As the bodies of the eight executed men return to the their families, we in Australia and elsewhere, are left reeling by the life and death drama of the last few days.
There were the two neighbouring powers, the calls for mercy, the king like final decisions taken by Joko Widowo, the location dubbed Execution Island, the grim Will they? Won't they?, the pained faces of families anticipating their grief and the nine people whose stories we now know, only one of whom is still alive.
Four Nigerian men, all couriers, Martin Anderson, Jamiu Owolabi Abashin (officially Raheem Agbaje Salami), Silvester Obiekwe Nwolise and Okwudili Ayotanze, the gospel singer from Biafra. You can see him here singing 'God Bless Indonesia' and yes that is a guard in uniform on the keys.
The Brazilian, Rodrigo Gularte, first diagnosed with schizophrenia at 16, who struggled with the voices in his head, spoke to animals and who, despite the efforts of those around him, did not understand he was going to be executed until just before the act was done.
The sole Indonesian Zainal Abidin, whose legal appeal was yet to be heard by the courts.
The two Australian men, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, whose much touted reformation can pay tribute to both them and the prison that allowed Chan to baptise other inmates and Sukumaran to produce a litany of evocative paintings. Whose own jailers spoke for mercy and whose fellow inmate offered himself up in place of Chan. Andrew Chan who married Febyanti Herewila in his last days.
Then throw in the diplomatic posturing, the east west rhetoric, the cries of foreign barbarism and domestic hypocrisy, the hashtags #goodriddance, #istandformercy. Proclamations of colonial interference. The near impossible task of taking the political pulse of one of the world's largest democracies.
There were also the evasive statements, by those ducking behind cultural relativism. When people say, how the Indonesians deal with drug offences is due to cultural differences, it makes me cringe in the way that if Australia's handling of asylum seekers were to be described as 'The Australian Way'.
Don't forget the petty insults, the denial of spiritual advisors known to the men, the announcement of their execution on ANZAC day, which however you look at it, is a day Australians take personally. The delayed declarations of death.
Finally, Filipina Mary Jane Veloso, single mother of two, an overseas domestic worker, who was given an eleventh hour reprieve, whose family heard the gunshots they thought had killed her, before finding out, on the news, that her life had been spared, for now.
If it was written, it would not be believed.
The families were all together waiting, in the middle of the night, in a tent within earshot of the killing fields. The men to be executed, who refused blindfolds and sang hymns together, Amazing Grace. Ten rifles to one beating heart, three live bullets. A cold algebra to assuage the henchmen and ensure the deed.
Everyone wants to be the judge. No one wants to be the executioner.
Which leaves us amidst the noise and the chatter, the rancor of facebook rants and 'Here, here's, the teenage boys on the train, K-mart nametags on their shirts, giving their two cents.
We also hear the words of the moment of lucidity from Rodrigo Gularte when he was tied to his cross and he finally understood he was to be executed:
'This is not right, I made one small mistake and I shouldn't be having to die for it."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.