I can't get this story out of my mind. So often we hear the news, feel the horror of it for a moment and then forget it and move on with our lives.
This story is different and I can not forget about Schapelle, the reality is, it could be any young western traveller in her position.
I've travelled through Thailand etc and it is terrifying to think how easily a holiday can become a nightmare.
I am not a believer in organised religion but I do believe in Angels and I pray that yours are with you Schapelle.
The Australian govt.reached out to Indonesia in its time of need and they respond by telling Australia that an Australian life means nothing to them.
These people should value life more than any country, look at the devastation they've faced, how can they live through this and still have such little regard for human life.
They are a bunch of corrupt bastards and the govt. should be doing everything in its power to bring Schapelle home to her family.
This is not right and the govt. knows it.
I pray that justcie prevails.
Schapelle Corby has been in my thoughts daily, the last month in particular, I don't even know her, but as a fellow human being I've watched this nightmare unfold and my heart breaks! I'm praying for you Schappelle, I believe you are innocent, and you have many supporters here in Australia.
What a skewed “legal system”!
Bali bombers murdering 202 Tourists and locals, while devastating their own economy affecting tens of thousands and the mastermind get 2 .5 years.
An Australian tourist with drugs in her luggage and an impossible task of proving that no one could have tampered with her bag at any number of different baggage handling stations over two countries and they want death by firing squad of life in prison?
Wake up political and moral leaders of Indonesia! How could you make such an obvious mistake while devastating a human beings life?
Schapelle:
Hang in there, be strong, I believe the majority of Australians see the lunacy in these accusations, and want you and your family to know you have our support.
To the Indonesian Government:
Please allow common sense to prevail and let this woman. She is the unwitting victim here and should be freed of all charges.
To the Australian Government:
Thanks for nothing. Once again you have proven that in your view the individual is expendable if it compromises the bottom line. How much economic stability in our region do you hope to keep by trying to sweep this incident under the mat?
Surely common sense can be applied to this case and an innocent verdict applied.
I am disgusted in the Australian Government's lack of action in this case. I understand that we want to maintain good relations with Indonesia, but is Indonesia interested in maintaining good relations with us? This does not indicate so. John Howard, this is exactly why I didn't vote for you!
Shapelle Corby appears to be an innocent victim of drug runners. Presumably the owners of the drugs did not intend for them to go all the way to Bali, but rather that they were to be removed at Sydney Airport.
Unfortunately her defence has suffered as a consequence of a number of errors and general stuff ups by third parties. For example, there being no records retained of the weight of her back at check in at Brisbane, and again upon arrival at Bali. Also, Qantas wiped the video surveillance tapes prior to the Defence having the opportunity to subpoena them.
It unfortunately appears that the onus of proof is on the defendant to prove their innocence, rather than the opposite, as is the case in Australia. You would have ordinarily thought that the evidence of her 3 (?) travelling companions who were present when she packed the bags would have been sufficient to cast in the mind of the Court a degree of "reasonable doubt". That the bag was not locked and the drugs found in the front of the bag is a further indication, I believe, that the drugs were planted. Who seriously would leave a bag full of drugs unlocked. Moreover, who would be stupid enough to import drugs into Bali.
The case of the Camel suit at Sydney airport the week before last is one of the finest examples of the ease at which traveller's luggage can be tampered with.
I wish Shapelle the best of luck and urge her to hang in until the end. I believe that the majority of Australians are behind you.
How could the Indonesian legal system possibly believe that an Australian would want to risk her life and bring in that much Marijuana to sell on the streets, at a huge loss (given that it's so much cheaper to buy over there)??? It makes no sense.
Corby is innocent.
Shapelle Corby appears to be an innocent victim of drug runners. Presumably the owners of the drugs did not intend for them to go all the way to Bali, but rather that they were to be removed at Sydney Airport.
I'm a 100% percent Indonesian but I'm really concerned about this particular Ms. Schapelle. I'm petitioning the Australian to do whatever it takes to bring her back, alive to Australia. As far as I'm concerned, this lady is simply a victim of injustice and in any way she DOESN"T deserve a death penalty. I know its hard for you Australians too see that the terroris who bombed the Sari's cafe only get a life prisonement, while this lady might faced a death sentence.
Please, Mr. John Howard, you HAVE the power and you CAN do something to stop this act of injustice. Here is a chance for you to do something right. For once in your life, please do whatever it takes to save her.
DEAR SCHAPELLE, IT IS HEARTBREAKING SEEING YOU SUFFER LIKE YOU ARE. YOU SHOULD NOT BE THERE.WE THINK OF YOU CONSTANTLY AND WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. HANG IN THERE YOUNG LADY AS WE WILL ALL BE DOING EVERY THING POSSIBLE TO HAVE YOU BACK HOME VERY VERY SOON.
WITH ALL OUR LOVE, DON & MARIE OLIVER. DEVONPORT. TASMANIA.
Schapelle Corby is a victim and how she is being treated is just barbaric and a crime against humanity.
