Indonesia Executes Nigerians, Other Nationals for Drug Offences

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Eight convicted drug smugglers were on Tuesday midnight local time executed by firing squad in Indonesia.The executions took place in Besi prison on the island of Nusakambangan.

However, the execution of a ninth convict, a woman from the Philippines, according to the BBC, was postponed at the last minute.

Among those killed were Australians, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
Earlier, the men’s families were allowed to see them for the last time.

Australia had appealed to Indonesia to delay the executions, citing alleged flaws in how their case was prosecuted.

After the executions, Steven Ciobo, parliamentary secretary to Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, tweeted: “There are few greater displays of abuse of state power and regressive thinking than the death penalty.”
Those put to death also include Nigerian nationals, a Brazilian and an Indonesian.

Filipina woman, Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, was also due to be executed, but this was delayed after a request by the Philippine president, a spokesman from the attorney general’s office said.

The request came after someone suspected of framing Veloso to carry heroin into Indonesia surrendered to the police in the Philippines, the spokesman went on. Indonesia would give Veloso the chance to testify as a witness in the trial in the Philippines, the spokesman said.

Her mother described the last minute reprieve as a “miracle.”

“We are so happy, I can’t believe it. I can’t believe my child will live,” Celia Veloso said.

A Frenchman also convicted of drug offences, Serge Areski Atlaoui, has also been sentenced to death but has an appeal outstanding.

Earlier, the eight prisoners were allowed to spend their final moments with their families.

Relatives of Chan and Sukumaran were visibly distressed and Sukumaran’s sister collapsed and had to be carried to the prison.