Indonesian justice: firing squad for pot possession

Submitted by Bill Weinberg on Wed, 02/09/2005 - 23:49

Southeast Asia Theater

More ironic timing for Washington's push to restore military ties with Indonesia. With Condi Rice on the stump claiming Jakarta is cleaning up its nasty human rights situation, the DC-based Marijuana Policy Project sends us the following chilling story:

In Indonesia, a 27-year-old Australian woman is facing death by firing squad for allegedly bringing marijuana into the country.

On October 8, 2004, airport authorities found 4.2 kilograms of marijuana in Schapelle Leigh Corby's luggage. Corby says the marijuana was not hers, and her supporters suspect it was planted there. Local police acknowledge it is highly unusual for marijuana to be smuggled into Bali rather than out of it (as marijuana prices are much lower in Bali than in Australia).

If found guilty, Corby will be shot to death by a firing squad of 12 men. (Australian AP, Jan 17)

Then again, maybe the Bush boys view the gentle standards of Indonesian justice as model for domestic policy. MPP also reports that in Palm Beach, Florida, 15 high school students face up to 15 years in prison for selling small amounts of drugs--mostly marijuana--to undercover agents who befriended them. Some of the teens sold as little as $10 worth of marijuana. (Florida Sun-Sentinel, Jan. 29)

my opinion

Submitted by drakuli (not verified) on Wed, 06/08/2005 - 23:38

She got 20-year in jail. I think all drug dealers deserve death. I think the judge was too lean on her. As long she can't prove that someone put it in her bag, she is a drug dealer.