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Bouquets and brickbats over Bali Nine

AAP

AAP

Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan are clinging to the hope they can continue their lives helping Indonesian inmates, their brothers say.

The Bali Nine duo were to be moved from Bali’s Kerobokan jail last week but a team reporting to the attorney-general found the execution location, the Central Java prison island Nusakambangan, was under prepared.

It leaves Chan, 31, and Sukumaran, 33, more time to spend with family visiting from Sydney, and more time for their lawyers to prepare a legal challenge set for this week.

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Their brothers Michael Chan and Chintu Sukumaran say they are amazed at their resilience under such stress.

They’re also touched by the support they’ve received.

Bali Nine Chan Sukumaran

Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran remain on death row in Bali.

“As they reflect on their past they are also thankful to the Indonesian government, the prison officials and many volunteers that have allowed them to create a wholistic rehabilitation program that is now the envy of most prisons worldwide,” Michael told reporters outside the jail on Sunday.

“We see and hear many prisoners doing courses go on to jobs and better lives.

“Our brothers’ great wish is for the president to allow them to continue this help to rebuild the lives of many Indonesians for many more years to come.”

Chintu said both men had a deep respect for Indonesia and hoped all supporters would remain respectful too.

“It was through the support of the Indonesian justice system that they were able to help set up many programs that have helped a lot of Indonesians and have also helped better themselves,” he said.

Social media stir

On Saturday, members of a Bali-based group called Mothers for Mercy arrived at Kerobokan jail with armfuls of flowers and cards for Chan, Sukumaran and the prison staff.

Anne-Maree Pearce said the tributes were sent from mothers all over the world who connected through Facebook.

Photo: AAP

Anne-Maree Pearce from Bali-based group Mothers for Mercy arrives at Kerobokan jail. Photo: AAP

A card to Kerobokan jail governor Sudjonggo congratulated him on the rehabilitation programs, which include art, cooking and computer classes initiated by Chan and Sukumaran, who insist participants are drug-free.

Meanwhile on Twitter, a more cynical campaign was getting attention.

The hashtag “KoinuntukAustralia” (coins for Australia) is a reaction to Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s suggestion that Indonesia should reciprocate for the $1 billion in aid Australia sent after the 2004 tsunami.

Indonesians have tweeted photos of themselves collecting coins to pay Australia back.

“Aceh people happily try to return your money @TonyAbbottMHR” tweeted @Rrsanusi.

Some took the protest to Jakarta’s Hotel Indonesia roundabout on Sunday.

Protester Andi Sinulingga told local news website Kompas.com it would continue “until Tony Abbott apologises directly, not represented by his foreign minister … Australia wouldn’t dare behave like this to another country.”

Vice President Jusuf Kalla took a phone call on Thursday from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who reportedly thanked his government for delaying the jail transfer and smoothed over Mr Abbott’s tsunami comments, which were read by the foreign ministry as “threats”.

There were reports that Mr Kalla told her the delay could be a month, but those reports have been denied by Ms Bishop and Indonesian Attorney-General HM Prasetyo.

Mr Prasetyo has given no date for the transfer or the executions but told Indonesia’s Tempo magazine he was sure the executions “will not be in February, because of flooding in many places”.

He was concerned that Nusakambangan, although an island, was not as secure as he’d like.

Indonesia’s military met on Friday to plan for possible disruptions.

-AAP

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