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| Down Under |
| Democrats enter Bali argument |
| 2005-04-20 |
| THE nine Australians under arrest in Bali on possible drug trafficking charges should have been arrested in Australia, the Democrats said today. Justice Minister Chris Ellison had much to answer for in allowing them to be detained in Indonesia on Australian information, and left to face execution, Democrats leader Lyn Allison said. The Australian Federal Police and the Federal Government have faced criticism for tipping off Indonesian police about the alleged drug ring, leading to the arrests of the nine in Bali where the death penalty applies for drug trafficking. "It's outrageous for the minister to now suggest that Australia didn't consider the matter that they may face the death penalty," Senator Allison said. "This is a first offence and death penalty is not justice for those circumstances. "They should have been tried in Australia and returned here rather than face the death penalty in Indonesia." Senator Allison said Australia did not have laws that resulted in people being executed. "That's been a very longstanding legal situation in this country, and one that I believe has wide public support," she said. "It's a bit like the 'Pacific solution' for asylum seekers. "It's also a bit like those people who are taken to other countries to be tortured. "It seems the Government wants to evade its own laws and to send a message to people via the laws of another country which are more extreme." |
| Posted by:God Save The World |