The Bali Nine Members Return to Australia
The remaining five members of the Bali Nine drug smuggling ring have returned to Australia after completing more than 19 years in Indonesian jails.
A statement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj arrived in Australia from Indonesia on Sunday.
It is currently uncertain what their future custodial status will be, with the prime minister mentioning that they will have the opportunity to continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration in Australia.
On Sunday, Albanese, along with Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, expressed their gratitude to Indonesia for facilitating the men’s return to Australia on humanitarian grounds, emphasizing the strong relationship between the two countries.
The repatriated Australians were part of a group of nine individuals arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle heroin and were serving life sentences in Bali.
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Albanese acknowledged the seriousness of the offenses committed by the men but stated that it was time for them to return home.
He also expressed Australia’s respect for Indonesia’s legal system and sovereignty, thanking Indonesia for their compassionate handling of the situation.
The Australian government intends to continue collaborating with Indonesia to combat drug trafficking and transnational crimes, addressing the shared concern over illicit drugs.
Albanese specifically thanked President Prabowo Subianto for Indonesia’s cooperation and dedication to working with Australia on the return of the men.
Notably, two Bali Nine ringleaders, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed in 2015, leading to tensions between Australia and Indonesia. Renae Lawrence was released in 2018, while Tan Duc Than Nguyen passed away from cancer the same year.
Australia had consistently advocated for the Bali Nine members and provided ongoing consular support to them and their families.
Albanese urged the media to respect the privacy of the men and their families during this sensitive time.
Reports suggest that Jakarta was seeking the return of Indonesian prisoners held in Australia as part of negotiations for the repatriation of the Bali Nine members.
By Suzanne Simonot.
