Indonesia have killed by firing squad two admitted drug
smugglers within the last 24 hours. Australia’s response after considerable
public pressure was to announce the removal of the Australian ambassador to
Indonesia. Facebook and other social media have lit up particularly within the
last 7 days leading up to this and still, I am quite torn on the issue.
I've travelled on dozens of occasions all over the world, to
places where the death penalty is the mandatory penalty of the country, rightly
or wrongly, this is the law of the land and as a visitor and intelligent person
capable of critical thought and evaluation, I make a judgement one way or
another to respect or disrespect local laws.
The illegal drug problem plagues the earth, no country is
immune, no deterrent, even that of death is enough to stop it. The greed of the almighty dollar often drives
and motivates people to do unquestionable acts, for that, I will not put myself
into the shoes of people who do such things.
However it strikes me as highly cynical that Australians
largely were in favour of the death penalty not too long ago for serial rapist
and murderer Adrian Bailey of one Jill Meagher.
This news and outpouring of emotion by the community was shown all over
the world and it seemed that majority of the country wanted him dead, although
he sits alive to this day in a prison cell.
So if I am to understand correctly, those who oppose
murderers, then wish for another to be murdered. But what of those who oppose
drugs and drug smugglers and dealers? The ramifications to the community, to
families, to teenagers and adults who would have fallen victim to the very
large quantity of drugs imported or exported by drug dealers, lives taken,
lives ruined and affected, is this no more or less a crime?
Although I am an advocate for the right to keep and bear
arms, I am morally and ethically opposed to shooting individuals who pose me no
personal physical threat. How is this going to affect those who have pulled the
trigger to take lives of people they don't even know, who never did them any
personal harm?
The media has consistently stated that they are reformed,
but how can anyone truly know? They were still in prison, they were never free
to show the world if they were in fact reformed or not. Should we then offer
Adrian Bailey in Australia the opportunity to reform himself and live an
honourable life for once? Before you say that murder and drug smuggling/dealing
is different, think again, as stated, the flow on effects and ramifications of
distributing drugs to the community has potentially disastrous effects on
dozens, if not hundreds or thousands of people.
This is a complex issue at best.
Ultimately, as mentioned, if Australians wish to have its
own laws of the land respected by foreigners, it must also respect the laws of
other countries. I am not an advocate of illicit drugs, do not take them and
have no interest in them, when I travel overseas, I am aware of the potential
ramifications that may follow if I do so.
What does bother me however is that Indonesia kept these two alive for
10 years and treated the situation as a political basket case, only to then end
their lives after much here say.
Indonesia should not be boycotted. Those who have travelled
to places like Bali, know that it is largely a third world country, most people
are poor, most people are happy, honourable and grateful for the economy that
tourism brings. Boycotting countries or
cities due to the actions of political leaders is a highly immature and
unintelligent decision to reach, all it does is punish the good local people
over an issue that is completely out of their control. If people are very
serious about their anger, then they should direct it towards the political
leadership of the country and send your letter to the President of Indonesia,
but then again, I wonder how many who are loud on social media would take the
time to do something so simple.
As more and more people seem to be in a constant state of
hypnosis, suffering effects of The Stockholm Syndrome, I'd say that within the
next week to two, this entire issue would have been forgotten about until the
next bandwagon arises or until sports season has finished.
Shooting unarmed, non-violent, defenceless people is not
right, it is a hideous barbaric act, but knowingly and wittingly smuggling
drugs in an area that has strict and common knowledge laws against doing so is
also a crime. I remain undecided on this issue.
Irrespective, may they rest in peace and may the government
of Indonesia use this recent decision as an opportunity to re-evaluate their
processes.
