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Indonesia sparks media storm

Photo: AAP

Photo: AAP

While Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran wait out a delay in Indonesia’s plans to execute them, their predicament has inspired two very different social media campaigns.

The Australians 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.

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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 next week.

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.

AAP

Myuran Sukumaran is still waiting to know his fate. Photo: AAP

Anne-Maree Pearce said the tributes, sent from mothers all over the world who connected through Facebook, were to thank the wardens for supporting the Australians over the past decade.

Kerobokan jail governor Sudjonggo was congratulated on the rehabilitation programs he had helped develop with Chan and Sukumaran.

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

The hashtag “KoinuntukAustralia” (coins for Australia) is a reaction to Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s suggestion that Indonesia should reciprocate for the $A1 billion in aid Australia sent after the 2004 tsunami.

Indonesians have tweeted photos of themselves collecting coins, with the idea to pay Australia back in small change.

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

Besides the Bali Nine duo, seven other death row drug offenders are in line for the firing squad.

Attorney-General HM Prasetyo says the government is resolved to execute Chan, Sukumaran and other drug offenders denied presidential clemency.

But there has been speculation the executions could be delayed for up to a month, after a spokesman for Indonesia’s Vice President Jusuf Kalla was quoted in local media.

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

AAP

Special praise was given to prison guards at Kerobokan in Bali. Photo: AAP

According to his spokesman, Husain Abdullah, Mr Kalla told Ms Bishop the executions had been delayed “three weeks to one month” because of technical issues, some local media reported.

However, Ms Bishop and Mr Prasetyo deny the length of the delay was discussed.

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.

“We do not refer to a certain country, but TNI understands well that threats are not impossible,” Commander General Moeldoko said, as quoted by wire service Antara.

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