Misdirected anger

LAST week’s drama in Bali should be placed in perspective by Australians disappointed with the court outcome for Schapelle Corby. First, Indonesian law, while based on different evidentiary rules from Australia, is after all a legal product of a sovereign nation and should be respected as such.

While most Australians will support a theory of innocence on Schapelle’s part, the fact remains that she entered Indonesia with illicit goods in her possession.

There is no evidence to refute that fact.

As such, she has broken Indonesian law and been awarded a sentence considered light by Indonesian standards. We, as a democratic nation, should respect the outcome, despite our belief that Schapelle may not have been the source of the goods.

Blaming Indonesian judges, the Indonesian justice system, police or Balinese in general for Schapelle’s situation, is misdirected anger.

Instead, direct that energy at airlines, the Australian Federal Police and Customs, Sydney Airport Corporation and Brisbane Airport.

They are the authorities with the capacity to ensure we can travel within and from Australia without the fear of baggage tampering (akin to home invasion).

No baggage weight verification, no video surveillance footage from either airport, no Customs or police (dog) intervention in Australia and no real interest in providing information at any time.

Those facts raise significant issues and should be tested by a inquiry into the circumstances of Schapelle Corby’s case.

David C. Sanderson
Bees Creek

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Tue, 31 May 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: David C. Sanderson
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283