Bali nine: Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran executions imminent

1am:

Some detail of the back of a painting bearing the signatures of those awaitng execution tonight. "One love" and "keep smile" are among the messages.

12.35am:

In the last hour representative of some of the families arrived at Wijaya port, according to Amilia Rosa, one of our reporters on the ground.

These include:

- Australia's consul general, Majell Hind, with pastors Christie Buckingham and David Soper, lawyer Julian McMahon and an associate.

- The father of Nigerian Raheem Agbaje Salami, also known as Jamiu Owolabi Abashin

- Nigerian Martin Anderson's lawyer and a family member.

- A cousin of Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte, Angela Muxfeldt, as well as a lawyer and Brazilian acting ambassador. Romo Carolus, also known as Father Charles Patrick Edward Burrows, was also with them.

They have joined several others in boarding a ferry bound for Nusakambangan, which should have arrived at the time of this post's publication.

12.10am:

Foreign minister Julie Bishop has used some of her strongest language yet tonight to condemn the executions and the process leading up to them, saying she is "dismayed" and "disturbed" by what the families have been put through.

11.46pm Tom Allard:

In their likely last hours alive in this world, it was Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran who were doing the consoling - comforting their parents and siblings, and rallying the spirits of those to die alongside them.

The reformed drug smugglers, who did so much to transform Bali's Kerobokan prison and the lives of its inmates, were remarkably resolute and compassionate as they said their final farewells.

"They were just amazing," said Myuran's brother Chinthu. "They were strong and calm.

In the grim lead up to their executions, the nine drug felons slated for simultaneous death had been kept largely confined to their cells. But after the pleadings of the two Australians, guards relented and for the final two days of their lives the prisoners have been allowed to be together.

"They opened the cells up, which was great," Chinthu said. "They have spent a lot of time praying together."

Chan, an ordained minister, is deeply religious. According to Matius Arif Mirdjaja, a former career criminal and drug dealer who credits Chan with turning his life around, the Sydneysider told him: "Fear not, you can kill the body, but you cannot kill the soul."

Sukumaran's last words to him, he said, were "I'm not spiritual but I know where I'm going, man."

There are no provisions for a final meal for execution victims in Indonesia. But the Bali nine duo organised food for everyone. For their last night, it was boxes of chicken from KFC, a wildly popular favourite for Indonesians.  

Myuran has been painting frenetically, producing some extraordinary work.

On what he expected to be his final full night on earth, Myuran barely slept, painting four canvases, haunting self portraits, a rendering of the Indonesian flag and a picture of a heart. Each of the nine prisoners pressed their fingerprints into the blood red paint of the flag, which drips down over the white portion of the flag.

The last painting was the heart, dangling from its arteries and entitled "Satu hati satu rasa didalam cinta - (one heart, one feeling in love)"

Read more here

11.30pm:

The sister of Mary Jane Velosa, the woman from the Philippines who is due to be executed along with eight others this evening, has relayed her last words to her children in this video from Rappler.

"I want you to think that mama died in a pure heart, without fault, that I'm going to heaven," says Maritess Veloso-Laurente.

11.15pm Tom Allard:

Australia's consul general in Bali Majell Hind - who is very close to the Chans and Sukumarans - has arrived at Cilacap's port with pastors Christie Buckingham and David Soper to head over to Nusakambangan. 

Indonesian authorities have relented and allowed the Bali nine duo's favoured religious counsel to be with them during their last hours but not - as they asked - witness their executions. 

10.40pm Jewel Topsfield:

Indonesian correspondent Jewel Topsfield has obtained this joint statement from the Government of Australia, France and the European Union pleading with President Widodo for mercy at this late stage:

"The Government of Australia, France and the European Union appeal to Indonesian President Joko Widodo to halt the planned execution. It is not too late to change your mind.

"It is our hope that Indonesia can show forgiveness to ten detainees. Forgiveness and rehabilitation are fundamental to the Indonesian judicial system as well as in our system.

