Celebrities voice “I stand for Mercy” campaign
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop defends the govt's record as celebrities join a social media campaign urging for an 11th hour bid in Indonesia.
- Published by David Knox
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Australian celebrities including Guy Pearce, Bryan Brown, Brendan Cowell, Joel Edgerton, Geoffrey Rush, Fred Schepisi and Deborah Mailman have appeared in a video urging Prime Minister Tony Abbott to go to Indonesia to seek clemency for Bali 9 duo Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan.
Whilst many of the actors declared “I stand for Mercy,” some urge the PM to take a tougher stance at the 11th hour.
“Tony, if you had any courage and compassion, you’d get over to Indonesia and bring these two boys home,” Brendan Cowell says.
“Show some balls.”
“Mr. Abbott be a leader,” says Matt Nable.
“Where are you Mr. Abbott?” asks David Field.
“Show some ticker Tony Abbott,” added Anthony Hayes.
But some have suggested the video over-simplifies foreign affairs negotiations and sovereign law.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told the Today show, “We take the very best advice from our people in Indonesia, who are in Jakarta, who are part of a high-level sustained campaign to seek a stay of execution.
“If there was any indication being in Indonesia would help, of course we would be there.”
The Mercy Campaign is organising a public vigil in Sydney’s Martin Place at 6pm tonight.
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33 Responses
No one seemed to have a problem with the death penalty when the Bali bombers were executed..
If they had been arrested in Australia, 10 years ago, they would be back on the streets now. I wonder if some would be anti-death penalty if they had lost a sister/brother/child to the heroin that was being distributed by these guys?
You miss the whole point of the argument. So legalized murder is justifiable.
It’s a waste of my time even responding.
8 people were murdered by the Indonesian government tonight. R.I.P.
There is Nothing wrong with the “I stand for mercy” campaign. i believe the Government especially Julie Bishop should be commended on her efforts, but it didn’t help when Primie Minister Tony Abbott came out on public tv and shamed the Indoneasian President and Indoneasia, that’s when the death Penalty was sealed if not already seald. At the end of the day these 2 men who where sadly executed have no one to blame but themselves.
I stand for mercy too, but do they really think Mr Abbot can just pop over there, walk into the prison and put them on a plane? Even if the sentence is commuted they would be in prison for life, they could never be brought home! They make it sound like it’s a simple thing to do when in reality upsetting a close neighbour with ten times our population would be foolish to say the least. Watching this stupid video has made me really angry and I have lost a lot of respect for many of the participants, some of whom had been favourites of mine. My heart breaks for their poor families and I hope their is a last minute reprieve but this video has probably done more harm than good.
No doubt, this is such a controversial topic.
But a couple of questions to ponder:
– Before taking on ‘the job’, were these people fully aware of the consequences if they were caught? Right or wrong, it’s not like some of these Asian countries make it a secret about capital punishment. Instead, they have made it loud and clear to the rest of the world that if you smuggle drugs into their countries, you will be dead.
– Did these people think of how the consequences would affect their loved ones?
I have the greatest sympathy for the loved ones of drug traffickers just as much as I have for the loved ones of drug abusers.
Maybe these celebrities should also jointly make a clip on how to deter drug traffickers.
Well put.
Brendan Cowell has shown so much courage he has deleted his Twitter account. How clueless can some of these c grade celebrities be. Amazing stuff. Good on Peter Stephenovic for calling this rubbish out for what it is.
Actually it was Karl.
People are turning these guys into saints. They are herion dealers!!!! They have no one to blame but themselves. Its horrible for their families and friends and I feel for them, but I will never feel mercy for drug dealers.
Should we feel sorry for Ivan Milat (sp?) or Martin Bryant now that they are sorry for their crimes and have learnt how to paint?
Well said. Hopefully this sad, sorry tale will make potential future drug mules have second thoughts and not take part in that hideous crime.
My thoughts go to the Nigerian gent that was executed in Indonesia and then once another investigation was conducted it was proved he could not have done it. People like that man have no assistance and generally won’t speak Tagalog. For him, the gap between being sentenced and execution was far less than for the two Australians. Perhaps these actors need to recognise that Abbott reminded Indonesia of the huge amount of aid money Australia has given that country – and the reaction/response to that reminder. It just didn’t go down well at all so he immediately went into a much quieter and more considered diplomatic attempt. I would feel better about any action against the death penalty if it encompassed all those facing it. The botched and horror executions in the US over the past two years – have ‘we’ stood up against that? I don’t feel anything negative towards those who have…
Step number one following this inevitable event is for all our political parties to unite and ban the AFP from passing on information that may lead to Australians facing the death penalty…
I don’t feel anything negative towards those who have appeared in the video. If it was my son I would want them to try anything possible. I believe their heart is in the right place (even if some of us which they had chosen different wording) and they know that as actors their voice often carries power. Perhaps they could have flown to Indonesia themselves and offered to create anti-drug videos or similar (pro bono) without actually asking for anything. I think Gandhi had the right sort of idea. Sometimes you can win when you stop trying to hold the high moral ground.
