Pubdate: Sun, 01 Mar 2015
Source: Straits Times (Singapore)
Copyright: 2015 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.
Contact:  http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/429
Note: The Jakarta Post

CASKETS READIED AHEAD OF EXECUTION

Jakarta (AFP) - An Indonesian funeral home has reportedly prepared at 
least 10 caskets for police ahead of the planned execution of 
death-row convicts, including two Australian drug smugglers whose 
sentences have strained the country's relations with Canberra.

The report came as Indonesia announced yesterday that it had on 
Friday night deported Ms Candace Sutton, a reporter for Australia's 
Daily Mail, as she had interviewed without a proper visa a relative 
of one of the Australian convicts in the coastal town of Cilacap.

"The caskets are ready as ordered," said Mr Suhandro Putro, 
representative of The Javanese Christian Church funeral home.

He added that they usually received orders for caskets when 
executions were carried out on Nusakambangan, an island off Java.

Based on the size of the casket order, he said he believed that 10 
people would face the firing squad this time. One of the 10 caskets 
was noticeably larger than the rest.

Regular caskets are 2.2m long, Mr Suhandro said. "I don't know who 
it's for, but it's the biggest, measuring around 2.5m long."

Cilacap police chief Ulung Sampurna confirmed the caskets were part 
of the preparations for the executions of Australians Myuran 
Sukumaran and Andrew Chan. Attorney-General Muhammad Prasetyo earlier 
said preparations for the executions of 10 drug convicts, including 
the two Australians, were "about 90 per cent" complete.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said his country's stance is "clear" 
on the pending executions, despite the suggestion by Australia's 
Prime Minister that he is "carefully considering" his position. "Our 
stance is clear. Our laws cannot be interfered (with)," he was quoted 
as saying by Kontan news website.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom