Drugs and Bali<\/p>\n
Labor foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd called on the
\nHoward government to require travel agents to provide written
\ninformation to clients about the harsh penalties they face if
\ncaught with illicit drugs in Asia.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister, John Howard, was closer to the truth, and
\nexpressed the feelings of most Australians, when he declared last
\nweek: \"It's beyond belief that Australians could be so stupid as
\nto carry drugs into any country in Asia\".<\/p>\n
What he's saying is that the message has been broadcast as
\nloud and clear as a bell: The government in Jakarta is cracking
\ndown, hard, on drugs.<\/p>\n
As much as we may question such draconian sanctions, it is not
\nhard to see why a poor, corruption-riddled society such as
\nIndonesia would move to a zero-tolerance position on drugs, with
\nthe latest example of that position likely to be random urine
\ntests in Bali tourist nightspots.<\/p>\n
Nor is there any truth to the populist claim that Australians
\nare being singled out in Indonesia's drug crackdown.<\/p>\n
Two Thais and an Indian were executed for heroin smuggling
\nlast year and numerous locals have also felt the sting.
\n-- The Australian, Sydney<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/drugs-and-bali-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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