It's as if the justice system in Indonesia is corrupt, They owe Australia so much but they still won't let her go.
It shows just what a lack of Compassion those animals have.
Animals may sound harsh, but that's what Indonesia has proved themselves to be to the majority of Australia.
PLEASE FREE HER.
Just look at all the examples of proven baggage tampering and you cannot say that she is 100% guilty.. if there is just the slightest doubt you cannot justify taking this poor womans life !
Darkfalz your an idiot u obviously have no idea what your talking about so read the facts and use your common scence.
All our prayers are with u Schappelle.
I will never donate to Indonesia again or travel there if this innocent girl is found guilty. Any reasonable consideration and assessment of her matter leaves more than enough reason for doubt that she is guilty. She must be found NOT GUILTY.
The indoneasians are never to be trusted and the Australian Government is totally insensitive to the atrocity being committed against an inocent AUSTRALIAN girl. I'd bet that if it was John Howards family, they would be released quick smart! Let her go before it is a complete tradgedy
Why isn't the Indoesian Govt berating the Aust Govt instead of Schapelle. It is obvious we have gaping holes in our security. And why aren't the baggage handlers coming out and defending themselves. Everyone in Australia is pointing the finger at them for Schapelle's demise, but alas they are very very quiet on the subject. So why doesn't the Indonesian Govt send our alleged drug runner back, they don't need or want her. She'll be our so called problem not theirs. I can guarantee Schapelle won't go back to Bali. Then the Indonesian Govt can publicly humiliate our Govt for slack security and the Aust Govt deserves to be severely reprimanded for this awful injustice.There are a lot of unanswered questions in this case.
we lost over 200 Australian's in the bali bombings, and the criminal's who incited the incident, and carried out the crime, were, all things considered, given very lenient sentences. How can we now demand the death sentence, or even life in jail, for an innocent woman who has been planted with drugs. If this woman is not cleared of all charges and brought home, then that will be a sad day for all of us who will have to boycott Indonesia by not travelling there. Who knows, next time it could be you, or your child.
innocent or guility - Does not really matter but the sentence of death is way over the top for this type of crime. When you consider 2-3 years jail for killing hundreds by high explosive; where is the justice in that. Personally I believe her to be innocent let her go. To the Australian Government get off your hands and start helping this girl, free up the information that will save this girl and prove to the Australian that you do believe in JUSTICE. To the Indonesian Government - Change your laws before no-one wishes to go to country again - and to think I gave to aid agencies for your citzens in thier time of need.
seems unlikely...why would she do that? why would you smuggle pot INTO Indonesia. Where is Howard? What is he doing? Guilty or not, this cannot be allowed to happed
Australia is always willing to be at the aid of the American citizens whenever George Bush should call, we were the first and only country to support the Americans in Iraq, why we cannot support a fellow Australian such as Schapelle is beyond my belief.Shame on John Howard and especially shame on the Indonesian Govt, for showing such disrespect for a citizen of a country that gives so much support. I will not give up my own personal battle to save Schapelle.
No clear evidence of any wrong-doing.
Even if there was - death for a bag of MJ? If the UN was an ACTIVE, FUNCTIONING ORGANISATION with REAL POWERS - countries like Indonesia (with the greatest respect to their people) would not be allowed to engage in such barbaric practises - ie firing squads etc. It's time these governments were investigated by some kind of international system of law - to bring about the end of these ridiculous 'local standards of law'
In this era of greater, friendlier ties btw Australia and Indonesia - esp. in view of all the recent assistance Aust. has afforded Ind., post TSUNAMI - the Indonesian govt. should have a good, long think about its MORAL RESPONSIBILITIES in regard to the plight of Schapelle Corby...
In this day and age no country should be allowed to pass down the death penalty. I want Australian aid to Indonesia to cease until Shapelle is released.
I just think it is funny how Indonesia's economy pretty much relies on tourism, and all they are doing is making things harder on themselves. Who wants to go somewhere where if you are a victim of drug planting, you get killed. Even in an obviously innocent case like this. Just disgusting.....
In a country where the law states that you are guilty until proven innocent, we all need to be careful to ensure that we enter such countries clean and free from vice. I have been to Bali many times and always check my luggage BEFORE going through customs. This should be a lesson to all. However, in my opinion, this girl is innocent and it would be simply absurd to think that anyone could be that stupid to carry a pillow case full of weed in an unsealed, unlocked bag. Let her go..
Can you all stop the racism?
Calling Indonesians savages and "monkeys" only shows your ignorance and lack of respect. If we put an Indonesian girl on trial, and they started calling us racist white pricks and brutes, or convicts, do you think we'd have much sympathy for them?
She was caught with the drugs whether she put them there or not. She is on trial. There can be no other outcome. Would you like to see Australian legal system release every person caught with drugs because they said they weren't theirs?
By all means support Schappelle but stop attacking normal Indonesians, like it (or the bombing, for that matter) is somehow their fualt. If they were planted, they were probably planted by AUSTRALIANS, so direct your wrath at them.
