Bali Nine duo shown mercy... after Catholic university names scholarships after them in bid to abolish death penalty - but PM says move is 'questionable'
- Australian Catholic University will award undergraduate scholarships
- Indonesian students will be eligible to apply and study in Australia
- Must submit an essay on the theme of 'the sanctity of human life'
- It has surprised the Prime Minister who believes the move is 'questionable'
- Mr Abbott told radio 2GB that it was an 'odd thing for the university to do'
- Vice-Chancellor hopes it will help in a 'small but deeply symbolic way'
- ACU is opposed to the death penalty and campaigned for mercy
- Chan and Sukumaran were executed in Indonesia on Wednesday
An Australian university has announced plans to award two scholarships to Indonesian students in recognition of reformed Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) was part of the global campaign that advocated for mercy for the two Sydney men before they were killed by firing squad on Nusakambangan island, in Indonesia, on Wednesday.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven said ACU is opposed to the death penalty and hopes that
the scholarships will help in a 'small but deeply symbolic way' to be part of the 'ongoing contribution toward the eventual abolition of the death penalty in Indonesia'.
But the move has been labelled as 'questionable' by Prime Minister Tony Abbott who believes the university are sending a
'very unusual message.'
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) will
award two scholarships to Indonesian students in recognition of
reformed Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan (centre) and Myuran Sukumaran (left)
Ambulances carry the bodies of Australian death-row prisoners Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in Jakarta, Indonesia, after they were executed by firing squad
Chan and Sukumaran
spent a decade behind bars in Bali for their role in trying to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin into Australia from Indonesia in 2005. During that ten years, Chan became an ordained Christian priest and Sukumaran a talented artist who conducted art classes to other inmates in Kerobokan jail.
'While our calls for mercy for Mr Chan and Mr Sukumaran were ultimately rejected, we strongly believe that
hope remains for prisoners around the world who face a similar fate,' Mr Craven said.
'The death penalty is a
violent, cruel and immoral punishment that has no place in our society. And yet it persists. In memory of Mr Chan and Mr Sukumaran, each of us can take action to end this punishment.'
The two Indonesian students that are successful in gaining the scholarships can study undergraduate degrees for free at any of ACU's campuses around Australia
Vice chancellor of the Australian Catholic University Professor Greg Craven has announced the scholarship
'These will be awarded to academically qualified applicants upon the submission of an
essay on the theme of '
the sanctity of human life",' Mr Craven said.
'The scholarships would be a
fitting tribute to the reformation, courage and dignity of the two men.'
Sukumaran and Chan wanted their executions to have a greater meaning and hoped the awareness would bring an end to the death penalty, their lawyer has revealed.
Julian McMahon saw the Australians hours before their executions, when they were determined to be strong as they said their goodbyes to their families.
Mr McMahon, who has spent years defending and raising awareness of their rehabilitation since their crime 10 years ago, remained on Nusakambangan island and heard the shots that killed them on Wednesday.
He spoke to the witnesses and confirmed reports the pair were concerned for the six other prisoners there with them.
Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran are seen here as
innocent schoolchildren, years before they would end up on death row
Chan, who wore the jersey of NRL club Penrith as he was executed, did a roll call of the other death row inmates names to check each was okay before they were shot
This photo of Chan and wife Feby was taken in Kerobokan jail before they were married in one of his final wishes
Bali Nine duo shown mercy... after Catholic university names scholarships after them in bid to abolish death penalty - but PM says move is 'questionable' | Daily Mail Online
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Wow look how this is reported....No where was the fact that Indonesia saved Australian kids from drugs mentioned...Nor was the harmful effects of 8 kg of heroine of drugs mentioned ....It was like it never happened!
More like celebrities if you read the other papers
I didnt know junkies were celebrated in Australia...Maybe they should start giving asylum to all drug junkies, rapists and killers who will be executed by other people who have laws ....