‘Relieved and happy’: Bali Nine members wake to first day back home in Australia
The remaining members of the Bali Nine drug trafficking group have woken in Australia with PM Anthony Albanese saying they will continue their ‘rehabilitation and reintegration’.
Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen and Michael Czugaj arrived home in Australia from Indonesia on Sunday, and have spent the night in hotel accommodation, before plans to reacquaint them with their family take shape.
A statement released on Sunday night said they were happy to be back in Australia and wanted to thank the government’s of both Australia and Indonesia for their release and return.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“In both Australia and Indonesia, at both a senior level and in prison visits and personal assistance, over many years, DFAT have offered professional and enduring support. The men and their families will always be grateful,” News.com.au is reporting.
“They look forward, in time, to reintegrating back into and contributing to society.
“The welfare of the men is a priority, they will need time and support, and we hope and trust our media and community will make allowance for this.”
After being released on “humanitarian grounds” following almost two decades in prison in Indonesia the Bali Nine members were transferred from Bali with the status of prisoner on Sunday morning and landed in Darwin soon after.
“They will now have the opportunity to continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration here in Australia,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement on Sunday.
The repatriated Australians were among nine arrested in 2005 after trying to smuggle heroin and had been behind bars serving life sentences in Bali.
Mr Albanese said their return “on humanitarian grounds” reflected Australia’s strong bilateral relationship with Indonesia.
He said he had thanked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto “for his act of compassion”.
“Australia respects Indonesia’s sovereignty and legal processes and we appreciate Indonesia’s compassionate consideration of this matter,” he said.
Indonesia’s senior minister for legal affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, said the transfer was “reciprocal in nature”.
“If one day our government requests the transfer of Indonesian prisoners in Australia, the Australian government is also obliged to consider it,” he said.
The five are banned for life from entering Indonesia, Yusril said in a statement.
Indonesia has said it would respect any decision by Australia when the prisoners returned home, including whether to grant pardons.
Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015, sparking a diplomatic incident with Australia, while Renae Lawrence was released in 2018 and Tan Duc Than Nguyen died of cancer the same year.
with AAP.
