INDONESIAN President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has slashed the life sentence of a convicted French drug smuggler, heralding a major policy shift with enormous implications for the death-row members of the Bali Nine heroin smuggling gang. Australian traffickers Scott Rush, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan now stand a real chance of having their death sentences overturned, after Frenchman Michael Loic Blanc, 34, won a downgrading of his jail term to just 20 years.
Scott Rush’s agony – from The Catholic Leader Online
CONVICTED Bali Nine drug trafficker Scott Rush’s death-row agony persists with mixed messages relating to his likely fate continuing to emerge from Indonesia as he enters his fifth year of captivity.
Fr Tim Harris, of Scott’s former parish at Corinda-Graceville in Brisbane, said reports from Jakarta carried both hope and danger for Scott and others on death row.
For a second year, a prayer vigil will be held on Good Friday (April 10) at Christ the King Church, Graceville, to offer prayers for 23-year-old Scott and all those on death row around the world.
Scott’s parents Lee and Christine have indicated they expect to attend the vigil, and Lee Rush is expected to speak on his son’s dire predicament.
Fr Harris said he could not express “strongly enough” how crucial 2009 would be for Scott.
“It will be a make-or-break year because it’s when Scott’s final appeal will be made,” he said. “The legal team are, as we speak, working on the appeal.
Death Penalty Prayer Service
Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission will hold a further vigil to pray for all those on death row around the world.
The prayer vigil will take place on Good Friday, April 10, at noon at Christ the King Church, Churchill Street, Graceville.
The Commission’s Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, said that the plight of Scott Rush, whose family is part of the local Corinda-Graceville Parish, will continue to be a special focus of the vigil.
“We want to pray for all those around the world who face execution, but we are especially conscious of the pain and suffering of Scott Rush and his parents, Chris and Lee,” Mr Arndt said.
“We are very grateful for the support given to us by Fr Tim Harris and the Corinda-Graceville Parish,” he said.
“There are some comments coming from Indonesia which suggest that the time for further appeals by Scott and other Australians on death row may be limited, but we are not sure if this is actually the case,” he said.
“We do know that the Australian Government is adopting a much more positive attitude to universal abolition of capital punishment and this is very welcome,” he said.
“We hope that Catholics will continue to find the time to approach our politicians to ensure that they are doing everything they can to stop the execution of Scott and everyone else on death row,” he said.
“But we also want everyone praying constantly for Scott and his family and for everyone else affected by a death sentence in Indonesia and around the world,” he said.
“The day when Jesus was executed is an appropriate day for us to remember all those also facing execution,” he said.
“For those of us who believe in the message of the crucified Jesus, the message of God’s mercy, compassion and forgiveness is vital,” he said.
“We appeal to Catholics to stand against the violence of the death penalty and to stand up for life,” he said.
Good Friday, April 10, at noon
Christ the King Church,
Churchill Street, Graceville
For further information, please contact Peter Arndt on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.
NB This release is issued with the approval of the Commission or its Executive under the provision of its Charter which enables it to speak in its own right. The views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Governor of New Mexico repeals death penalty
March 20, 2009
Article from: The Australian
SANTA FE: Governor Bill Richardson yesterday signed legislation to repeal New Mexico’s death penalty, calling it the “most difficult decision in my political life”.
The legislation replaces death by lethal injection with a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
New Mexico is only the second state to ban executions since the US Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976.
By signing, New Mexico joins 14 other states that do not impose capital punishment.
