[Marinir] DRUG CRIME BECOMES A NEW INDUSTRY CRISIS

[Yap Hong Gie]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Travel Impact Newswire" <imtiaz at travel-impact-newswire.com>
To: "Travel Impact Newswire" <imtiaz at loxinfo.co.th>
Sent: Monday, May 30, 2005 6:29 PM
Subject: DRUG CRIME BECOMES A NEW INDUSTRY CRISIS

786/110

TRAVEL IMPACT NEWSWIRE -- Edition 26 -- Monday, 30 May 2005

25 Years of Distinction in Travel Journalism. Winner, PATA Gold Award for 
Travel Journalism, 2005.

Circulation has now crossed 25,000 worldwide, 80% in the Asia-Pacific and 
Middle East. Quality, not quantity, in terms of both readership and content.

- From Imtiaz Muqbil, Executive Editor, in Bangkok

In this dispatch: DRUG CRIME BECOMES A NEW INDUSTRY CRISIS

The left and right sides of the human mind continued to clash in the 
swirling controversy following the drug smuggling conviction and 20-year 
jail sentence passed by a Bali court on a 27-year-old Australian beauty 
therapist. The left-siders pushed for a boycott, the right-siders (including 
the convicted woman's mother) rejected the idea. The Balinese industry 
appealed for calm, even as Australian websites and petitions hurled abuse at 
the Indonesians. Some are now saying that the Australian airline and airport 
were responsible for security lapses and should be boycotted. Interesting 
how the travel & tourism industry can become the victim of even a 
drug-peddling crime. I wonder if the recent World Tourism Organisation 
seminar on crisis communications held in Bali had included this kind of 
'crisis' on its agenda.

===================

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===================

1. DRUG CRIME BECOMES A NEW INDUSTRY CRISIS

Shockingly offensive language and abuse was being hurled at Indonesia by 
Australian-created websites and petitions in a torrent of denunciations 
following the verdict of the Bali court sentencing 27-year-old Gold Coast 
beauty therapist Schapelle Corby to 20 years jail for smuggling 4.1 kgs of 
marijuana in her bodyboard bag last October.

However, in an interesting twist, calls by the Balinese tourism industry for 
calm were joined by the mother of Ms Corby who said she did not support a 
boycott of travel to Bali. Instead, she was quoted as suggesting that Qantas 
should be boycotted because, she claimed, it was responsible for the 
security lapses that allowed the drugs to be placed in her baggage.

An opinion piece writer for the Sydney Morning Herald echoed this view. "The 
real problem, where Corby has been undeniably let down, is at home in 
Australia. If, as many believe, she did not put the drugs in her bags then 
it was the Government, the airline and the airport that allowed this to 
happen," wrote Keith Cavalli.

In Bangkok, a senior executive of the Pacific Asia Travel Association said 
no-one should be boycotted because it made no sense. "What happens if 
Indonesian travellers, students, business travellers and MICE delegates 
start boycotting Australia?" he asked. "An eye for an eye is not going to 
accomplish anything."

The executive, who declined to be identified, said people could not be 
stopped from making individual decisions but that boycotts should never be 
propagated against anyone by governments, companies or industry 
associations.

He said Indonesia was seeking to send a strong message about its seriousness 
in dealing with drugs and that, regardless of what they thought of the 
verdict, Australians should respect the attempt by Indonesia to enforce the 
"rule of law," a call that the Australian government itself had made very 
emphatically as part of efforts to promote political and social reform in 
that country.

"Anyone involve in illicit business knows that the Indonesian government is 
being far more disciplined in its legal proceedings. This is a show of how 
Indonesia is nurturing its legal system to an international level, which has 
been lacking in the past," the executive said.

He added, "The verdict certainly shocked a lot of people. Everybody had some 
hope that maybe things would not turn out the way they did. The immediate 
response from a nationalistic perspective is understandable but I don't 
think it will affect tourism and Australians will continue to go to Bali."

