Australian artist Ben Quilty has gathered local stars in a stirring plea for Indonesia to grant clemency to the Bali Nine pair Myarun Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, who are currently facing the death penalty for their 2005 crime.
“2 Australian men, Andrew Chan and Myarun Sukumaran, were young, stupid and made the wrong choices,” begins the powerful video. Following Indonesia’s decision to reject Chan and Sukumaran’s bid for clemency this week, and Tony Abbott’s final plea of, “we are asking that Indonesia reconsider its decision to execute two Australian citizens,” Quilty’s video gathers over 30 Australian figures, including Germaine Greer, Asher Keddie, Alan Jones, Missy Higgins, Claudia Karvan, Richard Roxborough, Andrew Hansen and Craig Reucassel join the “I Stand For Mercy” campaign.
Tony Abbott has described the Bali Nine pair as “reformed characters” since their 2005 arrest, and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop stated “every possible effort” is being put into place to avoid the pair’s death penalty. Chan and Sukumaran will be executed by firing squad in the coming weeks unless Indonesia’s clemency decision is reversed.
You can sign the Mercy Campaign petition here.
