maria Kristina Sergio, reportedly surrendered to authorities in the Philippines on April 28, the day Veloso was due to be executed.
Mr Spontana said Veloso would need to give evidence in the court case.
Tears, songs mark emotional vigil
Relatives and friends of the condemned were in a tent near the killing field and became hysterical when the shots were heard, a source told Fairfax Media.
Among those in the tent were Chan and Sukumaran’s Australian lawyer, Julian McMahon, Bayside Church senior pastor Christie Buckingham and Salvation Army minister David Soper, who were allowed to spend precious last hours with the Australians.
The men’s Indonesian lawyer, Professor Todung Mulya Lubis, tweeted his defeat soon after the news was announced.
I failed. I lost.
— Todung Mulya Lubis (@TodungLubis) April 28, 2015
Communications were jammed at Wijayapura Port opposite Nusakambangan as the executions took pace.
Mothers of Mercy staged a moving candlelight vigil, praying for mercy and for Indonesian President Joko Widodo, and playing a version of the Leonard Cohen anthemHallelujah.
Evangelist Owen Pomana said he had come to Cilacap to honour his friend Andrew Chan.
A New Zealander, he intends to do a haka when Chan’s body is brought through the harbour gates in an ambulance.
“I’ve learned a lot from Andrew Chan, he’s the brother I never had,” Mr Pomana said.
He said he had always dreamed of travelling with Chan on a Harley Davidson motorcycle, working out with him and ministering to people, who had been “messed up” just like them.
“I’m a reformed prisoner too. I had a a dark past but I’m evidence of the fact you can be rehabilitated,” Mr Pomana said.
He had helped Andrew Chan source things he needed in Bali’s Kerobokan jail including COR manikins and hot water tanks for the women’s showers.
“I want to honour my friend. Just being here is a statement that we care. He’s my friend, he’s my brother.”
Jakarta newspaper attacks death penalty
In a sign of Indonesia’s divided opinion over the death penalty, the Jakarta Globe newspaper published a front-page editorial criticising the country’s policy on capital punishment for drug criminals.
“What is the use of executing people for Indonesia? It will create much more harm than good,” the paper wrote.
“The fact is that executing has nothing to do with drug eradication. Before carrying out the death penalty, we must fix our law enforcement agencies, and the prison and judiciary systems.
“We have to make sure first that these systems will allow us to arrive at the correct ruling. Without certainty that our system has minimum flaws, we can’t execute people.”
The paper reserved particular criticism for Mr Widodo for insisting on the death penalty even after overwhelming legal and political pressure for clemency, both domestically and internationally.
“Joko has made statements that prevent him from changing his stance. He publicly stated that he would not grant clemency to drug offenders. Thus, he had already made a decision before reviewing each case.
“This was a mistake, and backpedaling (sic) may be in the best interest of Joko and the nation.”
The editorial was written before the executions overnight, but still called for a last-minute reprieve.
“Joko must delay the execution until he reviews each case,” it said.
“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.”
– with Matthew Knott
This story first appeared in The Age
