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 The planned executions of Myuran Sukumaran, 33, and Andrew Chan,
31, have ramped up diplomatic tension between Australia and
Indonesia after repeated pleas for mercy on their behalf. They are
among a group of up to 11 convicts, mostly foreigners, due to be
executed on the prison island of Nusakambangan.
Indonesia's foreign ministry said there was no legal basis for
Indonesia to act on the proposal that had been made by Australian
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
"Basically Indonesia does not have any regulation or legal framework
regarding a prisoner swap," said Indonesian foreign ministry
spokesman Armanatha Nasir. "This idea was put forward to our
minister two days ago and we told them then."
A spokeswoman for Australia's Bishop said: "We have not had
confirmation of that from our end yet."
Also facing execution are citizens of France, Brazil, the
Philippines, Ghana and Nigeria, as well as Indonesia.
Australian politicians held a candlelight dawn vigil outside
parliament house in support of the men early on Thursday, when
Bishop said she had spoken to Indonesia's foreign minister earlier
this week.
"I raised the fact that there were Indonesian prisoners in
Australian jails and whether there was an opportunity for us to
consider a prisoner swap, a prisoner transfer or a clemency plea in
exchange for a return of prisoners," Bishop said.
"I just asked for a pause in their preparations for the execution of
Mr Sukumaran and Mr Chan so that we could have officials explore
these ideas," she told Sky News Australia.
Australia does not have the death penalty and a recent survey by the
Sydney-based Lowy Institute think tank showed nearly two-thirds of
the public disapproved of the executions.
Sukumaran and Chan were transferred from Bali's Kerobokan Prison on
Wednesday to Nusakambangan, which lies off Java.
EXECUTION DATE 'WITHIN DAYS'
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he had asked to speak
again with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Thursday.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Widodo said the men would be
executed soon, but not this week.
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"I am still convinced that the justice system in Indonesia, if you
look at drug crime, is valid and based on facts and evidence," he
said. "That's why when I rejected their clemency, I looked at their
cases, how many drugs they were carrying."
Indonesia is expected to decide on the date for the executions in a
few days, said Tony Spontana, spokesman for the attorney general's
office.
Widodo has adopted a tough stance against drug traffickers and
others on death row, denying clemency appeals. Executions resumed in
2013 after a five-year gap and nationals from Brazil, Malawi, the
Netherlands, Nigeria and Vietnam have been among those put in front
of a firing squad.
Chan and Sukumaran were convicted in 2005 as the ringleaders of the
so-called Bali Nine, who were arrested at the holiday island's main
airport for trying to smuggle 8 kg (18 lb) of heroin to Australia.
The seven other members of the gang, all Australians, have been
jailed in Indonesia.
The Australian government has stressed that Chan and Sukumaran have
been rehabilitated in prison, where they have mentored younger
inmates, and has warned of potential political repercussions if the
executions go ahead.
The pair have made numerous appeals against their sentences. One of
those, which challenges Widodo's refusal of clemency, is still
outstanding.
(Additional reporting by Eveline Danubrata in JAKARTA and Lincoln
Feast and Jane Wardell in SYDNEY; Editing by Dean Yates and Paul
Tait)
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