FRINGE DWELLERS

There was an interview in the Saturday edition of The Age at the in which veteran writer Gary Tippett talked to Lex Lasry QC – the man who has been representing convicted and condemned heroin smuggler Nguyen Tuong Van. The Singapore Government plans to execute him on Friday.

In the interview the lawyer, with a touch of bitterness has a swipe at me. He says: he has heard ‘fringe dwellers” such as Derryn Hinch expounding on Nguyen’s situation. “ They don’t know. People like that have no idea of what they are talking about. You’d invite someone who mouths off the way he does to consider whether he’d be mouthing off at the same rate if it was his son in that cell , waiting to ‘swing’ as he puts it.

Now I can understand Mr. Lasry’ passion and fears and concerns but I am not the “ fringe dweller” here. Nguyen is. And his brother Khoa. They are heroin dealers and smugglers. Nguyen, when caught at Singapore Airport, had enough heroin strapped to his body and in his pack for more than 25,000 hits. His brother did time for trafficking here in Melbourne. They lurk on the fringe of society – enticing addicts. Not caring if the muck they sell kills people. Not caring if the addicts craving their product break into houses or bask up old ladies and steal their handbags.

These are the fringe dwellers Mr Lasry. Not me.

And this whole campaign is getting out of control. It is, as I said emotional claptrap. Now, we’ve got church leaders and politicians calling for a minute’s silence on Friday when a convicted heroin smuggler is due to be hanged. Don’t recall Australia doing that for Barlow and Chambers. There’s even a campaign attacking Prime Minister Howard for hosting a cricket match the same day as a sovereign nation punishes a drug dealer. And we are urged to wear yellow ribbons.

Liberal backbencher Bruce Baird has said he believes ALL Australians were “deeply disturbed” by Nguyen’s story. I’m not. He knew the law in Singapore. He knew the risks in Singapore. And he took those risks to make money. And who knows if 100 or 1000 of those heroin hits he was trying to smuggle back here would have killed people in Melbourne.

And getting back to Mr Lasry. He was quoted at the weekend as saying that his client had found God in jail. Yep. A lot of them do. Look at the Watergate crooks. And he said “ at a personal level he’s the most courageous person I have ever met”.

Forget fire-fighters and soldiers and Police. People who risk their lives to protect Australia. Not poison it. Mr Lasry, you should go out more.

Monday, November 28 2005

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2005