I know you won't mind me disagreeing with you in public
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Originally Posted by Loulabelle
I'm not sure how the sentence she's received can be described as 'unjust' since there are signs plastered all over the airport at Depasar claiming that drug smuggling carries the death penalty. No matter the Western world's views on marujuana being 'safer' than alcohol and tobacco, it's illegal in Bali and the penalty for the crime is death.
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Because the fact that it's illegal doesn't necessarily make it unjust. Hell, sex toys are illegal in Alabama, doesn't mean you're suddenly evil if you take your currently lifestyle there. Unless you believe that following laws is the primary, overarching requirement to living justly.
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Originally Posted by Loulabelle
The Indonesian economy is struggling and in Bali, they rely heavily on tourist trade, which would suffer if drugs were to become rife in the country. The Balinese are an exceptionally gentle and spiritual race of people, with enough daily struggles not to need to add drugs to the list. There is virtually no crime on Bali, so whatever we Westerners think of their methods, they've achieved something we cannot.....perhaps we should be learning something from that, rather than slating a country whose methods we believe to be too harsh.
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Would tourist trade suffer, or increase? I know I'd certainly feel more comfortable holidaying somewhere where a bag of pot won't earn me a bullet in the head. A hell of a lot of travel agencies here are boycotting Bali as a result of this case.
Rastafarians are also a gentle and spiritual people, and they use marijuana as an essential part of their lives. Indonesia's current drug policy is in place so that they will keep receiving aid from countries ostensibly waging "war on drugs", it's hardly something that has evolved naturally. And I know you've just been there, but I've heard from many that have also been to Bali that virtually any drug you want, you can get.
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Originally Posted by Loulabelle
No one should be punished for a crime they didn't commit, but since none of us know whether she did commit it or not, we can only comment on whether the punishment fits the crime.....seems to me that she got off lightly, considering that the death penalty could have easily been imposed under Indonesian law. No-one forced her at gun-point to travel to Indonesia.... and if you don't like the laws, stay out of the country!
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The judges don't "know", either, they take the evidence presented, and (hopefully) make the best decision. And I don't see why we can't comment on aspects of the trial and police procedure that seem to have happened in questionable fairness.
Staying out of Indonesia is, I'm afraid, what many Australians are now choosing to do - to Indonesia's detriment.