Australia foreshadows diplomatic action if Indonesia executes 'Bali 9' pair

[webfact]

Australia foreshadows diplomatic action if Indonesia executes 'Bali 9' pair
Matt Siegel
Reuters
SYDNEY

SYDNEY: -- Australia could recall its ambassador to Indonesia if Jakarta executes two Australian citizens convicted of drug trafficking, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Monday, further straining fragile relations between the two neighbours.

Brazil and the Netherlands withdrew their ambassadors from Indonesia, which has some of the strictest drug trafficking laws in the world, after two of their citizens were among six people executed for drugs offences at the weekend.

Australia has been seeking clemency for the two members of the so-called Bali Nine, who were arrested in 2005 on charges of smuggling heroin into Australia, but Bishop said Indonesia had not been receptive to its pleas.

Asked if Australia would follow Brazil and the Netherlands in withdrawing its ambassador from Jakarta if the executions of the two Bali Nine members went ahead, Bishop said she would not rule it out.

"I won’t ... speculate as to what would happen should the Indonesian government carry through its threat to execute Australians. What we will continue to do at this point is make representations where we can, how we can," she told Sky News.

Citizens from Vietnam, Nigeria and Malawi were also among the five foreigners and one Indonesian executed at the weekend.

It was not immediately clear when the executions of the Bali Nine members might take place, or when Indonesia might hold its next round of executions. Indonesia resumed executions in 2013after a five-year gap.

Australia and Indonesia have a long history of diplomatic tensions, which have periodically complicated cooperation on regional issues including people smuggling and intelligence.

Indonesia recalled its envoy and froze military and intelligence cooperation in 2013 after reports that Canberra had spied on top Indonesian officials, including former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s wife.

Full diplomatic cooperation was restored in May last year.

The case of the Bali Nine, who were found guilty of attempting to smuggle more than 8 kg of heroin, has enormous resonance as a domestic political issue in Australia.

Bali is a popular tourist destination for Australians, who are broadly opposed to the death penalty, especially in a case involving young people who are viewed to have made a tragic youthful mistake.

Sentences in the case ranged from 15 years’ jail to death.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/Australia-foreshadows-diplomatic-action-if-Indones-30252179.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-19

[SABloke]

Why? So next time someone commits a crime in Australia and the penalty is harsher than their own country's, that country will withdraw its ambassador?? Of course not!

[catmaninoz]

What penalty in Aus is harsher than the death penalty?

Edited January 19, 2015 by catmaninoz

[HyperRai]

Everybody have to follow the rules of the Country where he is travelling to. They knew the penalty.

[ExPratt]

The Aussies scored an own goal here , Instead of waiting for the people returning with the Heroin and arresting them in Australia (They were tipped off) they informed Indonesian authorities and they got nicked flying out of Indonesia

[catmaninoz]

Everybody have to follow the rules of the Country where he is travelling to. They knew the penalty.

And everybody deserves their government to try and save them from backwards third world shitholes like Indonesia.

They could have sent them home to serve sentences in their home countries.

Edited January 19, 2015 by catmaninoz

[cornishcarlos]

What penalty in Aus is harsher than the death penalty?

An hour with Rolf Harris ?

[Prbkk]

For 60 years Autralia has tried to accommodate Indonesia's every whim and fancy. Billions and billions in foreign aid for ZERO return. Time to tell them to FO and I for one hope that Julie Bishop does just that

[HyperRai]

Everybody have to follow the rules of the Country where he is travelling to. They knew the penalty.

And everybody deserves their government to try and save them from backwards third world shitholes like Indonesia.

They could have sent them home to serve sentences in their home countries.

No, if someone from ISIS beheading someone so called infidel somewhere he must be charged by the law of that country in which he did it, because it is a crime there. Even if it is legal in his home region.

Once again, everybody have to follow the rules of the country he is travelling to.

I think Indonesia is a country where different cultures and religions live peaceful together. Respect to them! No sights of sh.....

[bonobo]

Everybody have to follow the rules of the Country where he is travelling to. They knew the penalty.

And everybody deserves their government to try and save them from backwards third world shitholes like Indonesia.

They could have sent them home to serve sentences in their home countries.

No, if someone from ISIS beheading someone so called infidel somewhere he must be charged by the law of that country in which he did it, because it is a crime there. Even if it is legal in his home region.

Once again, everybody have to follow the rules of the country he is travelling to.

I think Indonesia is a country where different cultures and religions live peaceful together. Respect to them! No sights of sh.....

