Schapelle Corby case affecting Bali tourism

As there are no transcripts available apparently it is hard to know what is going on. People in Australia have the feeling that she is innocent because of her reaction to the events. Either she is Merryl Streep in the making or she was set-up by somebody. Also there are serious misgivings about the way the case has been handled. No fingerprinting was done of the bag within the bag, which is how the drugs were wrapped. People consider that overall the process is not fair; as well as the nonsense of putting pot in the same category as heroin. Logically this will effect attitudes to Indonesia and level of desire to visit Bali. To what extent remains unclear, probably the memory will soon fade; in contrast to threats to their own safety which still exist and which DFAT highlights. Call it emotion or call it logic -end result on tourism is a negative.

Logic and emotion both have thier place - neither is “better” than the other. Most of the good that has taken place in this world is as a result of the emotion compassion, and thats what I see coming out in the Australian people regarding Schappelle. Each of us knows that it could have been ourselves or a member of our family/ friends, and we all believe that there is enough ‘reasonable doubt’ (which is how we culturally assess guilt) to let the poor girl go home.
I support the boycott of Bali because it is direct action that we can take to voice our collective unhappiness at what we see unfolding. Our Government for a variety of reasons (that we don’t really understand), has delayed its response and sat on the fence in this issue that touches all of our hearts in different ways. We want our concerns felt, and boycotting is the most logical way to do that. A young woman is alone in a foreign prison, and there is a high possibility that she is innocent. We are allowed to be emotional about that. Our actions are logical.

You are a FOOL for continuing to support travel and tourism in Bali. The Indonesians see us as FOOLS - wake up and smell the coffee - so to say! Keep travelling there if you like and perhaps I will be petitioning for your release. Anything witrh half a brain cannot believe anyone would take Marijuana TO Indonesia. I will NEVER travel there again, even if only for a stop-over, I would rather spend $1000’s of dollars guarnateeing a flight did not go through there, and I will convince anyone I know to do the same -despite the plight of the Bali people who depend on tourism - I used to feel for the lovely souls and now I couldn’t give a stuff! Their government can look after them, like we will try for OUR people!. SO much for an inter national worlddd. The Indonesians have put an end to that more so than the Afganistans…

You are a FOOL for continuing to support travel and tourism in Bali. The Indonesians see us as FOOLS - wake up and smell the coffee - so to say! Keep travelling there if you like and perhaps I will be petitioning for your release. Anything witrh half a brain cannot believe anyone would take Marijuana TO Indonesia. I will NEVER travel there again, even if only for a stop-over, I would rather spend $1000’s of dollars guarnateeing a flight did not go through there, and I will convince anyone I know to do the same -despite the plight of the Bali people who depend on tourism - I used to feel for the lovely souls and now I couldn’t give a stuff! Their government can look after them, like we will try for OUR people!. SO much for an inter national world. The Indonesians have put an end to that more so than the Afganistans…

I cannot wiat to get back to Bali…
I am hoping to have a few spare seats so my family & I can spread out!
I have herad from a number of people that they are not going to go back at the moment, for me well I have no fear whatsoever..
I do not plan to pack drugs in my luggage or my families, I am going direct, so I am not at all concerned!
I have discussed thoughts of people here in OZ that say they are “scared to travel there!”
Basically I see it that the Indo/Balinese system is their systerm noone can deny there were drugs in her bag, no matter ho0w they got there, they were found upon arrival in Bali… If someone else set her up or they were planted from a babgage handler etc, then they were still there & so the Balinese system is trying to determine how, why, where!!! etc…
I hope she is sent home etc, but I will be going back… Our Govt have taken so long to do something, they are the ones you should all be angered at!!!!

This case has attracted debate not unlike Lindy Chamberlain/Dingo/Baby dabate that has been the subject of Aust. dinner table discussion since 1980. Did she do it? As Nick says, all the Indo authorities have done is catch someone with 4 kilos of dope, which as we all know is against the law. They have to go through the process that happens when a law is broken in any country in the world. Kerobokan jail has more than one foreign inmate caught bringing drugs into Bali. (Nick may be able to find out how many?). They can only pass judgment on the evidence that is presented before them. The AFP have arrested a number of baggage
handlers at Aust. airports last week and have around 25 under investigation. This relates to importation of cocaine from South America over a number of months(years?). Some of these drugs arrived in Aust. the day Corby left for Bali. The AFP could not comment on whether or not they knew of the problem with baggage handlers up until now as the investigation was ongoing. For them to publically or otherwise say ‘Oh yeah we know baggage handlers are aiding the importation of drugs via airports and we plan to make some arrests next Thursday at about 2pm’, to support one persons claims, would obviously allow a much bigger fish off the hook. Now that arrests have been made, the Aust. govt. has sent a letter to her defence team acknowledging that the AFP had been pursuing baggage handlers, but not directly relating to her case, or the claims that there is domestic drug transfer between Aust. airports.
As an officer of the law Mick Keelty cannot comment on whether this relates to her case directly and say, therefore, she is innocent, because they have no evidence to support this. These arrests do, however, support defence claims and put serious doubt into the possiblitiy of her guilt. With this info and as Jonathon mentioned, “serious misgivings” and flawed processing of evidence associated with the case, it looks heavily weighted in Corby’s favour. If she is innocent lets hope they catch the #$@%wits and through our prisoner exchange program we have with Indonesia, send them to Kerobokan for their life sentence.
The crime was afterall, discovered on Indonesian soil.

I find it interesting how everyone jumps on the lets boycott bali bandwagon and forgets about the fact illegal drugs were found in this girls possession. What would people prefer the indonesian government do, wave her off with a warning just because she’s australian? Any traveller knows when you enter a foreign country you are bound to the laws of that country. Yes it could happen to anyone, ANYWHERE. Schappelle Corby has been charged with a crime and has been given a trial to determine her guilt or innocence. That is alot more than David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib got from the Americans. Lets not forget they were both held indefinately by the USA - WITHOUT CHARGE. We don’t hear about a boycott of the USA do we?

