Scott Rush's agony

Published: 29 March 2009
By: Paul Dobbyn

Scott Rush

CONVICTED Bali Nine drug trafficker Scott Rush's death-row agony persists with mixed messages relating to his likely fate continuing to emerge from Indonesia as he enters his fifth year of captivity.

Fr Tim Harris, of Scott's former parish at Corinda-Graceville in Brisbane, said reports from Jakarta carried both hope and danger for Scott and others on death row.

For a second year, a prayer vigil will be held on Good Friday (April 10) at Christ the King Church, Graceville, to offer prayers for 23-year-old Scott and all those on death row around the world.

Scott's parents Lee and Christine have indicated they expect to attend the vigil, and Lee Rush is expected to speak on his son's dire predicament.

Fr Harris said he could not express "strongly enough" how crucial 2009 would be for Scott.

"It will be a make-or-break year because it's when Scott's final appeal will be made," he said. "The legal team are, as we speak, working on the appeal.

"The timing has to be right given that Indonesia has elections soon. If the appeal fails, Scott's last chance will be an appeal for clemency from the prime minister to the Indonesian president."

Fr Harris said Scott, who was arrested with eight other Australians in Depansar, Bali, while trying to smuggle 1.3kg of heroin to Australia on April 17, 2005, did not deserve to die for his crime.

"The Catholic Church must speak up in a further effort to help Scott at this crucial time," he said. "I would like to hear Australia's Catholic bishops as a whole body speak in favour of Scott and the other Aussies on death row.

"Our Church must not be ambivalent about this matter and speak boldly and clearly that capital punishment is wrong and that a 'culture of death' will lead humanity nowhere."

Fr Harris said that adding to the agony of Scott and his parents were the "mixed messages" on the case coming from the Indonesian Government.

"On one hand we have one of our national newspapers reporting earlier this month that the Indonesian head of prosecutions intends writing to more than 100 death-row inmates, including the three Australian drug couriers, telling them they have three choices - to exercise their final appeal rights, seek a presidential pardon or face the firing squad," Fr Harris said.

"Then a few days later another report emerges that the Indonesian president has slashed the life sentence of a convicted French drug smuggler - a decision which could have very positive implications for the fate of Scott and the others."

Scott and another one of the Bali Nine Michael Czugaj were once Corinda-Graceville parishioners.

Scott was a student at Christ the King Primary School, Graceville, and Michael was at St Joseph's, Corinda.

Both received a life sentence for their crimes.

However, Scott appealed his sentence two and a half years ago and had his life sentence changed to one of death.

Fr Harris went with Lee Rush and another Corinda-Graceville parishioner to visit Scott in Bali's Kerobokan Prison "Death Row Tower" last October.

At the time he said he hoped that if Scott's plight could be kept in the public eye, "particularly in the awareness of the Federal Government", Scott might be spared.

Fr Harris maintains close contact with Scott's parents whom he said have had the additional burden of another son Dean being diagnosed last year with a brain tumour.

"Both the Rushes and I have been advocating constantly for Scott," Fr Harris said.

"I recently had a conversation with an Australian senator who told me that 'a few quiet conversations' are being held behind the scenes in relation to Scott Rush and the other Australians on death row.

"The senator was hopeful that at least Scott would be saved in that he was not a ring leader but a drug mule.

"This being said, as the recent newspaper article implies, it will be a big ask for the Indonesian president to spare Scott from the death penalty.

"The president will want the court processes to run their course and he would, I feel sure, expect a plea for clemency to come from the Australian prime minister if the courts were to throw out Scott's final appeal.

"The prime minister has already told the president that Australia will seek this clemency in these circumstances.

"So I remain hopeful but also very cautious in terms of predicting the outcome here given the domestic constituency of Indonesia."

The Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) prayer vigil to pray for all those on death row around the world will be held at noon on Good Friday at Graceville's Christ the King Church.