Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government will continue to monitor the progress of Bali Nine members after they were transferred to Australia, Coordinating Minister of Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Penitentiary Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra said.

"Australia will inform us of the progress of the prisoners and open access for the Indonesian Embassy in Australia to monitor the development of the inmates," Mahendra told ANTARA here on Sunday.

He explained that the Australian government has agreed to all the conditions proposed by Indonesia for the transfer of the five inmates.

Minister Mahendra and Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke signed a practical arrangement on Thursday (December 12).

"We signed the practical arrangement on December 12. The transfer was made on December 15. Everything has been agreed upon," he emphasized.

The Bali Nine were a group of nine Australians convicted for attempting to smuggle illegal drugs in 2005. They were convicted of attempting to smuggle 8.2 kg of heroin.

Five of the Bali Nine members had been transferred to Australia on Sunday morning. They were handed over to the Australian government in VIP Room II of the Swarawati Building at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali.

The five inmates are Matthew James Norman, Scott Anthony Rush, Si Yi Chen, Michael William Czugaj, and Martin Eric Stephens.

Mahendra said that the five inmates were transferred back to Australia with status as prisoners.

He emphasized that the Indonesian government did not grant pardons to the five prisoners, as part of the practical arrangement conditions signed by the governments of Australia and Indonesia.

"Indonesia and Australia are committed to working together on issues of mutual interest in accordance with the domestic legal framework," he said.


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Translator: Fath M, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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