Some of the Bali Nine are facing the death penalty for drug trafficking in Indonesia. They are unlikely to elicit the same sympathy as Schapelle Corby - and we all know some of the major reasons behind this support - but has Australia crossed a line by providing information to Indonesian authorities that could lead to Australian citizens being executed?
Law Council of Australia president John North thinks so. The nation's peak law body today criticised the Federal Police and the government for building a case against the nine despite protocol and the law dictating support not be given if the death penalty is the ultimate outcome.
"The AFP would clearly know that drug smuggling in Indonesia in cases like these carries the death penalty," North said. "If they know that they are in Indonesia and they are going to get charged, then they are going to get shot."
Is Australia sacrificing long cherished and proper legal channels in the name of forging closer ties with Jakarta? It's hard to conclude otherwise.
Law Council of Australia president John North thinks so. The nation's peak law body today criticised the Federal Police and the government for building a case against the nine despite protocol and the law dictating support not be given if the death penalty is the ultimate outcome.
"The AFP would clearly know that drug smuggling in Indonesia in cases like these carries the death penalty," North said. "If they know that they are in Indonesia and they are going to get charged, then they are going to get shot."
Is Australia sacrificing long cherished and proper legal channels in the name of forging closer ties with Jakarta? It's hard to conclude otherwise.
3 Comments:
Antony, it's hard for most people to conjure up any sympathy for the 'Bali 9' for all the bleeding obvious reasons. I suspect that sentiment was involved when AFP was providing information to Indonesian authorities.
Moreover, I don't think that HoWARd & the Liberals are all that opposed to a death penalty; I do recall HoWARd & Co. saying that they supported a death sentence for the Bali bombers. Can't oppose capital punishment for some and not all. It's a real 'on or off' sort of a thing in my mind.
...and how about Michelle Lee/Leslie? Unreal. What person in their right mind would even go to Bali, much less have drugs in their possession while there?
Agreed. The Liberals most certainly did support the death penalty for the Bali bombers (as did Labor's Simon Crean).
As for Michelle Lee - a rather beautiful girl - you're right, madness, IF, true...
Can't oppose capital punishment for some and not all. It's a real 'on or off' sort of a thing in my mind.
Don't only Siths deals in absolutes?
I don't oppose capital punishment for terrorists, but I do oppose it for adultery.
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