I just stumbled on a mother's letter to the indonesia president after her son's execution. I couldn't help my emotions, I cried.

Please read...

The mother of Myuran Sukumaran (pictured left), one of the two Australians executed alongside 7 others for drug related offences in Indonesia on April 28th, has written an emotional open letter to Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, describing the pain of losing her child.

In the letter, she criticized the President for refusing to grant her son and others clemency despite pleas from everyone. Read the letter after the cut...

Dear Mr President,
Leader of Indonesia and father of three children, My name is Raji Sukumaran, and my son, Myuran Sukumaran, was executed in the early hours of Wednesday 29 April 2015 under your instructions. As I make the preparations to bury my beautiful son, I thought I would share my feelings with you. I thought I would share how my son was reformed, was full of life, love and passion, and who so desperately wanted to live his life in service to help others. I have made this letter open in the hope that it may help other people or their families, in some way as they sit and wait for you to order their deaths. I would really like to think that you would be able to understand, if you don't, then feel free to share this letter with your wife, who I think would understand, one mother to another.

My son doesn't want another mother, father, sister or brother to go through what we went through. For no grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins or friends should have to deal with what we've had to deal with. I am not sure where you were as the men you ordered to kill my son, and seven others pulled the trigger but I am sure you were far away. My son died knowing all his loved ones were close by waiting in a hotel room to hear the news that he had been executed.

My son did commit a serious crime but he also apologised to your country and your people many times. In the last 10 years while you kept him in prison, he chose to do all within his power to make up for his crime. It wasn?t easy, I am not sure anyone will ever realise how hard good man in prison, to be a positive role model for other younger prisoners, Indonesian prisoners.

Myu spent many years rehabilitating so many prisoners, he hoped that he could help as many people as possible, to give them a chance to leave prison to go out in the world a little better than they came inside. Myu helped prisoners who struggled with drug use and many other issues. My son never asked for his rehabilitation to be enough to free him from prison, all he asked was that he not be killed. Was it too much for you to let him live the remainder of his life in prison? I have heard that many others around you took the time to read and learn of the works of my son, and of Andrew and of the people they helped.

Many of whom are now helping other people themselves. I cannot believe that all of his works could not even get you to even read the paper you were signing. I remember when you were elected as President of Indonesia, my son was celebrating. My son told me that 'Our new President is a man of the people, a person that would support education, rehabilitation and people bettering themselves' and that you would look into everything he had done in the prison. I guess he was wrong.

As human being, I can?t even understand how you could sign a person?s death without looking into their personal circumstances. If you do not read what you are signing how can you know whether the life you are taking belongs to someone who is mentally unwellwheelchair, or young mother with two children, or a father of two, or a man who has been in your prison for 17 years, or a gospel singer, or two young boys who made foolish mistakes.

My son only hoped to live in prison for the remainder of his life so that he could be able to continue his good work, which has become known around the world. All he wanted was to be given a chance to do that. I as a mother was punished for 10 years as well for his crime, and I will be punished for the rest of my life now because you took his lifesend my son home. I just asked you not to order his death but instead you ignored me and many others. I asked to meet you, to speak to you but once again you could not even have the courage to face our requests to communicate with you. I will not have the chance to see him get married, have children. Mr President, do you think that your punishment towards my son after he had spent 10 years in gaol reformed and helping others and then executing him is fair and just? Do you as a leader feel that everyone who faces justice in Indonesia is treated fairly and equally? Do you believe that Indonesia has a justice system that doesn?t make mistakes? Do you not hear or read all the stories about corruption in criminal cases? I think this is something very important - you have told the thousands and thousands of people in prisons across your country, that no matter how hard you work, no matter how much you change your life, no matter what your personal circumstances are - you will not receive mercy. You ask them to not try, as I have never heard of anyone in prison around the world doing the works my son has done - it was still not enough for you to read his clemency application. I hope your wife would understand what myself and Andrew Chan's mother are going through. I felt so helpless as I watched my son walk away, healthy and full of life. I watched as over the last four months you tortured him by making jokes about his life, making him guess the night he would be taken, openly discussing the way in which he would die, parading and humiliating our family. We made funeral plans for our sons while they were still alive.

