Emotional Perth vigil for Bali duo
Candles and messages on display at a Perth vigil for the Bali Nine duo this evening. Picture: Ben Crabtree/The West Australian
Displays of emotion and messages of hope have marked a Perth vigil for Bali Nine duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran ahead of their expected execution tonight.
"While there is life there is hope" were the words uttered by Riverton woman Michelle Nelson that reflected the sentiment of the almost 200 people who gathered for the candlelight vigil for the pair at Wesley Uniting Church this evening.
The gathering is similar to several eleventh-hour vigils being held around the country for the pair. In Sydney, hundreds have gathered in Martin Place, lighting candles for the duo.
Ms Nelson attended the church with her daughter Simone, 15, who said she felt strongly about the prisoners' right to life.
"If we don't believe in rehabilitation what do we believe in," Simone said.
A vigil is held at Wesley Uniting Church for the Bali Nine duo. Picture: Ben Crabtree/The West Australian
"I think it's going to be Indonesia's greatest loss."
Reverend Craig Collas spoke at the altar as people in their crowd hung their heads and others wiped tears away.
He said it was a deprivation of basic human rights to sentence Chan and Sukumaran to death.
"To take away someone's life as a political stunt is just appalling," he said.
"People are gutted that these two people could have their lives thrown away at a political whim.
"It is important for us as a community to say 'this is where we stand."
People lit candles and posted messages of support outside the church, with words such as "respect", "compassion", "love", "mercy" and phrases including "you are not alone" sombre reminders of the prisoners' plights.
Criminal lawyer Tom Percy attended the ceremony but remained silent throughout.
