Convicted criminals and 'compassion'

[Slytovhand]

I know there are a couple of threads out there on similar things (but stuffed if I can find them now!!!).

Anyway, this it tangential to those... Convicted drug smuggler in THAILAND is going insane, thus, our government needs to step in and save her sorry arse!

Ok, not quite how the link reads - I may have adjusted the synopsis to reflect my own views on the subject...

But, that's what it boils down to...

A convicted drug smuggler in THAILAND (and I emphasise that, as it's WELL KNOWN!!! that they've got very strong anti-drug laws and punishments), is having it tough in jail over there.

Boo-hoo!

Is she getting it any worse than anyone else in jail? Or who was convicted of drugs?? Well, given that she's still alive, one may well answer that 'no'.

So, we're brought back to the base argument - how much should a government of a citizen (any citizen of any country) spend, both in money and in time and effort, on it's citizens in other countries? Especially given that said citizen is a convicted felon?

Let me contrast this with: The Lockerby bomber is released, as he has terminal cancer. WTF??? So what?? He blew up a plane as a terrorist act.. he didn't give a stuff about the lives of those on board, nor their friends and families, why does he get it off so easily... guess what - everyone dies.. and many from cancer.... rot in jail! (yes, rot, not have it cushy, and when the rot gets a bit nasty, get a 'get out of jail free' card...).


So... any opinions to the contrary to my rant here???

[Nyoibo]

Without even reading the article I know it's about Corby, she should count herself lucky, her and the 1 member of the "bali 9" that's looking after her, the rest of them are either life sentences or awaiting the death penalty.

[Boozy]

A convicted drug smuggler in THAILAND (and I emphasise that, as it's WELL KNOWN!!!

It can't be terribly WELL KNOWN, since Bali is not in THAILAND, it is in INDONESIA.



I'm sorry, Slyt, I couldn't resist.

[Flyndaran]

I like compassion, and almost by definition it's for those undeserving of it.
But I don't think governments should be in the business of compassion.
The U.S. has the duty to protect its citizens from unreasonable punishment. But the issue is if what this person is experiencing is truly unreasonable. It doesn't sound like it is to me.

[BlaqueKatt]

Convicted drug smuggler in THAILAND is going insane, thus, our government needs to step in and save her sorry arse!

Well those symptoms are common to schitzophrenia-I'd say she needs treatment to stabilize the condition(possibly outside of prison), but once stabilized be returned to serve the remainder of the sentence-I would say the Australian government should petition to get the country holding her to give her treatment-but that's about it.

Let me contrast this with: The Lockerby bomber is released, as he has terminal cancer. WTF??? So what?? He blew up a plane as a terrorist act.. he didn't give a stuff about the lives of those on board, nor their friends and families, why does he get it off so easily...

Well from the link you provided:

He may not have even been guilty.

victim's families, and one of the law professors that was an architect of the trial doesn't believe he should have been convicted.

a private investigator who was hired by Pan Am's insurance company to investigate the bombing, is quoted as saying-"as time has passed, flaws in the trial and in the evidence used to convict Mr. Al-Megrahi have been revealed. A new trial could have shone a light on a lot of things that were buried in the rush to convict him."

[Slytovhand]

It can't be terribly WELL KNOWN, since Bali is not in THAILAND, it is in INDONESIA.



I'm sorry, Slyt, I couldn't resist.

Oh... CRAP!

You know Boozy, you could have resisted... just a little... ya know??



<walks sheepishly away>

[Slytovhand]

Well from the link you provided:

He may not have even been guilty.

victim's families, and one of the law professors that was an architect of the trial doesn't believe he should have been convicted.

a private investigator who was hired by Pan Am's insurance company to investigate the bombing, is quoted as saying-"as time has passed, flaws in the trial and in the evidence used to convict Mr. Al-Megrahi have been revealed. A new trial could have shone a light on a lot of things that were buried in the rush to convict him."

Ok, that throws doubt onto the issue... should the people who commissioned his release be the ones to make that decision without a re-trial? I think it's setting a precedent. (well, ok, no the precedent was set ages ago, but still...)

Also, the fact that when he got back to Libya, he gets branded as a hero (by those who scream it the loudest), tends to almost invalidate any claims - not because of his guilt or innocence, but because of the symbol he therefore represents.

(sort of reminds me a little of David Hicks, GITMO prisoner returned to Australia... different kettle of fish, but still reminds me...)

[Boozy]

You know Boozy, you could have resisted... just a little... ya know??

You're right. But resisting temptation has never been my forte.

[Salesmonkey]

Letting the Lockerbie guy go will save the UK some money, as they won't have to pay for his cancer end-of-life care now.