Indonesia threatens Australia with 'human tsunami' of around 10,000 migrants if it interferes with execution of drug smugglers

Australia should be grateful for what Indonesia is doing, a minister said

Two Australian drug traffickers Andrew Chan (L) and Myuran Sukumaran (R) the ringleaders of the "Bali Nine" drug ring, are seen in a holding cell while awaiting court trial in Denpasar, on Bali island (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Australia could have a “human tsunami” of 10,000 migrants on its shores if it does not tone down criticism of Indonesia’s planned executions of drug traffickers, a senior official warned.

The Indonesian minister for political, legal and security affairs – Tedjo Edy Purdjianto – said yesterday that Canberra should be grateful for keeping asylum seekers away from Australia.

He criticised the country’s continuing pressure on Indonesia, a nation with one of the most strictest drug laws in the world, for putting two Australian nationals on death row.

Eight other convicts — seven foreigners and an Indonesian – are also facing the death penalty in a group firing squad execution.

Australians Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 33, were flown last week from a prison on the resort island of Bali to the Nusakambangan Island prison off the main island of Java, where executions are carried out.

Another man, Rodrigo Gularte from Brazil, has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and his execution would be a violation of Indonesian and international law. Brazilian lawyers and diplomats have been campaigning for the decision to be reconsidered.

Rodrigo Gularte is to be executed after being arrested in 2004 (AFP/Getty Images)

Chan and Sukumaran had led a drug smuggling group called “the Bali Nine” and were arrested in 2005 after a tip-off by Australian police after trying to smuggle more than 18 pounds (eight kilograms) of heroin from Bali to Sydney.

The other seven members were handed prison terms.

The firing squads will execute the group of 10 people simultaneously in pairs. The execution date will not be set until all of them have exhausted legal appeals.

Mr Purdjianto also said that Australia should “have to thank us” for foiling a smuggler’s attempt to sneak 862 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine into the country.

Indonesian police stand guard as Chan and Sukumaran are transferred to Nusa Kambangan prison (Getty)

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott responded today by saying that Indonesia would be making a counterproductive mistake in carrying out the death penalties.

He said: “These two individuals, because they’re reformed, have now become an asset in Indonesia’s fight against drug crime, and that’s why I think it would be counterproductive to execute them.”

Also today, the Grand Mufti of Australia Ibrahim Abu Mohamed met with Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin and other Islamic figures to plea “with respect and humility for mercy for the lives of two young Australians.”

Indonesia executed six drug convicts including foreigners in January, drawing protests from Brazil and the Netherlands, which withdrew their ambassadors after their citizens were denied clemency appeals. More than 130 people are on death row, including 57 drug convicts.