After the transfer of Bali Nine ringleaders, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, to the so-called “execution island” yesterday, Julie Bishop has put forth a last ditch effort in order to spare the lives of the two men.
Australia’s Foreign Minister confirmed yesterday that she has spoken to the Indonesian attorney-general, Muhammad Prasetyo, on the prospect of a ‘prisoner swap’. Speaking to press, Ms Bishop said that the phone call occurred on Tuesday evening, and that she and Mr Prasetyo spoke at length about the possibility of exchanging the two Australian captives for three Indonesian prisoners held here in Australia.
“What we are seeking to do is have an opportunity to talk about options that might be available in the area of prisoner transfer, a prisoner swap,” Julie Bishop said in Camberra.
Kristito Mandagi, Saud Siregar and Ismunandar were involved in a drug bust in NSW in 1998, when they were caught attempting to smuggle 390kg of heroin into Sydney’s Port Macquarie. All three have since been imprisoned in NSW, after been sentenced to 20 years, with parole eligibility in 2017.
If accepted, the trio would be repatriated back to Indonesia and the Mr Chan and Mr Sukamaran’s sentences would be reduced to life in prison.
When asked if she thought the proposal would be accepted, she seemed positive, “These men have become crime fighters and they are assets to Indonesia in the fight against drug crime and when you’ve got an asset you don’t destroy it.”
The Foreign Minister said that although she has not heard back from Mr Prasetyo, who promised to pitch the idea to President Joko Widodo, she expects a response soon.
The Indonesian President has reportedly said that the executions won’t happen this week, but will happen soon.
