"Tonight you will kill two good men, my friends": Ben Quilty's message to Widodo

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The Sydney Morning Herald - 28 April 2015

Australian artist Ben Quilty has been integral to the "I Stand for Mercy" fighting for clemency on behalf of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, and an end to the death penalty internationally.

But Quilty is also a man pain tonight knowing his friends Andrew and Myuran will likely be dead tomorrow. Killed by an Indonesian firing squad.

He posted this messgae to Indonesian President Widodo earlier today. "Joko Widodo tonight you will kill two good men, my friends. I want you to know that you may take their freedom and their lives, you may rob their fellow inmates of the support and love that both men have offered and provided for so long, you can turn off Myu's imagination but you will never kill the memory of them.

"I have promised Myu and Andrew, their parents and their siblings, that I will fight against the death penalty for the rest of my life.

"I can also assure you that Myu and Andrew will care for the other inmates you will execute tonight. The six men and one young woman from the Philippines, Ghana, Brazil and Nigeria will have two constant, calming and compassionate voices beside them right until the last second.

"Myuran will continue to translate your executioner's words into English for Mary Jane Veloso and Andrew will calm and console. I know that before the sound of your guns the island will hear the comforting whisper of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan."

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