"In filing this petition, we ask Indonesia also reflect the impact on Indonesia's position in a globalized world and an international reputation. We support Indonesia's efforts to obtain forgiveness for its citizens abroad. Stopping this execution will help those efforts.

"We strongly support the UN Secretary General's statement, in which he calls upon Indonesia to refrain from carrying out executions and urge President Widodo to urgently consider declaring a moratorium on the death penalty in Indonesia.

"We fully respect the sovereignty of Indonesia. But we are against the death penalty in our country and abroad. The execution will not give deterrent effect to drug trafficking or stop the other from becoming victims will abuse drugs. To execute these prisoners now will not achieve anything."

10.15pm Jakarta Post:

Attorney General HM Prasetyo announced that his side has already set the time of execution for nine death-row convicts currently in prisons on Nusakambangan Island, Central Java, writes The Jakarta Post.

“I have already set the date and even the hour,” he said at the State Palace compound in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Prasetyo, however, declined to mention the execution time in detail for security and technical reasons and to ensure that the executions would occur smoothly.

Rumors were spreading in Cilacap and surrounding areas that the execution of the nine inmates would be conducted late on Tuesday night since the inmates’ relatives were already at the location, while coffins and crosses complete with a date of death had been prepared.

Prasetyo said the execution time was not announced to the public because, based on experience from a previous batch of executions, many people could try to intrude into the execution site for unclear reasons.

“I will not publish the execution time to avoid unwanted matters. The executions will be conducted this week,” he said as quoted by kompas.com

10.10pm Reuters:

The execution of Filipina drug convict Mary Jane Veloso by an Indonesian firing squad will not be delayed despite last-minute appeals by the Philippine government, the Attorney-General has said.

Earlier today Indonesian President Joko Widodo met with a migrant workers' group to discuss Veloso's case, who is one of nine people set to be executed tonight or in the early hours of tomorrow.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino had made one last appeal to the Indonesian government to spare Veloso, saying she could be a vital witness in prosecuting drug syndicates.

Mr Aquino told reporters in the Malaysian resort of Langkawi, where he is attending a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders, that Veloso has started to cooperate with authorities after showing hesitation in the past.

"It seems to serve both of our interests to keep her alive to be able to testify, and it serves the ends of justice for both our concerns," he said.

Veloso's alleged recruiter Maria Cristina Sergio voluntarily surrendered to police on Tuesday in Nueva Ecija province north-east of the capital Manila, seeking protection after receiving death threats via her social media accounts and mobile phone.

10pm:

Australian artist Ben Quilty has been integral to the "I Stand for Mercy" fighting for clemency on behalf of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, and an end to the death penalty internationally.

But Quilty is also a man pain tonight knowing his friends Andrew and Myuran will likely be dead tomorrow. Killed by an Indonesian firing squad.

He posted this message to Indonesian President Widodo earlier today.

9.22pm:

The father of Bali nine drug smuggler Renae Lawrence has labelled Indonesian President Joko Widodo ‘‘heartless’’ to allow the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukamaran.

Speaking from his Newcastle home on Tuesday morning, an emotional Bob Lawrence said his heart went out to ‘‘the boys’’ and their families.

‘‘I just can’t see the sense in killing them, there is absolutely no gain,’’ he said.

‘‘Seeing the families on the television and the heartbreak they are going through, I really don’t know how they have been able to handle it. You wouldn’t wish it on anyone.’’

9:05pm:

Indonesian President Joko Widodo is holding a meeting with a migrant care group over Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina woman scheduled for execution with Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, says the head of the Philippine Migrant Workers Group.

8:58pm Amy Corderoy:

Many Australians may feel distressed and even traumatised by the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, a leading psychologists says.

But Dr Rob Gordon, a member of the Australian Psychological Society disaster reference group, said there are ways to protect yourself and your children if they are having trouble coping with the news.

"If people are feeling bad they should limit their exposure to it, and their children's exposure," he said. 

