Corby found guilty

[Orbost]

Originally posted by wellard: Innocent or not the standard of the case and many of the people involved does leave room for criticism. The police did not have the bag fingerprinted

Indonesian police do not routinely use fingerprinting in their evidence gathering procedures.

If they had, it might have suggested her innocence, equally it might have been plastered with her prints and suggested her guilt.

I don't see this as an issue for criticising the Indonesian authorities - she was treated the same as everyone else.

[Chewbacca]

This person is just one of millions and millions victims of the drug war.


Ironic that Cannabis has grown in some variety just about everywhere humans have been through out history, yet only in the last hundred years do we jail and even execute people for having it or using it. In so many places it was part of the way of life as food, medicine, worship, and recreation.

A close study of U.S. history circa 1937 reveals a lot. It begins with Cannabis's cousin, Hemp, usefulness as a textile that could replace timber for paper and cotton for cloth on the cheap, plus a revolution in hemp cultivation technology on par with the cotton gin. All this is ultimately why this beneficial plant is illegal and stigmatized.

Back in the 1930's Hemp was a direct threat to certain corporate interests with power in the Senate and the media. The Hearst media company spread reefer madness across the U.S. with racist exaggerated lies about the effects of cannabis.

This fear made it easy to pass the first wide-sweeping law against Marijuana that also included its cousin hemp that cannot get you high.

Since then diplomatic and economic pressure by the U.S. have spawned strict laws and harsh punishments for even the recreational use of the Herb around the world. An only in recent time has reefer-madness begun to wear off in some places.

Hemp is still not legal to grown in the U.S., although it can still provide a renewable and resistant source of paper and cloth. Hemp could replace our dependence on our beautiful forests and chemical laden cotton fields. Though the corrupt corporate politicians have passed, their propaganda, lies, and laws are still in effect.

It so pathetic that a good herb like Cannabis, a benefit to humankind and a fruit of the earth is placed in the same class as dangerous addictives and processed chemicals. Ever more pathetic is, of course, the fact that Cannabis is almost universally banned and thousands of it's users are transgressed upon everyday.

*Steps away from the soapbox*

[ 06-06-2005, 03:23 AM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

[wellard]

Originally posted by Davros: But Wellard - you are judging things only from our western view of what justice is. Not everyone applies the western system of the presumption of innocence. That is the fact. We are free to feel that our system is better but that doesn't mean that everyone else's has to mimic the priciples that our courts work under.

I accept your argument Davros. And I also note that the trial was a low level court, how would a western low-level court reflect under such a high level of scrutiny?

Originally posted by Davros: Corby was caught in Indonesia with the drugs in her luggage. That in itself is sufficient under Indonesian law to find her guilty of possession. Innocence at that point was never a question - guilt was proven, and the trial was to determine extent of culpability and the appropriate sentence. That is the way their system works.

I accept that the court was working under that system; it does however reinforce my belief that the presumption of innocence is a western trait worth preserving.

Originally posted by Davros: If they had managed to find someone who admitted to putting the drugs unknowingly in her luggage at Sydney Airport they would still have found her guilty of possession. The judge that you complain of with the 100% guilty record would still be bound under law to apply a penalty appropriate to her guilt (i.e. minor fine, suspended sentence, court warning for negligence - whatever).

The 'law is an ass' is applicable world wide then

[Timber Loftis]

HEMP FOR VICTORY!