Terrorism Hits Oz

[Guest]

[Trey]

  Im in shock....

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=51683

I really hope that the substance was not harmful, we wont know till tests have been finalised... and I really hope it wasn't.

Has anyone overseas heard about the case of Schapelle Corby over in Bali?? Just curious as I dont know how wide-spread this issue has become!

I have my views on the Schapelle Corby case which I wont go into here of course (I will be going on for ages if I get started)  but all I can really say to this is...

Free Schapelle, but not with terrorism....

 

[ferdinand_the_yak]

Let's start a heated debate!

Brief overview... last November a 29 year old Aussie woman called Schapelle Corby is caught entering Indonesia with 4.1kg of marijuana in her surfboard bag. She claims it is not hers and someone else put it there - the usual drug mule's excuse (not saying she IS, but for argument's sake). Indonesian police are not impressed - she is thrown into prison. Complications - recently, it was revealed that a drug smuggling ring was planting drugs in bags at Aus airports - this was entered as evidence to help Corby at her trial but was rejected. Also evidence that the customs officials bungled up the initial arrest (eg no fingerprinting of the drug bags) was not taken into account. Te prosecutors called forlife imprisonment, but the judges could have issued the death penalty if they saw fit. After huge media coverage in Aus, last week she was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in Indonesia.

Cut to Aus - huge outrage with people divided over the issue - pro-Corby people are boycotting Indonesia as a holiday destination, sending threats to Indonesian officials etc. Then this incident...

I think that these people are going the wrong way about it... this is definitely not going to help her one bit

And you can't blame the Indo judges... the drugs were in her bag, unless the person(s) who did it confess - who else can they blame? But the sentence is very harsh - murderers and rapists get away with less!

Also, earlier this year, 9 Aussies were caught trying to smuggle herion OUT of Indonesia... they actually had the stuff strapped to their bodies, so there is no doubt THEY knew it was there! But then some are saying that they were threatened to do it or their families would be killed. Some people are saying - why are the 'Bali 9' not getting as much overage and support as Corby? Her legal campaign is being sponsored by a rich Aussie businessman, there are talks of the government sending legal aid for her appeal - the Bali 9 get nothing. Some people say its cos Schapelle is young and pretty while the Bali 9 are 8 men and one man/woman (very unattractive woman).

Unfair? I'd like to hear what non-Aussies think

[savage727]

Have not heard a word of these two incidents you both are talking about.  You also have to understand that Indonesia is a Muslim country and drugs are a real no no so I can understand the harsh penalty.  She is lucky she did not get the death penalty.  I also cannot buy that someone put the drugs in her bag!  People are so aware today of theft and terrorism that bags are not left unattended today in airports.  In addition airport security is looking out specifically for unattended bags so her story just does not wash.  The idiots who sent the substance are terrorists in my mind and should be treated as such. 

[Trey]

ohhh I have so many comments to make but I wont make them yet, I want to see some non-aussie opinions first too   but I will add a fact to this for consideration....

The street value of the marijuana that was found is triple the value in australia than what it would be if sold in Indonesia...

[ferdinand_the_yak]

I didn't think any people out of Oceania would have heard of this case, but its the big news here!

Ah - well, that's the thing Ed - they are saying that the drugs were planted AFTER she checked them in - behind the scenes - the baggage handlers to be more precise. That was where this drug ring was claimed to be masterminded. How can a traveller control drug planting in that case?

I don't really have an opinion over whether she did it or not, but I lean slightly to not because I do not see the logic in bringing in drugs to a country in which you can buy them for cheaper! And Corby had been to Bali on numerous occasions already and knew the ramifications of bring in drugs. So it doesn't make sense in that case.

But yes... it has been said that it was a light sentence for that area of the world - if she was caught in Singapore, it would have meant that she would have receive the death penalty 8 times over (500g being enough to land you one death sentence) :-/

[Trey]

Have not heard a word of these two incidents you both are talking about.  You also have to understand that Indonesia is a Muslim country and drugs are a real no no so I can understand the harsh penalty.  She is lucky she did not get the death penalty.

You have hit the mark there Savage, I think that is what aussies are so enraged about...the fact that the mastermind behind the Bali Bombings a couple of years ago got a minimal jail sentance (like 3 years or something, but dont quote me on that) and killed 200+ people, yet someone recieves 20 years imprisonment for supposedly bringing drugs into the country...

I think the main things are...do you think she is guilty and what makes you think that she is or is not?  do you think that 20 years in jail is reasonable? do you think that the australian government should get involved? (that is what corby supporters are urging for over here at the moment)

[savage727]

Trey:

The value of the drugs is irrelevant in Muslim culture.  It is an offense and that is the issue.  Western society has lost its moral bearings on many issues but not the Muslims.    

[ferdinand_the_yak]

Well, it seems that some in thee US have heard of this... http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15474287-31317,00.html

My main argument is that it is illogical to do what Corby allegedly did - its like bringing sand to the Sahara - why bother when you can get it for (almost) free there?

