Last Moments Of Indonesia Drug Convicts

Eight of the Bali Nine were killed last night

As they walked to face the firing squad on an Indonesian prison island, eight condemned drug traffickers defiantly sang praise to God, witnesses said, while in a town across the water a group of tearful supporters was also uniting in song.

The convicts ― two from Australia, one from Brazil, four from Africa and one Indonesian ― made the long journey from their prison to clearings on a prison island to meet their fate early today.

But rather than bow their heads in defeat and resignation, the convicts all reportedly refused blindfolds and raised their voices in song, including a rendition of “Amazing Grace”, until the gunfire from the firing squads rang out.

A chilling re-enactment of the execution

Across the water in the town of Cilacap, the final crossing point for inmates destined for death on the high-security Nusakambangan island, a small band of mourners held a candlelight vigil, and also sang “Amazing Grace”.

The haunting sounds filled the night sky, drowning out the sobs of those too distressed to contemplate what was taking place in the jungle-clad hills of the prison island.

 

Chan and Sukumaran sang Amazing Grace, along with the six other condemned men, before the shots were fired

When Bali Nine duo Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were executed, they died happy with a smile upon their faces, an Indonesian undertaker claimed. 

The Australians, who were found guilty of attempting to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of heroin into Sydney from Bali in 2005, were shot through the heart at about 12.30am local time on Wednesday.

Undertaker Suhendro Putro, 62, who was on Nusakambangan Island in Indonesia when the executions were carried out, said Chan, 31, and Sukumaran, 34, were at peace when they were killed.

'They had a smile on their face and they had a look of happiness,' he told Daily Mail Australia through a translator.

'I think the reason why they were happy was because the pastor blessed them and brought them peace before their deaths.'

Undertaker Suhendro Putro was charged with organising the eight coffins for the executed men 

Before they were executed, the pair were granted their final wish to see their spiritual leaders Christine Buckingham and David Sopor.

One of the condemned men, Nigerian gospel singer Okwudili Ayotanze, was confident right until the end that he was going to be taken off the execution list due to his pending case in the Administrative Court.

Friends and those who knew him for more than 10 years in prison were dismayed his case had been left to the 11h hour.

They believed that, if the court process had started earlier, Ayotanze's life could have been saved. 

A friend close to Ayotanze said he never stopped helping other prisoners. He would make sure everyone would come out of their cells and attend Mass.

"He was basically the Nigerian version of Andrew Chan," he said.

"He was a good person. I will really feel the loss."

Okwudili Ayotanze  is a charismatic gospel singer who has released albums with titles such as "Never be afraid"

No family members of either Bali Nine member were present on the island while the executions were carried out.

Instead they stayed at the hotel to await the heartbreaking news from Consul-General in Bali Majell Hind who was tasked with delivering confirmation their loved ones had died.

A police car escorts an ambulance carrying the coffin of one of eight executed drug convicts

A coffin bearing the body of Indonesian drug convict Zainal Abidin is buried in Cilacap

Moments later, the eight inmates were dead, executed by 12-man firing squads after being tied to posts.

Just before dawn, their bodies returned from the island in coffins, some covered in embroidery.

Family members could be seen crying, ushered away by friends and supporters to begin the long journey to bury their loved ones.

Angelita Muxfeldt, the cousin of Brazilian inmate Rodrigo Gularte, wept as she was led through the large throng of onlookers by Father Charlie Burrows.

Supporters of 'Bali Nine' death row inmates, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukamuran, gather in Martin Place in Sydney

Raji Sukumaran is comforted by a family member during a press conference at the Grand Liana Hotel in Cilacap, Indonesia after visiting her son Myuran Sukumaran for the last time 

But others shed tears of joy. The family and friends of Filipina convict Mary Jane Veloso ― who was moments away from being executed with the others only to be granted a reprieve ― rushed to the port to embrace and express their disbelief.

For the Chan and Sukumaran families, there was no such solace. They had lost their sons, their brothers, after begging for their lives to be spared at every possible opportunity.

“They asked for mercy, but there was none,” the family said in a statement after the executions.

The date of the executions - April 29 - became official when a local funeral director in Cilacap was instructed to inscribe the names of those to be shot by firing squad and the date of their deaths

The duo were killed alongside Indonesian Zainal Abidin, Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte, Nigerians Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Raheem Agbaje Salami and Okwudili Oyatanze, and Ghanaian Martin Anderson.

Reports: Daily Mail & AFP