Bali Nine families’ desperate TV bid

Death row ... Australian drug smugglers Andrew Chan (L) and Myuran Sukumaran (R) in a court holding cell during their trial in Denpasar in February 2006. Picture: AFP/Jewel Samad Source: AFP

Julie Bishop says she is disappointed that the latest appeal for the Bali Nine pair of death row has failed.

THE anguished families of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have begged Indonesian President Joko Widodo not to kill the two young men.

In an interview with Indonesia's MetroTV station, aired last night, the Chans and Sukumarans told of their emotional distress in a bid to take their message of rehabilitation to Jakarta and the president.

"I don't want them to execute my son. He has done a lot of good things, he is a good person, he is a changed person and I am begging the president not to execute him, to give him another chance, for him to stay in the prison and continue to do all the good things he is doing," Sukumaran's mother, Raji Sukumaran, said in the message she hopes the president will hear.

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Appeal ... the families of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan beg for mercy on Indonesia television. Picture: Metro TV Source: News Corp Australia

Michael Chan, Andrew Chan's brother, told of his family's embarrassment at the shame the Bali Nine duo's crime has brought Indonesia.

"As a family we feel embarrassed because this has happened … we know it has caused a lot of shame for Indonesia and we apologise," Mr Chan said.

"(In) 10 years he has done a lot of good things for Indonesia inside the prison system."

It was the family's first Indonesian television interview and comes as authorities say the two men will be among 10 drug traffickers shot dead at Nusa Kambangan soon.

No date has been set but authorities say preparations at the island are 90 per cent complete. New isolation cells to house the 10 who will be shot.

Andrew Chan in Kerobokan prison. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

Myuran Sukumaran in Kerobokan prison. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

Sukumaran's parents, Raji and Sam, and siblings Chinthu and Brintha, have been in Bali for the past month, living on a constant knife-edge, unable to sleep or have a proper meal as the fate of the two Australians hangs in the balance.

Chan's frail parents, Helen and Ken, were also in Bali for three weeks but made the heartbreaking decision to leave after 10 days as their health suffered.

They left with heavy hearts, knowing they may have said goodbye for the last time.

Mrs Chan may return if her health improves but Mr Chan is not well. Older brother Michael Chan remains in Bali, with a group of close-knit family friends.

Frail ... the parents of Bali Nine ringleader Andrew Chan, Ken an Helen Chan, arrive in Sydney from Bali. Picture: John Grainger Source: News Corp Australia

Every hour and every minute is precious as the two bewildered families, bound by the crime their sons committed 10 years ago, live in a dreadful limbo.

Every day they make a grim-faced vigil into Kerobokan prison, spending time with the two men they desperately pray will be allowed a second chance.

They want authorities to know how much good the two men have achieved in the jail, how they have made an impact and changed so many Indonesian lives and helped prisoners get off drugs and feel self-esteem for the first time.

Diplomat ... Australian Consul in Bali, Majell Hind, arrives at Kerobokan Jail. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro Source: Supplied

Many prisoners and former prisoners have testified to the positive impact Chan and Sukumaran have had upon them and some have even offered to take Chan's place before the firing squad.

Prisoners have learned English, computing, art, first aid, screen printing, graphic arts, psychology, philosophy, cooking and many other skills through a raft of courses set up in the jail by Sukumaran and Chan. They have gained certificates and gone onto jobs upon release.

Sukumaran has become an accomplished artist. Chan is a pastor, ministering to prisoners who need succour and someone to help them.

Each day the torture and uncertainty continues. One minute the families are buoyed by news of a delay. The next hopes are snatched from them, dashed as officials say the executions will go ahead, without naming a date.

Authorities said yesterday that 10 people would be executed — nine foreigners and one Indonesian, all drug traffickers. Chan and Sukumaran are among them.

Convicted ... Andrew Chan (R) and Myuran Sukumaran (2nd-L) after their court appearance on February 14, 2006. Picture: AFP/Bay Ismoyo Source: AFP

For Chan, 31 and Sukumaran, 33, life has become an emotional roller coaster, living hour by terrified hour.

Michael Chan says it's too hard to put into words how the family is feeling. Some days they have no words.

"It is too hard to put it into words," Mr Chan told News Corporation.

He says the last three weeks have been the most emotionally draining and trying since the whole Bali Nine saga began almost a decade ago. But they will never give up hope.

"As long as they are still alive there is hope. I hope that someone sees exactly what these boys are doing in terms of what they have done and what they have achieved," Mr Chan says of the rehabilitation and work programs the duo has set up in jail, which have benefited scores of Indonesian prisoners who have been released and gained jobs.

Support network ... Michael Chan visits his brother and Bali Nine ringleader Andrew Chan inside Kerobokan Jail ahead of his execution. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

One week ago the Sukumarans were terrified the two young men were about to transferred to Nusa Kambangan.

It was Monday night and a decision was made to bring all Myuran's most precious art books and supplies out of the jail the next day.

That day, the family sat around in the jail, barely talking. Mum Raji was in tears. Myuran was struggling to hold it all together.

"It was really like we were at the brink, the absolute brink," Chinthu told News Corporation.

Heartbroken ... Myuran Sukumaran's mother Raji and brother Chintu visit Kerobokan prison. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro Source: News Corp Australia

Extended family members — aunts and uncles who had held Sukumaran since he was a baby, cousins who look up to him — were all there.

"We were at that very low point, it was the lowest point we were at since this whole thing started," he said. "No-one slept on the Monday night."

Then, as the art books were being taken from jail by Sukumaran's emotional relatives, the news came through that there was a delay and there was a crescendo of relief. Mrs Sukumaran was in tears. They hugged each other and Sukumaran. He felt like he could breathe again for the first time in a long time.

Show of force ... a Sukhoi fighter jet flies over Kerobokan prison. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

Now, one week later, the limbo continues. The fear is tangible. On Tuesday two Sukhoi fighter jets, to be used as security in their transfer to Nsua Kambangan, flew over and around the jail three times in an apparent show of force.

If the idea was to spread fear and terror, they achieved that.

But no-one is giving up hope just yet.

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