Last hope clemency push for Bali Nine smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran

A. Chan and M. Sukumaran

HOPES that two Bali Nine drug smugglers on death row will be spared execution now rest on a last-minute clemency deal from the outgoing Indonesian president.

Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, who are facing death by firing squad, have yet not been given a date for their execution, which could happen at any time.

Australian officials fear time is running out for a clemency deal and the best chance lies with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has just one year left of his term.

SBY is not expected to grant clemency in the lead-up to the July elections, which could be followed by a second round of voting in September 2014. But officials believe the small window of opportunity between the election result and the swearing-in of a new president in October next year is the best chance in a decade of a deal to spare their lives.

"Obviously we will be vigorous in our representations in that regard," Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said. "There is an expectation President Yudhoyono will consider some of these matters in the context of his presidency."

Source: The Telegraph, October 5, 2013