Read Andrew Chan's letter to teenagers

fuad lawal

May 1, 2015 12:07 AM

Andrew Chan, the Australian leader of Bali Nine, a drug trafficking group that ran its operations between Indonesia and Australia

Andrew Chan, 31, convicted of attempting to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin in 2005, was killed along with one other Australian and six further men by firing squad late on Wednesday evening despite last minute international appeals and diplomatic interventions.

Here's an excerpt from a letter he wrote to teenagers:

Now the reason why I’m writing you this letter is to address you guys about the dangers of drugs and the effects it can have on you and also others. To tell you a little bit about my life story, I was once 15, 16 and it wasn’t too long ago I was sitting in a class just like you guys.

I was an average kid and let me tell you that my teachers didn’t like me one bit andI was no teacher’s pet. But to cut a long story short, I got mixed up with drugs at a pretty young age and by the time I was 15 Iwas merged into the scene.

Ive done things which I am not proud of in my life and I’ve made some pretty silly decisions. My life is a perfect example of an absolute waste.

Now to elaborate the effects of where I am, I’ve missed weddings, I’ve missed funerals and the simple presence of my own family.

The hurt and pain – I don’t just put it onto myself, but the pain I put on my family is agonising. A simple touch such as a hug is not possible for a condemned man like me. I have nothing but an iron bar to hug rather than to be embraced by those I loveand who I miss.

What you choose today will make what you become tomorrow. If you want to be athug and a big bad wolf, I’ll see you soon inside. But for those that want to do something in life I’d like you guys to see how important it is to put your head down and study hard.

I hope these words will penetrate in your minds and in your hearts and I hope that most of you, if not all of you, will achieve more than I ever did.

fuad lawal