To ask if you know about the executions taking place today?

[kewtogetin]

I have been following the case of the 'Bali 9' for years but it seems today is the end of the road for Andrew chan and myuran sukumaran. They are due to be executed at 5pm UK time.
I have just watched their families leaving the jail for the last time after saying their final goodbyes. It was heartbreaking. This is not really a post about the rights and wrongs of the death penalty (although I am massively against) but I can't help feeling this is more of a punishment for the families than for those who committed the crime.
I believe death isn't the punishment but fear. Saying goodbye to your children/parents etc, being marched through the rain forest, tied to a wooden stake with a hood over your head and then shot through the heart. It's just barbaric.....
What do you think? And no 'if you can't do the time don't do the crime' spouters please. Two men (actually 2 of 11 I believe) will die today but glorying in it is disrespectful at best.

[DaysAreWhereWeLive]

I agree with you about the death penalty, but you can't really say people can't respond in certain ways...that's not really on.

[26Point2Miles]

who is glorifying in it?

[Pyjamaschocolateandwine]

It's barbaric yes but your post isn't an aibu if you specify how people should reply.

[TheWitTank]

I'm against the death penalty. I do not think they should be executed. But the sad fact is that they took a gamble, knowing what the laws of the country are, and it didn't pay off for them. They wanted to make a huge profit from heroin and they got caught. The family being photographed crying and breaking down outside were terrible.

[Allstoppedup]

It's really heartbreaking seeing the impact it is having on their families. I lived in Australia for a while and was very interested in the appeals process that was going on out there and I was so hoping that they would be granted some mercy.

I can't imagine the emotions they are experiencing.

I am opposed to the death penalty in general and I always hate it when it reaches the final hours. Apparently those sentenced to death are allowed 3 minutes to 'calm down' before they shoot them through the heart. How very kind...

[Shinyshoes2]

They're now reformed characters aren't they
It depends if people see prison as rehabilitation or punishment
I'm on the fence on this one . I read a lot of books about Bali prisons and especially 'Hotel K '
I really don't know what the answer is
However , EVERYONE knows what happens if you get caught smuggling I drugs in a country like this

[kewtogetin]

It's not so much 'telling people how to respond' I know the vast majority of the public believe they 'deserve' to be executed. I just hate the glibness surrounding it. The men's families are innocent and are surely deserving of sympathy......

[Aebj]

I live in perth Australia. It's been really big news here. Reports are saying tomorrow morning.

[26Point2Miles]

yes but they have got sympathy? I sympathise with the family

but it changes nothing.....they broke laws,but its a good thing they were all caught and locked up because that one action may have saved many other lives that may have been lost on that haul of heroin

[however]

It's beyond barbaric.

[Hoppinggreen]

I really feel for the families and to a lesser extent the Criminals themselves . It must be a terrifying process to go through and the way its being done is pretty barbaric as well.
I am in theory in favour of capital punishment in some cases and these people knew the risks ( maybe they thought they weren't at risk as foreigners) but the whole thing is pretty horrific.

[thehumanjam]

Although I have completely confused this way with another case so my comments do not relate to this thread. Please ignore!

[OfaFrenchMind]

I have massive sympathy for the families. This dragged out process must have been torture. That's it.

[Anniegetyourgun]

Heard it on the radio.

I know the vast majority of the public believe they 'deserve' to be executed

No. They knew it was a possibility, drug smuggling is wicked and they deserved to be caught and imprisoned (in reasonably humane conditions), perhaps for life. Being shot by firing squad is barbaric and simply shouldn't happen in this day and age. Governments don't have to deter crime by behaving as badly as criminals.

[tomatodizzymum]

Apparently the Netherlands pulled their ambassador out of Indonesia when they executed a Dutch citizen.
This is the problem, it's damaging international relations for Indonesia. There are several foreign nationals being sentenced at the moment.

Also if people are running the risk, you've got to question if it works. Unless of course you can prove that drug smuggling to Indonesia would increase if they removed the death penalty.

It's very sad,

[Marmaladedandelions]

I don't think they 'deserve' it and am against the death penalty but I do find it hard to be sympathetic for drug related offences like this.

[shewept]

I knew it was happening today and don't know exactly how I feel.

I do feel sorry for the family. But I think that it's designed that way. Don't smuggle drugs because you will get the death penalty, it will devastate your family, bring shame etc.

Part of me does think they knew the risks, part of me is horrified at by it.

[Viviennemary]

I do feel sympathy for the families as they haven't committed a crime. These drug smugglers cause intense misery to people. They know what the penalty is in those countries and that's the risk they take.

[butterflyballs]

The issue is, that for years, people have been caught smuggling drugs in countries with the death penalty probably knowing that if they get caught there is a distinct likelihood of them being executed as they are foreign nationals whose foreign office will intervene.

I think Indonesia have had enough and are proving they will carry through with their executions, no matter who it is.

[kewtogetin]

The irony is of course that much of Indonesia's income comes from tourism, tourists who flock there because of the liberal drug culture. I lived in Bali for several months and it's something of a miracle I didn't become a drug addict! You can literally buy anything, anywhere, it's endemic.

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Definitely know about it because the news here has been full of it.

Shame they haven't mentioned the others who are due to be executed at the same time - a Filipina woman, Mary Jane Veloso for e.g., who leaves 2 children aged 6 and 12 behind.

Here is a rolling news update on the situation of the Bali 9. Not just the 2 Aussies.

[SirChenjin]

It is horrendous for the families - watching them arrive for their final visit and having to fight their way through the media scrum at such a distressing time was beyond awful. However, I'm afraid I'm with the others who say that they knew the risks but still chose to do that to their families.

[kewtogetin]

Just watching it now on sky news, the ambulances have arrived at the jail, along with their coffins, it's heartbreaking watching myurans mother and sister.

[Bambambini]

In wonder if this execution will make some people from the west think twice. We have seen so many from the west get caught, imprisoned for some years and sent back to their countries - not the same consequence as this.

Saying that - it is horrible. I'm against the death penalty ( especially in the west and first world countries) and the whole idea of what they and their families are going through is horrible. I don't think anyone (sane) will be enjoying it.

They did know the laws of the land though and thought the profit was worth the chance.