The Bali Nine were nine drug smugglers executed by Indonesian firing squad earlier this year. Most controversial about their deaths were the execution of two Australian citizens among the nine, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan. Australia lobbied for close to a decade on behalf of the two men, hoping to avoid their citizens being shot. Indonesia proved a resistant foe in its desire to enforce its strict and merciless drug laws and the relationship between the two countries, who are closely related trading partners, has grown much frostier as a result of the executions. Lindy Sandiford, a British woman also on Indonesian death row for similar charges, expressed deep sadness at the death of the two men who she claimed touched many lives as they helped to rehabilitate other inmates in Indonesias prison system. Following the execution of the two men Australia reduced foreign aid to Indonesia by 40% and the event was surrounded by heated and tense exchanges between diplomatic representatives of both countries. Although the relationship between the two states has since softened Indonesia has made it clear that smuggling drugs in the country is a dangerous and life threatening game.
David O'Donoghue is a student and freelance writer from Co. Kerry, Ireland. His writing has appeared in the Irish Independent, Film Ireland, Ultraculture.com, Listverse and he is the former Political Editor for Campus.ie. He also writes short fiction and poetry which can be found at his blog/spellbook davidjodonoghue.tumblr.com
