Comments on: The Corby Case and Australia-Indonesia relations http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/05/29/the-corby-case-and-australia-indonesia-relations/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:00:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Antony Loewenstein http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/05/29/the-corby-case-and-australia-indonesia-relations/#comment-259687 Antony Loewenstein Mon, 30 May 2005 05:30:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/05/29/the-corby-case-and-australia-indonesia-relations/#comment-259687 Of course Darp has the right to protest, express himself etc. No issue there. The problem is context and history. One surely can't be taken in fully by the Corby case, and campaign hard on it, while ignoring the many examples of other problems, both in the region re drugs and issues in Timor, Aceh and West Papua. Corby fits into this, not simply a lone case.<br/>As for Howard, he can smell the public mood on Corby. The public mood on the Bali nine is unlikely to be as sympathetic. No more, no less. Of course Darp has the right to protest, express himself etc. No issue there. The problem is context and history. One surely can’t be taken in fully by the Corby case, and campaign hard on it, while ignoring the many examples of other problems, both in the region re drugs and issues in Timor, Aceh and West Papua. Corby fits into this, not simply a lone case.
As for Howard, he can smell the public mood on Corby. The public mood on the Bali nine is unlikely to be as sympathetic. No more, no less.

]]> By: Niall http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/05/29/the-corby-case-and-australia-indonesia-relations/#comment-259686 Niall Mon, 30 May 2005 03:35:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/05/29/the-corby-case-and-australia-indonesia-relations/#comment-259686 It's a moot point, surely, whether or not activities like Darp's have any impact. It is important, however, that people have the right to do those things and express their feelings on the matter. If we all sat on our hands over every issue which caused personal angst the establishment would simply steamroll the lot of us.<br/><br/>Howard's reactions to the whole sorry affair is extremely interesting, especially in light of the fact that he's had absolutely nothing to say about the 'Bali Nine'. Does that infer an implicit guilt on those people, while Corby, with the attention of the Australian government focused, receives the benefit of the doubt? It’s a moot point, surely, whether or not activities like Darp’s have any impact. It is important, however, that people have the right to do those things and express their feelings on the matter. If we all sat on our hands over every issue which caused personal angst the establishment would simply steamroll the lot of us.

Howard’s reactions to the whole sorry affair is extremely interesting, especially in light of the fact that he’s had absolutely nothing to say about the ‘Bali Nine’. Does that infer an implicit guilt on those people, while Corby, with the attention of the Australian government focused, receives the benefit of the doubt?

]]> By: syed-m http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/05/29/the-corby-case-and-australia-indonesia-relations/#comment-259683 syed-m Sun, 29 May 2005 13:14:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/05/29/the-corby-case-and-australia-indonesia-relations/#comment-259683 Hmmm, not sure if calmer heads alone will do it (but maybe I've misunderstood you post). It often takes significant courage to vouch for basic common sense. So I'd add intellectual/moral courage to those calm heads.<br/><br/>Common sense would make you wonder why little black kids who get caught for selling dope aren't fawned over by the media. I feel sorry for Chappelle, but frankly prison is a horrible place and there's a lot of people to feel sympathetic for. Where has the Government been whilst Hicks and Habib languished in Camp X-Ray?<br/><br/>The Corby case is yet another example of the media totally decontextualising a story. Turning it into an empty human interest story. In the process, either by design or natural momentum (probably both), the story acts to avoid real scrutiny over the issues that matter the most. Like the Budget, or the occupation of Iraq. Or the fact that fellow Australian citizens have been deported or detained for lengthy periods of time. Or what the Howard Government is doing to 'indigenous policy'. That's not an exhaustive list.<br/><br/>What a sad hypocrisy we all face when the media and the Government shed crocodile tears for one lone girl in Bali yet turn a blind eye to so much other suffering it could more readily influence. Hmmm, not sure if calmer heads alone will do it (but maybe I’ve misunderstood you post). It often takes significant courage to vouch for basic common sense. So I’d add intellectual/moral courage to those calm heads.