Can the Judge believe in his heart beyond a reasonable doubt that the drugs were not planted in her luggage. Let the Australian Court System deal with her so she gets a fair go. Why not the death penalty for the Bali Bombers? Aren't Aussie lives worth anything in Indonesian Eyes?
This is a disgrace and I am almost ashamed to be Australian. I am an expat in Saudi Arabia and have closely followed this story in the online media, written to the PM, Downer & The Age. We give drug traffickers coming into Aust free legal support. The Govt was mute on this subject until the Aust people kept shouting! We all need to shout louder.
It is a disgrace to see a young Australian lady caught up in a corrupt Indonesian court system where she may face the death or a long prison sentence.
Mr Howard, please use your political powers to help Schapelle Corby as she is an innocent Australian caught up in an un-just Court system.
The Australian people are thinking of you, and wish you all the best Schapelle.
How I see a day in the life of Schapelle.
Schapelle was sick and looked very weak recently, cameras & arrogant Asians swarming around her like flies at an Asian market Fish Sale. She had to deal with the extreme tropical heat as well as another sleepless night, bitten by savage mosquitoes, ill from eating disgusting food that compares to vomit or worse! Living each day in a cockroach and rat infested cell which stinks of urine and vomit of previous death row prisoners a far cry from the 4 star beach front hotel that she planned to stay at.
now she looks out of the rusty cell bars sick with food poisoning and feeling extremely weak from polluted water and rotten food. she looks forward to another day, another nice day and the main highlights are she will know whether she will be EXECUTED and have her BRAINS BLOWOUT in front of a crowd of animals or sent to a stinking, filthy, rat infested dungeon run by animals who will rape and torture her for the rest of her life.
Its very clear to me and every other Australian that this innocent girl was set up at the airport in Australia.So why are the so called officials doing nothing.
I am in despair that she is still in custody.This is
so very wrong and I cannot imagine what this girl is going through and her family.My children have been told NEVER to go to places like Bali or Thailand.
I will boycott everything concerned with these so called wonderful places.
I do not condone drugs in any shape or form and punishment to drug dealers must be upheld but this girl was not a drug runner
The facts to prove Schapella to be guilty leave a lot to be desired - there seems to be so much to prove she is innocent but this is being ignored. Seems another case of some poor everyday Joe has to cop the flack from the powers that be. Disgraceful, frightening and saddening to know that an innocent life could mean so little.
What airlines employees are responsible for this? I want to contact them. If we can highlight the poor security of our luggage then the airlines may take responsibility for their staff members actions.
Someone did this...
I cannot condone drug smuggling.
However there needs to be an Intervention by The Australian Government, and its citzens. This cannot be allowed to happen. Whether Guilty or Innocent, The blood will be on our hands and not the indonesian government if we take no action.
Where is John Howard in all of this?
If we can invalidate the UN by sending troops to support an illegal war (Saddam had to go but not by ignoring the one voice of international reason), where is his conviction when it involves an innocent Australian?
Does his tongue have to be stapled to George W's shirt tails to get any affirmative action?
I was at Church tonight and asked our Church to pray for Schapella Corby I had heard that she had been visited in jail by a Christian lady and that they had prayed for her. My thoughts and prayers are with her constantly.
This woman is innocent and I think New Zealand should get behind Australia and stop all aid, trade and tourism to this god-forsaken country.
who gve them the right to be God
The Australian government knows exactly how this tradegy happened but they are too involved to admit it. The truth always comes out. Howard and Downer are american puppets and wouldnt know whats best for Australia and its people- they certainly dont listen to us. Who voted for them?
Schapelle, you will be home soon.
Thinking of you Schapelle.
I am ashamed to be an Aussie with a government that is involved in organised drug smuggling.
Schapelle we will find a way to get you out.
You have no choice to be locked up but you do have a choice to stay strong.
I will send you the yellow ribbon I have on my letterbox when you get home (soon).
This terribly sad and frightening situation Shapelle finds herself in sends a very clear warning to anyone planning a trip to this uneducated part of the world. This could happen to any one of us. We are not protected from from the types of evil people who will let an innocent person die in order to protect themselves from the repurcussions of their illicit deeds. These governments turn a blind eye to the facts in order to punish 'anyone' for the crimes committed but don't seem to put any energy into capturing the criminals who actually perpatrated the crime. I also feel the Airlines need to put an effort into supporting her as it was in their duristriction that the planting of the drugs took place. We need to be confident that we can continue to travel safely and not end up in the same situation as poor Schapelle.
I feel for Schapelle. she is the victim of some idiotic drug ring and she certainly does not deserve to suffer like she is. The Indonesian government really needs to consider how fair their legal system really is...
Gee.. Who would've thought our government would run and hide from a matter of human rights. Once again you have blood on your hands Mr Horward. You spineless Twat!
For those saying that they have doubts. Let me say this. 4.5kg bought in Australia $60-80000 Australian - value in Indonesia $5000. So you think she'd falk out all that - keep it in aboogie board for anyone to grab - then loose it all on the asian market. Wake up iodiots
