Indonesian firing squad executed eight people convicted of drug smuggling despite all pressure from the international community and Australia.
The eight included Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran from Australia, Rodrigo Gularte from Brazil, Martin Anderson from Ghana, Zainal Abidin from Indonesia, Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Raheem Agbaje Salami and Okwudili Oyatanze from Nigeria.
The sole woman in the death row, Pilipino Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, was spared at the last moment after the recruiter who allegedly tricked her into carrying a suitcase laden with 2.6 kilograms of heroin gave herself up to police in the Philippines on Tuesday.
Tony Spontana, spokesman for Indonesia's Attorney General, said Indonesia received a request from the Philippine president Benigno Aquino III about the perpetrator who's suspected of committing human trafficking and surrendered in the Philippines.
The president asked Indonesia to keep Veloso alive as a witness to identify the criminal group that used her to transport illegal drugs. None of eight prisoners reportedly wore blindfolds when they were shot by the firing squad.
Under Indonesian regulations, which have not changed since 1964 despite a moratorium in previous years, the death row prisoners, who are notified 72 hours in advance, are given the option of sitting, kneeling or standing and of whether to have their eyes covered as they meet their fate. The convict’s heart marked with “x” was simultaneously shot from 5 to 10 meters by 12 members of the firing squad members, random 3 of whom are given rifles loaded with live bullets and the rest fire blanks. The random live and blank rifles are used to free the squad members from facing the moral consequence of guilt and blame because nobody knows who actually killed the convict.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Australia respects Indonesia’s sovereignty but decision to proceed with the executions despite all appeals and efforts was regrettable.
“They committed a serious crime. Lengthy prison terms would have been an appropriate punishment,” he said.
He said Australians are entitled to anger, but cautioned against unnecessary actions.
“..we do not want to make a difficult situation worse and the relationship between Australia and Indonesia is important, remains important, will always be important, will become more important as time goes by," he said.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten made a post on his Facebook, condemning executions. “A decade ago, these two young men made a dreadful mistake. By all accounts they spent every minute since seeking to mend their ways and to steer others on the road to redemption. Proof the justice system could reform wrongdoers, not just punish wrongdoing”, he wrote.
Australian government said it will withdraw its ambassador to Indonesia for consultation and will keep ministerial visits suspended.
Social media were flooded with mixed messages and comments by Australians, mostly condemning executions and calling for economic boycotts of Indonesia and Bali, suspending aid and stopping police cooperation.
Last month Indonesian president Joko Widodo said 64 prisoners who were sentenced to death over drug-related crimes would have their clemency applications rejected because Indonesia was in "a state of emergency on drugs" with people dying daily. Many in Indonesia view drug traffickers in the same row as terrorists, mass murderers or rapists.