The following stories from various websites and email newsletters reflect 
various dimensions of the swirling and highly charged controversy. Some 
personal comments were sent through by readers of Travel Impact Newswire, 
and are reproduced at the end.

===============

2. BALI TOURISM LEADERS URGE RATIONALITY

From: BALI UPDATE #455 - 30 May 2005

Following the 20-year sentence handed down to 27 year-old Shapelle Corby for 
drug smuggling on Friday, May 27, the Bali tourism industry has expressed 
its dismay at reports in the Australian press of calls to boycott tourism in 
Bali.

"Any threat by travel agents or individuals to boycott Bali will only hurt 
the Balinese people, who have suffered so much in recent years," commented 
Bagus Sudibya of the Association of Indonesian Travel Agents (ASITA). "The 
Balinese tourism industry has only just turned the corner in recent times. 
We urge calm in this situation. Bali is a beautiful destination. We continue 
to welcome Australians warmly and hope that the Corby case will have no 
impact on Australian's desire to visit our beautiful island and continue to 
preserve the livelihood of our Balinese people."

"Although receiving widespread publicity in the Australian Press, the 
proposed boycott seems to have done little so far to affect Bali's position 
as Australia's favorite overseas holiday destination," commented Michael 
Burchett, the Australian General Manager of the Conrad Bali and spokesperson 
for Bali Hotels Association, "however, we need to communicate this message 
to the Australian people in order to avoid talk of boycotts for something 
unrelated to tourism."

Latest statistics compiled from Bali's international airport show 
Australians visiting the island in record numbers and strong future bookings 
in hotels in the areas of the island most favored by Australian visitors.

A poll conducted by the Bali Tourism Board (BTB) amongst airlines and major 
travel wholesalers in Australia operating to Bali indicate that booking 
levels remain brisk, with very few cancellations that can be tied to the 
boycott call.

Airlines are reporting good loads and strong future bookings on all their 
flights between Bali and Australia with Air Paradise adding services between 
Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Denpasar and Garuda Indonesia adding 40% more 
seats from Perth starting June 1, 2005 in response to heavy demand.

Putu Agus Antara, Chairman of the BTB discounted the possibility of 
widespread support for a travel boycott saying, "The ties between Bali and 
Australia are both intensive and extensive. The bond between the people of 
Bali and their near neighbors in Australia is a deeply emotional one, 
profoundly demonstrated in the shared grief of the terrible losses of both 
the Balinese and Australian lives suffered in the tragic bombing in October 
2002 and the generous outpouring of assistance and support from the 
Australian people of Australia ever since."

2004 was a record year for Australia direct arrivals to Bali totaling 
267,520. Figures compiled during the first quarter of 2005 indicate another 
strong year for Australian visitor arrivals to Bali with numbers running 
nearly 7% ahead of 2004's.

===============

3. BE MAD IF YOU WILL, BUT AT AUSTRALIA

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Heckler/Be-mad-if-you-will-but-at-Australia/2005/05/29/1117305497555.html

Anger over Schapelle Corby is misplaced, writes Keith Cavalli.

Like many, I feel sorry for Schapelle Corby. I don't think she was smuggling 
drugs and I can't imagine the trauma she is enduring as she faces her 
20-year sentence. I am also extremely angry about this incident, but not at 
Indonesia.

The reaction since the verdict has been directed overwhelmingly at the 
Indonesian judicial system. But I get the impression there is an even more 
insidious, sinister sentiment being directed at the Indonesian people. These 
are easy places to direct anger and they reflect our self-righteousness. As 
much as Australians travel and claim to be multicultural and open-minded, it 
seems many know little about the world.

The case seems quite simple: Corby showed up in another country with illegal 
drugs. She would have been in serious trouble anywhere in the world, 
Australia included. And the outcome would probably not be any different.

But the real problem, where Corby has been undeniably let down, is at home 
in Australia. If, as many believe, she did not put the drugs in her bags 
then it was the Government, the airline and the airport that allowed this to 
happen.