I am not sure if you really understand what ISIS is doing. In Iraq and Syria, it is not illegal to be a Shia, for example, or to be a member of the military, or a journalist, for that matter. When ISIS beheads them, there is no "charge of a crime." There is no trial. It is a summary execution.

And Australia, Brazil, and the other countries do not say that Indonesia does not have a legal right to execute anyone. They are saying they don't think capital punishment is civilized and want their citizens to be incarcerated elsewhere. Indonesia can say no, of course. But then Australia can pull their ambassador, as it their right.

[malcoml]

Everybody have to follow the rules of the Country where he is travelling to. They knew the penalty.

And everybody deserves their government to try and save them from backwards third world shitholes like Indonesia.

They could have sent them home to serve sentences in their home countries.

No, if someone from ISIS beheading someone so called infidel somewhere he must be charged by the law of that country in which he did it, because it is a crime there. Even if it is legal in his home region.

Once again, everybody have to follow the rules of the country he is travelling to.

I think Indonesia is a country where different cultures and religions live peaceful together. Respect to them! No sights of sh.....

No Hyperrai Indonesia is not a country where cultures live peacefully together.

They are a country where known terrorists have been trained.

It makes many Australian people sick on the stomach that our country has been tolerant and generous to these people when some people involved in the Bali bombings got of with what many considered a slap on the hand.

I for one would be happy if we cease trading with them completely.

[Chopperboy]

War on drugs what a joke... war on competition more like.

Currently the "illegal" drug trade is worth $1Tn a year - now tell me who can launder that sort of money?

[Chopperboy]

Everybody have to follow the rules of the Country where he is travelling to. They knew the penalty.

And everybody deserves their government to try and save them from backwards third world shitholes like Indonesia.

They could have sent them home to serve sentences in their home countries.

No, if someone from ISIS beheading someone so called infidel somewhere he must be charged by the law of that country in which he did it, because it is a crime there. Even if it is legal in his home region.

Once again, everybody have to follow the rules of the country he is travelling to.

I think Indonesia is a country where different cultures and religions live peaceful together. Respect to them! No sights of sh.....

No Hyperrai Indonesia is not a country where cultures live peacefully together.

They are a country where known terrorists have been trained.

It makes many Australian people sick on the stomach that our country has been tolerant and generous to these people when some people involved in the Bali bombings got of with what many considered a slap on the hand.

I for one would be happy if we cease trading with them completely.

Bali was one of these dialed down to 0.01Kt

[lvr181]

When in someone elses' country, obey their laws (whether you like them or not) or don't go there. So simple isn't it?

[Daniel Boon]

Julie bishop tweets ... but not about their imminent execution, tweets about lost earring ... also known for her comments about 'the unfairness of people dying of asbestos ,jumping the queue ...a cold hearted bitch

[aboctok]

What penalty in Aus is harsher than the death penalty?

An hour with Rolf Harris ?

Locked in Rolf's cell, watching endless re-runs of Hey Dad! You'll beg for a water-boarding.

[neverdie]

Everybody have to follow the rules of the Country where he is travelling to. They knew the penalty.

And everybody deserves their government to try and save them from backwards third world shitholes like Indonesia.

They could have sent them home to serve sentences in their home countries.

No. Why should Australian tax payers pay in excess of $50k AUD PER year per person to house the 9 fools. Bugger that.

Put a bullet in their heads. Good riddance.

[neverdie]

For 60 years Autralia has tried to accommodate Indonesia's every whim and fancy. Billions and billions in foreign aid for ZERO return. Time to tell them to FO and I for one hope that Julie Bishop does just that

Agreed. However lets at least tell them to FO for a worthy cause, not because of these cocky little smart arsed druggies and that's exactly what they were when they were caught, of course their tune has changed now.

Indo is a dung hole, get involved in drug transportation there and you deserve whatever they choose to dish out. End of story really.

[rethaier]

My only argument with this case is that the AFP knew before they left that they were carrying drugs and the AFP let them go and informed the Indonesians authorities to nab them on arrival. The AFP knew the penalty and if they did not like it they could have arrested them in Australia before departure. Australia GET REAL you cannot have it both ways.

[Tuskfish]

It's tricky to form a simplistic opinion on this, I value human life over money

Although I'd be very concerned about the range of precedences this sets if the Australian government is willing to blow millions of dollars to save these two

[MrWorldwide]

The Aussies scored an own goal here , Instead of waiting for the people returning with the Heroin and arresting them in Australia (They were tipped off) they informed Indonesian authorities and they got nicked flying out of Indonesia

The allegation is that the AFP made a deliberate decision to deliver the traffickers into the hands of the indonesians after Scott Rush's father - believing he was saving his son from himself - dobbed them in. It was a very deliberate 'own goal' ....

