As a beautiful sunrise spread across the Canberra landscape on Thursday, Federal MP Maria Vamvakinou joined the nation’s political leaders for a sombre candlelit vigil at Parliament House to protest the Indonesian government’s planned execution of convicted Bali drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

Speaking later to Neos Kosmos, Ms Vamvakinou said the vigil was intended to show the solidarity of the Australian parliament on what she described as a “tragic” situation.

“It’s a case of while there’s life there’s hope,” she said.

Ms Vamvakinou said that her overpowering emotion was one of sadness.

“Ten years ago we were in a similar situation with the Singapore government over Van Tuong Nguyen.

“I was a new member then and I made a speech about it. I just found it unbelievable in this day and age that the death penalty was still being used.

“I believe in transformation and I believe in rehabilitation. I don’t believe in state sanctioned death.”

Asked if the Australian government had done all it could to save the two men’s lives, the Member for Calwell said: “We are talking about a sovereign country that has very clearly articulated laws and penalties and I think the government has done what it can within the constraints.”

Ms Vamvakinou added that if the executions are carried out as planned, she did not believe withdrawing Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia would be an appropriate or helpful response by the government.

“I can’t see how it helps or changes anything. It’s more constructive to try and change situations so they don’t happen again,” she said.

Meanwhile, the AFP faces bitter recriminations over its involvement in the original arrests of the nine individuals who attempted to smuggle eight kilograms of heroin out of Indonesia.

In 2005 the Indonesian police were tipped off by their Australian counterparts, who sent them most of the names and the flight details of the Bali Nine.
Asked to comment on the AFP’s role in the fate of Chan and Sukumaran, Ms Vamakinou said:

“I think the whole situation is tragic. I would like to think we could learn from this. There’s enough to reflect on and learn from.”