If you are in a foreign country, you must adhere to their laws, this may seem unfair, but that is how the chips fall. I am desperately sorry for Schapelle, but I think all we can do is to hope for a prisoner exchange transfer. That's if her appeal doesn't go against her - she still may get th death penalty - this is more likely if these idiots keep doing what they are doing now with their terrorism crap 

[Roz]

You also have to understand that Indonesia is a Muslim country and drugs are a real no no so I can understand the harsh penalty. 

And rape is fine??

 

Sometimes I don't get legal systems... *enter Ed Van Halen: Lawyer extraordinare*

[savage727]

Rape is never fine.   :'(

[ferdinand_the_yak]

Interesting point - a few weeks ago a Australian Muslim cleric claimed on radio that women who wore skimpy clothing were asking to be raped (or similar words) as their dress 'aroused the carnal desire of men' or some crap. Needless to say, he got blasted by many, and many Muslim community members and leaders rang up to distance themselves from the comments and saying that women were not to blame etc, etc.  He later apologised, saying that his ideas came out wrongly, but didn't fully retract his claim.

Hmmm...

[Roz]

No no, I just think that smuggling vast quantities of drugs, although damaging to many lives is not so damn devastating as rape... although I suppose rape is an internal problem for a country and really doens't affect relations with other countries, whereas Drug Smuggling affects many countries and requires collaboration to beat it.

I suppose I do understand why there should be a strong sentance... and I also understand that the Indonesian authorities get the "Bridget Jones" excuse every time

Heh! (re the Cleric).. that is the problem with mixing countries and cultures, so many aspects of Western Culture offend Muslims... right down to the fact that we "tolerate" (and in many cases eg the UK - welcome) their religious practices in our home country. I heard that they believe this shows weakness on our part....

However I am sure that's only the slightly more extreme ones

[Roz]

the fact that the mastermind behind the Bali Bombings a couple of years ago got a minimal jail sentance (like 3 years or something, but dont quote me on that) and killed 200+ people, yet someone recieves 20 years imprisonment for supposedly bringing drugs into the country...

That's madness!

[ferdinand_the_yak]

Yes, for sure - I know some lovely people who follow the Muslim faith and they are not all raving mad lunatics as has been claimed by some very unpleasant groups Like Ed said, its all down to values and cultures what we see as trivial others see as warranting death and vice versa...

A news page dedicated to the case if anyone is interested in more details http://www.news.com.au/index/0,10121,31317,00.html

[Roz]

Why is it only the crackpots who spread religious hatred, and send suspicious substances to important people who get heard??

[ferdinand_the_yak]

The answer is in oyu question... because they are crackpots

You'd think they can see that they are diggin their own graves - but obviously too stupid/ignorant/both to realise

[Roz]

To be fair they often end up in jail as well But seriously they give us all bad names!

[Trey]

Trey:

The value of the drugs is irrelevant in Muslim culture.  It is an offense and that is the issue.  Western society has lost its moral bearings on many issues but not the Muslims.    

Yep I realise the value of these drugs may be irrelevant to the Muslim culture. I was just stating it to keep in mind whether deciding if Corby was guilty or not..really if I was a drug dealer (which of course im not) then I would not risk taking that amount of drugs over to Indonesia when the value of them is triple in Australia. I would keep the booty in Aus and make heaps more $$....that is kind of what I was getting at...

[grecopa]

I heard about her case yesterday.  It seems strange to me that a woman going on a vacation with family would bring 9 pounds of pot with her.  Does she have any prior record of drug use/selling in Australia?  I mean, how much could it have possibly have been worth in Bali?  Would'nt it be worth more in Australia?  It makes no sense.  Anyway, I heard the terrorist bombers only got a few years because the judge was worried about more attacks if they were dealt with too harshly.  How's that for cowardace?  It's excatly what keeps the terrorists going.  There is no "Be nice to me and I'll be nice to you" thinking when it comes to terrorism.  Squash evil where it stands, or it keeps growing.

[Trey]

I heard about her case yesterday.  It seems strange to me that a woman going on a vacation with family would bring 9 pounds of pot with her.  Does she have any prior record of drug use/selling in Australia?  I mean, how much could it have possibly have been worth in Bali?  Would'nt it be worth more in Australia?  It makes no sense.

You are right, it is worth triple in Australia compared to Indonesia... and no she has no prior record at all of drug use/selling, or a criminal record...

Anyway, I heard the terrorist bombers only got a few years because the judge was worried about more attacks if they were dealt with too harshly.  How's that for cowardace?  It's excatly what keeps the terrorists going.  There is no "Be nice to me and I'll be nice to you" thinking when it comes to terrorism.  Squash evil where it stands, or it keeps growing.

Schapelle would have been better off killing 200+ people the way the legal system works, she would have only got 3-5 years jail.....can you honestly tell me that taking a bag of drugs into the country is worth 15 years more jail time than being a terrorist and killing 200 innocent people... I really dont think so...damn im getting fired up, I need to calm down and finish my assignment..it is 12:05am and I will never get it finished at this rate