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Call for redemption as executed Australian mourned

Indonesia's President Widodo accused of 'humiliating' the families of the condemned men
Call for redemption as executed Australian mourned

Flower bouquets are seen in front of the home of the parents of executed Australian drug convict Andrew Chan in Sydney (AFP Photo/Saeed Khan)

 

Published: May 08, 2015 03:54 AM GMT
Updated: May 07, 2015 09:08 PM GMT

More than 1,000 people mourned executed Australian drug smuggler Andrew Chan at his funeral in Sydney on Friday with his brother saying he should have been given a second chance during an emotional tribute.

Chan, who converted to Christianity and became a pastor during his decade in jail, faced an Indonesian firing squad late last month with fellow Australian Myuran Sukumaran, 34, and six other prisoners despite pleas for mercy from Canberra saying that they had been rehabilitated.

Both men were sentenced to death in 2006 over their role as ringleaders of a plot to bring heroin into Australia from the Indonesian island of Bali, and their execution has strained bilateral ties.

Chan's older brother Michael told the "celebration service" at an enormous Pentecostal Hillsong Church he had "undeniably touched many people's lives over the last 10 years".

"People make mistakes in life and deserve a second chance," he said, his voice wavering as he fought back tears.

"He showed us all that even when we have such a heavy burden hanging over our head, we can still change into a better human being.

"Andrew, you used to say you look up to me, and now little brother, I look up to you."

The service was also attended by supporters, Chan's parents Ken and Helen, other relatives and Sukumaran's family, who are due to mark his death at a separate funeral in Sydney on Saturday.

Salvation Army minister David Soper, Chan's spiritual adviser, said he was with the 31-year-old in the moments before his death and the young man was prepared for his execution.

"Andrew knew the truth, he was prepared to meet his maker. I saw great courage and strength ... I will never, never forget,” said Soper, adding that he was “devastated by the tragic loss”.

Open letter

Meanwhile, Sukumaran’s mother wrote a heartrending open letter to Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, accusing him of "humiliating" the drug trafficker's family and ignoring repeated pleas for mercy.

In her letter addressed to "Dr Mr President, Leader of Indonesia and father of three children", Raji Sukumaran described her son as "reformed" and "full of life, love and passion", adding he had helped many other prisoners in their rehabilitation.

"I just asked you not to order his death but instead you ignored me and many others," she wrote.

"I asked to meet you, to speak to you but once again you could not even have the courage to face our requests to communicate with you."

She said that in recent months she had watched Widodo "openly discussing the way in which he would die, parading and humiliating our family".

"I want to ask you to put your family in my situation," she continued.

"Think for a second, one of your children is tied to post, and men are lined up in front of them and the fear he would have felt, and then your child is shot through the heart," she added. 

Raji Sukumaran finished the letter saying she would pray "for the many other men and women whose lives are in your hands, especially those on death row".

"I pray that you will have the courage to look beyond the politics for they too have families who love them despite their mistakes."

Sukumaran's family are due to mark his death at a funeral in Sydney on Saturday.

Despite global outrage, Widodo has stayed firm in his support for the death penalty, insisting that Indonesia is facing an emergency due to rising narcotics use.

The executions have cast a shadow over Australia's relationship with its Southeast Asian neighbor, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott recalling his ambassador to Indonesia in protest. AFP

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