[Mot Dang]

For 60 years Autralia has tried to accommodate Indonesia's every whim and fancy. Billions and billions in foreign aid for ZERO return. Time to tell them to FO and I for one hope that Julie Bishop does just that

I would support you on that.

It would never happen but it would give them a scare if Bishop hinted that this act may lead to a trimming of the lurks and perks Indonesia gets from Australia. They seem to easily forget that Australia is always at the forefront giving Indonesia humanitarian aid, and volunteers, to assist during their numerous natural calamities. Then there are the thousands of Indonesian Uni students getting a free ride in Aussie universities, care of the Australia public.

[MrWorldwide]

For 60 years Autralia has tried to accommodate Indonesia's every whim and fancy. Billions and billions in foreign aid for ZERO return. Time to tell them to FO and I for one hope that Julie Bishop does just that

48 Australians died of 'unnatural causes' in Bali in 2013 and you want to suspend diplomatic relations over the fate of two convicted drug smugglers who have never denied their key roles in the operation ? These were the two responsible for ensuring that their co-accused got on the plane, and they reportedly did so via threats of violence when it became apparent that youngsters like Rush were getting cold feet. It's also clear that it wasnt their first trafficking run - we arent talking newbies caught in the headlights and neither has ever tried to portray themselves in that light in any interview I've seen. They knew the score - they just didnt realise that Rush's father would put them in to the AFP who, in turn, would hand them over to people they knew favoured the death penalty for drug trafficking. If there is blood on anyone's hands here, it's the AFP - they know more about corruption in Indonesia than you and I will ever know and they still handed this group to the Indonesians, presumably to send a message to others intent on trafficking drugs into Oz.

Australia has nothing to gain by distancing itself from the largest economy in SEA. We saw how well that worked out with the livestock fiasco. Industry doesnt take kindly to the federal government kneecapping their business.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/28/live-export-industry-sues-government-indonesian-cattle-trade-suspension

[tezzainthailand]

What penalty in Aus is harsher than the death penalty?

Australia has no penalty as harsh as a 'death penalty' but its treatment of people in detention centres such as Manus Island is extremely harsh without an actual criminal offence being committed. Australia is hardly pure on matters of human rights.

[Chopperboy]

My only argument with this case is that the AFP knew before they left that they were carrying drugs and the AFP let them go and informed the Indonesians authorities to nab them on arrival. The AFP knew the penalty and if they did not like it they could have arrested them in Australia before departure. Australia GET REAL you cannot have it both ways.

Its about competition elimination and one of the best ways to achieve that is a high profile warning case like this one. Its the global elite who run the $1tn drug trade.

[Jonmarleesco]

'... Australians ... are broadly opposed to the death penalty, especially in a case involving young people who are viewed to have made a tragic youthful mistake.' A tragic youthful mistake? Some mistake; one that could kill other youngsters. In this day and age, with everything written, that could be written, about drugs; with Indonesia hardly hiding its policy under bushels; are the kids (ir)responsible for the 'mistake' really that naive? I doubt it. But it says volumes for the adults who believe they are, and who elect to defend such a 'mistake'.

[copa8]

Everybody have to follow the rules of the Country where he is travelling to. They knew the penalty.

And everybody deserves their government to try and save them from backwards third world shitholes like Indonesia.

They could have sent them home to serve sentences in their home countries.

I think Indonesia is a country where different cultures and religions live peaceful together. Respect to them! No sights of sh.....

Weren't thousands of ethnic Chinese-Indonesians killed & raped during riots in 1998?

[Ulic]

You can't fault Indonesia for carrying out its sentence even though you disagree with the harshness of it. Plenty of corruption there but this case does not have the taint of corruption. Maybe the Australian government should launch an advertising/information campaign with the statistics of Australians locked up abroad, which countries they are in, crime committed against Australians and death rates of Australians in other countries. Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Canada, USA etc, etc..... International travel is not the same as travel at home. Learn from others mistakes.

Edited January 21, 2015 by Scott

[madpat]

Well its just too bad,they knew they were breaking the law they most probably knew the penalty if caught. How other Governments feel they have the right to use diplomatic contact to pressure Governments from carrying out the penalties.

Too many times its westerners that scream its our country abide by our laws if you dont like it go back homes, funny how they dont like it when the shoe is on the other foot.

Think of the lives that may have been saved by finding this haul

[catmaninoz]

When in someone elses' country, obey their laws (whether you like them or not) or don't go there. So simple isn't it?

Maybe to simpletons.