The 65-year-old Dublin-born priest chokes with tears when recalling the night of the execution, saying it is cruel and inhumane and telling of the awful noises coming from the men for seven minutes after the fatal shots were fired.
According to Indonesia's Attorney General, the only thing delaying their immediate execution is the wait for one or more additional inmates to have their clemency appeals denied so they can be added to the February group. (Anyone remember the "Room 22" episode of the Twilight Zone, and the infamous line by the nurse at the morgue, "Room for One More, Honey")?
Andrew and Myuran's final court challenge was denied earlier this week. The President of Indonesia refuses to consider pleas from Australia and other countries, human rights groups, judges and others, and continues to attempt to justify killing drug traffickers by relying on dubious statistics.
Andrew and Myuran have done incredible rehabilitative work for others in prison. This week numerous inmates wrote letters asking they not be killed.
The pair have initiated various classes that have helped people stay off drugs, focusing their minds on productive activities and building skills for life after prison.
Their fellow prisoners say they can’t imagine life in jail without the outreach of Chan, who is studying to become a pastor, and worry about what will become of Sukumaran’s art school.
One inmate, Rico Richardo, offered to take Andrew's place and be executed in his stead. When he was seriously ill, Andrew paid for his surgery.
"If Your Honour Bapak President still insists on executing Andrew Chan, I, Rico Richardo as an Indonesian citizen, am ready to replace Andrew Chan to be executed."
Andrew and Myuran continue to do good work in jail, even after being notified of the decision this week. Myuran is busy trying to finish and sell another painting, so that he can give the money to a female inmate who suffered pregnancy complications while at Kerobokan, lost her baby and now needs surgery to remove a tumor the size of a four month fetus in her stomach.
Two paintings sold this week. The buyers, long term Bali residents from Australia, said:
“The Indonesian prison system has done a remarkable job rehabilitating these boys. They are not serial killers with no remorse whatsoever ... their remorse is proven by their actions. They have tried to do this the best for themselves and others after making a huge mistake in their younger years,” Mr Kotzamichalis said.
“We as humans are surely not that barbaric. Leave them there to help others for as long as is required.
Indonesia doesn't hesitate to ask other countries not to execute its citizens. Last year it paid 1.8 million in "blood money" to a victim's family in Saudi Arabia to spare a condemned Indonesian killer. What hypocrisy.
When ISIS cuts off the hand of a thief for stealing, or beheads a spy, or stones a woman for adultery, all of which are crimes and prescribed punishments under the Sharia law it follows, the whole world recoils in horror. When Indonesian armed forces tie a group of non-violent criminal offenders to a wooden cross, shoot them, and watch them writhe on the ground until they're dead, the world just nods and moves on to the next story.
There are beautiful beaches all over the world. Please do not give your tourist dollars to a country with killing fields used to execute drug offenders. Boycott Bali and Indonesia.
On a related note, "The Bachelor" episode airing Feb. 16, a week from Monday, was filmed in Bali. Bali will likely rake in millions from it. Ratings for the Bachelor are higher than ever this season. Last week, 8.4 million watched, and it drew the largest numbers in the coveted "Adults 18-49" range for each of its four half hours. Since the show will trend on Twitter for hours Monday night (especially since it's the "Fantasy Suite" episode with overnight dates), I hope someone starts a competing Twitter hashtag