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| Kerobokan Prison |
The Indonesian government has been forced to defend the decision
to free Schapelle Corby early, as the backlash against it grows within Indonesia.
The convicted cannabis smuggler is expected to meet the governor of Bali's Kerobokan prison this evening Australian time to officially hear the clemency result and discuss what it means for the length of her sentence.
But popular opinion has turned against the 34-year-old former Gold Coast beautician after the country's chief justice, Mahfud MD yesterday slammed the decision, saying drug smuggling was worse than terrorism and that the country deserved an explanation from its president.
“Drug crime is worse than corruption and terrorism. Drugs destroy life,” he said, adding that the president should take national security into account in making these decisions.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has refused to explain his decision, but his son Ibas has defended it, and Justice Minister Amir Syamsuddin insisted Corby was not the 1st foreigner, nor the 1st drug smuggler to have been granted clemency in Indonesia.
“For your information, clemency is not exclusively granted to Corby,” he said.
A German criminal who was arrested for having 4 grams of methamphetamine in his possession had his sentence cut almost in half because of his physical health, Mr Syamsuddin.
He also hinted that convictions for cannabis smuggling were not as serious as heroin.
This is a bad sign for
Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the members of the Bali 9 who were hoping that Corby's clemency might clear the way for them to be spared the death penalty. The public backlash in Indonesia might deter Mr Yudhoyono from agreeing to remove them from death row. Their appeals are being lodged to the president now.
The Justice Minister also emphasised that Corby would not immediately be free.
“She will only be eligible for parole by September 2012, and even then there will be a guarantor,” he said.
Mr Yudhoyono's son, Edhie Baskoro or more popularly called Ibas, said clemency for Corby might help Indonesian prisoners in other countries.
“Good treatment to foreigners (in Indonesian prison) may help Indonesians who are facing legal cases abroad,” Ibas said in a written statement obtained by news website Detikcom Many Indonesians have been saved from severe sentences including capital punishment in foreign countries, he said.
“Through struggle of diplomacy the government is doing, Indonesia has successfully freed or reduced sentences of several Indonesians and migrant workers so they were saved from capital punishment in foreign countries. These are included 206 Indonesians involved in murders, drugs and other serious crimes. We have to fight for it,” he said.
Source: Straight Furrow, May 25, 2012
An online petition urging Indonesia's President to commute Andrew Chan's and Myuran Sukumar's death sentences can be signed
HERE.