"The grief is about the whole idea, the loss of these young men, whereas the trauma side is about it feeling horrible, frightened and out of control, and those two sides can be hard to reconcile," he said.

"It's really important to be able to give proper meaning to these things, to separate the trauma out so it sits by itself."

He said once you separated those feelings, it was easier to cope with the sadness, and establish coping mechanisms to deal with any traumatic feelings.

Tips for coping with sadness:

8:13pm:

Human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson has called on the Australian Government to take immediate action under international law to try to prevent the imminent executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

Speaking at the vigil in Martin Place at 6.30pm tonight, he said death row experiences were often a matter of last-minute reprieves.

"It's about 6.30pm here, which means it's 10.30am in Geneva, and if Australia's dozy diplomats can lodge their petition now, then it may have some effect," Mr Robertson said.

"That's something we can do, something that will create - possibly - sufficient embarrassment for Indonesia to stay its hand."

Mr Robertson said Australia should also signify an intention to redirect aid from Indonesia to Nepal and establish an inquiry into the Indonesian attorney-general for "unlawful complicity in the deaths of these two Australians", and cease collaborating with Indonesian drug authorities until Indonesia stops executing drug smugglers.

"It's unconscionable to provide information that will send people to the firing squad," he said. "They will be offered a last cigarette, they will have a target pinned to their chest, they will be shot by a platoon of soldiers, several of whom will be issued with blanks for the pathetic pretense that they're not all responsible for the death," he said.

"Then, because death by firing squad does not often cause immediate loss of consciousness, they will have the coup de grace - a revolver at their head."

7:57pm Megan Gorrey:

"We stand with you" was the message Canberrans wanted to send to Michael Chan and Andrew Sukumaran as they hold a vigil outside the Indonesian Embassy in Yarralumla tonight. Roughly 30 people who clutched candles and made a last-gasp plea for Indonesian president Joko Widodo to stop the planned executions. They were among thousands who attended vigils in capital cities across the country in a show of support for the two men and their families and to ask that their lives be spared. "As long as there's life there's hope and we just have to keep hoping and campaigning as long as possible," said organiser Rochelle Cooper.

7:42pm:

7:33pm:

"I fear the worst": Julie Bishop

"I will continue to make representations however it would seem that short of a last minute presidential intervention on the part of President Widodo I fear the worst for our two citizens," Julie Bishop told The Project tonight.

"I believe they should be given a second chance particularly as there is still a legal proceedings underway.

"Execution is irreversible and there were matters that come up in these legal proceedings that throw doubt on the trial, the sentencing, the clemency plea review, then there is nothing that can be done about at that stage and I think that would reflect very poorly on Indonesia's national standing," she said.

7:09pm:

The unbearable, raw pain of Myuran Sukumaran's mother, Raji, tinged every word: "I won't see my son again and they are going to take him tonight and shoot him and he is healthy and he is beautiful and he has a lot of compassion for other people," she told the media outside her hotel.

"I am asking the government not to kill him, please President, please don't kill him today," she said through violent sobs. 

"Please don't. Call off the execution. Please."

The families of Sukumaran and Chan will not be returning to Nusakambangan Island where the condemned prisoners are being held ahead of their execution.

6:59pm:

In a heart-rending plea for mercy Myuran's brother Chinthu Sukumaran, his sister and mother spoke to the media. "If these nine people die today, tomorrow, next week, next month, it is still not going to stop anything. I ask the President to please show mercy. Please don't let my mother, my sister have to bury my brother," Chinthu said. Myuran's suster Brintha wailed with grief at her brother's side, begging for Myuran's life to be spared: "Indonesian people to show mercy. Please don't do this to my brother. Please, please Mr President, Joko Widodo, I beg you please. Please don't take my brother from me," she said.

6:55pm:

6:49pm:

The families of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were not told that they could stay an extra six hours with the men, says their lawyer Julian McMahon, contrary to earlier reports.