I have been following the case of S. Corby with a great deal of interest & have found there is to much that doesn’t add up from both ends here in Oz & in Bali. There seems to be a lack of investigation & to much edvidence or lack of it leads me to think there is a conspiracy in this case. Some edvidence has not been allowed to be entered by the judges. Speaking of judges I have just learnt that the senior judge has presided over more than 500 drug related cases & guess what they were all guilty am i missing something here not one person found NOT GUILTY.It seems to me that the prosecution must be the best in the world when it comes to foreigners & not so good when it comes to their own such as Abu Baka Bashir responsible for the deaths of 202 people take the sentence he received do I need to say more. I believe that S. Corby is innocent & that will eventually come out in the wash. On the point of boycotting Bali I urge people not to adopt this attitude don’t forget it is not the Balinese people that are responsible think back to the good times you had & how well you were looked after by those people. If you decide not to come to Bali anymore the Balinese people will suffer it is not them that are the problem. You will find that we are a highly disliked country by the radical Muslim population & it is them that will rub their hands together if we stop going to Bali.If you wish to boycott, boycott all things Indonesian but not Balinese. protest through avenues such as this & let the Indonesian government know how much corruption there is in their country.I think you will find corruption everywhere including here in Oz on a large scale,If you travel use common sense to prevent this situation happening to you. I will be traveling to Bali in June for a holiday & again in October WHY because I love the place & its people. May Justice & honesty prevail.

Close your eyes.
Think if you’re travelling to Bali.
Someone managed to stick some drugs in your bag.
You didn’t do it and are INNOCENT.
You’re sentenced to 20 years in prison because the Indonesian court system REFUSED to consider anything before you entered the country.
Think hard, real hard — it’s you and it’s happening to you.
Now, open your eyes.
Go ahead and pack your bags to Bali.

Whether guilty or not, (I beleive she may be innocent), but to go to a country and be charged on the “YOU ARE GUILTY AND YOU HAVE TO PROVE YOU ARE INNOCENT” court system, and you try to prove your innocence only to have it rule as inadmissable WTF. She will never be found innocent because their court system will not accept fault that they were wrong even if evidence or a conviction in Australia found a baggage handler who was the one for the plant of the drugs.
As what Jack L had mentioned I find that the placement of drugs in my baggage without my knowledge is completely plausible, and I do never wish to be charged for a crime I did not commit with no way to defend myself.
Sorry Bali — No more will I go –

I will not be travelling to Bali. To be quite frank I believe the conspiracy theory over the smuggling theory. The fact that ALL drug trials of the presiding judge have ended in a guilty verdict and that NONE of the defense witnesses were taken into account does not endear me to the system. I would not risk travelling there for fear of the same thing happening to me.

Next time there’s a tsunami, and there will be, I wonder what affect this will have on people willing to give? After watching videos of a town mayor washing the inside of his house with the only potable water around while people suffered from thirst does not bode well for the character of the people in charge.

No, this case has changed my views and whether it is logic or emotion that guides my decision it is self-preservation that ultimately sways me.

Have all the steps to S. Corby’s case been looked into. Can fingerprints be taken off the bag of drugs, if S. Croby’s are not on the bag then she couldn’t have put the bag in the boogie case. Maybe if the prints matched some baggage handler in Sydney or Brisbane then S. Corby could be found innocent. Bali’s justice system is not fair to foreigners and foreigners should not visit in protest of this injustice.

I support a total boycott of things Indonesian PARTICULARLY because it will put pressure on the general tourist geared/dependant population. Why ? Because it is these people who need to get off their butts, rise up, and get their legal and governmental systems brought up to a civilised, accountable and far less corrupt level. They aren’t going to do that if they are still getting their foreign dollar. Cut them off from all tourist dollars and aid and see how quickly they deal with the corrupt authorities who have ruined it for them. You’re only going to see people power in action if they are suitably motivated, and they aren’t going to be motivated while they are still collecting out money.

regarDS

“That is alot more than David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib got from the Americans. Lets not forget they were both held indefinately by the USA - WITHOUT CHARGE. We don’t hear about a boycott of the USA do we?”

Posted by: Kate on May 17, 2005 06:52 PM

Schapelle Corby did not pose for photos with a bag of MJ as Hicks did with an RPG. She also, I believe, had the means to travel to Bali, not like Habib who was on some sort of pension and could yet afford trips to Pakistan.

IMHO, Schapelle Corby is innocent. Give Bali the flick.

Of course people are driven by emotion. It�s so easy to be unattached when it is not you or your loved one having to prove their innocence when the law has you guilty first. If the Indonesians want foreign tourists to be driven by logic then why wasn�t the bag containing the drug fingerprinted? I do think that the Schapelle Corby Defense Team, should have focused more on what the prosecution had to offer and fought more along those lines. It is a different system over there and in reality all tourists are a target because you are a foreigner there is less likelihood of any sympathy coming from within the country and the onus is upon you to prove your case. Yes, the system, the culture of the people are different but if we think we�re any bloody better than they are we should think again but in reality and for the sake of justice the system we have here is much better and that I can say without a doubt even though it isn�t without its problems. You have to ask yourself the question. If drugs were found in your baggage without your knowledge of them being there or how they got there, what country would you prefer to be visiting at the time? I say give Bali the flick and any country that has its citizens and tourists guilty first.

May The Judges Never Sleep in Peace!
To be tried before a court where all three judges have a 100% record of convicting those accused of drug crimes, is not trial at all. Whether these judges looked objectively at all evidence before committing Schapelle does not matter. Their mind was made up before the trial started. They had committed her. It was just a matter of how much they might reduce the sentence because she has been a model prisoner.

