Tuesday 28 April 2015

INDONESIA EXECUTES EIGHT CONVICTED DRUG SMUGGLERS INCLUDING FOUR NIGERIANS.


Indonesia has executed eight convicted drug smugglers -- including two of the so-called "Bali Nine" -- the Reuters news agency has reported, citing local media.

The prisoners faced a 12-man firing squad on Nusa Kambangan island in Central Java.

The government had announced that nine prisoners would be executed, but according to local reports, Filipina Mary Jane Veloso was spared, at least for now.

Lawyers fighting to delay the death of Veloso, a domestic helper and mother of two, have said they've given up their bid after her second legal review was rejected on Monday. This came despite a last-minute personal appeal from Philippines President Benigno Aquino to Indonesian counterpart President Joko Widodo.

Two of the prisoners who were executed -- Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan -- are part of the Bali Nine.

Chan married his longtime girlfriend Febyanti Herewila in prison on Monday.

The executions of Sukumaran and Chan come despite the fact that both this week received a court date of May 12 to hear an outstanding legal challenge.

Lawyers for the men also say Indonesia's Judicial Commission has yet to properly investigate claims of corruption during their original trial and sentencing. They say three of the men's Indonesian lawyers had been summoned to attend the commission on May 7.

It's a day their families and friends hoped would never come, but it's also one that Indonesia, despite years of protest and legal appeals, has insisted had to happen.

Under Indonesian law, the death penalty is carried out by a 12-man firing squad, although only three guns are loaded with live ammunition.

Prisoners are given the choice of whether to stand or sit, and whether they want to wear a blindfold, hood or nothing. The shots -- aimed at the heart -- are fired from between 5 and 10 meters (16 to 33 feet), according to Amnesty International.

On Tuesday, the prisoners' families were heard wailing as they boarded a boat for what's expected to be their final goodbyes. Reporters at the port in Cilacap described harrowing scenes on Twitter.

"Myu's sister Brintha collapsed in screams. Helen Chan was supported by 2 women. Truly heartbreaking. #Bali9," wrote Nine News reporter Jayne Azzopardi.

While the Bali Nine have garnered much international attention, their punishment is just part of a larger government effort to combat illegal drug trafficking.

Indonesian President Widodo has insisted that Indonesia will not be swayed by appeals for clemency because the country is dealing with a "drugs crisis." He told CNN in January that clemency would not be extended to drug traffickers, leading to an appeal from Chan and Sukumaran that their cases hadn't been properly considered.

Lawyers for the two men say they've undergone radical rehabilitation during their 10 years in Kerobokan prison, and now offer support and services to others.

A vigil was set to be held in Martin Place in Sydney on Tuesday night.

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