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International Commission of Jurists, Victoria – Media Release
13 February 2015
ICJ Victoria calls for clemency for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran
Even at this late hour, the Australian government must continue trying to save the lives of Andrew Chan
and Myuran Sukumaran.
The ICJV has long voiced its stringent opposition to the death penalty. The right to life is sacrosanct and
enshrined in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. When a state executes a person, it
violates this right. This is regardless of the offence committed or any government objective, such as
general deterrence. It is still state-sanctioned murder.
Many Asian countries are moving away from the death penalty, with the Philippines, and Cambodia
abolishing it outright. Indonesia is also calling for clemency for its citizens on death row in other
countries. The Indonesian government cannot maintain this new hard-line, merciless stance towards
convicted drug smugglers in these circumstances.
To make matters worse, the Indonesian president’s blanket refusal of clemency for convicted drug
smugglers is unjust and unfair. An appeal for clemency should be assessed individually, with due
consideration given to each person’s circumstances.
Andrew and Myuran are to be executed with no regard for their rehabilitation or contrition. Their
execution will be a devastating loss to their family and friends. It will also be an incalculable loss to the
Kerobokan Prison inmates that Andrew and Myuran could have helped through their compassion and
guidance. In his recent book, American death penalty lawyer Bryan Stevenson wrote ‘we are so much
more than the worst thing we have ever done’. Andrew and Myuran prove this assertion.
Andrew and Myuran face the firing squad, possibly in a matter of days. If Indonesia kills these young
men, then our government should take decisive, visible action to demonstrate to our neighbours that the
death penalty has no place in civilised nations.