Australians should make the Balinese aware of the deficencies of their court system. This may mean bringing the international courts into the action to criticize the Indonesian system or involvement of Amnesty International.

It might also mean boycotting all trade with Indonesia and getting people of other countries to do the same.

Schapelle Corby is a victim of circumstances not of her doing. She deserved a fair trial and look at what she got… Three judges with a 100% conviction rate, making the trial a farce. Surely Indonesia can do better than this with their judicial system. Every judge in Indonesia cannot be a ‘hanging judge’.

My money is that in the short term Aussies will stay away in droves until they realise the initial problem was in Australia. Poor investigations by the AFP. Poor handling of the matter by Mick Keelty. Poor handling of support from the government. Really lousy support from QANTAS. Nothing happenned until the populace got angry. Let that anger continue! Keep up the pressure and Keep out of Bali.

I will NEVER foot place in Indonesia again

Corby’s sentence is disgusting!!!! The procecution’s case cannot be proved beyond reasonable doubt.

The Indonesain Judicial system is a disgrace. The Bali bombers got a slap on the wrist but then Corby gets the life sentance. I think this is racism. The Indonesians are sypathetic to Muslim extremists who do terrible things, even to their own people!

I personally resolve to start a movement to BAN BAlI TRAVEL. It is clear Westerners are not welcome there, so why should Indoneasians prosper on tourism from us!!! We hand out millions and helped you when the tsunami hit but then you kick us in teeth like this!!! you have no manners…..

You can keep your 3rd world country, hopeless legal system and next time a disaster hit we’ll just care about ourselves!!!

Stick your country!!!

-Tyron Bats
Brisbane
Australia

I agree it was a completly illogical trial, with at best circumstancial evedince, based on the fact that she can’t prove beyond reasonable coubt that it wasn’t her, so this is tantamount to her guilt. Ridiculous, wouldn’t it be idealistic to have international law?
Remember all the media does not help this, The obviously unbaised judges have seen it as an opportunity to “set an example”
But i do not think rebelling against Bali will solve anything, read the papers, 90% of the $$ is in posession of 10% of the population. Money is power. The poor who can’t afford to even voice their oppinion should not have to suffer. Go, bring 4kg of icing sugar in your bags by all means. Stay away from the Indonesain hotels in Bali, in fact stay with the local people pay them and they wouldn’t object, they are very hospitable.
Tact is needed from Australian’s not immaturity, as much as we want “revenge” there are better ways of going about it than cancelling a wonderfully relaxing holiday.
Hey who knows maybe some of the Bali bombers mates will blow up the jail kill a few guards and Schapelle can escape…

A MESSAGE TO ALL BALINESE TOURIST AGENTS AND GOVERNMENTS WITHIN INDONESIA:

Canadians such as myself, will not be planning any vacations or travel destinations to your country as a direct and severe backlash to your justice system’s verdict that was handed down to Schapelle Corby.

There was an absolutely disgusting travisty of justice meted to Schapelle Corby, and so World Opinion will have a voice in expressing outrage. The inevitable rippling effect of economic influence will begin unless true justice is granted to this innocent young life. Economic decision has already begun in my home ; Where else has it begun as well else where in the world? Heated emotion is a natural human feeling. For those of us who are in touch with our humanity will follow through with the logic of our feelings. Our actions reflect what we feel is right and just, according to how our emotions guide us. Thus, it is reasonable and logical to expect that WorldWide our emotions will affect our behaviours and feelings toward Bali and Indonesia.

Officials and Justices of Bali, take note of our support of this innocent individual. Karmic and judicial balance will be evident sooner or later.

Tri C. ,
And The People of Canada

Good Words Tri C…

I’m in USA (Alabama) and had not heard of case involving Ms. S. Corby until this week. It certainly appears a grave injustice has been done. From everything I’ve read she is a wonderful young woman with no prior problems with illegal activity. In a REAL court, with a REAL (fair) judicial system, the prosecution would have had NO chance. I hope other governments will put diplomatic, economic or whatever other pressure necessary on this joke of a government/court to get this young lady FREE!
Michael Muse
ib4msu@yahoo.com

Schapelle Corby is innocent . The ammount of pot in her boogie bag is worth around 47,000.00 dollars in Australia , its worth bugger all in Bali . My ex boss who has lived in Bali for the last 5 years and now lives in Australia said , everybody knows the pot goes out of bali and into Australia . The pot is cheaply available in the streets from the cheap crap to the best quality laced with whatever you want . Also , all her luggage weight tags were missing and video tapes at Brisbane airport were not available . I have been following this story from day one and have watched as many interviews and news reports as possible , the reason why . Schapelle Corby looks like my daughter Lisa who was planning a trip to Bali at around the same time , this could of happened to my daughter . I will not support any products from Indonesia , i will not support Quantas because of their enept investigation in this matter , the Australian Government should immediately withdraw all financial aid to Indonesia and a trade embargo should be implemented . Remember Abu Bakar Bashir , do you remeber Amrozi , i rest my case .

Sally Pulls’ comments (May 15, above) are spot on … why would anyone try to smuggle pot FROM Oz (where it is more expensive) TO Bali (where it is much cheaper)? Ergo, no motive for the offence as charged.

Just as there is NO DOUBT that the Bali-9 are guilty, there are LOTS of doubts about Corby’s guilt. If in doubt, ACQUIT!

Any right thinking Western person will hesitate to travel to Indonesia where the judicial system puts the onus of proving innocence on the accused, where the police is inefficient (e.g. no fingerprinting of the drugs in the Corby case) besides being notoriously corrupt. Thanks, I (and undoubtedly many others) will take my holidays somewhere else.

