'Don't let hope die' - it has been one of the most common sayings used in the campaign waged by human rights activists to spare the lives of Bali 9 ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
Sadly for them, hope is now dead. The ruthless president of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, who increasingly appears to be 'under the growing influence' of ultra-fundamentalist Islamic forces within his own government, has steadfastly refused to use his presidential powers to grant clemency to both men.
Only a matter of weeks ago, the wildly unpredictable Widodo, who appears to be pre-disposed to immense double standards, granted clemency to three convicted murderers on death row in Indonesia.
But not for the two genuinely remorseful and reformed leaders of the ill fated
Bali 9, despite impassioned pleas from family members, lobbyists, celebrities, even
a prime minister and foreign minister from Australia, for him to spare their lives.
I am not here to defend drug dealers, pushers, pimps or mules, the whole lot of them are lower than a snake's shadow and deserve to be locked up for a damn long time, no matter which country it is.
Just like I am not here to defend the very nasty side of Widodo and Indonesia's
Attorney-General, Muhammad Prasetyo. If I was them I would be dreading karma
just as much as Chan and Sukumaran have been for the last ten years.
No comments:
Post a Comment