A group of high profile Australian celebrities have put their voice to an appeal for Prime Minister Tony Abbott to travel to Indonesia to make an in-person, last-minute attempt to prevent the execution of the Bali 9 prisoners on death-row.
A video (above) titled ‘Save Our Boys Mr Abbott’ features the likes of Geoffrey Rush, Bryan Brown, Guy Pearce, Brendan Cowel and Joel Edgerton calling on the prime minister to save the Bali 9 pair and prompts the hashtags #saveourboys and #istandformercy,
Convicted Bali 9 co-conspirators Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan are scheduled to be put to death by firing squad after midnight on Tuesday (Indonesia time).
It would make no difference, says Julie Bishop
Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop has responded to the campaign, saying both she and the prime minister had spoken directly to Indonesian President Joko Widodo and it would not be constructive for Mr Abbott to do as the video messengers suggest by travelling to the country.
“Clearly, if travelling to Indonesia would make a difference, we would have gone there,” Ms Bishop told Channel Nine on Tuesday.
“We take the very best advice from our people in Indonesia, who are in Jakarta, who are part of a high-level sustained campaign to seek a stay of execution.
“If there was any indication being in Indonesia would help, of course we would be there.”
The Australian government is reportedly considering recalling its ambassador to Indonesia if and when the executions of the Bali 9 pair, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, are carried out.
