Thoughts 28 - Drugs + Death Penalties

I don't get super serious or talk about controversial topics too often on this space.  Today, I don't have funny gifs or memes, and I'm not talking about books or posting photos of my fur babies.  Today, I'm getting serious.  I fully anticipate that not everyone will agree with me.  That's okay. 

For further information on this case, or if you don't like my quick summary, google "Bali 9"; there will be plenty to read about.  

Photo source

Last week, Indonesia executed two convicted drug smugglers, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, who were Australian citizens, a penalty that many, particularly in the Western world, believe is unjust and brutal.  Death by firing squad.  A lot of opinions and controversy, even diplomatic fractures have surrounded this case in Australia and Indonesia in recent months and weeks. The guys were convicted in 2006 of smuggling approximately $4million worth of heroin. They were described as the ring leaders who recruited others to be drug mules, and allegedly, this was not the first time that either were involved in drug trafficking offenses. So...they got caught and justifiably deserved punishment. 

Australia doesn't have the death penalty, so a lot of Australians do not support it ever. Indonesia has some pretty sketchy laws about who they execute and who they don't. For instance, this year they freed a guy who organized a bombing in Bali that killed people (including Australian tourists), but they executed the drug smugglers. 

Many media reports surrounded these two guys showing they were remorseful and completely rehabilitated. Lots and lots of media stories paint them in a favourable light. One of them became a minister while serving time in the Indonesian prison.  There were tons of stories from their families, mothers and siblings pleading for mercy.  Some of the family footage was heart-breaking to watch. 

Sensationalized stories surrounded a legitimate news story.  Sometimes, it was difficult to decipher what to read and who to listen to.

Australian politicians, ambassadors, and diplomats got involved. Indonesian authorities got pissed, pretty much saying don't tell us how to run our country. Lots of media, debates, panel discussions, interviews, updates, and social media banter flooded the news for weeks. With all of the news coverage, it was pretty difficult not to think about it and come up with my own personal views on the situation.

I do not agree that death by firing squad is the correct punishment for this case. But. The laws and penalties in Indonesia are well-known in this part of the world. These guys took a risk, broke the law, got caught, and were punished for it.  

Being from Texas, there's a lot of exposure to news stories about the border drug trade between Texas and Mexico. If you get involved with the drug trade in Mexico, there's some stiff penalties. Mexican prisons are not nice places, but if you get involved in the drug game in Mexico and get caught, a prison may be a luxurious form of punishment compared to the Mexican cartels getting ahold of you.  Not just death, but beheadings and torture are part of their punishment. Those Mexican cartels don't mess around.  To avoid these unpleasant punishments, what should you do?  Don't get involved in the drug trade.

So. Australians know Indonesia has drug laws that are punishable by death. If you smuggle drugs, you take that risk. If you're caught, you may not like or agree with the punishment. 

I am not trying to sound hard or heartless.  I've thought a lot about this.  Here's what stuck with me:  I've broken the law. I've driven drunk. I am not proud of that fact.  Not one little bit.  I could've injured or killed someone. If that horrendous possibility would've actually happened, I would have deserved the stiffest penalty under American law for that offense.  If I had committed that offense in another country, I would have deserved their punishment.  I wouldn't have liked going to prison.  I wouldn't have enjoyed or looked forward to receiving that penalty.  But, I made a terrible, terrible choice.  So, I would have deserved the penalty. 

I feel sympathetic towards the families. They didn't make the choices their sons or brothers made.  Without a doubt, these families are suffering, mourning, feeling a tremendous sense of loss and unjust.

I may sound like I'm stepping up on a soap box...I know this...but I'm going to do it anyway...I'm entitled to an opinion.  Drugs are bad.  Drugs kill.  Families fracture because of drugs.  Rapes occur because of drugs.  Robberies, thefts, and burglaries occur because of drugs.  Murders occur because of drugs.  Some children are abandoned by their parents because of drugs.  Some babies are born addicted to drugs.  Governments spend a lot of money to combat the drug trade.  Many tears are cried, many hearts are broken, many souls feel lost and empty because of drugs.  The ripple effect of drug trafficking is far and wide.  Punishment for smuggling $4million worth of drugs into or out of another country should be hefty.  I just don't think the firing squad is the answer.

Some opponents of capital punishment say it does not serve as a deterrent.  I say this: if you followed the Chan and Sukumaran case, and you are Australian, and you are a drug smuggler, if you do not see this case as a deterrent for drug smuggling in/out of Indonesia, I don't know if anything will deter you.  Therefore, you deserve the punishment that you get.  

Stepping off soap box.