Statement by the Chan and Sukumaran Families

Jakarta Globe, Feb 09, 2015

Convicted Australian drug smugglers Myuran Sukumaran, left, and Andrew Chan
are set to be executed in Indonesia. (AFP Photo/Sonny Tumbelaka)

The following is a statement addressed to President Joko Widodo by the parents of Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 33, two Australians on death row in Bali for drug-trafficking offenses. Both men have exhausted all legal avenues of appeal, and the Attorney General’s Office says they will be among the next batch of condemned inmates to face the firing squad, although it has not said when. The statement below is reproduced in its entirety. — Editor

I am here to beg Mr President Joko Widodo, Mr Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Mr. Attorney General Prasetyo and the Indonesian people to show mercy on our children, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan.

I beg you to take the time to look properly into the facts of this case. You will see many reasons why the case is different from other cases.

I understand the serious crime my son committed. They are both very sorry for this. We are very sorry for this. They are not the same people who committed that crime almost 10 years ago. These days Myuran and Andrew think very little of their own needs. They are far more focused on making life better for others. They have helped so many other prisoners over the years. Together with the wardens and local government, they have been the driving force behind making Kerobokan a better a prison for inmates who want to take the opportunity to gain better qualifications and job skills for when they are released into the community. Demonstrating that rehabilitation truly works inside Kerobokan, they set up many programs for others to better themselves.

Myuran and Andrew started programs to teach computer skills, painting, drawing, film, photography, graphic design, screen printing, music, dance, gamelan, sewing, reflexology, drug rehabilitation, first aid and so many more.

The good things that Myuran and Andrew have done from within Kerobokan Prison has become big news all around the world. Please take the time to investigate this. The world has heard many testimonies from people they have helped.

I beg that if you do not think this enough, to please give more time for them to continue to do good works for many other prisoners.

I know the Indonesian people are very kind and believe in second chances, all who have come to learn of their works have been supporting of mercy in this case.

I learned about the second principal of Pancasila which is about a just and civilized society, I pray that the Indonesian people will learn of this strong case and the good works before it is too late. All people can be better people and improve themselves.

We have become so proud of the work they have done to try and make up for their crimes. Andrew and Myuran have learned a lot and apologised for the past mistakes. We know they are so deeply sorry for their role in what they know is a very serious crime. They are trying to pay back in the only way they can. The only way that they know how.

Myuran has made a lot of friends in the prison by helping them and has a lot of respect for the prison guards, who see him and Andrew as role models for other prisoners. When I visit Myuran in the prison I meet other families who tell me how much their loved ones have benefited from Myuran’s encouragement. This makes me so proud of my son and I thank your country for giving my son this opportunity in the Bali prison, but I just want you to please spare him from the firing squad.

The former prison governor, Bapak Siswanto spoke at the PK [judicial review] appeal very highly of Myuran and Andrew’s work with other prisoners and how they have helped so many people. Bapak Siswanto surprised everyone when he came into the court and asked the court to spare the life of Myuran and Andrew because it would be a waste of their lives, both of them have so much to give. Please read the testimony of Bapak Siswanto, it is here that we as mothers can see how much our sons have tried to pay back and atone for their crime.

We beg you for mercy for our sons, we beg you to spare our sons’ lives, we beg you that they not be killed.

Raji Sukumaran and Helen Chan

Jakarta, Feb. 9, 2015

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