Australia not to suspend Indonesian aid if 2 citizens are executed

Sydney, Feb 16 (IANS/EFE) Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott Monday ruled out suspending its multi-million dollar aid to Indonesia if the latter decides to execute two Australian prisoners on death row.

Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 33, found guilty of drug trafficking and sentenced to death in 2006, have been included in the second round of executions that will take place this month.

In a statement to Channel 9 television, Abbott said he did not want the situation to turn into a test of strength which would only push the Indonesians into a corner instead of getting the desired result.

He further said that there were legal options available to save the two prisoners from capital punishment, though Indonesian authorities called Australian diplomats Monday to discuss preparations for the executions.

The Indonesian government did not normally proceed with this type of executions while legal options were available, said Abbott.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that she would not send a clemency petition at the last moment as it could turn out to be counterproductive.

Chan and Sukumaran, ring-leaders of a drug trafficking group known as the "Bali Nine", were sentenced to death in 2006 for attempting to smuggle eight kg of heroin from the Indonesian island of Bali to Australia.

In Australia, the federal police have come under criticism from several quarters after it admitted to having provided information to Indonesian authorities which led to the arrest of two of its citizens.

The Indonesian government, which executed six prisoners last month, has until now rejected all clemency petitions and has asked Australia to respect its laws and also defended the use of capital punishment as a deterrent in its war on drugs.

The two neighbouring countries are close allies whose bilateral relations have faced ups and downs owing to cases of alleged espionage, trade frictions and matters related to illegal immigration, among others.

--IANS/EFE

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