Mixed media: Balinese justice

A RAW DEAL

Broadcaster's column:The Indonesian judicial system was once considered corrupt. Now it deserves to be considered unjust and sloppy and must surely fail any test of fairness applied by our standards of what is fair. Australians hate injustice and unfairness, which is why this country is right to be angry.

- Neil Mitchell in the Herald Sun

Sydney writer: The Indonesian people must now ask themselves whether their legal system has dealt with Corby with a harshness out of all proportion to her crime in comparison with those of Bashir and his laughing supporters. It would not take much humanity to see the difference and understand the degree of anger apparent around Australia. - Piers Akerman in the Sunday Telegraph

Aussie Blogger: It does not matter to me if she is guilty or innocent, what matters to me is that the case for her guilt has not in my opinion been proven - maybe it has been proven according to to Balinese or Indonesian law but it certainly has not been proven according to "natural justice" or the standards as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

From where I sit, I know that if I were the judge, and based on the evidence of which I am aware, there is no way in hell that I could sentence her to one day, let alone 20 years.

To be sentenced to 20 years in a hellhole prison is a travesty of justice.

- blogger Alan Singer

Melbourne Newspaper: Schapelle Corby is a beautiful young woman sentenced harshly for a mistake she has consistently denied. She cannot be blamed for her appearance, which has fed into media and public reaction in Australia. While some have argued that a jury here might not have found the charges against her proved beyond reasonable doubt, that, too, is open to question. The reality is that this young woman faces years behind bars. The Federal Government must continue to negotiate her return to serve at least part of her sentence.

On the evidence presented, the verdict is fair. What is wrong is the price Ms Corby is to pay for her mistake.

- Herald-Sun editorial

CALLS FOR CALM

Malaysian view: Though it is understandable for Australians to feel strongly about the predicament of one of their own stuck in a life-and-death situation in a foreign country, the public outrage has not only been astounding in its intensity but also shocking in the glimpses it has revealed of the depths of racism and xenophobia. Sympathy and support should never overwhelm respect for the Indonesian verdict and the process of appeals. Hurling racist slurs at the Indonesian judiciary and casting aspersions on its integrity simply because the Bali court has not endorsed the popular Australian belief in Schapelle Corby's innocence is unacceptable.

- New Straits Times

From India: Corby is the beautiful white flower of innocence while Indonesia is the cesspool of brown Asian corruption, intent on collective vengeance against the distraught Corby. Australian media did note earlier that Corby had a history of drug abuse, but that has been quietly eliminated from most of Australian media (but not all, serious newspapers have taken admirably objective editorial positions).

- M. J. Akbar in the Asian Age

Australian national paper: The anger unleashed by this conviction is understandable ... But what we think does not matter a hill of beans. Indonesia is a foreign country where they do things differently, just as they choose. Until we know the grounds for the promised appeal there is no apparent evidence that Corby did not receive a fair trial under the applicable laws. Despite the gratuitous comments of Australians who should know better, and the intrusive behaviour of Australian television crews, the Indonesian judges conducted themselves with care. - The Australian

Bali view: Strangely, some of the same people who cheered Indonesia's first bold steps towards freedom and democracy now think it their right to dictate the twists and turns in Indonesia's struggle to master its own destiny. This minority, calling for travel boycotts and signing petitions as they go, want Indonesia to call a time out, suspending efforts to create a civil society based on law, whenever a single Australian is at risk.

- Balidiscovery.com website editorial