High-ranking Indonesian politician declares his country is weak for allowing remaining Bali Nine members to return to Australia
The Bali representative for Indonesias ruling political party has slammed his own countrys decision to return the remaining members of the Bali Nine to Australia.
The Bali representative for Indonesias ruling political party has slammed his own countrys decision to return the remaining members of the Bali Nine to Australia.
Nyoman Parta from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, which has held power in the House of Representatives since 2014, said Indonesia would appear weak if it released the drug smugglers at a foreign countrys request.
The five members of the group who are still behind bars in Indonesia will be returned to Australia following a discussion at this months APEC meeting in Peru between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
Do not let this country appear weak by ignoring existing laws on the grounds of international cooperation, then repatriating foreign prisoners to their country, Mr Parta said in a statement to the Indonesian House of Representatives.
He warned that doing so, while it it did promote international diplomacy, could break the legal system in Indonesia.
Australians Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj are serving life sentences in Indonesia after they were arrested in 2005 as they attempted to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin strapped to their bodies from Bali.
Among the remaining members of the nine, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died from cancer in 2018 and Renae Lawrence was released in the same year after her life sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal.
The masterminds of the drug plot, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed by firing squad in 2015 on Nusa Kambangan or Prison Island.
Nyoman Parta from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle said his country would appear weak if it released the remaining Bali Nine members to Australia
Renae Lawrence (right) talks to Indonesian interpreter Wayan Ane during her testimony in the trial of Michael Czugaj (left) as Andrew Chan looks on from behind in Denpasar in 2005
Scott Rush (left) is pictured beside his translator during the trial in Bali 2005
Mr Parta said that transnational drug networks had targeted Bali in recent years and repatriating prisoners, especially in high profile cases, could undermine efforts to disrupt the drug trade and deter organised crime.
The Bali Nine case is a case that has received great attention from the world community, Indonesia and especially the Balinese community, he said.
And in Bali in the last 10 years, there have often been disclosures of international narcotics network cases. Do not let the repatriation of [the] Bali Nine convicts dampen the spirit of eradicating drugs.
But some other leading figures in Indonesia have commended the decision, including the deputy chairman of the Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association, Rai Suryawijaya.
He said Australia was a big contributor to Balis tourism industry and maintaining a positive relationship between the two was crucial.
Bali Nine have served quite long time in the prison and I am sure they have shown good behaviour, he told the Courier Mail.
They deserve to get a chance to have a better life. They must have regret for what they have done. Lets give them a chance.
We have to take the positive impact from this policy. The government burden can be reduced, it may ease the over capacity problem in our prison.
Si Yi Chen and Matthew Norman could also be back in the country as early as next month
Renae Lawrence (pictured behind bars in 2005) is the only Bali Nine member to have been released back into society but has struggled to find normality
Pictured Top L-R: Myuran Sukumaran, Scott Rush, Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, Renae Lawrence, and Bottom: Si Yi Chen, Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephen and Andrew Chan
In a statement, President Prabowo confirmed Australias request to transfer Australian citizens serving sentences in Indonesian prisons.
We are reviewing these requests and hope to implement the policies soon, he said.
President Subianto was elected in February and assumed power in October, replacing President Joko Widodo.
It is expected they would be transferred as early as next month. The Australian government has not confirmed if the five would have to serve out any of their remaining prison term in Australia.
Indonesias new leader also said he would release Philippine citizen Mary Jane Velso who has been on death row since 2010 when she was caught smuggling drugs in her suitcase, which she claimed she did not know about and someone else had packed.
He said France had also made requests to repatriate its citizens and it had submitted an appeal via a letter from the French justice minister.
