MOSCOW, January 29 (Sputnik) – A vigil for Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, two young Australian, who face execution in Indonesia, is currently underway at Martin Place in Sydney.
At the Martin Place vigil for Andrew & Myuran. Speakers include a dad who lost his child to heroin. #IStandForMercy pic.twitter.com/NhPtAdMgIH
— Benjamin Law (@mrbenjaminlaw) 29 января 2015
Big crowd at the #IStandForMercy vigil for Myu and Andrew at Martin Place. pic.twitter.com/EMdmLX3O9c
— Lee Rhiannon (@leerhiannon) 29 января 2015
The event, dubbed Music for Mercy, was organized by award-winning Australian artist Ben Quilty, singer-songwriter Megan Washington and the Mercy Campaign. The Tasmanian Times reported Quilty as saying that there is still hope for the two young men. "There will be justice and mercy for them both," he said.
It has garnered a lot of attention on social media, with people using hashtag #iStandForMercy to support Chan and Sukumaran, who were arrested in 2005 and later convicted of drug trafficking.
With @amnestyOz volunteers at the #IStandForMercy concert. @BenQuilty's amazing endeavor for Andrew and Miyu. pic.twitter.com/oyQVKsZdCN
— Amelia Freelander (@AmeliaAmnestyOz) 29 января 2015
In December, Indonesian authorities announced that many prisoners facing death sentence for drug offences would be executed. In January, Chan's application for mercy was rejected.
In an open letter, to Indonesia's President Joko Widodo, the Mercy Campaign said that Chan and Sukumaran expressed remorse and sorrow for their drug crimes, turned their life around and helped other prisoners to do the same.
Myuran's grandmother asks Indonesian President not to kill her grandson #istandformercy @amnestyoz pic.twitter.com/yNUJFS7P4f
— Claire Mallinson (@ClaireMallinson) 29 января 2015
"The positive stories of their rehabilitation are known in Indonesia and around the world. They are a true credit to the Indonesian Penal system, which has enabled their rehabilitation," the activists said.
Good crowd for the #IStandForMercy event in Martin Place. Capital punishment isn't the answer… pic.twitter.com/qr17HAIwVH
— Tim Wilson (@timwilsoncomau) 29 января 2015
Archibald prize winner @BenQuilty & actor David Wenham kick off proceedings at #IStandForMercy #martinplace pic.twitter.com/lkTlux8yGP
— Flip Prior (@FlipPrior) 29 января 2015
The Mercy campaign asked to reduce their penalty from execution to serving a jail sentence. "They deserve to be in jail, but not to be killed," the activists said.
Justine Clark and Cameron Bruce #istandformercy pic.twitter.com/hOfvfwZwJT
— Mercy Campaign (@MercyCampaign) 29 января 2015
