Bali and the death penalty

[Deleted member]

Is it just me? Or is the whole " travel to Bali with drugs hidden in your luggage and not expect to get caught " thing not sinking in?
Another UK grandmother has just been delivered to death row for smuggling drugs.
What I find amazing is that I understand drugs are openly available when you get there.

I won't travel to Bali ( or anywhere in Indonesia for that matter) as my own small protest against the death penalty. While me withholding my meager travel budget from Indonesia makes no difference. It at least is a moral stand for me ( and I suspect a number of others)
I once traveled on Garuda ( not booked by me, and when I realized it was too late to change ) and this assistance to the Indonesian economy galled me as well .

Anyway I would be interested to know how those who do travel to Bali ( and plent of Aussies do so) Reconcile the treatment of those in prison there with their own expectations of decency and human rights. And stil feel it's a good idea to go.

 

[oz_mark]

I won't travel to Bali ( or anywhere in Indonesia for that matter) as my own small protest against the death penalty. While me withholding my meager travel budget from Indonesia makes no difference. It at least is a moral stand for me ( and I suspect a number of others)
I once traveled on Garuda ( not booked by me, and when I realized it was too late to change ) and this assistance to the Indonesian economy galled me as well .
.

Do you find that such a personal policy limits some travel options? Not travelling anywhere there is a death penalty would be a bit restrictive as it takes out large portions of Asia, the united states and many other places.

 

[Deleted member]

Agreed. However my post refers specifically to Bali. It's closeness to Australia and the wider ongoing (sometimes troublesome ) relationship with us. Add to that the plethora of young ( sometimes silly) Australians who go there regularly and whether they consider the way we are viewed.

 

[oz_mark]

Agreed. However my post refers specifically to Bali. It's closeness to Australia and the wider ongoing (sometimes troublesome ) relationship with us. Add to that the plethora of young ( sometimes silly) Australians who go there regularly and whether they consider the way we are viewed.

I guess my issue is that you can point at Bali with this question, but plenty of other countries have similar standards of prison accommodation and the death penalty. I would find basing my travel on such things too restrictive.

Unless for some reason you carve Indonesia out for special treatment, and still go to other countries that have the death penalty. But that would be hypocritical.

So, I go to Indonesia. I go with an awareness of local rules and customs. I don't get involved in local political issues, their legal system etc. Much the same as any other country I go to.

 

[Simo]

Is it just me? Or is the whole " travel to Bali with drugs hidden in your luggage and not expect to get caught " thing not sinking in?
Another UK grandmother has just been delivered to death row for smuggling drugs.
What I find amazing is that I understand drugs are openly available when you get there.

I won't travel to Bali ( or anywhere in Indonesia for that matter) as my own small protest against the death penalty. While me withholding my meager travel budget from Indonesia makes no difference. It at least is a moral stand for me ( and I suspect a number of others)
I once traveled on Garuda ( not booked by me, and when I realized it was too late to change ) and this assistance to the Indonesian economy galled me as well .

Anyway I would be interested to know how those who do travel to Bali ( and plent of Aussies do so) Reconcile the treatment of those in prison there with their own expectations of decency and human rights. And stil feel it's a good idea to go.

Bali is off my travel agenda due many levels of unrest and also how little certain parts of the population for life.

Death penality does not stop me from going but the whole drugs seen there is a huge no go for me either.

 

[medhead]

I read that story. Her defence was the ring leader threaten (the life of?) son/grandson. She then lead the police to the person who allegedly was the ringleader and made the threats. Result she's to be shot. He gets 7 years on minor procession charges.

A bizarre outcome.

Bali is off my travel list because I don't

• wear the flag as a cape
• usually wear thongs and singlets on aircraft
• own a Bintang singlet
• drink VB regularly
• consider world travel as binge drinking in Bali

 

[drron]

Well I have been to 13 countries with the death penalty still on the books and will be visiting another 3 this year.If you avoid counties with the death penalty you will not be able to fly long haul out of Australia.
I am not going back to Bali because I just dont like the place.Primarily because of the number of australian idiots who go there.

 

[medhead]

Well I have been to 13 countries with the death penalty still on the books and will be visiting another 3 this year.If you avoid counties with the death penalty you will not be able to fly long haul out of Australia.
I am not going back to Bali because I just dont like the place.Primarily because of the number of australian idiots who go there.

Japan? South America?

 

[Fruitcake]

Bali is off my travel list because I don't
...

• usually wear things and singlets in aircraft

If you don't usually wear things on an aircraft, for the sake of fellow pax, I hope most of your travel is in an SQ F Suite or similarly private accomodations !

 

[medhead]

[/LIST]

If you don't usually wear things on an aircraft, for the sake of fellow pax, I hope most of your travel is in an SQ F Suite or similarly private accomodations !

Even with the typo it is "things and singlets". As I don't ever wear singlets on aircraft fellow pax are protected.

 

[Alanslegal]

Anyway I would be interested to know how those who do travel to Bali ( and plent of Aussies do so) Reconcile the treatment of those in prison there with their own expectations of decency and human rights. And stil feel it's a good idea to go.

We ALL know that prison conditions are harsh and so they should be! Do the crime, do the time.

