Bali Nine: Jakarta governor, close friend of president Joko Widodo, comes out against death penalty
An influential Indonesian politician and trusted confidant of president Joko Widodo has come out against the death penalty in a rare public announcement.
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, popularly known as Ahok, is the governor of Jakarta – one of the country's most high-profile positions.
Mr Widodo, a former governor of Jakarta himself, was standing by his decision to not grant clemency to drug traffickers on death row including Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
But Mr Purnama had asked his close friend to reconsider, saying he disagreed with capital punishment because inmates could change into "someone better".
He told reporters during a visit to a detention centre that a life sentence was more appropriate and that executions were not a deterrent.
He also said those who kept dealing in narcotics should not be given leniency.
Mr Purnama said he discussed his views with Mr Widodo when he met with him late last week.
The governor moved into the role when Mr Widodo became president last year.
When leading Jakarta, the two became known for their reformist style and close working relationship.
Chan and Sukumaran are among 11 death row inmates named in the next round of executions.
The pair were sentenced in 2006 for their roles as ringleaders in the so-called Bali Nine drug smuggling ring.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has repeatedly called on Mr Widodo to grant clemency to the Australian pair.
After discussions with the president last Wednesday, Mr Abbott said he thought Mr Widodo was carefully considering Indonesia's position over the executions.
But Mr Widodo said on Saturday he was not reconsidering, and reiterated that Indonesia's stance was clear and there could be no intervention.
Uncertainty remains over prison transfer
Meanwhile, the head prosecutor in charge of transferring Chan and Sukumaran said in a text message to the ABC that there were plans to move them this week but did not say when.
So far every plan authorities had announced about the men's transfer to another island to be shot had been postponed or the deadline had passed without any movement.
Chief prosecutor Momock Bambang Samiarso had said it was "very" likely to happen last week, but it did not.
The uncertainty had been fuelling almost daily rumours among local media.
Indonesian prison authorities have reportedly indicated that the island where the two Australians are due to be executed will be ready within days.
The head of penitentiaries in Indonesia, Handoyo, had indicated that Nusa Kambangan island prison would be ready in a couple of days.
One of the reasons given for why Chan and Sukumaran were not transferred from Bali to the island last month was because the island prison had not been prepared.
Lawyers for Chan and Sukumaran had demanded the country's attorney-general obey the rule of law and allow the men to proceed with their legal appeal.
They are attempting to overturn an administrative court decision to refuse them a hearing, in which they were to challenge the president's failure to consider their case for clemency.
