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Death by cannabis prohibition laws LCA LCA Press Release Saturday 25 Nov 2000 The Legalise Cannabis Alliance is appalled to hear that a sentence of death has been given by an Indonesian court on a French man for importing Cannabis into Bali. That the death penalty exists in Indonesia is perhaps no surprise, given the brutal and repressive nature of the regime in that country. But for such a vicious act to be carried out in the name of controlling the use of a substance as well established and commonplace in both of our cultures as Cannabis is barbaric. In the UK importation of 4 kgs of cannabis would be likely to attract a prison sentence of about 2 years and the question of the legalisation of Cannabis is now a firmly established political issue. Cannabis is a plant indigenous to Bali and has a long history of cultural use in this region. Bali is a major "backpacking" destination for millions of young Europeans, a very large proportion of whom use Cannabis and are therefore at great risk if this situation is allowed to go unchallenged. LCA Spokesman Alun Buffry said: "We urge everyone to make their feelings known to the Indonesian President and the Embassy in London (address below)" "The LCA calls on the government of Indonesia to withdraw this barbaric threat and also on the British and French governments to use their good offices to help save the life of this unfortunate person." "This is certainly one of the most severe cases that illustrates that the law against cannabis is out of control and is causing untold harm." Notes For Editors: Embassy of Indonesia, . Fax: 0207 491 4993 38 Grosvenor Square, London W1X 9AD President Jusuf Habibie Fax: + 62 21 526 8726 FULL ARTICLE URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00.n1721.a01.html Subj: Indonesia: French Drug Smuggler Gets Death Sentence Pubdate: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 Source: Indonesian Observer (Indonesia) Copyright: 2000 The Indonesian Observer Website: http://www.indoexchange.com/indonesian-observer FRENCH DRUG SMUGGLER GETS DEATH SENTENCE JAKARTA (IO) - Denpasar District Court yesterday sentenced French national Michael Blanc (27) to death for smuggling 3.85 kilograms of hashish into Bali. Blanc, who was accompanied in court by his interpreter Jean Cauteau from France, looked pale as the verdict was announced. His parents Jean Claude and Hellen stood up and embraced him. Antara reported that from Denpasar that the panel of judges led by Ni Wayan Mariati found the Frenchman guilty of smuggling and possession.Blanc, who holds a tourist visa, arrived at Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar on a Garuda flight from India on December 26, 1999, after a stopover in Bangkok. At 3:25 p.m. he tried to leave the airport through the international arrivals gate but customs officials put his bags through an X-ray machine and detected "strange objects" in one of them. Customs officials opened the suspicious bag. [continues: 20 lines] The Legalise Cannabis Alliance was registered in the UK as a political party in 1999. Legalise Cannabis Alliance candidates contested the by-elections in Kensington and Chelsea (November 1999) and Romsey (May 2000) as well as local elections in Norwich and Peterborough. It is expected that up to 60 candidates will stand in the next round of elections in the UK. The Legalise Cannabis Alliance does not run a membership but encourages members from all parties to endorse our Principles, Aims and Proposals. Currently the 550 endorsees includes doctors, solicitors and many other professionals. In the UK importation of 4 kgs of cannabis would be likely to attract a prison sentence of about 2 years.
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