Gday (I know I said before this isnt the place for debate, but it appears it has already started anyway, and I must put in my 2 cents to some of the comments I have read.)
<Rant on>
I have to say that I think the girl is innocent (I mean, who would take 50 grand worth of pot into a country it is worth about 5 grand). Pbrosnan, your post was well put, David Hicks has been screwed royally aswell, and if we are gonna be sending emails to Indo, we may aswell send em to Bonsai (lil johnny, so named because he is a little bush). However, from all reports I have heard (because I dont read the papers or watch the news too much any more) they didnt fingerprint the bag, to see if she had put it in there, and more importantly, even though the wieght of her baggage when she checked in was less than the wieght of the baggage, it was deemed irrelevant by the judges (apparently). She didnt prove her innocence by not being able to prove who is guilty. This would be akin to someone being picked up by the police here for having a $50 note in their possesion, when an old lady was mugged the night before for $50. They can protest their innocence, but have the police say "well, if it wasnt you, then prove who it was" and then not be allowed to have any defence presented for them. I understand it is their justice system, and they can run it how they want. But innocent people should not be put into jail. With this, however, I am not saying that Indonesia is any worse or better than the US, or even our good selves. Read up on the violation of West Papua if ya wanna know what I mean there. And Deadly, by reading your comments, it would appear that you have never spent any time in a thirld world country. Maybe you should try it sometime, or at least wonder how you would feel if it were your sister. No offence meant to you personally, mate, it is your opinion, and if that is how you would feel is it were a loved one of yours in that predicament, then you are well entitled to it. Were Schappelle allowed a fair trial, rather than having any evidence in her defence dismissed as "irrelevant", as was quoted on the news last night, THEN you would have to accept it. Gross miscarriages of justice such as this happen every day of the week, all over the world, and we never hear about them. When we get a chance to hear about them, I reckon it is a good time to make a big song and dance about it, lest one day, we be in her shoes.
And in response to the people wondering if an Asian or Mediterranean male would have received the same media coverage, I am sad to say that they probably wouldnt have. Mind you, even a white male wouldnt have received the coverage Schappelle has either. People which much easier believe a male would smuggle, than a female. Stereotyping can be an ugly thing, but to be honest, I am sure that most have met drug dealers in their lives, and how many of them were women? I've never met one.
As siiren said, "lock ya bags". Mad if ya dont. And thanks for the email addresses Hopeye.
<end rant>
Sorry if it may sound a little over the top, I have tried to tone it done a bit!
Trent