6:36pm:

Geoffrey Robertson QC has called on the Australian Government to immediately signal the consequences for Indonesia if the executions of Chan and Sukumaran proceed at the Martin Place vigil.

He says Australia should:

- Ask for an emergency session of UN Human Rights Council

- Divert aid from Indonesia to Nepal

- Seek inquiry into the Indonesian attorney-general's "unlawful complicity in the death of these two Australians"

"We must make positive announcements tonight so that at least the two men, Andrew and Myuran, will hear them and will know that if the final curtain comes, they will not be dying in vain," he said.

6:32pm:

More than 500 people are gathered in Sydney's Martin Place as part of an eleventh hour vigil organised by the Mercy.

It is not the first vigil asking Indonesia to halt the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, due to proceed in the early hours of Wednesday.

Mercy Campaign organiser Brigid Delaney began by naming the seven other death row inmates scheduled to be put to death.

"We stand with you," she said.

She said Chan and Sukumaran were inspiring people, "and I hope that whatever happens tonight they are never, ever forgotten".

6:27pm:

In a brief statement as they disembarked at Cilacap port, Myuran Sukumara's brother, Chinthu Sukumaran, once more pleaded for the Indonesian president Joko Widodo to intervene and spare his brother's life.

"You're ordering the murder of nine people - these are people with families that love them, they don't need to die," he told reporters.

"I ask you to please show mercy ... Myuran is at peace with what will happen, he knows he has to be strong and take care of the other people who are with him, and we know that's his focus." 

6:18pm Tom Allard:

The families of Chan and Sukumaran have left Nusakambangan Island where the men are being kept.

They arrived to the port of Cilacap and have returned to their hotels.

It remains unclear whether the families will return to Nusakambangan, not withstanding the earlier comments from the Indonesian Attorney General's spokesperson suggesting the families would be allowed stay with the condemned men until 8pm (local time).

The families are expected to front a press conference with international media shortly.

5:59pm: Federal Minister and former Attorney General Philip Ruddock has called "outrageous" Indonesia's commitment to push forward with the executions in light of a pending appeal.

5:38pm: The families of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have been given an extra six hours with the condemned men, ahead of their expected executions overnight.

A spokesman for Indonesia's Attorney General, H. M. Prastyo, has revealed the families of the two Australians could stay on the island where their executions will take place until 8pm (11pm AEST).

He refused to confirm the time of the executions, saying it could happen any time this week - but also said the Indonesian government would not be advising when the execution would take place at all.

The Attorney General will only confirm the men have died after it has happened.

The spokesman, Tony Spontana, said the bodies of the two Australians would be taken to a morgue in West Jakarta, at the request of the Australian government, before they are flown home.

A local Christian pastor has yet to be found to witness Andrew Chan's execution, suggesting the delay may be for logistical reasons.

However, Fairfax Media has been told that morticians, spritiual advisers and others permitted to attend the executions are being asked to gather in Cilacap at 8pm local time, ahead of their transportation to Nusakambangan Island. 

The families may still return to Cilacap to speak to the media, before returning to the island for the final hours.

Indonesian authorities have refused Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran the right to have a pastor of their choice to witness their executions, outraging their families and Australian diplomats.

In heart-breaking scenes, the families of the Bali nine duo arrived at the port of Cilacap for their last visit to Nusakambangan, surrounded by friends.

Sukumaran’s sister Brintha collapsed as she wailed in grief, surrounded by a large media pack. His mother Raji was also deeply distraight.

Chan’s family  arrived soon after, protected by embassy officials. Brother Michael was ashen faced. his mother Helen covered her face as she sobbed.

As they walked to the port, police with dogs tried to break up the media pack, with at least one journalist bitten on the leg.

The families want to address the media shortly about the refusal to let the men have a religious counsellor of their choice.

Earlier, in an SMS, Michael told Fairfax Media: “Their last bit of dignity has been denied.”