Thanks to recent arrests, we now know that drug smugglers are almost 
certainly operating in domestic airports. So if we presume Corby is innocent 
and that she was being used as an unwitting drug "mule", then why are we mad 
at Indonesia? How could an airport and an airline, especially after the 
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, be so incompetent as to let this 
happen?

I hear talk of boycotting Bali, patronising criticism of the Indonesian 
justice system and even the corrupt morals of the Indonesian people. Do 
Australians think they have a monopoly on judicial integrity and moral 
correctness?

There is even the ridiculous argument that Corby deserves extra leverage, 
even a pardon from the Indonesian President, because Australia was so 
generous with its tsunami aid. Let's understand something: Australian 
disaster relief and Australians on trial in Indonesia are two separate 
issues. Certainly, aid can come with conditions, but I don't think leniency 
in the Corby case is one of them. Australia can't take the money back and 
Australia can't create a new tsunami to wipe out the rest of the country. I 
have actually heard these as suggestions!

I'm sure people will be angry, no matter what, but we should stop being so 
narrow-minded. If Corby is innocent then be mad, but direct it at the right 
places. Instead of the Indonesian legal system, be mad at the airports, the 
baggage handlers and the drug networks in our airports. And if you want to 
boycott something, boycott Qantas.

Take a good hard look at Australia before accusing Indonesia for Corby's 
fate: if we had got our act together, this might never have happened. Corby 
gets 20 years' imprisonment and we get plastic wrap for eight bucks. Please. 
People need to get off their high horses and focus their anger here.

Readers are invited to apply wit to anything that makes the blood boil. Send 
600 words to heckler at smh.com.au with day and evening phone numbers. 
Submissions may be edited and published on the internet.

===============

4. FLIGHTS CANCELLED AS TRAVELLERS BAN BALI

http://www.gcbulletin.com.au/news/news.htm, 30May05

GOLD Coasters have been dumping plans to go to Bali and one airline has been 
forced to cancel flights to Indonesia just hours after Schapelle Corby was 
convicted and sentenced to 20 years' jail for drug smuggling.

A strong message from the hundreds of SMS and email messages sent to The 
Bulletin at the weekend has been that Australians should boycott Bali.

But Ms Corby's mother Rosleigh Rose has pleaded with Australians not to 
abandon Bali. "I don't want people to boycott Bali, the Balinese people are 
not responsible for this," she said. "They have had enough hurt and I don't 
want to see them suffer any more."

She said her daughter Mercedes' husband Wayan and his family were Balinese. 
"We have had a great deal of support from them and from the Balinese 
community in general," she said. "I am asking the Australian people instead 
to boycott Qantas and I mean the domestic and international flights, all of 
them, and use other carriers as it is partly through them that my daughter 
is in the position she is in.

"I would also like the Australian people to vent their anger at Jakarta 
because that is where the decisions were made that led to this terrible 
sentence. They did not happen in Bali."

A boycott could have a damning effect on Indonesian tourism, which is 
heading into its peak season, but a Gold Coast travel agent who specialises 
in booking trips to Bali said yesterday she doubted the boycott would last 
long enough to harm the industry.

"It is similar to what happened in 2002 when the Sari Club was bombed. For 
the first 10 days the phones went dead but after that we had one of the 
biggest rushes of people wanting to go there," said the agent, who did not 
want to be named.

"A few people have rung me in the last couple of days wanting to change 
their plans and on Friday Garuda Airlines cancelled a few of their flights 
from Brisbane to Bali because they were empty. But I think it will really 
only be those from the Gold Coast and Brisbane who might cancel and what 
they lose in Queensland, they will pick up around the rest of Australia. 
They have actually had to put on extra flights out of Perth because of the 
demand.."

