Jakarta envoy ‘told Tony Abbott’ Bali pair’s fate sealed

JAKARTA’S ambassador in Canberra told Tony Abbott on Australia Day there was no legal hope left for Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan.

JAKARTA’S ambassador in Canberra told Tony Abbott on Australia Day there was no legal hope left for condemned drug smugglers Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan.

Underlining the Bali Nine pair’s hopeless position, Attorney-General Muhammad Prasetyo affirmed yesterday they were among the group of drug convicts to be executed next.

President Joko Widodo yesterday instructed ambassadors to tell host nations that Indonesia would carry out executions consistent with national laws. The Indonesians executed five foreigners for narcotics on January 18 and seven of the eight drug criminals now facing death following Mr Joko’s refusal of clemency are foreigners, including the two Australians.

Mr Prasetyo said his office was this week evaluating conditions for the second round of executions by firing squad, likely to be carried out this month, although the Attorney-General’s office said a date and location had not been decided.

The ambassador to Australia, Nadjib Riphat Koesuma, said he had explained Indonesia’s position “to the highest official possible in Australia” when they talked during an Australia Day ceremony in Canberra.

“Essentially I have said that legal process which they want to propose is exhausted,” he said after yesterday’s meeting between ambassadors and the President. “All the legal actions and efforts by the two people are already exhausted. And then the clemency plea has been rejected by the President.”

Mr Nadjib did not name Mr Abbott but the Prime Minister’s office confirmed they had talked on Australia Day.

Mr Abbott is understood to have asked the ambassador what more could be done to save Chan, 31, and Sukumaran, 33, and repeated Australia’s strong opposition to the death penalty.

While the condemned Australians and family members waited in Bali for Denpasar District Court to decide whether to accept their application for a second judicial review of their death sentences, Mr Prasetyo said the government considered their fate was decided.

Asked if the Australians were intended for the second round of executions, the Attorney-General said: “I think so, because they have filed for clemency and their clemency has been rejected already.”