Tagalog is the language of The Philippines, not Indonesia. In this case, there’s no doubt of their guilt as they admitted to their guilt in TV interviews. Interestingly, in those interviews, they refused to say if there was a “Mr Big” in Australia, and if so, who it was, leading to the conclusion that they are more than “just” drug smugglers, but were also distributors. If not, then they had every opportunity to deny it.
Error noted.
I think I read that they knew who the king pins were, but their families back home were threatened so they wouldn’t name them.
I agree with Kristi, the death penalty is barbaric & has no place in this day & age. The UN & Amnesty International should make all countries that have it abolish it including the US. The US should set a good example & abolish it. They set themselves up as the ‘leaders of the free world’, yet they still practice this barbaric act.
As for Abbott, well being diplomatic & pussyfooting around has got them nowhere. Everyone know Indonesia’s justice system is corrupt. They just gave 2 murderers 10 & 18 years for a brutal, viscious crime. That is disgusting & our Govt should be getting right up them about it. They consider terrorism, murder & rape to be a lesser crime than drug smuggling. It is a disgrace.
100% agree.
If I may suggest…. it’s probably worth discerning between those who have simply said “I support Mercy” to those who are advocating a flight. Nothing wrong with appearing in a clip that opposes capital punishment.
Yes it is definitely worth differentiating between the people who just say ” I stand for Mercy” and the others. The ‘I stand for mercy’ group…..fair enough….the others, well all previous highly critical comments apply. The ‘bring our boys home” comments……seriously, must finally be time to complete years 10,11 & 12. In the meantime, most of us normal folk will hope and pray for a last minute reprieve, but I am not optimistic, Indonesia seems very determine to shoot them
silly actors…. have just lost some respect… they only ever pop their head up when a cause is worthy… this time im afraid the boys did a crime… in a foreign country where the death penalty is the punishment… do i agree … absolutely not, should they be spared… yes… but we don’t control the Indonesian gov
Indonesia is perfectly entitled to execute convicted drug smugglers in its own country if they want to. And since the President just ran on standing up to foreign governments trying to meddle in Indonesian affairs, all these efforts will only ensured not only that they would be executed but ensured that the process was brought forward and rushed.
Some people just aren’t going to be bullied by social media (no matter how many Hollywood films you’ve appeared in) or media manipulation by politicians trying to boost their own polling numbers. Make an official and civil plea for clemency and your point clear and then shut up.
I don’t believe that executing drug smugglers will achieve anything, and there is a movement in Indonesian politics that is against it and for judicial reforms. But the actions of activists and Canberra on TV and the internet has has only hurt that cause and…
I think that these actors have let themselves down, they and their approach are an embarrassment to themselves. I am against the death penalty for these convicted heroin smugglers, but Indonesia seems determine to kill them. International diplomacy and politics is a complex and difficult path to follow. The Govt & the Opposition have both done exceptionally well with this and have supported/informed each other……………………………however no one is discussing the elephant in the room…….our very own federal police dobbed them in to the Indonesians, instead of arresting them upon their return to Aus
All that is being done is being done dipliomatically behind closed doors. It is public juvenile pranks like this that back the Indonesians into a corner with no hope of granting clemency. And I wonder if these same actors would have used the same words to Rudd or Gillard….
I am against these executions, and no fan of Abbott or the LNP, but I believe the Government has done all it can to save them. Brendan Cowells plea to “bring these boys home” is just ridiculous. Even if they were to be given clemency, they would spend the rest of their lives in an Indonesian prison, there is no hope of them ever coming home.
Hmm, a review of my posting history would clearly show where I am on the right/left divide. That said, this video is just pointless, and targetting the PM ill-judged and mis-placed.
Short of starting a war with Indonesia, our government has done everything possible. Most of these celebrities comments mentioning Abbott are ridiculous.
“Tony, if you had any courage and compassion, you’d get over to Indonesia and bring these two boys home,” – What a ridiculous statement.
What time is the public vigil being held for all of those who have died from Heroin overdose?
These ‘celebrities’ are so misguided. It’s too late for the Bali 9, they have been charged, found guilty, and will face the firing squad. That is the current law. Tony Abbott (or any Australian) can’t go to Indonesia, and just pick these boys up. What we should be doing is pressuring Indonesia to change their laws, so this cannot happen again.
I agree, it is unfortunately too late for them. Governments without the death penalty need to put pressure on all the countries with capital punishment to abolish the death sentence. Without the USA’s backing however this would be very difficult – and they currently have over 3,000 death row inmates.
Surprised they arnt trying to blame Abbott for it raining today.