Cilacap--Relatives of two Australian drug smugglers visited them Monday for the first time on an Indonesian prison island where they will be put to death, as their prime minister urged Jakarta to rethink the planned executions.
Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, the ringleaders of the so-called "Bali Nine" drug trafficking gang, were sentenced to death in 2006 for trying to smuggle heroin out of Indonesia.
They recently lost their appeals for presidential clemency, typically the final chance to avoid the firing squad, and are expected to be executed soon with other foreign drug convicts.
The men, in their early 30s, were moved last week from their jail on Bali to Nusakambangan prison island off Java, where the executions will take place.
Australia has mounted a sustained diplomatic campaign to stop the executions going ahead, but Indonesian President Joko Widodo has refused to change course.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott issued a fresh appeal Monday, saying: "We respect Indonesia's sovereignty, of course, we respect Indonesia's system, of course.
"But we think it's right and proper that Indonesia should look to its own long-term best interests and its own long-term best values."
Earlier Monday, the men's relatives arrived at Cilacap, the port town on Java that is the gateway to Nusakambangan, as they headed to see them.
"We're fairly excited to go see Andy today," Andrew's brother Michael told reporters.
"It's been a few days. We're just looking forward to see him when we get over there, giving him a hug."
Sukumaran's brother Chinthu said he and his mother Raji and sister Brintha "have been waiting, counting down the days".
"We've been told he's doing well, so we just want to see him for ourselves, just to make sure, and let him know that we love him."
The families, escorted by consular officials, spent around four hours on the island before returning to Cilacap. They left the port in three vehicles, passing waiting journalists without stopping to speak.
They will next be able to visit the prison again on Wednesday.
AFP
