Bali Nine: crowd pleads for lives of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan
|
Version 0 of 1. As hope dwindles for the lives of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, two Australian men facing the death penalty in Indonesia, almost 1,000 people gathered in Sydney on Thursday evening for a candlelight vigil. The Australian artist Ben Quilty headed the list of prominent artists who took to the stage in Martin Place to plead for the release of the men who were convicted in 2005 over a plot to smuggle heroin into Indonesia. “I was worried nobody would show up”, said Quilty, who was joined by Megan Washington, Glenn Richards (Augie March), Steve Kilbey (The Church) and Julian Hamilton (The Presets). The painter, who has visited the men regularly during their time in Kerobokan jail in Bali, struggled to continue as he held back tears. “It’s extremely profound to know that people in my community feel the same way as I do about forgiveness and about rehabilitation, and what I think is at the centre of any healthy community, and that is compassion.” The men face execution by firing squad, possibly within weeks, and many family members have already flown to Indonesia. However, Sukumaran’s grandmother Edith Visvanathan made an emotional plea from the stage, saying of her eldest grandson: “I love him so much.” Addressing the Indonesian president Joko Widodo and people directly, she said: “Please, give him a second chance. Don’t kill him, please. We are all worried and don’t know what to do.” Visvanathan said she wasn’t asking for her grandson to come home, only for his life to be spared. “He has proved himself. He is a good boy.” Members of Sukumaran’s family church in Toongabbie, western Sydney, turned up to offer their support, including Jemamah Jacob, 35, her husband and young son. “We are all products of second chance, so we also wish and pray that Myuran gets a second chance in his life,” she said. Australia’s human rights commissioner, Tim Wilson, was also in the crowd and told Guardian Australia: “Capital punishment is never the answer, and the Indonesian government should be showing mercy to these two people, who shouldn’t be facing death at the hands of the state.” Asked if Australia had done enough to save the men, he said: “It’s always hard to know what’s been going on behind the scenes. I hope that the government has sent a very clear message on behalf of the Australian people that we don’t have capital punishment for reason, and we shouldn’t expect capital punishment of our citizens in other countries.” In a video played at the vigil many more public figures, such as writer Germaine Green, broadcaster Alan Jones, actor Claudia Karvan, artist Richard Bell and former Wallabies captain George Gregan, all said: “I stand for mercy.” The video highlighted the work both men have been doing in their prison community over the last decade. On the initiative of Chan, 31 and Sukumaran, 33, the prison now has a computer room, cooking school and classes in yoga, dance, reflexology and philosophy. Quilty has visited the men regularly during their time in prison, with his last visit just weeks ago. In an interview with Guardian Australia he described them as “fit, strong, healthy young men”, and that at their age, “you have this deep well of positivity”. Since then, the men have seen their final clemency appeal rejected by Widodo and the execution of six other drug smugglers, including five foreigners. Quilty said both men have found support through different avenues: Chan with his commitment to his Christian faith, Sukumaran through his art. “He gave up drugs, he’s almost finished a full degree, he studied philosophy,” said Quilty of Sukumaran. “His last exhibition in Melbourne sold every single work but one, and he gave all the money to the prison. Straight away the prison built an art gallery for the members of his class to sell their works. “The prison has actually facilitated his rehabilitation, and that’s why I think it’s such a waste to then put eight bullets in his chest.” Quilty said the vigil was not a rally, simply “a place for us to gather. I want that on the record so Myuran and Andrew have that feeling of support, and at the end of their lives know there are people who are thinking of them.” Messages from Chan and Sukumaran, sent via lawyers in Bali, were read out on stage by actor David Wenham. “We’re amazed how kind and supportive everyone has been,” Sukumaran’s message read. “It has helped our families so much. As we face what’s coming, we thank everyone who has supported us.” Chan asked the crowd to ponder the meaning of mercy, and to think of those facing execution around the world. A petition calling for the men’s lives to be spared has 135,000 signatures. Their Indonesian lawyer, Todung Mulya Lubis, has said the men hope the courts will hear a second judicial review, known as a PK, which he will attempt to lodge on Friday. “We are doing our best to save them,” he said on Thursday. Kerobokan prison governor Sudjonggo said even though the pair were not allowed to personally petition for the review, that would not stop it being filed. “There are other ways to do this, perhaps it can be registered here,” he said. “It all depends on how the lawyers want to do it.” Quilty ended the evening with an emotional and eloquent thank you note. “A musician’s voice travels well across the ocean and through the walls of Kerobokan prison. I promise you that Myuran and Andrew, come hell or high water, through the amazing barristers will see what we have all done tonight.” |