The Bali representative for Indonesia’s ruling political party has condemned 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 been in power in the House of Representatives since 2014, said Indonesia would look weak if it released drug smugglers at the request of foreign countries.
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 new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
“Do not make this country appear weak by ignoring existing laws on the grounds of international cooperation and then repatriating foreign prisoners to their countries,” Parta said in a statement to the Indonesian House of Representatives.
He warned that while this would promote international diplomacy, it could “break the justice 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.
Of the remaining members of the nine, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died of cancer in 2018 and Renae Lawrence was released the same year after her life sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal.
The drug plot’s masterminds, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed by firing squad on Nusa Kambangan or ‘Prison Island’ in 2015.
Nyoman Parta of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle said his country would look weak if it released the remaining Bali Nine members to Australia
Renae Lawrence (right) talks to Indonesian interpreter Wayan Ane during her testimony in the trial of Michael Czugaj (left) as Andrew Chan watches from behind in Denpasar in 2005
Scott Rush (left) is pictured next to his translator during the 2005 Bali trial
Mr Parta said transnational drug networks have targeted Bali in recent years and that repatriating 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 a lot of attention from the world community, Indonesia and especially the Balinese community,” he said.
‘And in Bali there have been many revelations about international narcotics network cases over the past ten years. Let the repatriation of [the] Bali Nine convicts dampen the spirit of drug eradication.’
But some other leading figures in Indonesia have praised the decision, including Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association vice-chairman Rai Suryawijaya.
He said Australia was a major contributor to Bali’s tourism industry and maintaining a positive relationship between the two was crucial.
“Bali Nine has been in prison for quite a long time and I am sure they have shown good behavior,” he told the newspaper Courier mail.
‘They deserve to have a chance at a better life. They must regret what they did. Let’s give them a chance.
‘We must leverage the positive impact of this policy. Government costs can be reduced, it can alleviate the overcapacity problem in our prison.’
Si Yi Chen and Matthew Norman could be back in the country as soon as next month
Renae Lawrence (pictured behind bars in 2005) is the only Bali Nine member to be released back into society, but has struggled to find normality
Pictured above L-R: Myuran Sukumaran, Scott Rush, Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, Renae Lawrence, and below: 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 their sentences in Indonesian prisons.
“We are reviewing these requests and hope to implement the policy soon,” he said.
President Subianto was elected in February and took power in October, replacing President Joko Widodo.
It is expected that they will be transferred next month. The Australian government has not confirmed whether the five will have to serve their remaining prison sentences in Australia.
Indonesia’s new leader also said he would release Philippine national Mary Jane Velso, who has been on death row since 2010 when she was caught smuggling drugs in her suitcase, which she claimed she knew nothing about and that someone would have packed differently.
He said France had also submitted requests to repatriate its citizens and had appealed through a letter from the French justice minister.