Tense time for death row Australians

Indonesia shows no signs of yielding to efforts to save two Australians whose executions are in the planning.

Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 33, could be spending their last days in Kerobokan jail, where they have spent the past 10 years reforming after their attempt to smuggle heroin out of Indonesia.

After an emotional speech to parliament this week, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has warned Indonesia it could experience a backlash if it executes the men.

"I think the Australian people will demonstrate their deep disapproval of this action, including by making decisions about where they wish to holiday,' she told Fairfax radio yesterday.

Bali's governor has already requested Chan and Sukumaran's executions happen away from the holiday island, where the bulk of foreign visitors are Australian.

Authorities have given permission for them to be moved to prison island Nusakambangan, on a date to be determined.

Bali prosecutors would like it to be done "as soon as possible", but the attorney-general says the executions require planning because prisoners will be taken from jails across the country.

He said they might be gathered on Nusakambangan before the execution date is announced.

Indonesia's foreign ministry did not baulk at the prospect of a boycott.

"I doubt a foreign minister from a friendly country would call for their tourists not to come here," spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said.

Only President Joko Widodo can save the men from execution, but he gave a defiant vow this week not to succumb to outside pressure.

Besides more than 55 ministerial and prime ministerial representations for the men, Australian officials and members of the business community have made "discreet overtures to their influential Indonesian contacts".

Ms Bishop says she has been flooded with letters concerning the executions and there has been strong support at vigils for the men.

Lawyers for Chan and Sukumaran are challenging Mr Joko's blanket denial of clemency for all drug offenders sentenced to death.

The president says about 18,000 deaths a year are due to drugs.

But the researchers who calculated the figure have told AAP their study was intended only to give a general picture of drug use.

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