===============

5. BOYCOTT BALI WEBSITE EMERGES

http://www.banbali.com/

QUOTE FROM THE WEBSITE

The sole aim of BanBali.com is to create political pressure from 
Australians, the Australian Government and the Balinese people to have the 
Indonesian Government bring into Indonesian law the scope for "Unconditional 
Presidential Pardons" for international prisoners and then pardon Schapelle 
Corby.

This website has been created by a group of people who both recognise the 
right for Indonesian courts to make a decision based on their laws and 
equally recognise the right of every Australian to decide where they would 
like to spend their holiday time and money.

Despite being innocent, and a victim of criminals in Australia, the reality 
is that Schapelle Corby will not be found innocent by an Indonesian court 
unless the person who placed the drugs in her bags is caught. This is 
extremely unlikely.

We believe that the only hope for Schapelle Corby is a political solution. 
The Australian and Indonesian Governments need to understand that 
Australians will not accept this decision and we, through our own democratic 
choice, are prepared to harm the economy of Bali by volunteering to ban 
holidays in Bali for as long as Schapelle Corby is in jail.

By pledging to undertake this ban on visiting Bali, we can all send a strong 
message to the Australian Government to lobby for an unconditional pardon 
and through the economic consequences of this ban send a very specific 
message to the Indonesian Government to unconditionally pardon Schapelle 
Corby..

Thank you for your support in advance and your pledge will be passed on to 
both the Australian and Indonesian Governments. We believe that this list 
and a fast declining tourism industry in Bali (and the subsequent political 
outcry from the Balinese) will force both Governments to find a political 
solution rather than fully rely on the Indonesian court system.

Besides pledging to "Ban Bali" as a holiday destination, we hope Australians 
will consider either holidaying within Australia or perhaps visiting the 
beautiful beaches of Fiji and Hawaii.

END QUOTE

===============

6. INDONESIA PLEADS TO BALI TOURISTS

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15451611-2,00.html

Indonesia understands the depth of feeling in Australia over Schapelle 
Corby's 20-year jail sentence, but hopes talk of a tourism boycott of Bali 
won't go any further.

A boycott would run counter to an overall improvement in 
Indonesian-Australian relations in recent years, ministry spokesman Marty 
Natalegawa said. Jakarta noted how the Australian Government had been 
careful in its reaction to the case, and hoped the Australian people would 
also recognise and respect the fact that it was still a matter before the 
Indonesian courts, Mr Natalegawa said.

"It is fair that the Australian public should have a deep sense of sympathy 
for the plight of one of its nationals," he said, adding that Indonesians 
would feel the same way if one of their people was involved in a serious 
legal problem in a foreign country. But talk of a boycott is a little bit 
too much.

Mr Natalegawa was speaking after the launch of a website urged tourists to 
boycott Bali and therefore create political pressure to have Corby released 
from jail. BanBali.com spokesman Simon Joseph said the site had been created 
in the hope it would result in an "unconditional pardon" for Corby.

Mr Joseph hoped the website would create enough political pressure from 
Australians, the Australian Government and the Balinese people to "bring 
into Indonesian law the scope for unconditional presidential pardons for 
international prisoners".

As the law stood, Corby could not be pardoned unless she admitted guilt to 
the crime, Mr Joseph said. "The Australian and Indonesian governments need 
to understand that Australians will not accept this situation and we, 
through our own democratic choice, are prepared to harm the economy of Bali 
by volunteering to ban holidays in Bali for as long as Schapelle Corby is in 
jail," he said.

"This is really an international issue and we are hoping we can change that 
law so that pardons can be unconditional for international tourists charged 
in Indonesia."

The site, created by a group of marketing industry workers, contains a 
pledge message and a picture of Corby behind bars. It also suggests 
Australians holiday in Hawaii or Fiji instead of Bali, but Mr Joseph said he 
was not affiliated with those destinations.

He said the site was not a petition but would contain the names of people 
who pledged not to visit Bali until Corby's release. Mr Joseph said he had 
links with the Indonesia media and would make sure the site was well 
publicised in the Asian nation.