A segment on “60 Minutes recently” highlighted a case from several years ago when two people opened their luggage on arrival at their Bali hotel to find several kilos of marijuana. They were advised by officials at The Australian Embassy not to take it to the Indonesian authorities as those authorities would “lock them up and throw away the key.” Is it true that Mick Keelty obstructed this matter from an airing at Corby’s trial? What is wrong with this picture?! No fingerprints. No wieghts. No motive. No control over our baggage once it’s checked in. No cameras at Denpasar. No forensic evdence of guillt. No admission of powerful evidence from consular officials who could have given real support to Corby’s claims. No trust. No justice. No tourists. Try Corby in another country. Any country with a real justice system will do. Bali’s off my list of holiday destinations.

No Aid
No Trade
Until She’s Home

I will never go to Indonesia, and I hope that no other person from Europe, America, Australia, New Zealand,or Japan ever sets foot on their filthy soil. Spend your money in a frendly country. We should also pull out all charity and aid packages from Indonesia. I felt the Indonesian goverment was ungratefull of the US tsunami relief, But they sure like the money that came in. The only thing we can do for Shapelle Corby is support her, pray for her safe return and never give Indonesia a penny again. Hopefully your prime minister Howard can work out a deal to bring her back home. If not he should be looking for new work.

BALI is GOING DOWN !!!!!! FELLOW AUSTRALIANS….PLEASE DONT GO TO BALI…LET SEE THEIR ECONOMY ROT AWAY…MORE THAN IT ALREADY IS NOW !!!!!!!!!!

It’ll be a cold day in hell before I ever go to Bali. You’d have to be absolutely insane to even consider it !

You Judges haven’t settled down yet.
The fact is only a few people know for sure if Schapelle is innocent or guilty yet some of you have made judgement based on emotion of media coverage.
I am not a close friend, I am certainly not a drug dealing baggage handler, so how would I know?
It seems to me if she is innocent then it is an Aussie baggage handler that has given her 20 years, not an Indonesian justice system that is also used in parts of Europe eg.Holland,France.
Any court would have found her guilty on the evidence.
If she is innocent then we have a problem here at home in Australia. We had better be careful on domestic flights. The drugs would not have been destined for Bali surely??
The boycott of Bali is pure stupidity,it would make more sense to boycott Australia. The danger is here on our domestic flights.The real crime took place her in Australia.

I could think of nothing worse than spending 20 years in Kerobakan Jail esp. if I were innocent.I hope Schapelle will serve her time back in Australia if her appeals fail.The AFP have a responsibility to investigate to reveal the truth (or do they know?)
I will obviously be coming back to Bali, in 3 weeks actually, straight from Brisbane to Denpasar,not via Sydney.Can’t wait.
Bali is Paradise.
See you soon Nick
Richard

@ Nick & Richard,

You know it’s a funny thing Australia, as it is a country of individuals. Australians love Australia because we made it ourselves, for ourselves and for others who love freedom.

Bali is Indonesia. Indonesia is our hidden enemy, always has been. They hates us deep down because we are the infidels and have no right to live.

On that basis Bali is ‘money for jam’. Who really cares about what is right, just as long as the sex is cheap, the rooms are clean and the cops are corrupt.

You may not have realised it but when Australians are threatened and this Corby issue is about a clear threat to our freedoms. They go home. They don’t go to Bali but they go home or where ever they think is home.

Bali took Austrlain money freely when it was given for free and now that generosity is rewarded with an arrogant betrayal. Bali is Australia’s false friend and as when all liars are outed someone has to go. I believe it will be waivering tourist dollar.

Everyone here gave a dollar to help you stuff your pockets. NO MORE. I will join the boycott until Corby is released. Only then will I consider returning to your fatal shores.

@ Nick & Richard,

You know it’s a funny thing Australia, as it is a country of individuals. Australians love Australia because we made it ourselves, for ourselves and for others who love freedom.

Bali is Indonesia. Indonesia is our hidden enemy, always has been. They hates us deep down because we are the infidels and have no right to live.

On that basis Bali is ‘money for jam’. Who really cares about what is right, just as long as the sex is cheap, the rooms are clean and the cops are corrupt.

You may not have realised it but when Australians are threatened and this Corby issue is about a clear threat to our freedoms. They go home. They don’t go to Bali but they go home or where ever they think is home.

Bali took Austrlain money freely when it was given for free and now that generosity is rewarded with an arrogant betrayal. Bali is Australia’s false friend and as when all liars are outed someone has to go. I believe it will be waivering tourist dollar.

Everyone here gave a dollar to help you stuff your pockets. NO MORE. I will join the boycott until Corby is released. Only then will I consider returning to your fatal shores.

@ Nick & Richard,

You know it’s a funny thing Australia, as it is a country of individuals. Australians love Australia because we made it ourselves, for ourselves and for others who love freedom.

Bali is Indonesia. Indonesia is our hidden enemy, always has been. They hates us deep down because we are the infidels and have no right to live.

On that basis Bali is ‘money for jam’. Who really cares about what is right, just as long as the sex is cheap, the rooms are clean and the cops are corrupt.

You may not have realised it but when Australians are threatened and this Corby issue is about a clear threat to our freedoms. They go home. They don’t go to Bali but they go home or where ever they think is home.

Bali took Austrlain money freely when it was given for free and now that generosity is rewarded with an arrogant betrayal. Bali is Australia’s false friend and as when all liars are outed someone has to go. I believe it will be waivering tourist dollar.

Everyone here gave a dollar to help you stuff your pockets. NO MORE. I will join the boycott until Corby is released. Only then will I consider returning to your fatal shores.

@ Nick & Richard,

You know it’s a funny thing Australia, as it is a country of individuals. Australians love Australia because we made it ourselves, for ourselves and for others who love freedom.

Bali is Indonesia. Indonesia is our hidden enemy, always has been. They hates us deep down because we are the infidels and have no right to live.