This was because we were told you the President had not changed your mind, and that you had ordered the executions to be carried out, despite the world wide outcry to let our sons live. I want to ask you to put your family in my situation. Only days before I saw a video in which you said that you did not want Indonesians to be killed overseas. I know as I write this letter, the death of our children will not make any difference to drug trade in Indonesia. I am sure you know this, and that your reasons for taking these 8 lives had nothing to do with preventing drugs and everything to do with your politics.

I hope that your children, your grandchildren, your nephews and nieces never make a mistake. I also want you to remember when your child falls in love, gets married, makes plans for the future, that Andrew Chan also fell in love, made plans for his future and was executed. How would it feel if this was your son? I was told as my son said his last words, one of the last things he did was say a prayer for Indonesia. My son sought forgiveness for your country and the men taking his life, as he knew you did not know what you were doing. This was the man you ordered to die. I am not sure whether I could ever forgive you, I hope that I have that much grace and compassion in my heart one day. But I am sure this pain in my heart will stay with me for the rest of my life, and it hurts so much.

Think for a second, one of your children is tied to post, and men are lined up in front of them and the fear he would have felt, and then your child is shot through the heart. My son was young and foolish, he did not deserve to suffer like this. My son will be missed by so many people who love him and so many people are ?nding it dif?cult to come to terms with what has happened.

As I finish this letter I pray for the many other men and women whose lives are in your hands, especially those on death row. I pray that you will have the courage to look beyond the politics for they too have families who love them despite their mistakes.

MMN
Raji Sukumaran

That president will need to be saved someday and these lost lives will demand justice.

Mama, I also think poor upbringing led to your son's death, I hope he finds mercy with God.

Did your son commit the crime yes or no?

Was the punishment of capital punishment on drug offenders made before your son committed the crime yes or no?

If your answer is yes then your letter to the Indonesian president is basically stories!!
The Indonesian president has committed no moral crime in that regard

nedu2000:
Did your son commit the crime yes or no?

Was the punishment of capital punishment on drug offenders made before your son committed the crime yes or no?

Is your answer is yes then your letter to the Indonesian president is basically stories!!

Still doesn't kill the fact that such judgement is total disregard for human life. What's the punishment for murdering a fellow man if this is passed on drug peddlers?

banttieman:


Still doesn't kill the fact that such judgement is total disregard for human life. What's the punishment for murdering a fellow man if this is passed on drug peddlers?

drug dealers have killed and destroyed many lives and when they are given prison terms they tend to have so much influence that they work(do deals) right from prison

What I don't understand is, why keep them for so long in prison and end up killing them? Wouldn't it be better to kill them earlier since that's the penalty, than torture them and their loved ones for years, before finally ending it, I don't get it.

nedu2000:
drug dealers have killed and destroyed many lives and when they are given prison terms they tend to have so much influence that they work(do deals) right from prison

There must still be some sort of punishment other than the death penalty. Some were only implicated.

freecocoa:
What I don't understand is, why keep them for so long in prison and end up killing them? Wouldn't it be better to kill them earlier since that's the penalty, than torture them and their loved ones for years, before finally ending it, I don't get it.

Just imagine jailing them for ten years, giving them unnecessary hopes of freedom. It's plain wickedness from my point of reasoning

banttieman:

Just imagine jailing them for ten years, giving them unnecessary hopes of freedom. It's plain wickedness from my point of reasoning

Thats how I see it too o, cos 10 years is enough punishment already.

freecocoa:
Thats how I see it too o, cos 10 years is enough punishment already.

I am not sure you know the gravity of their offence.

Only a woman would be entitled enough to write this tosh. How does this 'mother' hope to account for and justify the lost children her own son directly and willfully engineered by his chosen mode of employment? Was her son a forced to peddle banned substances? Was he unaware of the implications of his actions?

This silly letter is an affront and insult on the intelligence of the people of Indonesia. She should be told the truth if this letter is ever replied: she failed to train her son properly and is enjoying the rewards of her failure as a parent.

