Lawyer to make last ditch bid for Bali Nine ringleader
Date January 19, 2015 - 6:41PM
Indonesian guards escort Australian Myuran Sukumaran to court in Denpasar, Bali. Photo: Jason South
The Indonesian lawyer for Bali Nine ringleader Myuran Sukumaran will lodge a request for another judicial review of his case in a last-ditch attempt to save the Australian from the firing squad.
Todung Mulya Lubis confirmed to Fairfax Media he would lodge the application on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The Indonesian Constitutional and Supreme Courts are at odds as to whether limitless judicial reviews are permissable, provided there is new evidence, or whether prisoners are only allowed one.
Meanwhile Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has disputed Indonesia's claim that executing drug traffickers will reduce its drug problem as she vowed to keep agitating for mercy for the two Australians on death row in Bali's Kerobokan prison.
Ms Bishop made the remarks after the killing by firing squad of six drug felons, including five foreigners, over the weekend, an act that prompted the governments of Brazil and the Netherlands to withdraw their ambassadors in fury.
Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has rejected a clemency bid from Sukumaran, while his accomplice in the heroin smuggling ring, Andrew Chan, is awaiting the outcome of his bid.
As Indonesia speeds up the mass killing of dozens of death row inmates, there are grave fears the two Sydneysiders could face a firing squad within months.
Ms Bishop declined to comment on whether Australia would withdraw its ambassador should the Australians be killed.
Both Brazil and Holland withdrew their ambassadors from Jakarta in protest at the execution of two of their nationals over the weekend.
Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said he hoped Australia would not recall its ambassador if the Bali Nine ringleaders were executed.
He said Prime Minister Tony Abbott had already stated publicly that Australia respected the Indonesian government's decision and it would not disturb the strong bilateral relationship between the countries.
Mr Nasir said the decision by Brazil and the Netherlands to recall their ambassadors over the execution of their citizens on Sunday was very different to Indonesia recalling its ambassador from Australia last year over the phone tapping scandal.
"This isn't a diplomatic issue it is about the upholding of the law," Mr Nasir said.
"We continue our communications with both countries and we feel that Brazil and the Netherlands are our friends."
Mr Nasir said he did not know when the second batch of executions of drug felons on death row would be held as this was the responsibility of the Attorney-General's department.
Ms Bishop said her Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi had recently replied to a letter from her urging clemency.
"I received a response just recently rejecting our representations on the basis that Indonesia claims it is facing a crisis in terms of drug trafficking and it believes that the death penalty should apply," Ms Bishop told Sky News.
"I don't believe that executing people is the answer to solving the drug problem and certainly the trafficking of drugs in and out of Indonesia."
Chan and Sukumaran were arrested attempting to smuggle more than 8 kilos of heroin out of Indonesia, following a tip-off from the Australian Federal Police to Indonesian authorities.
Ms Bishop met with members of the Chan and Sukumaran families over the weekend to brief them on the government's efforts and offer emotional support.
"The Australian government will continue to make representations at the highest level," she said.
"We will continue to point out that both Mr Sukumaran and Mr Chan have made significant efforts to rehabilitate themselves."
Sukumaran, after a lengthy campaign, persuaded authorities to introduce art and computer classes to Kerobokan, which he helps run. Chan, a devout Christian, leads the prison's church services.
Both mentor inmates from all nationalities in other ways, including encouraging them to stay away from drugs.
Mr Abbott will write again to Mr Joko in an attempt to change his mind. Ms Bishop will also make representation while Australia's diplomats will continue lobbying behind the scenes.
However, Mr Abbott has stated he was keen not to damage ties between the two countries over the matter.
Deputy chairman of the parliament's Commission I [overseeing foreign diplomacy and defence], Tantowi Yahya said he hoped Mr Widodo would reject Mr Abbott's bid to save the lives of the Bali Nine ringleaders.
"The President should not be affected. Friendly countries should recognise our legal sovereignty on the adoption of death execution for ring leaders," he said on news portal detik.com.
"Therefore Indonesia must show consistency on its stance about capital punishment. If the lobby by the Netherlands and Brazil was rejected, Indonesia must reject the Australian lobby as well."
"If we are inconsistent it could have a serious effect on law enforcement. And foreign governments will see it," said the Golkar parliamentarian.
With Karuni Rompies
