Home Australia High-ranking Indonesian politician declares his country is ‘weak’ for allowing remaining Bali Nine members to return to Australia

High-ranking Indonesian politician declares his country is ‘weak’ for allowing remaining Bali Nine members to return to Australia

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Nyoman Parta of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle said his country would look weak if it released the nine remaining Bali members to Australia.

The Bali representative of Indonesia’s ruling political party has criticized his own country’s decision to return the remaining members of the Bali Nine to Australia.

Nyoman Parta of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, which has held power in the House of Representatives since 2014, said Indonesia would appear weak if it released drug traffickers at the request of a foreign country.

The five members of the group still behind bars in Indonesia will be returned to Australia following a discussion at this month’s APEC meeting in Peru between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesia’s new President Prabowo Subianto.

“Let us not make this country appear weak by ignoring existing laws based on international cooperation and then repatriating foreign prisoners to their country,” Parta said in a statement to the Indonesian House of Representatives.

He warned that doing so, while promoting international diplomacy, could “break the legal system in Indonesia.”

Australians Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj are serving life sentences in Indonesia after they were arrested in 2005 while trying to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin strapped to their bodies from Bali.

Among the remaining members of the nine, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died of cancer in 2018 and Renae Lawrence was freed the same year after her life sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal.

The masterminds of the drug scheme, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed by firing squad in 2015 on Nusa Kambangan or ‘Prison Island’.

Nyoman Parta of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle said his country would look weak if it released the nine remaining Bali members to Australia.

Renae Lawrence (right) speaks to Indonesian interpreter Wayan Ane during her testimony in the trial of Michael Czugaj (left) while Andrew Chan looks on from behind in Denpasar in 2005.

Renae Lawrence (right) speaks to Indonesian interpreter Wayan Ane during her testimony in the trial of Michael Czugaj (left) while Andrew Chan looks on from behind in Denpasar in 2005.

Scott Rush (left) appears with his translator during the trial in Bali in 2005.

Scott Rush (left) appears with his translator during the trial in Bali in 2005.

Parta said transnational drug networks had attacked Bali in recent years and the repatriation of prisoners, especially in high-profile cases, could undermine efforts to disrupt drug trafficking and deter organized crime.

“The Bali Nine case is a case that has received great attention from the world community, Indonesia and especially the Balinese community,” he said.

‘And in Bali, in the last 10 years, there have often been revelations of cases of international narcotics networks. Let’s not let the repatriation of (the) nine Bali convicts dampen the spirit of drug eradication.’

But other prominent Indonesian figures have praised the decision, including Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association vice president Rai Suryawijaya.

He said Australia was a major contributor to Bali’s tourism industry and maintaining a positive relationship between the two was crucial.

“The Bali Nine have served quite a bit of time in prison and I am sure they have shown good behavior,” he told the newspaper. courier mail.

‘They deserve to have the opportunity to have a better life. They must repent of what they have done. Let’s give them a chance.

‘We have to take advantage of the positive impact of this policy. The government’s burden can be reduced and it can alleviate the problem of overcapacity in our prison.’

Whether Yi Chen and Matthew Norman could return to the country next month

Whether Yi Chen and Matthew Norman could return to the country next month

Renae Lawrence (pictured behind bars in 2005) is the only Bali Nine member to have been returned to society, but she has struggled to find normalcy.

Renae Lawrence (pictured behind bars in 2005) is the only Bali Nine member to have been returned to society, but she has struggled to find normalcy.

Pictured, top left to right: Myuran Sukumaran, Scott Rush, Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, Renae Lawrence and bottom: Si Yi Chen, Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephen and Andrew Chan.

Pictured, top left to right: Myuran Sukumaran, Scott Rush, Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, Renae Lawrence and bottom: Si Yi Chen, Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephen and Andrew Chan.

In a statement, President Prabowo confirmed Australia’s request to transfer Australian citizens serving sentences in Indonesian prisons.

“We are reviewing these requests and hope to implement the policies soon,” he said.

President Subianto was elected in February and took office in October, replacing President Joko Widodo.

They are expected to be transferred next month. The Australian government has not confirmed whether the five would have to serve the remainder of their prison sentence in Australia.

Indonesia’s new leader also said he would free Filipino citizen Mary Jane Velso, who has been on death row since 2010 when she was caught smuggling drugs in her suitcase, which she said she didn’t know and that someone else had packed.

He said France had also requested the repatriation of its citizens and had lodged an appeal through a letter from the French Justice Minister.

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