As drron said, if you don't want to fly to a country that still conducts capital punishment, then you are more than likely going to be stuck in Australia.

 

[opusman]

We ALL know that prison conditions are harsh and so they should be! Do the crime, do the time.

As drron said, if you don't want to fly to a country that still conducts capital punishment, then you are more than likely going to be stuck in Australia.

Europe via Hong Kong is about your only easy option if you count transiting.

 

[Ausbt]

Bali is off my travel list because I don't

• wear the flag as a cape
• usually wear thongs and singlets on aircraft
• own a Bintang singlet
• drink VB regularly
• consider world travel as binge drinking in Bali

I was in Bali last November and seriously stuggled to locate bogans. I didn't see anyone drinking VB. Euro's & Yanks outnumbered the Oi Oi Oi's. There were Bintang singlets for sale yes, but I saw more of these in shops in Noosa over Christmas. I was in fact completely surprised that bogan-Aussies were not everywhere, let along seemingly no where. So mark November down as possibly a good time to go to Bali, because it was very quiet. I've done quite a bit of SE Asia and I'd rate Bali as right up there in terms of beauty.

On the score (bad pun!) of drugs I was offered Cialis which I'm proud to admit I didn't actually know what it was. When I rejected that I was offered a few more things, all of which of course I rejected quite firmly and in Bahasa Indonesia of which I speak a reasonable amount of. My +1 was highly concerned about my unlocked surfboard cover at the airport, fearing a Corby incident. I must admit, when you see it just lying around the baggage carousel you do wonder and often take a quick peek inside, but overall I love Bali and infact probably rate it in my top 5 destinations worldwide really. So Medhead, you are missing out.

 

[Pushka]

There are a number of Australians in jails throughout the world but we only seem to hear about the ones in Bali. I don't think staying away from a country with a death penalty achieves anything.

We've been to Bali several times and always avoid the bogans. So many beautiful places to stay.

 

[wingspan]

Japan? South America?

Hmm well Japan has death penalty. As does much of South America - although you could fly to EZE with AR.

Europe via Hong Kong is about your only easy option if you count transiting.

There's also Canada via Manila on PR, or QF or SA direct between Australia and South Africa.

 

[wingspan]

Another UK grandmother has just been delivered to death row for smuggling drugs.

I had to chuckle when listening to the news this morning that the 'grandmother' identity is being used to make us react in particular emotional ways.

 

[medhead]

Love the lack of specific comments about the news story.

I was in Bali last November and seriously stuggled to locate bogans. I didn't see anyone drinking VB. Euro's & Yanks outnumbered the Oi Oi Oi's.

Indeed. But if you say that to loudly you'll upset the view that the Bali bombers were targetting Ozzies and not just any old western.

So Medhead, you are missing out.

Correction. I'm seeing different things that are just as good and possibly better.

 

[Mollycram]

I was in Bali last November and seriously stuggled to locate bogans. I didn't see anyone drinking VB. Euro's & Yanks outnumbered the Oi Oi Oi's. There were Bintang singlets for sale yes, but I saw more of these in shops in Noosa over Christmas. I was in fact completely surprised that bogan-Aussies were not everywhere, let along seemingly no where. So mark November down as possibly a good time to go to Bali, because it was very quiet. I've done quite a bit of SE Asia and I'd rate Bali as right up there in terms of beauty.

On the score (bad pun!) of drugs I was offered Cialis which I'm proud to admit I didn't actually know what it was. When I rejected that I was offered a few more things, all of which of course I rejected quite firmly and in Bahasa Indonesia of which I speak a reasonable amount of. My +1 was highly concerned about my unlocked surfboard cover at the airport, fearing a Corby incident. I must admit, when you see it just lying around the baggage carousel you do wonder and often take a quick peek inside, but overall I love Bali and infact probably rate it in my top 5 destinations worldwide really. So Medhead, you are missing out.

I agree! I have been to Bali many times as it is a great place to relax. It is incredibly easy to avoid the bogans (easier than here!) and there are some really fantastic restaurants and day spas to try out. I have travelled a lot over the past twenty years and still think of Bali as one of my favourite quick holiday breaks. The majority of people I hear slagging Bali off have never actually been there....

 

[medhead]

Hmm well Japan has death penalty. As does much of South America - although you could fly to EZE with AR.
.

Hmm well there is a reason I used ?s. Thanks for answer my questions.

 

[HarryB]

We've been to Bali several times and always avoid the bogans. So many beautiful places to stay.

This is what people seem to misunderstand with Bali. Outside of areas like Kuta it is a superb part of the world. The people are friendly and welcoming, the food is excellent and the countryside is spectacular.

On the subject raised by the OP I have no issue with their laws, but the administration of them is inconsistent but there are many countries like that.

I always struggle to believe the alibis of drug traffickers and this is no different. I suspect nanna was expecting her age would put her off the radar of the authorities but she got busted with all the gear. Maybe I'm cynical but the story is a little convenient. I did think it was odd that despite the prosecution recommending 15 years the judge thought otherwise but the fact is she got caught with a lot of drugs and is now a guest of Indonesia while she goes through the appeals process and that will determine what happens next.

Bottom line - their country, their laws. Everyone who has any interest in visiting Bali or any other part of Indonesia for that matter knows the risks if you land with drugs.