Abbott: Australia Withdrawing Ambassador To Indonesia Following Bali Nine Chan And Sukumaran’s Execution [VIDEO]

Australian is withdrawing its ambassador to Indonesia following Bali Nine ringleader Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran’s execution early Wednesday morning. Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced the decision in Canberra.

Describing Chan and Sukumaran’s death by firing squad as “cruel and unnecessary,” Mr Abbott said they couldn’t simply let the incident pass. “We respect Indonesia’s sovereignty but we do deplore what’s been done and this cannot be simply business as usual,” the PM told reporters during the press conference. “For that reason, once all the courtesies have been extended to the Chan and Sukumaran families, our ambassador will be withdrawn for consultations.”

He acknowledged that the move is unprecedented for Australian; hence, they are not treating the withdrawal of the ambassador lightly. He added that the relationship of Australia and Indonesia has suffered as a result of the two Australians’ death.

However, he reiterated that the countries’ relationship “remains important, will always be important, will become more important as time goes by.” He cautioned Australian citizens to be careful not to allow their anger to aggravate the situation.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop echoed the PM’s sentiment, saying the withdrawal of ambassador to Indonesia Paul Grigson is “to register our displeasure at the way our citizens have been treated.” She expects to discuss Australia’s relationship with Indonesia when Grigson returns to the country at the end of the week. Ministerial visits have also been suspended.

Despite the Australian government and the international community’s repeated appeal for the death row inmates’ pardon, Chan, 31, and Sukumaran, 34, were killed by firing squad at 3:25 a.m. AEST on Nusakambangan Island along with six other foreign and local inmates. Frenchman Serge Atlaoui was spared a few days ago, pending his appeal in court. Philippine citizen Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, the only female in the group, was also given last-minute reprieve from death.

Chan and Sukumaran’s Indonesian lawyer, Todong Mulya Lubis, has issued an apology on Twitter for “failing.” His tweets were supported by online social media users, who commended the lawyer for standing by the two doomed Australians from the start.