On that basis Bali is ‘money for jam’. Who really cares about what is right, just as long as the sex is cheap, the rooms are clean and the cops are corrupt.

You may not have realised it but when Australians are threatened and this Corby issue is about a clear threat to our freedoms. They go home. They don’t go to Bali but they go home or where ever they think is home.

Bali took Austrlain money freely when it was given for free and now that generosity is rewarded with an arrogant betrayal. Bali is Australia’s false friend and as when all liars are outed someone has to go. I believe it will be waivering tourist dollar.

Everyone here gave a dollar to help you stuff your pockets. NO MORE. I will join the boycott until Corby is released. Only then will I consider returning to your fatal shores.

The unfair trial of Ms. Corby is not a reason to degrade all Balinese people. We can’t trust the “justice” system there. We can’t trust the “security systems” in our airports or in Denpasar. We’re disgusted at the zero weight given to the factors supporting Corby’s defence and the hefty weight given to the word of a Denpasar customs official, all in a place where corruption is rife. These things are not the fault of the Balinese people. It’s completely unjust to villify the whole country because of the actions of three judges. These are the situations that test a person’s real colours when it comes to their commitment to a Peace. Boycot. Don’t bag.

you talk in your editorial of 3 points;
3 others points;
1; schapelle luggage had not been video recorded..
2; schapelle luggage had not been weight…
3; schapelle luggage prints had been meissed up.
Schapelle paid $50 for airport security….
quantas airlines is guilty of negligence and responsable for what happen , and until it recognize it, should be boycotted by everybody,( AS WELL AS Indonesia ) as everybody can ended up like Schapelle…
I hope quantas reemboursed the price of the ticket to the family…
The last point is ; if it was YOU ,NICK.., WOULD YOU ACCEPT 20 YEARS IN HELL, to preserve the good relations between Indonesian and Australia ? or if you don’ t undestand…to not disturb the profit made in both side …by not very nice people ?
J-JACQUES

I WILL NEVER GO TO BALI AGAIN IN MY LIFE..ITS TOO SCARY AND STUPID..THOSE JUDGES ARE FAT AND STUPID AND DONT UNDERSTAND THAT THE POOR GIRL IS INNOCENT..TO THE JUDGES I HOPE YOU HAVE A SAD AND SORRY LIFE AND TO SCHAPELLE..BABE YOU’LL BE OUT SOON JUST HANG IN THERE…WE WILL GET YOU OUT!!!

Richard you have said it here ” It seems to me if she is innocent then it is an Aussie baggage handler that has given her 20 years, not an Indonesian justice system that is also used in parts of Europe eg.Holland,France.
Any court would have found her guilty on the evidence”

I find it alarming that australians are talking about not giving aid to regions wrecked by major national disasters as it goes to show yet again how egotistical and ethnocentric we are as a nation- that something that has happened to one person is somehow of equal value to an event that has affected hundreds of thousands.
Wether she is innocent or guilty is one issue that I am sure will continue to be debated but explain that to 80,000 orphans when there is no rice on the table!!

This whole Corby thing is definetly designed and executed to make people fight each other, anyone who logically observe the whole thing will definetly know that.

The same goes for the Bali bomb, the Australian Embassy bomb, Timor Leste’s ‘liberation’, Iraq’s ‘liberation’, Indonesia’s ‘liberation’, the Guantanomo Bay incident, and so on.

This sort of thing is capable of making some people fight each other due that some people seems to be ignorant on some things and don’t realize that the people who are currently in controls of the Indonesian government are the same ones who are currently in controls of the Australian government and other ‘official’ governments in the world.

These same people also controls mass media around the world, big tourist companies, big airline companies, human rights organizations, ‘terror’ organisation, anti-’terror’ organisation, drug makers, anti-drugs organizations, and so on.

If you follow ‘their’ words, sure you wouldn’t find any connection between all of ‘their’ ‘proxies’. However if you use your own instinct (and not the instinct ‘they’ installed on you), you will know that all of them obeyed the same master and all of them are just mere ‘proxies’.

Personally, I don’t care on whether Corby is innocent or guilty. That’s none of my business or problem.

It’s her business, it’s her problem, it’s also the business and problem the people associated with the whole thing (the baggage handlers, the airports, the airline companies, the courts, and so on).

Ask yourself, if this isn’t your business or problem, why should you be all concern about it?

The problem with the world today might not be people not caring about other people, but instead more about people messing around with things that aren’t their business in the first place.

Now… What about this so called drug problems?

Easy, decriminalize drug making, dealing, and trafficking. That would have eliminate this whole thing. Interestingly, it’s only after the ‘reformation’ that Indonesia’s drug laws become stricter.

Perharps Corby should have made a plea to the former President Suharto to bail her out? Assuming that she don’t want to be proven guilty or serve time, maybe she was threatened to ‘accept’ the verdict guily to save her family back home from suffering (maybe someone back home have a case against her family?), or maybe coming back home and living back home would be a more scarrier experiences (Indonesia is where many people escaped to when they’re in trouble, not the other way around), or maybe she think can make more money by playing the innocent victim, and so on.

It would have been much better to make a plea at Suharto than to make a plea at Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who is only a mere weak stooge like George Walker Bush, John Howard, Tony Blair, and so on.

As for what happened if there’s a boycott Indonesia and/or Bali.

Australia got lots more to lose than Indonesia should things gone for the worse. Sure both countries are capable of living on their own, especially Indonesia with lots of natural resources and people (Indonesia don’t need tourism or even foreign debts… er, I mean ‘aids’, those things are usually force feed by foreign parties), but Australia would have their routes severly disconnected.

I don’t know on why some Australians gone nutty of the whole boycott thing, either for this one or another or another or another.

