Corby case must not damage bilateral ties<\/p>\n
Michael Danby, Melbourne<\/p>\n
The last year has seen relations between Australia and
\nIndonesia reach their highest level. But the controversy
\nsurrounding the trial of Schapelle Corby is putting those good
\nrelations at risk. This is something both Australians and
\nIndonesians should work to prevent.<\/p>\n
Following the December tsunami, there was enormous sympathy
\nfor Indonesia in Australia. The Australian public donated A$280
\nmillion to tsunami appeals, the great bulk of which went to
\nrelief work in Indonesia. Australians also approved the
\nGovernment's decision, supported by the Opposition, to give A$1
\nbillion in aid to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Australians also greatly appreciated the speed and efficiency
\nwith which the Indonesian police captured those responsible for
\nthe 2002 Bali bombing in which 88 Australians died.<\/p>\n
Finally Australia welcomed Indonesia's full return to
\ndemocratic government with the election in 2004 of Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono as President.<\/p>\n
But the arrest and trial on drug smuggling charges of
\nSchapelle Corby has put all this at risk. Elements of the
\nAustralian media have been quick to exploit public sympathy for
\nCorby. The commercial television service, the Nine Network, has
\nrun a strident populist campaign claiming not only that Corby is
\ninnocent, but that the Indonesian police are corrupt and
\nIndonesia's courts are unfair.<\/p>\n
The Sydney tabloid newspaper the Daily Telegraph also ran an
\nanti-Indonesian campaign, claiming that Corby's 20-year sentence
\nfor drug possession was outrageous compared with the two year
\nsentence received by the Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir,
\nwho the paper said was the mastermind of the Bali bombing.<\/p>\n
This ignored the fact that Ba'asyir has not been convicted for
\nresponsibility for the Bali bombing, but only on other charges.
\nIt also ignored the fact that those who have been convicted over
\nthe Bali bombing have been sentenced to death.<\/p>\n
Finally a Sydney radio announcer, Malcolm Elliott, compared
\nthe judges in the Corby case to monkeys. "They don't even speak
\nEnglish, they're straight out of the trees," he said. (He was
\nsacked by his radio station.)<\/p>\n
It was these populist campaigns which inspired some anonymous
\nperson to send an envelope containing white powder to the
\nIndonesian Embassy in Canberra. Although the powder turned out to
\nbe harmless, Australians were mortified at this stupid and
\ncriminal act, which was strongly condemned by people of all
\npolitical views.<\/p>\n
How representative of Australian opinion are these anti-
\nIndonesian opinions in the press and on radio? I would say -- not
\nvery. Australians may think Corby is innocent, but most accept
\nthat she has had a fair trial. Many people are critical of
\nCorby's legal team for the inadequate defense they mounted.<\/p>\n
Most Australians accept that if Australian citizens smuggle
\ndrugs into or out of other countries, they must bear the
\nconsequences. Australia have shown little support for the nine
\nAustralians arrested in Bali in April on charges of heroin
\nsmuggling.<\/p>\n
Most Australians will, however, oppose the use of the death
\npenalty in these cases, since Australia abolished the death
\npenalty nearly 40 years ago and does not approve of its use for
\nany reason.<\/p>\n
Australians remain strongly sympathetic to Indonesia's many
\ndifficulties. When the Nias earthquake struck in March, there was
\nanother outpouring of sympathy and donations, and support for the
\nrelief efforts mounted by the Australian defense forces.<\/p>\n
When nine Australians were killed in a helicopter crash in
\nNias, Australians greatly appreciated President Susilo's visit to
\nAustralia and his meeting with the families of the service men
\nand women who lost their lives.<\/p>\n
Although some elements of the media have taken a populist,
\neven racist, anti-Indonesian line, other sections of the media
\nhave been highly critical of this. The Australian Broadcasting
\nCorporation's program Media Watch has exposed the cheap anti-
\nIndonesian stunts of the Nine Network and the Sydney Daily
\nTelegraph. Quality newspapers such as The Australian, The Age and
\nThe Sydney Morning Herald have given fair and balanced accounts
\nof the trial.<\/p>\n
Andrew Bolt, a leading tabloid columnist, wrote: "What must
\nIndonesians make of this hissing mob that threatens their
\ndiplomats and vilifies their country? And all this for the sake
\nof a convicted drug smuggler who seems quite probably guilty."<\/p>\n
There are still many differences between Australia and
\nIndonesia. Australia is largely European in terms of the origins
\nof its population, and at least nominally a Christian country.
\nIndonesia is a developing country, an Asian country and an
\nIslamic country. Australia has always been a parliamentary
\ndemocracy. Indonesia has recently emerged from decades of
\ndictatorship.<\/p>\n
Australia's legal system is based on British law and trial by
\njury. Indonesia's legal system, based on a mixture of Dutch and
\nIslamic law, seems very foreign to Australians -- particularly
\nthe reverse onus of proof.<\/p>\n
But despite these differences, many Australians and many
\nIndonesians are working for better relations between the two
\ncountries, both at the government level and at the popular level.
\nAustralia and Indonesia work closely together on security issues.
\nTrade and investment are increasing<\/p>\n
More and more Australians and Indonesians are traveling
\nbetween the two countries -- as students, as tourists, on
\nbusiness. Gradually, understanding between the two peoples is
\nimproving.<\/p>\n
This process may be set back, but it will not be reversed, by
\nincidents such as the Corby case, which arouse strong feelings on
\nboth sides. Australians who engage in drug smuggling must expect
\nto be punished under Indonesian law. The Australian press should
\ngrow up and stop unfairly attacking Indonesia.<\/p>\n
But Indonesia must also ensure that such people get a fair
\ntrial, and that police and official corruption continues to be
\nstamped out. Outbursts against Australia by some elements in
\nIndonesia are also unhelpful.<\/p>\n
As a member of the Australian Parliament, it has been my
\nprivilege to visit Indonesia and meet with Indonesians of all
\nkinds. I know that most Indonesians (like most Australians) are
\nsensible and moderate people who understand that friendship and
\nco-operation between Indonesia and Australia is in the national
\ninterest of both countries.<\/p>\n
We should not let that friendship and co-operation be derailed
\nby a handful of irresponsible elements on both sides who seek to
\nexploit incidents like the Corby case for their own commercial or
\npolitical purposes.<\/p>\n
The writer is a Labor Party member of the Australian House of
\nRepresentatives and Secretary of the Opposition National Security
\nCommittee.<\/p>",
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