April 22
AUSTRALIA/INDONESIA:
Ellison pledges stand against death penalty
Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison says the Government will pull out
all stops for any Australian facing capital punishment.
Indonesian police are yet to reveal whether any of the nine Australians
arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling in Bali will face charges which
attract the death penalty.
Senator Ellison has already been to Indonesia recently to ask his
counterpart to urge prosecutors in the Schapelle Corby case not to ask for
the death penalty.
This week prosecutors recommended a life sentence and a fine.
Senator Ellison says it is too early to pre-empt what may happen to the
nine Australians arrested this week, but he says the Government will
object if they face capital punishment.
He has also welcomed comments from Australian Cardinal George Pell, who
has said he will plead for clemency if the 9 end up facing the death
penalty.
"If there's ever any aspect of a death penalty being applied to an
Australian citizen, then we will do everything in our power to avoid that
being carried out," Senator Ellison said.
"I fully support the comments by Cardinal Pell, he's been entirely
consistent with what he's said previously.
"He's certainly lent his weight to clemency for the Australian whose on
death row in Singapore and I welcome Cardinal Pell's comments."
Meanwhile, negotiations will begin immediately on a prisoner exchange
program between Australia and Indonesia.
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Bali suspects separated after death threats: police
Indonesian police say death threats against several Australians accused of
trying to smuggle heroin from Bali to Australia are behind their decision
to relocate the gang's alleged ringleader, Andrew Chan.
The 21-year-old has been taken to a separate police station in Denpasar,
away from the other 8 suspects.
3 of the 9 accused have told police that Mr Chan was the ringleader behind
last week's attempt to smuggle 11 kilograms heroin through Bali airport.
They say Mr Chan threatened their lives and their families' if they
refused to carry the drugs.
Mr Chan is now being held at another police station away from the others
and last night endured lengthy questioning until the early hours.
The parents of several suspects have now visited them in the police cells.
The mother of Sydney man Scott Rush kissed her son through bars and gave
him a bag of supplies, including food, a Monopoly game and an Indonesian
dictionary to help while away the long days in custody.
'Political undertones' rejected
The Prime Minister, John Howard, has rejected a claim that "political
undertones" were at play in the arrest of the 9.
The arrests came as part of a joint operation between Australian Federal
Police (AFP) and Indonesian police.
Rob Stary, a criminal lawyer for 25 years, has suggested the nine are
"sacrificial lambs" and that Australian authorities deliberately gave the
kudos for capturing them to the Indonesian police in order to bolster ties
between the 2 countries.
He has questioned why the group was arrested in Indonesia, which has the
death penalty, instead of Australia.
Mr Howard says he totally supports the joint operation.
He says it was an operational matter decided by the AFP and rejects any
suggestions there was a political undertone in the decision.
*****************************
Ruddock to kick-start Indonesian prisoner treaty
Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says he will kick-start
negotiations for a prisoner exchange agreement with Indonesia immediately.
Mr Ruddock has been discussing the matter in Jakarta this week.
11 Australians are serving sentences in Indonesian jails, and 10 other
Australians are facing charges.
Mr Ruddock says Australian officials will travel to Indonesia to work on
the agreement shortly, and he hopes to have documents outlining the terms
within weeks.
Mr Ruddock says he expects once an agreement is in place, Australians
sentenced to jail in Indonesia would very quickly be transferred home.
"If people are sentenced to a period of jail for having committed a
criminal offence should they also have to suffer an additional penalty of
being deprived of linkages with their family and friends and loved ones,
which is what happens," he said.
"If you see it as a double jeopardy situation I think the in-principle
view would be you should make the exchange as soon as you can."
Corby
The case of Schapelle Corby, the 27-year-old Australian accused of
smuggling marijuana into Bali, has added impetus to the treaty push.
The prosecution has asked for a life sentence and a fine for Corby if she
is found guilty.
Mr Ruddock says if Corby is found guilty she has many avenues of appeal.
"She has a right of appeal to the High Court in certain circumstances, she
may also appeal further to the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court
if she is so advised," he said.
"There are also possibilities in relation to any sentence of two years in
custody, which can be the subject of a presidential clemency being
sought."
A verdict is not expected for 3 to 4 weeks.
(source for all: ABC News)
