'Forgive us, give us a second chance'

Bali Nine Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran inside the workshop of Kerobokan jail in Bali. Picture: Bintoro Luckman Source: News Limited

BALI Nine drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have begged for a second chance as their lawyers plead for the Australian Government to step up the fight to save them from the firing squad.

The pair is just a pen stroke from execution after seven years on death row in Bali and Indonesia recently re-started executions, with a target of ten this year.

As Chan and Sukumaran told News Limited of chilling nightmares of being shot dead by a firing squad, their legal team demanded their lives be made a priority in Australia.

The men's situation has become even more grave in recent weeks after reports Indonesia's national narcotics board and a top judge have recommended President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reject Chan's plea for clemency - his last chance of survival.

Go behind bars with Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in the interactive below. For the best experience using a mobile, click here.

''The moment of truth is on the horizon,'' one of their Australian lawyers Peter Morrissey SC, said last night.

''The Australian government should make these boys lives a genuine priority, whatever distractions exist.

''The government must not appear merely to go through the motions.''

Foreign Minister Bob Carr's office revealed that in January this year the Minister wrote to his Indonesian counterpart, outlining Australia's strong opposition to the death penalty.

Andrew Chan's brother Michael speaks for mum Helen, who has little English but her agony is painfully clear - no parent should outlive their child.

The letter is understood to have said that the Government vigorously supports clemency for the two Australians.

As a campaign for clemency stepped up outside, inside Kerobokan Prison, Andrew Chan said he desperately hoped the Australian public - who gave the drug dealers little sympathy when first sentenced for leading a 2005 bid to traffic 8.2kg of heroin from Bali to Australia - would now support their fight for life.

Chan said he understood why Australians may be apathetic, given the pair were initially surly and unrepentant after their arrest, but believed their actions since proved their lives were worth saving.

''I cry out for the public to help me, with a sincere heart I do ask for their help,'' Chan, 28, said.

''Sincerely I am sorry for the crime that I did commit and I apologise to the Australian public for that.''

Chan also revealed he had personally apologised to Bali Nine members.

Both Chan and Sukumaran have told of their terror at the firing squad fate.

''You basically get taken out of your cell, they take you to a remote area from there they line you up and shoot at your heart . . . they say . . . if that doesn't complete the job the guy in charge comes up with a hand gun at point blank,'' Chan said.

For Sukumaran the image is equally vivid.

''That scenario, being lined up, having a thing tied over your face and seeing these people in front of you with guns. That is the image that comes to my mind,'' he said.

In what their lawyers say demonstrates their transformation, Sukumaran and Chan personally turned part of Kerobokan prison into a quasi-TAFE where prisoners learn computing, English, philosophy, graphic design and art and make silver jewellery and screen print t-shirts, in awarding-winning rehabilitation programs.

Sukumaran, 32, said the execution would end their lives just when they were achieving good for others.

''We are sorry for what we did. We were young and stupid. I would ask, please forgive us and give us a second chance, a chance to make up for what we have done,'' Sukumaran said.

''I want to become a better person and I want to help everybody else become a better person as well.''

''Clemency is not a get out of jail free card. We are doing something good, running the rehabilitation programs. If they execute us we won't be doing those things.''

They were sentenced to death by a Bali court in 2006 and have since lost all legal appeals against the death penalty.

There is no time frame for the President to give a decision on clemency and the recent political developments in Jakarta have alarmed their supporters.

Mr Morrissey said support from ''ordinary people who believe the boys deserve jail, but not execution''.

''It reminds the Indonesian government that this really matters,'' he said.

''These boys have done everything Indonesia could ask, and more again,'' Mr Morrissey said.

''When captured, both boys were immature young offenders, who put forward silly excuses and did not face their guilt. They began to reform by engaging in the Indonesian prison system and its calm, rehabilitation-focused approach.

''They have not just improved their own lives but reached out through education to help others. Even The Governor came to court to assist them because he recognised their astounding change.

''No-one should be executed; but it would be cold and callous to kill two boys who have reformed totally, who are happy to serve a proper jail term and who can offer much to the world''

A spokesman for Mr Carr said that the issue was raised each time the Minister met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.
 

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