It feels like there’s a lot of sadness in the Australian air this morning, but The Presets have been able to highlight the silver lining on a very grey cloud hanging over us.
After coming out swinging against the death penalty earlier this week, the group’s Julian Hamilton has paid tribute to drug traffickers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, who were killed by firing squad in Indonesia just before 3:30am AEST this morning.
Chan, 31, and Sukumaran, 34, were executed on the prison island of Nusakambangan, along with six other death row inmates. In a lengthy post to Facebook (below) early this morning, Hamilton wrote from the heart, and it’s incredibly moving.
“One of Andrew and Myuran’s last wishes was to walk around in the fresh air,” he said. “I so hope they were granted that last wish.”
“Today I will breathe that same fresh air and savour it. Today I will sit in my backyard and be warmed by beautiful Autumn sunshine. I will listen to lorikeets singing outside my kitchen window. I will make music. I will do stupid things with my kids, and we will laugh heartily. I will celebrate life and everything it has to offer, for it is the very least I can do on a day like today.
“Andrew and Myuran proved that, no matter what stupid mistakes we make in our past, they don’t necessarily have to define us. We can grow, and be better; we can be kinder and we can savour all that life offers us.
“Friends, lets be kinder to one another today. Let’s be better.”
The Presets had earlier apologised for “getting personal” in their comments on Indonesia’s death penalty.
Other members of the Australian music community have shared their thoughts and prayers following the executions, including Nina Las Vegas, Briggs and Ecca Vandal. View their reactions, below.
Waking to the distressing news that many of us have been dreading. I can't even begin to imagine what Myuran and Andrew'…
Posted by The Presets on Tuesday, 28 April 2015
"free at last, free at last, thank god almighty we are free at last." thank you andrew and myu for being you. you are free now.
Posted by The Temper Trap on Tuesday, 28 April 2015
My thoughts go out to the families affected by the executions in Bali. I have so many thoughts on this, it's all very sad & disappointing
— ALISON WONDERLAND (@awonderland) April 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/BriggsGE/status/593198127210856448
My ? goes out to those families hurting &dealing with loss. The Sukumaran &Chan families &those worldwide battling for peace &safety daily
— ECCA VANDAL (@eccavandal) April 28, 2015
So fucking sad. Never going to Indonesia again.
— Nina Las Vegas (@ninalasvegas) April 28, 2015
— Meg Washington (@WASHINGTONx) April 28, 2015
