BS: Boycott Bali?

Subject: RE: BS: Boycott Bali?
From: Keef
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 06:31 AM

It is well known that Indonesia has the death penalty. Anyone that takes the chance and gets caught must wear the consequences.
I do expect that the accused should get a fair trial and that reasonable standards of proof beyond reasonable doubt should apply.
In the case of Schappelle Corby it seems that there is a great deal of reasonable doubt.
In the case of the Bali 9, at least some of the accused may have been under some coercion. There appears to be some cover up of high level involvement in the supply chain (alleged supplier conveniently killed during arrest). Most of those caught seem to be low level "mules" and whilst stupid, greedy and evil are not so wicked as those higher up the chain who generate huge profits from this trade.
I also think that anyone travelling overseas should be assured of real support and assistance from their government regardless of the political agenda.
Keef

Subject: RE: BS: Boycott Bali?
From: Albaman
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 06:03 AM

people who are caught smuggling drugs are lazy bastards trying to make a quick buck. Regardless of the friggin politics, any person whose arms and feet look like a spahgetti drainer will say the death penalty in Bali is a lot quicker than theirs, so lets have less political bullshit and more hangings. I would vote for anyone in Australia with the guts to say Zero Tolerance. The policy should be "You trade in misery you burn in hell!"

Subject: RE: BS: Boycott Bali?
From: Hrothgar
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 05:45 AM

Couldn't have said it better, John.

Subject: RE: BS: Boycott Bali?
From: John O'L
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 06:26 PM

Double standards is what he's all about. It's his life's work.

Subject: RE: BS: Boycott Bali?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 12:26 PM

What I like is Mr. Howard going on and on how the Australian government cannot interfere with the judicial system of Indonesia...concerning Schapelle Corby...but yet warns them against shortening the sentence of Abu Bakar Ba'asyir. While I agree with that one, if he is going to interfere with one, he should on the other and not create a double standard.

Subject: RE: BS: Boycott Bali?
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 11:28 AM

So what are we saying here? We shouldn't go to anywhere with the death penalty? Or goverments that aren't hard enough on terrorism? Or have had some murky political goings on? Or just generally could be nicer people?

I think that leaves us with Sweden. Actually no, have you seen the price of beer there? They could definitly be nicer people...

Subject: BS: Boycott Bali?
From: Keef
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 05:16 PM

Today we hear that Schappelle Corby (see previous thread) has had her sentence cut from 20 Years to 15 years. She maintains her innocence and there is a great deal of evidence and logic to support her stance.
The "Bali 9" go on trial accused of heroin smuggling and will almost certainly face the firing squad.
I have little sympathy with those involved in the heroin trade.
The accused are all young and stupid. Hands up all those who never did anything stupid when they were young.
Do they all deserve the firing squad...well I dunno.
Meanwhile the leader of Jemiah Islamia gives an interview from his (temporary ) prison cell supporting the action of suicide bombers.
The Indonesian goverment is at best soft on Islamic extremism and at worst is actually involved in it.

(sorry for the cut and paste, but this seems relevant)

Writing in The Age , an Australian newspaper in Melbourne, foreign correspondent Hamish McDonald pointed out, "There is a long history of political manipulators within the Indonesian armed forces, or TNI, playing with the fire of Islamic extremism and staging incidents of terrorism, as well as the institution itself carrying out state terror as in Aceh, Ambon and East Timor--directly or through military proxies."

The TNI was the backbone of the fascist Suharto dictatorship which came to power in 1965 through a CIA-backed coup that made the rivers run red with the blood of hundreds of thousands of people, mainly members and supporters of the Communist Party of Indonesia. The coup overthrew Sukarno, whose daughter, Megawati Sukarnoputri, is the current head of the Indonesian government. Suharto himself was forced out of power under U.S. pressure in 1998 during the economic and political crisis that rocked this country of 200 million people. But forces linked to the Suharto regime still occupy powerful positions within the TNI and other areas of society.

So, should we boycott Bali? The Balinese themselves are lovely people (although they are in the minority now due to the Indonesian policy of transmigration which has shifted huge numbers of mainly muslim Javanese into Bali).
Should we go for the bargain holiday and bugger the consequences.
I'm staying home thanks.
Keef