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After acquittal of ex-death row inmate, debate needed on Japan's death penalty

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Japan should be ensuring the safety of its citizens, but instead it is taking people's lives. Is it acceptable to maintain the ultimate penalty under such circumstances? This is a serious question for society. The acquittal of 88-year-old Iwao Hakamada, who had been handed the death penalty, has been finalized after prosecutors decided not to appeal the verdict issued by the Shizuoka District Court during his retrial.

'What use will executing us be?': Bali Nine member Myuran Sukumaran speaks out after bid for clemency rejected

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Myuran Sukumaran with selfportrait
Myuran Sukumaran is one step closer to the firing squad after appearing to have lost his bid for clemency from the Indonesian president.

The news prompted an emotional outpouring from the Australian Bali Nine member saying of himself and fellow Australian Andrew Chan, "We've changed. We don't deserve to be executed. Our families shouldn't have to suffer like this."

A letter rejecting the clemency bid was hand-delivered to Bali's Kerobokan prison by an Indonesian government official on Wednesday and the Australian consulate was notified at about 4pm local time (7pm AEDT).

Sukumaran told Fairfax Media through an intermediary that he was shocked.

"My mum's on the floor, tears, crying and can't talk. My sister is in tears and can't talk. My brother's so shocked he didn't even know what to say. I've been walking around feeling like someone's punched me in the stomach.

"Is there no such thing as rehabilitation??? Can't someone change????

"All the big drug dealers are free and clear to do what they want cause they pay people off big time! That is the only thing me and Andrew can't do, is to pay big money. We were attempting to take drugs out of Indonesia not importing [them]. We failed. We f----d up. We were wrong, we know that. We're paying for that. Our families are paying for our mistake."

Sukumaran and Chan based clemency bids lodged over two years ago based on the strong efforts they have made at rehabilitation since they were locked in Kerobokan prison in 2005.

Sukumaran learns and teaches art to fellow inmates, runs a computer lab and a t-shirt printing room, offering the products for sale outside, with revenue flowing back to the prison. Chan has become deeply involved in the affairs of the prison church.


Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, Michael Bachelard, January 7, 2015

Report an error, an omission: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com
Location: Bali, Indonesia
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