Pleas For Mercy Made To The United Nations By Relatives Of Death Row Convicts — ‘Please … Have Mercy On My Brother’

The relatives of the death row convicts in Indonesia have become increasingly more desperate in their pleas for mercy to save the lives of the so-called “Bali Nine.” Accused of drug smuggling, the nine convicted criminals from various countries have been charged with death by firing squad. In a last-ditch effort to rescue them from the death penalty, their families have made heartfelt appeals to nearly anyone who will listen.

According to Reuters, the pleas for mercy have been directed at foreign governments, with hopes that they can intervene before the executions are carried out. The families have also voiced pleas for mercy to the United Nations, the head of which has asked that the Bali Nine be spared from the firing squad. But the pleas have been primarily directed at the president of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. Despite earning him popularity in his home country, Widodo’s harsh stance on drug-related crimes has been heavily criticized by other countries, namely Australia.

One of the Bali Nine is an Australian national, Myuran Sukumaran. His brother, Chintu Sukumaran, spoke to reporters about his pleas for mercy to save his brothers life. Sukumaran had just visited his brother Myuran on death row at the high-security prison on Nusakambangan Island in Java. Chintu appealed to the president’s empathy by reminding him that he himself had asked other countries to spare the lives of Indonesians who were scheduled to be executed.

“There are nine people with families that love them… so we ask the president to use his powers to intervene and save their lives,” Chintu said.

Myuran’s sister, Brintha, also expressed pleas for mercy, claiming that her brother has already paid his penance.

“My brother made a mistake 10 years ago and he’s paid for this mistake every single day since then. From the bottom of my heart, please President Widodo have mercy on my brother… change punishment for humanity.”

According to the Daily Times, President Widodo claims Indonesia is battling a “drugs emergency.” Despite many protests and continued pleas for mercy, Widodo appears to be going forward with the execution of the Bali Nine.

The families of the convicted drug smugglers do have the support of French president Francois Hollande, however. He warned President Widodo that Indonesia will suffer diplomatic consequences if he goes through with the execution.

“If he is executed, there will be consequences with France and Europe because we cannot accept this type of execution,” Hollande said.

Do you think President Widodo should listen to the families’ pleas for mercy?

[Images courtesy of Getty]