Bali Nine death sentence: Should Australia impose trade sanctions?
The Bali Nine will be grabbing the headlines in the next few weeks and we’ll hear more creative stories on why they ended up in Bali.
Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran will again say they never met the others, the others will all say they were threatened with death, and all of them will say they did not plan to traffic drugs.
A article in the Courier Mail talks about the Australian government using trade as a way to stop foreign countries executing Australians. It argues that morally, the Australian government cannot back away from using trade as leverage, if it will stop the death of an Australian. It mentions establishing bilateral trade agreements, the WTO and says that while trade is important to a nation, its in itself is not always good.
Wouldn’t it be easier to teach knuckleheads to stop trying to smuggle drugs abroad?
Why should legitimate businesses, full of honest, hardworking people, lose part of their livelihood, so save someone who got caught trying to make easy money smuggling drugs. I feel sorry for some of the Bali Nine, actually the 2 youngest guys. I believe they are that dumb, that they could of thought it was all a lark. The rest of them definitely knew what was going on.
Renae had been to Bali 3 times in 2005 with Andrew Chan. She also claims he threatened to kill her. She came to Bali for 1 of 3 reasons, romantic relationship (not), friends on holiday (not), trial run (yes). Anyway if I was in their shoes I’d come up with some creative stories too.
Do people think Australia should sacrifice part of its economy with Indonesia, if the Bali Nine are sentenced to death?
By Nick | Permalink
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Comments
Honestly, they are guilty, nobody doubts that they got caught with the drugs strapped on their bodies that clearly says to me they understood it wasn’t flour or sugar they where hiding from the customs officers.
You can’t possibly get into the country without knowing the penalies for drug smuggling. Assuming they are too stupid to understand the english language there are pictures to make the illiterate fully aware of the death penalty. So shoot them all…
We would rightly take offence if another country tried to impose its will on us with regard to our laws and the bending of them to suit its citizens, so why should Australians think it’s ok to do that?
I’d suggest they’re extremely lucky they were’nt caught in Singapore.
They knew what they were doing, and should pay the penalty for it (although not the death penalty). I wonder if pressure hasn’t already been applied by Australia?
Businesses in Indonesia shouldn’t suffer for their stupidity.
Anyone caught trafficking drugs in foreign countries shouldnt expect the Australian government to do anything out of the ordinary (eg sanctions) to save their lives..
Who was going to save the lives of the people were killed or affected by the drugs they were quite happy to smuggle..
“we were forced too”.. “They threatened our families”.. what a load of bullsh%t..
They were quite happy to have their tickets and holidays paid for by the ringleader.. and quite happy to have the drugs strapped to their body.. quite happy to attempt to leave Bali.. Not happy when they get caught!!! isnt hindsight a wonderful thing..
No-one is Australia can blame the Indonesian Govt and law enforcment for doing whatever is neccasary to stop people trafficking drugs in their country..
Do the crime, do the time..
Why do they think it is illegal to carry these drugs into and out of other peoples’ countries.. they knew EXACTLY what they were doing and deserve everything they get.. no sympathy for drug dealers (especially heroin).. If you want to do these things.. do it in your own country!!!
Bali is a beautiful place full of beautiful people.. they dont deserve these horrible people using their country for dealing/trafficking drugs that kill..
Thats my 2 cents worth..
matt
couldn’t agree more..wish they weren’t australian
and when u think about it the indonesian govt did us the favour..don’t need that sh!t here..and I’m not just talking about the drugs
The situation is complex. You people do not know the whole truth just as I don’t. You read what is printed and cannot think for yourselves. yes, I believe these people where caught carrying drugs, but we do not know of the actual events that led them to do be so stupid. surely they don’t deserve death. Forgiveness and reform and a reasonable jail term and/or a huge fine should be enough.
We should not turn our backs completely on those that are facing death as a punishment. It is not just about the criminal, it is about the act of killing people. It serves no purpose. They are as much a victim as a criminal.
If I am stopped by police because they know I am on my way to kill someone, should I be tried for murder?????
Let’s suppose one of your family gets caught up in this drug muling thing. Would you be happy to send them to death???????????????
It is so easy to say they get what they deserve and then walk away. You don’t see the bodies. You don’t see the terror and finally, you don’t pull the trigger. You are happy for others to do the dirty work.
John Howard and Alexander Downer etc can say what they want, whether they believe it or not, but it should be business as usual.
Many of us will have mixed feelings over various aspects of this case, but we cannot legitimately try to interfere in the legal affairs of another country.
Individuals have the right to a private boycott of Bali and/or Indonesian products if that’s what they want to do, but I believe that most of us will still be happy to holiday in Bali.
And if this case helps to convince other young people that the illegal drug trade isn’t worth the risks, then some good will have come of it.