Conversations in Progress to Bring Back Remaining Members of Bali 9

After a meeting between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, talks about bringing back the five remaining Bali Nine members to Australia are in progress.

The incarceration of the five Australians was addressed at the APEC summit in Peru on Nov. 16.

Indonesia’s Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas told Reuters that his government had agreed to repatriate the remaining Bali Nine members to Australia. He also mentioned plans to seek the return of Indonesian prisoners held in Australia.

“This is the president’s discretion, but in principle, the president has agreed on humanitarian grounds,” Supratman said.

He mentioned that Jakarta does not have set procedures for international prison transfers but would handle the matter promptly while emphasizing the need to recognize and respect Indonesia’s judicial process.

“This is important to maintain good relationships with friendly countries. But this is also in our interest because we have prisoners abroad,” he added.

Who Are the Bali Nine?

In 2005, nine Australians were imprisoned in Bali for attempting to smuggle 8.3 kilograms (18 pounds) of heroin out of Indonesia and into Australia.

The leaders of the group, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed in 2015, and another member Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen passed away due to stomach cancer in jail in 2018.

The 2015 executions affected the diplomatic relationship between the two nations, leading Australia to recall its ambassador to Indonesia in protest.

The sole woman in the group, Renae Lawrence, had her sentence commuted in 2018, while five of the original group are still in prison serving life sentences.

The five individuals still incarcerated in the Indonesian prison system are Scott Rush, Matthew Norman, Si-Yi Chen, Martin Stephens, and Michael Czugaj.

Reaction of the Coalition

Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash expressed confusion over Albanese’s lack of explanation regarding the decision.

“Let’s be clear in the first instance, these individuals, Australians, were part of a heroin smuggling ring to bring back into Australia in excess of eight kilos of heroin,” she told Sky News Australia.

Cash urged the prime minister to be transparent about who is funding the deal and what Australia is potentially giving up in return.

She also emphasized that this should serve as a reminder for Australians visiting Bali over Christmas that Indonesia has strict laws and sentences for those who break them.

Labor Response

Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farell noted that Albanese’s role is to represent Australian interests abroad and mentioned that discussions are ongoing.

“The proposal isn’t, as I understand it, to release these people. They would continue to serve their sentence, except they’re serving them in Australia,” he told Sky News.

Farell stated that the prime minister has advocated for these young Australians, and the government will wait to see what unfolds in the coming days and weeks.