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Filipina maid Mary Jane Veloso faces imminent execution in Indonesia, but relatives say her only crime was to fall victim to international drug gangs who are threatening to kill them if they speak out.
Echoing horror stories told by hundreds of other Filipinos in jails worldwide, the 30-year-old single mother claims she was duped into ferrying narcotics.
She insists she would never have gambled her life and two sons' futures on a bag of heroin. But she is one of several foreigners whose executions for drugs are drawing closer in Indonesia.

Veloso believes, according to her parents, that she was tricked by a criminal gang as she desperately sought work overseas.
Her father, Cesar, 59, said those involved in setting-up his daughter had repeatedly contacted him and other relatives to warn them against going public.
"My daughter's recruiters have been threatening us ... they threatened to kill us one by one," the father said as he cried and his grandsons sat silently next to him during an interview in Manila.
Veloso lived in a poor farming region about three hours' drive north of Manila. Life became increasingly tough after she broke up with her sons' father and had to provide for them alone.
She flew to Malaysia after being promised a job there, but was told on arrival that the only work available was actually in Indonesia, her parents said.
While in Malaysia, the drugs were secretly sewn into her suitcase, according to her parents.

Veloso was arrested five years ago at Yogyakarta airport with 2.6kg of heroin in her suitcase. She is on death row with others, including two Australians and a Frenchman, whose legal appeals are all but exhausted.
Veloso fell prey to a common scam, according to Garry Martinez, chairman of overseas workers' rights group Migrante, which has been organising near-daily protest rallies for her in Manila.
There are roughly 10 million Filipinos working overseas - many as maids, labourers and in other lowly paid professions - because there are so few job opportunities at home.
With many coming from poor farming areas and lacking in street smarts, they are easy pickings for international crime gangs on the hunt for drug mules, Martinez said at a recent rally.
"The ones who are victimised by the drug syndicates overseas are already often the victims of illegal recruitment. They are already vulnerable."
A South China Morning Post report this month said organised crime gangs are using social media and a physical presence in Hong Kong's public spaces such as Victoria Park to coerce domestic helpers to engage in money laundering and drug smuggling.

Five Filipinos have been executed in China since 2011 for drug trafficking, foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.
There are another 41 currently on death row overseas, almost all in China and Malaysia.
Jose said the government and police worked hard to educate Filipinos heading overseas about the dangers of drug gangs, and there were warnings at airports.
But the quick cash on offer is too tempting for some, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
The gangs typically offer between US$3,000 and US$15,000 for carrying drugs between countries aboard an airline. The agency said the gangs are generally run by African bosses.
Martinez acknowledged that, unlike in Veloso's case, many mules did indeed know they were carrying the drugs.
"[But] they are forced to do it, otherwise they or their families in the Philippines will be killed," Martinez said.
He cited the example of one man Migrante tried to help after he travelled to Thailand for what he thought was legitimate work.
"When he arrived in Thailand, he was offered money to bring drugs into China," Martinez said.
"When he refused, the syndicate called his family back in the Philippines and he spoke to them. He was then asked: 'Which one of them do you want to be killed first?'"
Cesar Veloso said the family, fearing retribution from his daughter's recruiters, remained silent for many years, but recently began its high-profile campaign in a last bid to save her.
 

Indonesian Supreme Court turns down final appeals from 10 drug convicts on death row
Indonesia's Supreme Court has turned down final appeals from two death row prisoners who are among 10 drug convicts awaiting executions by firing squads.
The appeals for judicial review by Serge Areski Atlaoui from France and Martin Anderson of Ghana were rejected at hearings on Tuesday, said court panellist Suhadi, who uses a single name. If executed, Atlaoui would be the first French citizen to be put to death anywhere in the world for almost 40 years.
Atlaoui's appeal was rejected because the three-judge panel found no mistake in the previous verdicts by lower courts, while Anderson failed to present new evidence to support his appeal.
Appeals have been exhausted for all but one of the 10 convicts. One is Indonesian, and the other foreigners are Australian, Nigerian, Brazilian and Filipino, Mary Jane Velosto.
Tony Spontana, a spokesman for the attorney-general's office said authorities would wait until a gathering of Asian and African leaders in Jakarta finishes tomorrow before setting a date for the executions.
Associated Press, Agence France-Presse


Filipina maid facing execution in Indonesia 'tricked' into smuggling drugs by international gang, family claims

Migrant rights activists urge the Philippine government to save Mary Jane Veloso. Photo: Reuters

Activists carry placards urging the Philippine government to save Mary Jane Veloso, a maid facing execution in Indonesia. Photo: Reuters

Mary Jane Veloso claims she flew to Malaysia after being promised a job there. Photo: AFP

Members of Mary Jane Veloso are making a last-ditch effort to save her from the firing squad. Photo: AFP

Marites Veloso, sister of Mary Jane Veloso, cries during a protest pleading President Benigno Aquino for help in her sister's case, in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Manila. Photo: Reuters

'Abused maid worked 15 months without a break'

'Kicked, slapped and threatened': two more maids tell court of abuse by Erwiana's employer

Nurhasanah (left) and Tutik told the District Court of their own alleged abuse at Law Wan-tung's hands.

Nurhasanah (left) and Tutik

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Facing execution in Indonesia, Mary Jane Veloso was unaware she was carrying heroin, say her family, who say they've been threatened


Filipina maid Mary Jane Veloso faces imminent execution in Indonesia, but relatives say her only crime was to fall victim to international drug gangs who are threatening to kill them if they speak out.
