fools, not mules

There was a story in the newspapers this week  about the Bali Nine – the alleged heroin smugglers In Indonesia. And one headline said: Prosecutors reward Bali Nine mule.

Now, as I have said before, I find the word “mule” a misnomer. Somebody straps bags of heroin to your back and your legs and you are a mule?  A mule means you are a donkey. That you don’t know what you are doing. And some of them certainly were asses.

I mean, what did they think they were trying to bring back into Australia? Talcum powder?

Why did they think that somebody would pay for their holiday in Bali?  How did they even know the alleged drug smuggling gang leaders?

Some have claimed that the alleged ringleaders threatened to kill them  and/or their families if they refused to carry the drugs from Bali to Australia.

Why not go to the Police? One father has abused the Australian Federal  Police for not stopping his son from going to Bali. And there was a failed court action in Darwin. Well, he’s the so-called mule’s father. He obviously knew what his son was up to before he even left Australia. He’s the father. Why didn’t he try to stop him?

And the AFP have every right to pass on information to any country – Indonesia, Canada, the United States – if they believe a crime is about to be committed. Interpol and national police forces exchange information every day.

Under Indonesian law some of the so-called mules should thank their lucky stars. Schapelle Corby got twenty years for importing marijuana. The prosecutors have recommended the mules get twenty years for trying to smuggle heroin out of Indonesia. They could all have faced the firing squad and several may still do.

But any judge who doesn’t they all knew exactly what they were doing --  why they had their free trip to Bali – is whistling Dixie.

They weren’t mules. They were greedy fools. And if they get out of this with their lives then they are lucky.

Friday, January 27, 2006

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2006