I have kept relatively quiet on the debate regarding the convicted drug smugglers and their execution, which took place just over 12 hours before I write this.
I am going to offend some people here, but be assured, I will not resort to vitriol and abuse as so many from both sides of the argument have done. I will also be making my personal view very clear.
One thing is certain throughout this saga, and that is that Australia and Indonesia are two very different cultures, and they are becoming less similar as time goes on.
We in Australia have been subject to a long and very public debate over the sentencing and eventual execution of two members of a nine-strong drug smuggling group known as the "Bali Nine". The majority were given prison sentences for attempting to smuggle heroin, with three being sentenced to death. One later had his death sentence overturned, but the final two had their sentences upheld, as they were deemed by the authorities to be ring-leaders in the plan. This is important.
The Australian media has made a big show about them being "convicted drug smugglers", which they are, but they are convicted HEROIN smugglers, and organisers and planners of the operation. Yes, there are bigger fish out there, but they caught these two. The Australian media has also pushed the families of these two men into the spotlight and made reference to their rehabilitation and conversion to religion, with one being ordained as a priest, and the other becoming an artist. If I were in prison, under a death sentence, with regular visits from good Christian folks talking about salvation, I would probably be inclined to find God too.The point has been made by many others that it is unlikely that either one would have reformed had they not been caught.
I am sorry that they had to die. I am sorry that their families have to go through this trauma, but when has anyone raised the point that THEY should be the ones feeling sorry for their families? If they had not broken Indonesian law, then their families would have been spared this pain. I find it hard to blame anyone except the perpetrators of the crime for the damage the crime has done.
Speaking of damage, I hear that a Human Rights lawyer is looking at Indonesia being a signatory to an international agreement on the use of the death penalty. He claims that the agreement states that the death penalty will only be used for the worst of crimes. That, he says, is murder, not drug smuggling.
My response is that they were smuggling Heroin, and I have heard so many times that heroin will kill you. Not "might" kill you. Will.
To knowingly and illegally smuggle a drug which you know will kill the people that are going to use it, that, to me, is murder.
Indonesia has ignored Australia's pleas for mercy to be shown to these two men, and has executed them. Australia is upset and is withdrawing it's Ambassador, and suspending Ministerial ties.
May I ask, if we find the Death Penalty so abhorrent, why haven't we taken this action before? After all, Indonesia has executed dozens of drug smugglers over the years, from Thai nationals, to Filipinos, to Indonesians themselves, and recently a Dutch national. Why didn't we yell and scream then? Are Australian lives worth more than another nations? Or is it because there was a media focus and some personal points to be won by politicians and human rights groups?
I heard a point raised by someone on the radio today, saying that a terrorist received four years jail in Indonesia, and a murderer, five years. They couldn't understand why two drug smugglers who had reformed, were to be executed. I don't understand that logic either. But I am not expected to. I am not Indonesian. I do not face the problems that Indonesians face in their society. I am not in a position to judge another country, another culture. There are claims that the judge asked for money to reduce the death sentence to life in prison. We are now claiming that this is corruption and it should be investigated. Why? Had the money been paid, and the men given life behind bars, would we now be screaming "Corruption", and demanding they be executed? The judge didn't say "I will sentence them to death unless you pay" (allegedly), He said "I am going to sentence them to death. If you give me some money I will be able to procure a lesser sentence".This is speculation, of course, but assuming the legal system is corrupt, and that this did in fact take place, can I remind you all that their guilt has never been questioned, only the severity of the sentence. They are still smugglers of one of the worst addictive drugs known to man. If Indonesia thinks that drug smuggling is worse than murder, then we better make damn sure we don't smuggle drugs through Indonesia.... or is that not obvious enough?
Perhaps murderers and terrorists pose a lesser threat to their societies than drug traders, hence the hard-line. I don't know, but I do know that it is none of my business how their system works, unless I choose to break their laws.
Hypothetical scenario. An Indonesian national is passing through Australia, and murders a young person in a hotel room, and is caught and convicted. They are sentenced to life in prison under Australian law. No parole is allowed until fifteen years have been served.
The people and government of Indonesia are appalled and demand that Australia extradites the criminal to Indonesia to serve the sentence there. What would we do? We'd say "Go to Hell!! They committed the crime here, they'll serve the sentence here. If we send them home, you'll have them out of jail in five years!! That is not a fit punishment!!"
Guess what, folks....That's what Indonesia just said to us.
Indonesia is an independent, sovereign nation. They have a social system with it's own set of unique problems. They have a legal system which, corrupt or not, is seen to enforce the laws of the country. We do not understand Indonesian culture, a mixed culture with ten times Australia's population and poverty levels we cannot imagine. They do things differently.
We expect them to respect our laws and customs when they visit our shores.
Why are we so arrogant that we do not respect theirs?