She should park very, very well. Nonsense.

freecocoa:
Thats how I see it too o, cos 10 years is enough punishment already.

It isn't o. I doubt you've seen a drug addict in the flesh. You'd have a re-think, I assure you. That thing is one of the worst evils known to man.

Freemanan:


I am not sure you know the gravity of their offence.

whatever the gravity.

Death is the sentence, why not kill them immediately they are found guilty, what's the essence of holding them in prison for years?

banttieman:

Just imagine jailing them for ten years, giving them unnecessary hopes of freedom. It's plain wickedness from my point of reasoning

It's still not as wicked as the exercise of drug-peddling, is it? Abi you no sabi wetin be heroin and all these other banned substances. You think it is marijuana that you can even put in spaghetti and still go to work after a hearty meal? Nna, pray no member of your family becomes an addict o. You would wish them dead sef.

Timbuktou:


It isn't o. I doubt you've seen a drug addict in the flesh. You'd have a re-think, I assure you. That thing is one of the worst evils known to man.

I have, and those people who make such laws are often guilty of drug abuse.

I used to have leniency for those involved in such crimes and are sentenced to death but my understanding and point of view changed when i was in a bus and the news about the execution came up. You can't imagine that 2 of these Nigerian youth said if they had opportunity of carrying these drugs they wouldn't mind going to indomisea or malaysia. That after all it's all about risk and it's either they make it or die trying and even went as far as stating that irrespective of the death penalty some Nigerians still succeed. That was when i removed any thought of sympathy for such people. They definitely know what they are doing and should live with whatever punishment that is meted out to them. If you are willing to do the crime be willing to face the music.

freecocoa:
whatever the gravity.

Death is the sentence, why not kill them immediately they are found guilty, what's the essence of holding them in prison for years?

Seems you have a soft spot for criminals

Timbuktou:


It's still not as wicked as the exercise of drug-peddling, is it? Abi you no sabi wetin be heroin and all these other banned substances. You think it is marijuana that you can even put in spaghetti and still go to work after a hearty meal? Nna, pray no member of your family becomes an addict o. You would wish them dead sef.

If u did a lil business law, u surely will know what offer and acceptance is. You are selling stuff and its up to me to buy. I know the consequences if I buy. Let's stop blaming the peddler, blame the buyer. If demand is very low, peddling will shrink. I agree with you but don't burden the peddler with the blame.

Freemanan:


Seems you have a soft spot for criminals

Seems you lack common sense.

freecocoa:
Seems you lack common sense.

My apologies.... But I don't think the punishment is irrational

banttieman:

If u did a lil business law, u surely will know what offer and acceptance is. You are selling stuff and its up to me to buy. I know the consequences if I buy. Let's stop blaming the peddler, blame the buyer. If demand is very low, peddling will shrink. I agree with you but don't burden the peddler with the blame.

I'm sure you were taught to abide by the law of the land in the little business law that you did. And if you did marketing concepts, you must have been taught about providing the product and seeing demand skyrocket.

My point is, the law exists for a reason: to regulate human behaviour. If you cannot deal with the law, ship the hell out. Nobody forced these people into Indonesia, even the buyers of these substances didn't invite them into the country. Like all businessmen, they decided to take the risk of this venture and now they've been caught on the wrong side. Boo-fucking-hoo, their live will be missed only by those who loved them, not even their customers.

banttieman:

If u did a lil business law, u surely will know what offer and acceptance is. You are selling stuff and its up to me to buy. I know the consequences if I buy. Let's stop blaming the peddler, blame the buyer. If demand is very low, peddling will shrink. I agree with you but don't burden the peddler with the blame.

there's nothing like business laws when highly addictive and dangerous substances come into play. Nuclear weapons are also in high demand. I guess you should also apply same logic and try bridge the supply gap. The society exists to prevent people from themselves, from the harm others might cause them and from harming others. Forget the demand, most of those involved and hooked are actually innocent youngsters who are just getting off age. Robbing them of their innocence and destroying such lives.

freecocoa:
I have, and those people who make such laws are often guilty of drug abuse.

