Every year on April 29, some people will remember Andrew
Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, two drug traffickers who were executed by firing
squad in Nusa Kambangan, Indonesia. We, the comrades of Unit 1012:
The VFFDP, will remember Jennifer Neal and all other victims of drug abuse
instead.
Let us hear from Beverly Neal before
we offer our comments and condolences.
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Young death ... Jennifer
Neal (aged 6 in the photo) was 17 when she died of a heroin overdose in 1997.
Her mother Beverley says she prays that Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran die
for their role in drug trafficking. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied
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Mother
whose daughter died of heroin overdose says Bali Nine duo ‘should be executed’
February 21,
2015
12:00AM
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| Heartbreak
... Jennifer Neal died of a heroin overdose in 1997. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied |
A MELBOURNE mother who lost her teenage
daughter to a heroin overdose has bravely spoken out against public support for
Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, saying she hopes the
men are executed.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign
Minister Julie Bishop have been among those to condemn Indonesia for its
planned execution of the men who have served ten years jail for coordinating a
plot to smuggle 8.2 kilograms of heroin into Australia.
Public anger has even triggered a mass
social media campaign to “Boycott Bali” in protest against the men’s treatment.
But Melbourne’s Beverley Neal said she
“prayed that the men do get executed” and people started to realise they could
not get drugs from Bali.
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Young death ... Jennifer
Neal (aged 6 in the photo) was 17 when she died of a heroin overdose in 1997.
Her mother Beverley says she prays that Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran die
for their role in drug trafficking. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied
|
“These are criminals who have
been glorified as heroes,”
said Ms Neal.
“Who knows how many other
lives would have been lost if they had not been caught in Bali.”
Indonesia’s attorney-general Muhammad
Prasetyo yesterday said “nothing whatsoever” could stop the execution of Chan
and Sukumaran, vowing they would face the firing squad as soon as possible.
His claims were at odds with Indonesia’s
vice president Yusuf Kalla whose office claimed a delay of three weeks to a
month on the executions had been conveyed to Ms Bishop in a phone call this
week.
“There is a technical aspect that must
be prepared before it is done,” the vice president’s spokesperson Husain
Abdullah told a press conference in Jakarta.
It is understood Ms Bishop did have a
conversation with Yusuf Kalla, however, the three-week time frame was not
canvassed.
But the pair did discuss ways in which
the two countries could work together to combat the narcotics trade.
And Mr Prasetyo denied reports that the
President was not in possession of all the documents about Chan and Sukumaran
and their rehabilitation when he rejected their clemency.
“No, everything was already there. There
is the consideration from the Supreme court, about the case. I will tell you
about it later,” Mr Prasetyo said.
Asked if the President knew about the
changes in the Bali Nine and the mental illness of a Brazilian — also on death
row — Mr Prasetyo commented that the change was only “nowadays”.
Ms Neal said she still grieved everyday
for daughter Jennifer, who was just 17 when she died of a heroin overdose.
“It’s been 18 years, three
months and 20 days,”
she said.
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The mother of heroin
overdose victim Jennifer Neal, Beverley, says Bali Nine duo’s parents should be
thankful they got the chance to hold their sons and say goodbye. Picture:
Supplied.
Source: Supplied
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“She was a very
intelligent, a beautiful young woman in her first year of business college.
“They were trying to get
her addicted. It was the fourth hit (that claimed her life).”
She said in her view, the parents of
Chan and Sukumaran were very fortunate.
“They get to hold their sons,
talk to them and say goodbye,”
said Ms Neal.
“I never got to do that.”
But she held no sympathy for the men
despite stories of their rehabilitation and work with other inmates at
Kerobokan Prison.
“These drug dealers and
traffickers are vicious criminals,” Ms Neal said.
“I only wish we had the same
laws in Australia to properly deal with them.
“If we were doing it (executions)
here we wouldn’t have a problem.”
Ms Neal said she felt compelled to speak
out in favour of the executions on behalf of the thousands of Australian
parents who had gone through what she had.
“It’s a terrible problem and
it sickens me that the Prime Minister is trying to bully Indonesia,” she said.
“Three months ago he was
saying “we’ve got to respect the Indonesian law”.
“Now he’s just saying what he
thinks people want to hear.’’
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Offensive shirts
mocking the executions of convicted drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran
Sukumaran are being sold in Balinese markets less than two months after the
Australian were killed
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Death penalty supporters protest at the port of
Nusakambangan ahead of the execution of Bali Nine Kingpins Andrew Chan and
Myuran Sukumaran
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COMMENTS AND CONDOLENCES:
To all those who are the loved ones of Jennifer Neal, we
will not forget her on the way she lived. We feel your sorrow and walk in your
shoes as we ourselves, have lost loved ones through homicide too. We 100% agree
with your opinion, as we did not get a chance to hug our loved ones, while those
two on death row could have a chance to let their family members talk to them.
We will not forget Jennifer Neal and may she RIP.
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