Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                    Indonesia Set to Execute 9 Drug Convicts

   by VOA News

   Indonesia is making final preparations for the execution of nine
   convicted drug traffickers, including eight foreigners, despite fierce
   protests from international rights groups and world leaders.

   One of the Australian death row inmates, Myuran Sukumaran, will be
   killed by a firing squad at midnight local time, according to his
   mother, who spoke with reporters on Tuesday.

   Officials have not given an exact time for the executions, but on
   Saturday they gave the prisoners a 72-hour notification of their
   deaths, as required by Indonesian law.

   Earlier Tuesday, a dozen ambulances carrying nine coffins arrived at
   the maximum security jail on Nusakambangan island, where the prisoners
   are being held.

   As they visited their relatives for what could be the final time,
   families of the convicted made desperate, last-minute appeals to
   Indonesian authorities to stay the executions.

   The sister of one of the two Australians awaiting execution wailed
   uncontrollably Tuesday as she arrived with her family at a ferry that
   would take her to the island prison.

   The other Australian, Andrew Chan, on Monday was granted his last wish:
   to marry his girlfriend Febyanti Herewila, an Indonesian pastor. The
   two were married in a small ceremony in his cell.

   Among the drug offenders are nationals from Australia, Brazil, France,
   Nigeria, and the Philippines. Indonesia's hard-line stance on its
   mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking has strained relations
   with all those countries.

   President Joko Widodo, who took office in October, has been a strong
   supporter of executing drug offenders, saying the country is facing a
   narcotics emergency.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/despite-protests-indonesia-set-to-exe
   cute-9-drug-convicts/2737396.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/despite-protests-indonesia-set-to-execute-9-drug-convicts/2737396.html