Are some of them trying to make people fight each other? Or are some of them aren’t actually Australians and/or have any loyalty toward Australia and therefore are trying to make Australia lose a lot? Or some of them lack common sense? Or are some of them are just plain on too much drugs and/or alcohols?

For many years I have understood the blatant corruption that goes on in Bali at all levels of govt administration. Be they urban myths or reality we heard stories of Australians buying drugs and paying “fines” to officals to secure their release only to see the same dealer try the same scam on some other unsuspecting tourist in search of a good time. The press in Australia presents Schapelle Corby as a victim. A traveller in Bali at the time or her arrest says that the press there covered stories of her saying it was just cabage and therefore her guilt was assumed. The truth is in such as corrupt environment how can we know.
The Australia Govt puts the intrests of the overall policical climate over the intereest of one of its citizens.
In the end can I ever risk returning to Bali. A place and people soo beautiful yet such fundamental corruption and where the dollar is king.
Fiji may not be as great, Malaysia may be not a beautiful but as a traveller I feel better about going anywhere but Bali.

This case is fairly new to me, but I feel sure our government will be quiet, but support the people making their voice known through the tourism industry.

Regardless of guilt, this girl’s trial was a insult to any form of justice, and a clear bias of the increasing desire to throw all the support from the Tsunami relief back in our faces in the name of faith without remorse, mercy, or compassion in it’s heart.

I firmy believe this case will be the camel’s straw in a world that is fed up with tyrannical governments that trample people underfoot with their arrogance and small thinking.

I say BURY BALI economically and let freedom take hold there as it is elsewhere. We in the truly free nations cannot hypocritically stand by and let such governments continue if we are to look in the mirror and leave this place to our grandchildren.

I applaud the Australians and pray they are relentless in their pursuit to support justice.

Rick-United States of America

Australians have always been on the side of the ‘battler’ The Tsunami support has demonstrated our overwhelming generosity and belief that the world is still a good place to live in, despite hardship and adversity. What has happened in Bali has now changed all understanding. Indonesia is to be pitied,if anything. Look at what they will now miss out on! The judiciary system which dates back to the harsh Dutch System, will now be held accountable for the livelihood of so many people who depend upon our money in order to exist. What a sad situation! Indonesia, wake up to yourself!!!! Are there any educated people amongst you, who can understand what is going to happen as a result of your ignorance?????? For God’s sake, free that poor innocent woman before many lives suffer more. I don’t know how to say this in a Muslim way, but surely Allah would also not be impressed with his flock in Indonesia at the moment!

Yeah Amanda, you’re right, you can go to Malaysia with 4 kg weed, and you won’t have a chance to live in no time, they’ll hung you.

jack smith

Just a note… the bali bombers Amrozy and friends mostly got the death penalty.. more than a slap on the wrist actually. Basyir was not sentenced for the Bali Bombing, he was sentenced for immigration violations. They suspect he was connected to the bali bombers, at least ’spiritually’ for example as a muse or an ‘inspiration’ but his involvement has yet to be proven. Maybe more people should learn the facts before jumping on the band wagon… how many Australians keep saying the ‘justtice system in Bali’ as if they don’t even realize that Bali is part of Indonesia and is subject to the Indonesian laws… not Balinese laws. The Balinese say Amrozy should just be let out of Kerobokan Jail…. ‘yeah just let him out on the street” He wouldn’t last 5 minutes, cause they would kill him immediately! Check your facts people!

In light of Corby, how could anyone even think to traveling to Bali.
What is so special about Bali that makes it the clear choice for my vacation?
I say no to “Shang highed in Bali hai”
That works for me!!!

Frank,
you dont have to come to Bali if you dont like. It’s your own business. Just don’t insult them.

I say let the punishment fit the crime.I can understand why importation and distribution of Heroin is a Capital crime. (Not in the land of OZ thankfully)It is LETHAL. However Marijuana has NO KNOWN LETHAL dose.To lump these two drugs together is ignorant I don’t care what country you are in.Not differentiating between drugs is a point of law the Indonesians need to look at.
This Corby case has simply shown everyone concerned the differences in our cultures. The truth is Australians smoke pot.
Indonesians smoke pot.It is illegal in both countries, it’s just that the laws are SOOOOO different, attitudes are different, public opinion is different.I don’t know if Schapelle is guilty or not ,makes no difference, it’s simply that Indonesians have harsher laws that don’t make sense in realistic terms from an Australian point of view. This may never change.As for the poor Balinese, I feel sorry for them. They will be financially punished for Indonesian laws they have no power to change.

BOYCOTT BALI?

Well in 2004 Indonesian students in Australia are about 20.000 students.

According to Melbourne Univ, standard cost of living of international student per month is: (in AU$ excluding travel allowance, visa, college fee, etc.)
- living allowance: $250
- lodging : $1000
- meals : $400
- insurance : $30
- books and supplies: $50
- person. expenses: $200
- local transport: $60
- tuition fee : $2000
So it makes:
AU$ 3740 per MONTH/student.

And total per YEAR for 20.000 students:
almost AU$ 1 billion per YEAR.

I must remind you that international students must pay more than locals for tuition fee.

If Australians boycott Bali, so Indonesians will react and are afraid to go to Australia for a bad treatment possibility there. The worst, Indonesians will boycott Australia also and not to send their children there. So, who’s gonna lose from this boycott competition? BOTH. Boycotting each other is not necessary and I consider it fool. We need each other, didn’t Adam Smith and David Ricardo tell you about that longtime ago?

Annie, as it has been mentioned by my fellow Indonesian here, Wisnu, that we must consider the situation. Indonesia is considerably poor country, far different from Australia. There’re not many rehabilitation center for drugs addicted. Even though marijuana cannot kill people, can you imagine what happens if a poor Indonesian addicted by it? Ok, I let you know: this poor people will be addicted. And since he couldn’t afford financially to support this habit, he turns to be a criminal. He can be become a thief, drugs dealer, robber, etc. Who lose him? Not only the family, but also the society in general. Government drugs rehabilitation center? Oohh don’t mind it, better to feed tsunami victims than those stupids. Please look at the context, most of us consider drugs is more dangerous than killer. You kill people, one goes to heaven. You give drugs to people, many will be lost. misery the whole life. Why? Because we’re poor.

