Australia to recall ambassador over Indonesia executions–PM

By: 10 years ago

FILE – This combination of two file photos from Jan. 24, 2006, left, and Jan. 26, 2006 shows Australian drug traffickers Myuran Sukumaran, left, and Andrew Chan during their trial in Bali, Indonesia. Indonesia said on Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 it postponed the transfer of eight convicted drug smugglers, including seven foreigners, to a prison island for execution due to technical problems. The eight are facing execution despite international appeals for clemency. Among them are Chan and Sukumaran, the ringleaders of a group of nine Australians arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle heroin to Australia from the Indonesian resort island of Bali. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati, File)

SYDNEY, Australia–Australia on Wednesday announced it will recall its ambassador to Indonesia after two of its citizens, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, were executed for drugs offenses.

“We respect Indonesia’s sovereignty but we do deplore what’s been done and this cannot be simply business as usual,” said Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

“For that reason, once all the courtesies have been extended to the Chan and Sukumaran families our ambassador will be withdrawn for consultations.”