Common sense would make you wonder why little black kids who get caught for selling dope aren’t fawned over by the media. I feel sorry for Chappelle, but frankly prison is a horrible place and there’s a lot of people to feel sympathetic for. Where has the Government been whilst Hicks and Habib languished in Camp X-Ray?

The Corby case is yet another example of the media totally decontextualising a story. Turning it into an empty human interest story. In the process, either by design or natural momentum (probably both), the story acts to avoid real scrutiny over the issues that matter the most. Like the Budget, or the occupation of Iraq. Or the fact that fellow Australian citizens have been deported or detained for lengthy periods of time. Or what the Howard Government is doing to ‘indigenous policy’. That’s not an exhaustive list.

What a sad hypocrisy we all face when the media and the Government shed crocodile tears for one lone girl in Bali yet turn a blind eye to so much other suffering it could more readily influence.

]]> By: Shay http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/05/29/the-corby-case-and-australia-indonesia-relations/#comment-259682 Shay Sun, 29 May 2005 13:09:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/05/29/the-corby-case-and-australia-indonesia-relations/#comment-259682 A "journalist's" deputy sheriff phrase? Surely once someone as moronic as GW Bush adds his approval to such a statement, in fact promoting him to "sheriff", it's a bit generous to Bush and Howard to go blaming that little piece of moronic diplomacy on a journalist. See: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s969604.htm.<br/><br/>Great points on the Corby case though. I agree that the whole thing stinks - not because I'm put off by the fact that she's young and looks innocent, but having travelled throughout Indonesia and the rest of Southeast Asia and seen how cheap and easy weed is to buy, I just can't believe anyone, even a beauty student from the Gold Coast, could possibly be stupid enough to risk their lives to bring it into the country. <br/><br/>But that aside, there are plenty of people wrongly imprisoned in Australia who our legal system has failed, both foreigners (especially in our Immigration detention camps) and Australians (heck, ALSO in our Immigration detention camps), so who are we to play holier-than-thou with their legal system. The most despicable suggestion of all is the one about the one-off prisoner exchange. If they want to use this as a spur to broker a prisoner-exchange program, I'm all for it. But what justification could there possibly be for one person getting preferential treatment? Because she's innocent? Try finding a sympathetic judge or politician on that one. A “journalist’s” deputy sheriff phrase? Surely once someone as moronic as GW Bush adds his approval to such a statement, in fact promoting him to “sheriff”, it’s a bit generous to Bush and Howard to go blaming that little piece of moronic diplomacy on a journalist. See: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s969604.htm.

Great points on the Corby case though. I agree that the whole thing stinks - not because I’m put off by the fact that she’s young and looks innocent, but having travelled throughout Indonesia and the rest of Southeast Asia and seen how cheap and easy weed is to buy, I just can’t believe anyone, even a beauty student from the Gold Coast, could possibly be stupid enough to risk their lives to bring it into the country.

But that aside, there are plenty of people wrongly imprisoned in Australia who our legal system has failed, both foreigners (especially in our Immigration detention camps) and Australians (heck, ALSO in our Immigration detention camps), so who are we to play holier-than-thou with their legal system. The most despicable suggestion of all is the one about the one-off prisoner exchange. If they want to use this as a spur to broker a prisoner-exchange program, I’m all for it. But what justification could there possibly be for one person getting preferential treatment? Because she’s innocent? Try finding a sympathetic judge or politician on that one.

]]> By: Antony Loewenstein http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/05/29/the-corby-case-and-australia-indonesia-relations/#comment-259678 Antony Loewenstein Sun, 29 May 2005 07:57:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/05/29/the-corby-case-and-australia-indonesia-relations/#comment-259678 Thanks, much appreciated. Thanks, much appreciated.

]]> By: Fabian http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/05/29/the-corby-case-and-australia-indonesia-relations/#comment-259677 Fabian Sun, 29 May 2005 07:26:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/05/29/the-corby-case-and-australia-indonesia-relations/#comment-259677 Antony, well said. Antony, well said.

]]>