I for one will never travel to a country where your life is taken away for possessing a sack of dried leaves while leaders of organizations responsible for many deaths go free.

Seems a bit harsh to me, but it’s their country. As for me I’ll stay out of it.

… Somewhere in the U.S.A.

Australians are getting sick and tired of dealing with foriegn cultures disregarding our good and compassionate natures to only help those foreign cultures in life threatening situations.

To make change peaceful but persistant pressure can be the best way to make change, the damage to the balinese tourist industry is already done. This is peacefull protest and fair.

Until balinese people of high office can understand love and compassion and not their own bankbooks, Australians will not have anything to do with balinese people, we will not harm them, or actually let any harm come to innocent citizens. But all Australians have developed a good sense of honesty because of a good honest culture here in Australia.

Balinese people should consider this particularly those calling for scapelles death outside our embassy in jakarta.

They should not prey upon our good will.

an honest australian citizen

All this talk about fingerprints on bags, hasn’t anyone ever heard of gloves, I believe they are used to mask fingerprints. I was once busted here in Aus for possesion of quite a bit of pot, some of it was in bags and guess what the Aus police did not dust the bags for prints. One copper actually told me they only get the forensic boy’s out of the office for murder case’s. I am also a surfer are you trying to tell me that a surfer could pick his bag up and not realise it had gained 4 kg in wieght. Every surfer I know checks his gear as soon as he gets it to make sure the baggage handlers have not broken anything. She is not a surfer. Where else has she surfed? Ask her about the winds needed to produce a good wave at her local surf break, I bet she dosn’t have a clue. She is not a surfer. Oh yeah do the math 4 kg of pot at 20 dollars a gram, these are Aus prices, sold to Aus backpackers in Bali is 80,000 dollars Aus. Now that does make for a nice holiday for a beauty school student. I repeat she is not a surfer. Baggage handlers running pot through airport security you must be joking, most growers I know put it in the boot of a car and drive it and guess what they get away with it every time, do you know why because they don’t have to go through security checks or walk past cameras and when was the last time you ever got pulled over in your car if you were not breaking a road rule. I must admit that smuggling it through airports sounds like amuch safer option…not!

Netmoth,

Look who?s talking, someone from a country where detaining someone like David Hicks, an Australian, indefinitely WITHOUT CHARGE since more than 3 years in your five star Guantanamo Bay Hotel with its mistreatment of their prisoners, and he said he?ll stay out of it?.?!! Well well, on top of it in Guantanamo they don?t give their prisoners even the right to a trial nor the benefit of being able to cry and plead their case on TV?..

Now I understand what you really mean about justice? Such a treatment is acceptable in your country but not acceptable in other countries right?. Sounds cool?

Netmoth,

Look who�s talking, someone from a country where detaining someone like David Hicks, an Australian, indefinitely WITHOUT CHARGE since more than 3 years in your five star Guantanamo Bay Hotel with its mistreatment of their prisoners, and he said he�ll stay out of it�.?!! Well well, on top of it in Guantanamo they don�t give their prisoners even the right to a trial nor the benefit of being able to cry and plead their case on TV�..

Now I understand what you really mean about justice� Such a treatment is acceptable in your country but not acceptable in other countries right�. Sounds cool�

News flash she is guilty as charged.
do your research her father who may or may not of packed her bag, the story changes every time the media talks to a corby, has got a record in Aus for guess what growing and selling pot. Where does this family get their money. He took a compensation pay out from a mine for the old classic, back pain. The good old honest Corbies. Has this chick ever actually had a real job? All the media can say is that she is a former beauty school student. So everybody, jump on the I feel sorry for a drug pusher band wagon and lets take it out on the Indo people for having the courage to convict a DRUG DEALER against a strong media campaign of racist behavior. If you think that girl is innocent you are too stupid to be let loose on the world stay home and the corbies can make you feel all nice and fuzzy inside. They are an embarrassment to Australians who have a brain.

Oh yeah forgot to mention that I did love her little fainting fit in the court. It reminded me of a celebrity court case going on at the moment in the USA. I can’t come to court at the moment I�ve got a sore back say’s the king of pop and there is no way I would fiddle with little boy’s. I am not a freak I am the king of pop. Corby has been treated fairly and with lenience but maybe we should let her go so she can sell drugs to your children.

John, you are so honest to the extent that you close your eyes to the reality such as the act of terrorism to the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra prior to the event happening OUTSIDE Australian Embassy in Jakarta. And this act of terrorism has been repeated again yesterday. None of this is acceptable or civilized behavior and the responsibility and blame for this hysteria lies solely with the corrupt Australian media who have created an American-style, (”Survivor”-type) reality television drama out of the Schapelle Corby incident.

This has been done because it is good for television ratings and it sells newspapers. It will also make for good sales of the numerous books that will no doubt be written about all of this.

As far as the damage concern for Bali, there are never as many tourists as now for this time of period including Australians. But of course those are decent tourists with brains and obviously different market. So please don’t ever stop boycotting as number of tourists keep on increasing to Bali. In the meantime keep on to be honest..

john or should I say DICK, your words “Australians are getting sick and tired of dealing with foriegn cultures disregarding our good and compassionate natures” tell that to the original people of Aus the Aboriginies.

hey netmoth
how many bags of dried leaves do you know that are worth 80,000 dollars. I see in your fabulous country the USA, people shooting and killing each other over much less sums of money, get it into perspective it wasn’t a couple of cool dudes man, smoking a spliff after a good day in the surf it is organized crime that is interested in making the all mighty dollar, to quote a yank.

this schappalle case is the biggest load of cr*p

Apart from the principle of the matter, and the fact that I feel so badly for Schappelle, I wouldn’t travel to Bali simply because the same thing could happen to me or anyone, and I guess this play’s a big part in people choosing not to go there.