Australian tour operators meanwhile reported no change in the number of 
bookings to Bali since Corby, 27, was jailed on Friday for importing 4.1kg 
of marijuana to the island.

But operators expected to see signs of a boycott by next week, STA Travel 
spokeswoman Tammy Richardson said. "I'm totally against it (a boycott) 
personally and professionally," Ms Richardson said. "I believe it will be 
detrimental to the tourism environment over there. With the Bali bombing and 
other things, they have had enough negative backlash and a boycott would be 
absolutely detrimental to them."

Sydney-based surfing holiday company Surf Travel Company general manager 
Michelle Evans said a boycott on Bali would not affect her company but would 
greatly damage Bali's economy. "I hope there isn't a backlash because this 
has got nothing to do with the Bali people, it's more with the politics of 
it all," she said.

Surf Travel Company had recorded no cancellations or changed bookings since 
Corby was sentenced, Ms Evans said.

Flight Centre Travel spokesman Haydn Long said: "Up until Friday (bookings 
to Bali) have been extremely busy - it was probably our most popular 
international destination.

It was not unusual for destinations to suffer a downturn in bookings - Fiji 
following the failed 2000 coup, for example - but Bali following the Corby 
verdict was a different situation, Mr Long said. "They have been through 
some serious events before, but this is different," he said.

Corby, 27, was sentenced last week to 20 years in jail and a $14,000 fine 
after she was caught with 4.1kg of marijuana in her bodyboard bag at 
Denpasar airport in October last year.

===============

7. CALLS FOR BOYCOTTS SMACK OF A LACK OF COMPASSION

Letters to the Editor printed in the Sydney Morning Herald on May 30, 2005. 
Please see the website: 
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Letters/Calls-for-boycotts-smack-of-a-lack-of-compassion/2005/05/29/1117305498846.html

===============

8. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OF TRAVEL IMPACT NEWSWIRE

FROM THE HEAD OF A PUBLIC RELATIONS COMPANY IN SINGAPORE

I must admit I had not been following this case until the sentence was 
passed down. I can't comment on her innocence or guilt suffice to ask why 
would anyone be dumb enough to smuggle weed 'into' Bali when it's already 
cheap and plentiful on the streets of Kuta? I think she's probably innocent 
& fitted up. That aside, the punishment is out of all proportion. Having 
read a few first hand accounts of life in the Thai and/or Indonesian penal 
system I'm aware of what lies ahead of her (did you read 'Damage Done' by 
that Aussie drug mule who was imprisoned in Bangkok? Horrifying!)

I've been reading a lot of articles lately telling about the medicinal 
benefits of marijuana! Apparently it has all sorts of holistic health 
benefits when taken in moderation!

Like the Terri Schiavo case before, this 'cause' has had it's day in the 
media spotlight, but people will soon forget after a month or two. Perhaps I 
should mail her a copy of Midnight Express to read (bad taste).

We strictly carry all our luggage on board with us when travelling anywhere 
in SE Asia these days! Better safe than sorry.

I'm glad to see you're still carrying the contrarian line on world events. 
It all just seems to get worse & worse doesn't it? Everything is just so 
extreme now. I celebrated my 40th this month .. I just feel very cynical 
about everything these days.

FROM AN AUSTRALIAN HOTELIER IN HONG KONG

Whether Corby is innocent or guilty, with only 2 and a half years  sentence 
for the Bali Bombing mastermind and now 20 years for possessing marijuana, 
even Indonesian justice officials might have seen the sense in internally 
suggesting to Judge Lintan a better balance to such a sentence in such an 
emotion charged atmosphere whipped up almost solely by your friends in the 
media! Putting aside (as they have themselves done so frequently) their 
concerns about influencing the system!

Let's hope the same forthright search for common justice is now applied to 
analysis of the documentary aired last week, and provided to authorities, 
clearly showing (with hidden cameras) the identities of local sellers of 
anything up to and including Heroin still on the streets of Bali with little 
apparent official attempt to curtail their activities.

