Capital punishment

Two young Australians face execution in Indonesia within the next few days. They are convicted drug traffickers. The Australian Parliament and prominent Australians have pleaded for the death sentences to be commuted. Indonesia's President has not heeded any of these pleas and appears immovable on the matter.

By all accounts the two Australians have turned their lives around in the many years they have spent in prison awaiting their sentence to be carried out. Their reform has been one of the arguments pleaded in their favour. Some in Australia, especially amongst those who have lost loved ones to drug usage, support the intended executions.

I can understand that view but I am not in favour of capital punishment. I wish that the Indonesian President would agree to commute the sentences. There seems no hope of that.

I am glad that our Governments - of both persuasions - have pleaded on behalf of these and other Australians who face execution. Perhaps if our Governments would use diplomatic channels constantly to argue against all executions - and not just those where Australians are involved - we might see countries which practice capital punishment changing their policies over time. Otherwise why should any country show clemency to Australians when they execute their own nationals with impunity?