Yes you are right Rochelle, it can happen to you if you’re trying to smuggle drugs into Bali or anywhere else. If you believe it is the airport baggage handlers’ fault, then don’t travel anywhere and don’t even think about taking any plane out of Australia. So stay at home and don’t forget to lock all doors & windows, surely you’ll have a much better and saver holiday.

Tom makes a point. I’m not sure what it is, though!

The real issue that I and people like Rochelle are so concerned about is simply human rights.

Is Schapelle Corby (or any of the other thousands who didn’t get their stories into the paper) guilty or innocent? The plain fact is that we don’t know. What we do know is that every one of them deserves a fair and decent trial. In this case, it did not happen, which throws doubt on all the other cases as well. This particular court decided that what mattered in the trial was only what happened at Denpassar, and that all other evidence was extraneous. It did not seem to matter that evidence of a previous incident, which was officially recorded and confirmed by the Australian Consulate had come to light: that was not admissable. The overall impression was that if something helped the prosecution, it was admissable, but not otherwise.

In an Australian court, under the same circumstances, the court would not have been able to return a guilty verdict, even if they had wanted to. This is because the court would have had to examine all the evidence, regardless of its origin, and if any of that evidence cast doubt on the guilt of the accused, then a not-guilty verdict would have to be returned, regardless of the feelings of the prosecution. The law in Bali is the same: innocent unless proven guilty. Not the other way around as some people seem to think. The court also has to take into account all evidence presented. There is some leeway for the court to decide that a particular piece of evidence is not admissable, for a good reason, such as it having being gathered illegally or immorally. It seems that this court went a little beyond it’s powers in this area. I say this, though, as my opinion, not fact, as Bali law gives the judge far more discretion in this area than Australian law.

When the verdict was handed down and sentence pronounced, the prosecution wanted to appeal because the sentence was too light. Only when it became apparent just how wide-spread the backlash was and how much the tourist numbers dropped did the government decide that the case would be re-tried. Would this have happened if the Bali Minister of Finance not felt the lightening of his wallet? I very much doubt it.

So, would you go to Bali? I wouldn’t. Not because I’m planning on carrying anything illegal - rather because of the possibility that the idiot trying to smuggle in his weekend supply of inner joy panics and drops it into my duty-free shopping bag without me noticing. In Australia, US, or UK, my denial of ownership and the lack of forensic evidence would probably mean my acquital or a slap on the wrist. In Bali, the simple fact that I admit owning the duty-free bag would be sufficient evidence for a death sentence.

You pays your money and you makes your choice, guvnor. I chooses to stay out of Bali!

Hum� I�ve been reading stuff from Corby�s case for so long, and I understand it is a sensitive matter to Australians. Also I�m glad she didn�t got the dead penalty, cause she could, couldn�t she?
But what I really want to say is that Indonesia is a developing country, with a very unique form of democracy, and a very unique legal system. Even in our own developed western countries justice is sometimes blind and terribly unjust.
So, was she framed?… Is she guilty?… I don�t know, and it doesn�t mean I don�t care, but I will not boycott Bali or any other part of Indonesia over it.
Regular Joe in Bali lives from tourism one way or the other, and I can assure you he didn�t framed Corby, so let�s not frame him!
But in the end, traveling to Indonesia will be a personal choice, Richard doesn�t want to go, and I honestly understand is fears� I just accept the risk, cause I believe they are minimal!
I just hope in a near future Indonesia will have a more clearly legal system.

Just for the record, I�m Portuguese, so, has every Portuguese strongly defended the East Timor cause for a long time. Even so I hold no resentment on Indonesians and am traveling to Bali in the end of the month. I�m very angry with General Wiranto and the militias, but the past is the past and we must learn to move on. The Indonesian people is not guilty of the occupation has it is not guilty of Corby�s incarceration.

Well, a big hug (we are hug persons here in Portugal) to Australia� another country I would loooove to travel to.

hello i am a year 12 student doing Stage 2 tourism. as a part of my final investigation, i am doign a report on how the Schapelle Corby case has affected tourism to Bali. i would be very much appreciated if you could send my your opinions on whether you think bali tourism has been affected by the case. any statistics or graphs would be agreta help too. if you would like to help me, (my report is due in three weeks and i am having trouble finding the right information) please email me on alarni.nunn@mghs.sa.edu.au

I won’t go to any country that can’t guarantee my safety and a fair trial. This case has shown that Bali has no concern for the treatment of tourist or citizens who aren’t given a fair trial or decent prison conditions. That has nothing personally to do with Bali or its people, but maybe by not traveling there, the government will be forced to deal with it’s corrupt and unfair policies. This will in turn help both tourists and citizens accused of a crime, and create a fairer Bali with prisons that don’t involve inhumane treatment and torture. I apply the same logic to counties like Aruba, Thailand, Singapore, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, etc. Personally the safety of myself, my family, and my friends is my number one concern. If that is a risk you are willing to take, that is your choice. I don’t see this as a boycott just common sense. There are beautiful beaches in safer countries - I’ll stick to them.

leave her alone shes cool

Hey there is something funny going on with this woman. She fraternizes with druggies, goes back and forth from Oz to Indo…slips dough to security, has relatives in the surfbrd game in Indo and still takes a surfbrd with her with drugs in it. While stirring the publics emotion with her impressive visual performance.

the brother did it you now????????????????????????

No, Ellee, it was the Flying Doctors who did it.

Schapelle Corby case affecting Bali tourism

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