The decision, relayed this morning, follows earlier assurances to diplomats that christian ministers Christie Buckingham and David Soper, who are close to both men, would be able to comfort the men in their last moments on earth.

It is the latest of several snubs by Indonesia to Australia over the executions. Last week, Indonesia refused to heed the plea of foreign minister Julie Bishop not to announce the executions would take place on Anzac Day.

The executions are proceeding despite strong objection of the Australian government and the fact that a constitutional court challenge by the two men has been given a hearing date on May 12.

The two Australian members of the Bali nine heroin smuggling ring are due to be expected to be killed by a firing squad at midnight on Tuesday, or shortly there after.  

- Tom Allard and Jewel Topsfield

Andrew Chan and his fiancee Febyanti Herewila have married on execution island on what is likely to be one of his last days on earth. 

Chan's brother Michael revealed the bittersweet news after returning from Nusakambangan prison on Monday.

"Feby and Andrew had a celebration this evening," Michael said. "It's tough times but it's happy times at the same time."

He said Andrew and Feby, as she is known, celebrated in Besi prison with family and friends.

Michael said the family would like to celebrate with them again on Tuesday.

"Hopefully the president will still show some compassion so these young people can continue with their lives."

Late on Monday it was revealed Indonesia's Constitutional Court agreed to consider a last-ditch legal challenge to the country's clemency laws on May 12.

However Attorney General spokesman Tony Spontana said the Indonesian government would not wait for the Constitutional Court's decision. "It is not directly related to their case," he said.

Lawyers for Chan and Myuran Sukumaran and Indonesian human rights groups asked the court to clarify the president's obligations when considering clemency pleas.

However the Constitutional Court is not an appeal court and it has no power to alter the death sentences of the Australians or make any ruling on their case,

Any ruling made by the Constitutional Court would not be retrospective and the Attorney-General has previously stressed the case would not prevent the executions from proceeding.

Chan asked Feby to marry him in Bali's Kerobokan jail, where they met through a mutual friend.

Feby, who is an Indonesian pastor, regularly went to the jail as part of her outreach work.

Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo said at first he didn't believe the marriage request.

"There was a wish from Andrew Chan, which I thought wasn't serious and wasn't the last wish, but it turned out to be serious. He wanted to be tied in matrimony with his girlfriend," Mr Prasetyo told detik.com.

"He's been in isolation so I thought he wasn't serious."

He eventually granted the request.

The wedding was officiated by family friend and Salvation Army minister David Soper. Chan has also asked Mr Soper to be his religious adviser in his final hours and witness his execution.

The families have been told they will have to say their final farewells about 2pm Tuesday.

Nine prisoners, including Chan and fellow Bali nine organizer Myuran Sukumaran, are expected to be executed shortly after midnight.

Sukumaran's brother, Chinthu, said he had spent the last five years watching young children play with their parents. "And I ask the president not to make orphans out of children, Widows...." He said. "There are family members crying inside the prison as we count down the hours."

Father Charles Burrows has been here before. Seven years ago the Cilacap priest witnessed the execution of two Nigerian heroin smugglers on Nusakambangan. It took the men up to eight minutes to die and while they moaned he sang "Amazing Grace".

This time Father Charles will attend the execution of Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. "I'm dead against the death penalty," he said after visiting Gularte.  

"The fifth commandment is thou shalt not kill. It's disgusting they are going to do that. No human being has the right to take another's life." 

Father Charles said the reaction to the mass executions would be bad for Indonesia and its people. He said polling, which typically finds about 70 per cent of the population supports capital punishment, was done in the cities not the villages.

"I work in villages and everywhere I go no villages have agreed with the death penalty," he said.

Father Charles said all those on death row and their families were feeling sad and angry. 

Asked how he felt about witnessing yet another execution, Father Charles said: "I'm happy to be accompanying Rodrigo because I've been with him for seven or eight years. I'm happy to be with him until the end."

- Jewel Topsfield