Mixed reactions over executions of Chan and Sukumaran
INTENSE debate over the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran has broken out with near equal sentiment condemning and approving Indonesia's actions.
On the one hand, many people are angry at the killings in the face of strong evidence the men had reformed during their decade in the Indonesian prison system.
On the other many are noting the seriousness of the men's initial crimes and the well-publicised nature of Indonesia's death penalty.
"If those low lives were actually abiding by the law, we wouldn't be talking about this," posted Rick O'Neill. "Of course if you're self-righteous, the law doesn't apply to you."
Judi Lindsay responded to that by noting the difference in sentencing for Chan and Sukumaran and some of the Bali bombing terrorists.
Reader poll
Did Indonesia have the right to execute Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran?
This poll ended on 01 May 2015.
Current Results
No. No-one has the right to kill another person no matter what they have done.
18%
Legally, yes. Morally, no. They shouldn't have done it.
25%
They had the right but should have commuted the sentence like Australia asked them to.
5%
Yes. It's their country and their rules. You break them at your peril.
37%
Yes, and we should be doing it too.
12%
This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.
"The law did apply to them, but answer me this - are you the same person you were 10 years ago? Neither were they, they worked hard at rehabilitation and did not deserve to be killed in such a barbaric and inhumane way," she posted.
"Abu Bakar Bashir of JI fame was released TWICE from prison. Where is there any type of justice happening here?"
There were also some who questioned Chan and Sukumaran's status as the "ringleaders" of the Bali Nine drug operation.
" I will not travel to Bali again. 21yrs and 23yrs and they were supposed to be ring leaders in a billion dollar drug trade something's not right," posted Craig Murphy.
"Ring leaders don't risk their lives doing dirty work. Ring leaders get young desperate people to do that while they sit in their office drinking whiskey and smoking cigars."
Reader poll
Australia has recalled her ambassador from Indonesia. Is this the right reaction to the Chan and Sukumaran exectutions?
This poll ended on 04 May 2015.
Current Results
Recalling the ambassador sounds about right.
7%
It's not enough. We should be considering sanctions.
26%
Australia should lodge a formal protest with Indonesia and in the United Nations.
13%
The Australian Prime Minister and Indonesian president should discuss it.
3%
We shouldn't be taking any action. We should respect Indonesia's right to enforce their own laws.
50%
This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.
Kristi Pickford branded the killings "inhumane".
"They were kids. They were rehabilitated. 10 years in a Bali jail is enough! Nobody deserves to die like this. It's inhumane," she posted.
Australian drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have been executed by an Indonesian firing squad. http://ow.ly/Mff1c
Posted by The Northern Star on Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Bec Lee Jans disagreed.
"They were not kids," she posted.
"They knew damn well what they were doing and what would happen if they were caught. Yet still went ahead and did it anyway.
Former Grafton Daily Examiner editor Peter Chapman (now editor of the Queensland Times at Ipswich) is furious at the...
Posted by The Northern Star on Tuesday, April 28, 2015
"They should think themselves lucky they were given 10 years! Should have been done many years ago!
"YOU might think nobody deserves to die like this, but they did, they knew this was how they would die if caught. They didn't give a hoot then so why should anybody now?"