Perhaps you could report on some of the known abuses of public service power 
there you have yourself been witness to or aware of over the years in 
Indonesia? Like much of the hysteria around this case, that would serve 
little real purpose either I suppose (and leave a ? over your next visit 
perhaps?) but I see no one yet reporting, either locally or internationally, 
on the apparent imbalance of recent sentencing in such a court system, 
publicly acknowledged as needing improvement.

Try not to whip up more than is already evident from the Xenophobes on 
either side!

FROM AN INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE IN AUSTRALIA

I'm confused about your comment (Travel Impact Newswire edition 25) "lead to 
much soul-searching among the Australian tourism industry". Surely it is the 
Indonesian tourism industry that needs to do the soul searching? After all 
the Corby incident now looks as if it will continue to impact on Australian 
media for at least 12 months, Compounding on the Bali bombing, and the child 
abuse scandals, many average Australian tourists are likely to just say Bali 
is too hard. This of course is unfair, but that is the reality of 
international tourism. And there is some justification.

I don't pretend to know whether Corby is guilty or innocent. However to have 
the chief judge boast on national television, that in over 500 drug-related 
cases he had not found one person innocent certainly casts some level of 
doubt on the administration of justice. Further Corby faced the death 
penalty, a sentence unknown in Australian law for over 30 years, and quite 
justifiably regarded by many Australians as unfair and barbaric, for a crime 
she might expect to serve 5 or 6 years for in Australia.

Lastly there is considerable evidence of drug smuggling both internal and 
international, and of interference with baggage, by Australian baggage 
handlers. Evidence of this was not accepted by the court. It is interesting 
to note that most Australians respond that Corby could be them, or their 
child. They don't trust the Indonesian justice system, and fear they could 
be victims of it.

You also made a mistake in your interpretation of the outburst by  Corby's 
mother. "You bloody judges won't have another nights sleep" is not a threat. 
How could she stop them sleeping? Clearly the implication is the judges 
won't sleep because, in her opinion, they will have a guilty conscience over 
their decision. Hardly a threat of violence. Her reaction of outrage at a 
decision that she passionately disagrees with is perfectly acceptable within 
Australian culture.

I'm not sure of your point. In the context of tourism business, Bali stands 
to suffer, not Australia.  Shouldn't that be the focus of a tourism business 
newsletter?

FROM AN AUSTRLAIAN BED & BREAKFAST BOUTIQUE HOTEL OPERATOR

I don't think that very much weight should be put on the emotional response 
in Australia at the moment.  Watching the television's extreme close-ups of 
Sharpelle's face for over two hours, while the verdict was read out, was a 
harrowing experience so a highly emotional reaction was inevitable.

There is probably also a certain level of empathetic fear because 
imagination is a powerful thing:  "What if someone slipped something into my 
bag?.... How could I prove it...?"   There have been a few movies with that 
type of theme!

If evidence of marijuana smuggling through Australian airports is uncovered 
then I am sure that it will be provided to the Indonesian Courts.

To most of us the sentence seems very harsh in relation to the offence, but 
no-one going to Asia can fail to be aware of the penalties for drug 
smuggling so the majority of Australians, whilst sympathetic to Sharpelle's 
situation, will respect the law.

In the meantime I think that all of us, and especially the media, should 
take a step back and avoid creating, or exacerbating an emotional situation 
that could escalate out of control.

FROM A EUROPEAN TOUR OPERATOR

Each country in the world has laws and rules. When travelling around the 
world, one must know before reaching the next country that rules and laws 
may not be the same as home and that one has to comply with (otherwise you 
stay home). Spitting in HongKong is not legal, chewing in S'pore is not 
legal, carrying and/or consuming drugs is not legal in MANY countries... The 
travel industry in Australia boycotting Bali or Indonesia because someone 
was caught with drugs is unfair...

===================

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