Sign up now
Australia Shopping Network. It's All About Shopping!
Categories

Posted: 2015-04-30 14:24:00
Executed ... Bali Nine ringleader Andrew Chan inside the workshop of Kerobokan jail in Ba

Executed ... Bali Nine ringleader Andrew Chan inside the workshop of Kerobokan jail in Bali. Source: News Corp Australia

ANDREW Chan pledged to do three things on the night of his death — sing all the way, wear his Penrith Panthers jersey and look his executioners in the eye.

And he did all three.

Last night Chan’s older sibling Michael told of his pride in his little brother for the way he carried himself right to the end. And he has a hope — that the deaths are not in vain and that it is the catalyst to abolish the death penalty.

“I just hope that someone has a good look at the whole death penalty. Its atrocious, its barbaric, hopefully these boys have set the platform for that to happen,” Michael said.

He doesn’t want his brother’s death to be in vain.

andrew chan (larger file)

Married before death ... Andrew Chan and his wife Feby. Picture: Supplied Source: News Corp Australia

“I want to show people what the death penalty does and what havoc it causes,” Michael said.

“It makes it that much more bearable, to a degree, for me anyway, knowing that he went out that way, so dignified and with so much courage. Not everyone can do that.

“He said there three things he was going to do — he is going to sing all the way there and he done that and he said he is going to wear his Penrith jersey and he is not going to wear the blindfold, he is going to look them in the eye. He did all of them.”

Michael said knowing how his brother acted in the final hours and minutes made the horror of what happened more bearable.

“I know for a fact he hugged every one of those guards before he got taken to the field. Some of the guards apologised,” Michael said.

Sharing his story ... Andrew Chan's brother Michael gives a statement. Picture: Lukman S.

Sharing his story ... Andrew Chan's brother Michael gives a statement. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro Source: News Corp Australia

Some of the guards were even in tears as the men left the cell block, despite the face that Chan and Sukumaran had only been at the prison for two months.

“Andrew was the first one out, Myuran was the second. They didn’t even flinch.”

Michael said hearing about his brother’s bravery, courage and dignity in the face of such a dreadful end had brought a rare smile to her face in what has been a nightmare ride.

“That put a smile on her face to know those hours leading up to it that that’s what he did and how he held himself. ‘How doe he find the strength and courage to do that,” she said.

Michael said that despite all the difficulties faced by the families, like the three-hour delay on being allowed to visit, the two men never once made a fuss.

“Even with all that happening they didn’t ever complain,” Michael said.

“They just enjoyed whatever time they had with their families, enjoying what time’s left. They took that with both hands and they enjoyed every bit of it.”

Chan and Sukumaran were executed alongside Indonesian Zainal Abidin, Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte, Nigerians Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Raheem Agbaje Salami and Okwudili Oyatanze, Ghanaian Martin Anderson.

Mary Jane Veloso was due to be executed along with the other eight but was given a reprieve at the last minute.

View More
  • 0 Comment(s)
Captcha Challenge
Reload Image
Type in the verification code above