Just because they are guilty of the crimes they punish doesn't mean these crimes shouldn't be punished with as much force as is necessary.

And if you've witnessed the effects of these products on a human being, your 'humaneness' about the whole thing is quite baffling; especially considering these people know beforehand, the consequences of their actions.

Justfollowit:


My father is a foo.l

Seriously, I know. Sorry about that, though. What do you want me to do about that?

Eyah. But her son knew fully well that his crime is punishable by death. If you dnt want to face the consequences then why break the law? Come on!

Truth! 1 life for the thousands he has ruined!

Timbuktou:
Only a woman would be entitles enough to write this tosh. How does this 'mother' hope to account for and justify the lost children her own son directly and willfully engineered by his chosen mode of employment? Was her son a forced to peddle banned substances? Was he unaware of the implications of his actions?

This silly letter is an affront and insult on the intelligence of the people of Indonesia. She should be told the truth if this letter is ever replied: she failed to train her son properly and is enjoying the rewards of her failure as a parent.

She should park very, very well. Nonsense.

Catered4:
I just stumbled on a mother's letter to the indonesia president after her son's execution. I couldn't help my emotions, I cried.

Please read...

The mother of Myuran Sukumaran (pictured left), one of the two Australians executed alongside 7 others for drug related offences in Indonesia on April 28th, has written an emotional open letter to Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, describing the pain of losing her child.

In the letter, she criticized the President for refusing to grant her son and others clemency despite pleas from everyone. Read the letter after the cut...

Dear Mr President,
Leader of Indonesia and father of three children, My name is Raji Sukumaran, and my son, Myuran Sukumaran, was executed in the early hours of Wednesday 29 April 2015 under your instructions. As I make the preparations to bury my beautiful son, I thought I would share my feelings with you. I thought I would share how my son was reformed, was full of life, love and passion, and who so desperately wanted to live his life in service to help others. I have made this letter open in the hope that it may help other people or their families, in some way as they sit and wait for you to order their deaths. I would really like to think that you would be able to understand, if you don't, then feel free to share this letter with your wife, who I think would understand, one mother to another.

My son doesn't want another mother, father, sister or brother to go through what we went through. For no grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins or friends should have to deal with what we've had to deal with. I am not sure where you were as the men you ordered to kill my son, and seven others pulled the trigger but I am sure you were far away. My son died knowing all his loved ones were close by waiting in a hotel room to hear the news that he had been executed.

My son did commit a serious crime but he also apologised to your country and your people many times. In the last 10 years while you kept him in prison, he chose to do all within his power to make up for his crime. It wasn?t easy, I am not sure anyone will ever realise how hard good man in prison, to be a positive role model for other younger prisoners, Indonesian prisoners.

Myu spent many years rehabilitating so many prisoners, he hoped that he could help as many people as possible, to give them a chance to leave prison to go out in the world a little better than they came inside. Myu helped prisoners who struggled with drug use and many other issues. My son never asked for his rehabilitation to be enough to free him from prison, all he asked was that he not be killed. Was it too much for you to let him live the remainder of his life in prison? I have heard that many others around you took the time to read and learn of the works of my son, and of Andrew and of the people they helped.

Many of whom are now helping other people themselves. I cannot believe that all of his works could not even get you to even read the paper you were signing. I remember when you were elected as President of Indonesia, my son was celebrating. My son told me that 'Our new President is a man of the people, a person that would support education, rehabilitation and people bettering themselves' and that you would look into everything he had done in the prison. I guess he was wrong.

As human being, I can?t even understand how you could sign a person?s death without looking into their personal circumstances. If you do not read what you are signing how can you know whether the life you are taking belongs to someone who is mentally unwellwheelchair, or young mother with two children, or a father of two, or a man who has been in your prison for 17 years, or a gospel singer, or two young boys who made foolish mistakes.

