Major question around release of Bali Nine inmates is answered as remaining drug mules prepare to be transferred to Australia
Balinese officials remain certain the remaining Bali Nine members will continue serving their life sentences when they are transferred back to Australia.
Balinese officials remain certain the remaining Bali Nine members will continue serving their life sentences when they are transferred back to Australia.
Willy Aditya, who is the chairman of Commission XIII overseeing human rights, immigration and terrorism, said he strongly supported the transfer plan while speaking from Kerobokan Jail on Saturday.
He said the five remaining members would continue their prison term and that negotiations were still ongoing.
This is a good political will that should be welcomed, he said.
Although we dont have the regulation for transferring prisoners, they can still be transferred. We dont release them. They are just transferred to their country to continue their prison term.
Regarding this, we are hoping Australia will reciprocate. We are now negotiating with Australia.
His comment comes after Indonesian human rights lawyer Yusril Ihza Mahendra met Australian home affairs minister Tony Burke in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Mr Burke received a draft proposal for the return of the inmates who were arrested in 2005 for trying to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin out of the Indonesian resort island.
Five of the Bali Nine - Scott Rush, Matthew Norman (pictured), Si-Yi Chen, Martin Stephens and Michael Czugaj - will be transferred home to Australia
They include Scott Rush, Matthew Norman, Si-Yi Chen, Martin Stephens and Michael Czugaj.
Ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015, sparking a diplomatic incident with Australia, while Renae Lawrence was released in 2018 and Tan Duc Than Nguyen died of cancer the same year.
We never release them. Dont misunderstand. We transfer in one condition as prisoners back to the country concerned, Mr Mahendra said.
So even if the Bali Nine case is later transferred to Australia, it is not us freeing them, we transfer them to Australia as prisoners.
Later they will serve their sentences in Australia based on our court decision. That must be recognised by the Australian government and respected.
Mr Mahendra added if the Australian government later decides to grant a pardon, remission, or amnesty, that decision will be entirely within their authority.
Mr Burke said it was a significant step forward after an Indonesian propsal was handed over during the meeting and said it showed significant goodwill.
Impediments within both legal systems were discussed.
Balinese officials remain adamant the remaining Bali Nine members (pictured) will continue serving their life sentences in Australia
I have full respect for the Indonesian legal system and approach the conversations with a great deal of respect and a great deal of humility, Mr Burke said.
There are some issues which have not yet been resolved and that work will continue between our officials.
Jakarta is seeking the repatriation of Indonesian prisoners held in Australia as part of any deal.
Mr Mahendra said the terms of the draft include the five remaining Bali Nine members being banned from returning to Indonesia, regulations on the legal basis for the transfer and a requirement that Australia respect the decision of the Indonesian court.
The ball is no longer in our governments court, the ball is in the Australian government, he explained.
On Friday, camera crews were invited inside the jail on the Indonesian holiday island on Friday where Mr Norman was pictured talking with officials and Mr Chen was filmed working in a silversmithing class with fellow prisoners.
