Gentlemen,
As leaders of our country, I am appealing to your consciences to collectively do whatever it takes to bring Schapelle Corby home to Australia.
Who am I? Michael Danby knows me reasonably well…. we were contemporaries in Melbourne at college in the 70’s – I pursued a business career – Michael a political career and Michael will tell you that I am as politically oriented and active as “the man next door” – my political activism to date has been limited to voting at Federal and State elections. HOWEVER, seeing what is happening to Schapelle Corby has touched a very raw nerve with me. I have two daughters not much younger than Schapelle and every time I see Schapelle on TV or in the paper, I imagine that it just as easily could be one of my daughters (or yours for that matter) in her place.
Just because it is NOT my daughter in Schapelle’s place this time does not make any difference – how would you feel if it were your daughter in Schapelle’s place??
To see what Schapelle is being subjected to in Bali is, for me, more horrific than the pictures of the Iraqi prisoner abuse.
You will all have your opinion on the “sovereignty of other countries” and their right to govern according to their laws … fair enough. But you were also not born yesterday and you would know that a Denpasar court and jail is no more just or humane than a Nazi concentration camp.
Please do not continue to ignore the facts and REALITY of Schapelle Corby’s treatment and her so called “trial” by hiding behind the theory of “sovereign country-right to govern” argument.
Remember the outrage at the treatment of Iraqi prisoners of war – American service people were tried and convicted and we still hear on the news today about whether Australian diplomats “knew about” Iraqi prisoner abuse – he point is, the issue of Iraqi prisoner abuse is bigger than the abuse of one of our own citizens who MAY NOT be guilty. (At least the prisoners of war were imprisoned for good reason!!)
The point is, Schapelle Corby is being subjected to conditions and mental torture that is literally unspeakable.
Can we not negotiate something with the Indonesians that, in return for DFAT maintaining Bali as a “favoured” tourist destination (and not a destination with a constant “no go” travel advisory) , the Indonesians, in return agree to allow the immediate deportation of any Australians arrested for drug offences?
Please consider this issue very carefully – there will be a “tsunami” of public opinion here in Australia if events deteriorate any further - it has not happened yet but it will I am certain.
This issue has every ingredient for an astounding diplomatic triumph or leadership diaster… it is now over to you.
Alan Singer
Brighton, MELBOURNE, Victoria
http://headhunter.typepad.com
Who's ignoring it?
Jesus Christ Al, I'm getting a bit sick of you and your blogs implying that no one here is doing anything to help Schapelle Corby.
Everyone does what they are capable of doing.
You should lobby the government to make Indonesia change it's laws.Or work with Amnesty International.
And what makes you think Australians are going to rise up if Corby is found guilty.
It is not in the Australian psyche to do that...see the sacking of Whitlam.
See also the election of an admitted liar Howard.
Where were the Australians rising up to defend the refugees who DID NOT throw their chilren overboard as Howard positively said they did.
I hate to tell you this Al ,but it is NOT over to us.
It is over to the Indonesia system of law.
Howard has said our government will appeal if Corby is found guilty.
I appreciate your assistance for this girl, I too have put in a lot of work as I know others here have.
So give us a break.
shadows
Apologies for offending you Shadow
Shadow,
I admit that your (above) comment made me take a "step back" and check if I was losing persepctive and getting a bit "carried away" with my feelings on this - maybe I am... I have never before been moved to speak out on an issue with such strength of feeling and focus, as I am now, so this is all new ground for me. I totally agree with your assertion that "everyone does what they are capable of doing" and that is all anyone can expect from others - no argument.
I apologise for offending you, that was not my intention - in fact I very much admire your very "grounded" approach to this issue.
Finally, I acknowledge that you and others have put in much work to support Schapelle and it was NEVER my intention to detract from that at all. Please accept my sincerest apologies - and keep up the good work!!.
ALS
its easy to get carried away
This is an awful situation for the girl concerned and for her relatives,and what I think is particularly dreadful is the man who was flown to Indonesia to give evidence that could save Schapelle and failed to do so.
Someone needs to take him aside and explain that if you have evidence that can save a person's life then you are morally bound to give that evidence.
He says he fears for his life and for Schapelle's.Bullpoop!Her life is already forfeit, his won't be worth a cracker when he arrives home.
He is a charlatan and should be charged.
But if you look a little further you will see that many of the black men on death row in America have also been found not guilty now that DNA evidence is available.
Who knows how many needlessly went to their deaths.
There is very little justice in the world Al.Now that you have discovered that salient point, maybe you might like to take up the cause of some of the many people held in custody around the world illegally.
I am sorry for sounding so cynical about this, but Schapelle Corby is only one of many in a similar situation.
What makes it bad for us is that she is one of our's.
shadows