My son only hoped to live in prison for the remainder of his life so that he could be able to continue his good work, which has become known around the world. All he wanted was to be given a chance to do that. I as a mother was punished for 10 years as well for his crime, and I will be punished for the rest of my life now because you took his lifesend my son home. I just asked you not to order his death but instead you ignored me and many others. I asked to meet you, to speak to you but once again you could not even have the courage to face our requests to communicate with you. I will not have the chance to see him get married, have children. Mr President, do you think that your punishment towards my son after he had spent 10 years in gaol reformed and helping others and then executing him is fair and just? Do you as a leader feel that everyone who faces justice in Indonesia is treated fairly and equally? Do you believe that Indonesia has a justice system that doesn?t make mistakes? Do you not hear or read all the stories about corruption in criminal cases? I think this is something very important - you have told the thousands and thousands of people in prisons across your country, that no matter how hard you work, no matter how much you change your life, no matter what your personal circumstances are - you will not receive mercy. You ask them to not try, as I have never heard of anyone in prison around the world doing the works my son has done - it was still not enough for you to read his clemency application. I hope your wife would understand what myself and Andrew Chan's mother are going through. I felt so helpless as I watched my son walk away, healthy and full of life. I watched as over the last four months you tortured him by making jokes about his life, making him guess the night he would be taken, openly discussing the way in which he would die, parading and humiliating our family. We made funeral plans for our sons while they were still alive.

This was because we were told you the President had not changed your mind, and that you had ordered the executions to be carried out, despite the world wide outcry to let our sons live. I want to ask you to put your family in my situation. Only days before I saw a video in which you said that you did not want Indonesians to be killed overseas. I know as I write this letter, the death of our children will not make any difference to drug trade in Indonesia. I am sure you know this, and that your reasons for taking these 8 lives had nothing to do with preventing drugs and everything to do with your politics.

I hope that your children, your grandchildren, your nephews and nieces never make a mistake. I also want you to remember when your child falls in love, gets married, makes plans for the future, that Andrew Chan also fell in love, made plans for his future and was executed. How would it feel if this was your son? I was told as my son said his last words, one of the last things he did was say a prayer for Indonesia. My son sought forgiveness for your country and the men taking his life, as he knew you did not know what you were doing. This was the man you ordered to die. I am not sure whether I could ever forgive you, I hope that I have that much grace and compassion in my heart one day. But I am sure this pain in my heart will stay with me for the rest of my life, and it hurts so much.

Think for a second, one of your children is tied to post, and men are lined up in front of them and the fear he would have felt, and then your child is shot through the heart. My son was young and foolish, he did not deserve to suffer like this. My son will be missed by so many people who love him and so many people are ?nding it dif?cult to come to terms with what has happened.

As I finish this letter I pray for the many other men and women whose lives are in your hands, especially those on death row. I pray that you will have the courage to look beyond the politics for they too have families who love them despite their mistakes.

MMN
Raji Sukumaran

This epistles wey she write must have caused the man to want to end them even more sharply! Next time teach your child good values and he/she won't end up tied to a stake facing ar15's!

Timbuktou:

Just because they are guilty of the crimes they punish doesn't mean these crimes shouldn't be punished with as much force as is necessary.

And if you've witnessed the effects of these products on a human being, your 'humaneness' about the whole thing is quite baffling; especially considering these people know beforehand, the consequences of their actions.

Agreed, they should be punished but the issue here is, punish them as stated by the law.

This has nothing to do with "humaneness" it's about playing by the books and it's not even like these addicts don't know it's wrong to take drugs, quite frankly, I think drug users should also be punished.

freecocoa:
Agreed, they should be punished but the issue here is, punish them as stated by the law.

This has nothing to do with "humaneness" it's about playing by the books and it's not even like these addicts don't know it's wrong to take drugs, quite frankly, I think drug users should also be punished.

The law states that drug peddlers lives are to be taken from them. They have punished according to the dictates of the law.

Apprehended users/addicts get their own comeuppance just as dealers do. Ain't no need to be sentimental about the whole thing.

Timbuktou:


The law states that drug peddlers lives are to be taken from them. They have punished according to the dictates of the law.

Apprehended users/addicts get their own comeuppance just as dealers do. Ain't no need to be sentimental about the whole thing.

Their lives are taken from them alright, did the law say anything about giving them long jail sentences before taking their lives?

Where did you see a drug addict being punished?