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1. CAMPAIGN AGINST DEATH PENALTY FOR CANNABIS IN INDONESIA
sample letter
Dear ..............
I am appalled to read that Indonesian Courts are still handing out the death penalty for cannabis offences.
I refer to the two articles below.
In this day and age, now that cannabis has been recognised as far less of a risk than previously thought and hence downgraded to a class C drug, and considering that the UK is now civilised enough to have abolished the death penalty even for viciously violent crimes, don't you think that we should as a nation voice our disapproval at these sentences?
What can be done?
I look forwards to receiving your reply.
Yours sincerely:
...............
Source: Borneo Bulletin
Pub Date: 27 Oct 2004
Author: Rol Ezam and Malai FadleyRizal
Web: http://www.brunet.bn/news/bb/wed/local.htm
Contact: brupress@brunet.bn
A Malaysian national was sentenced to death by hanging by the Brunei High Court yesterday for possessing a compressed slab of cannabis weighing 922.276 grammes for the purpose of trafficking. His compatriot, who was
jointly charged, however escaped the noose. Under the Brunei law, possessing more than 600 grammes of a controlled drug carries the death penalty.
The defendant, Lam Ming Hwa, who is the second defendant, was found guilty after trial for possessing the said drugs by the Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Mohammed Saied and Judge Dato Paduka Steven Chong.
Lam Ming Hwa and first defendant Sylvester Anak Kuling were caught by the Narcotics Control Bureau officers at a plaza in Tutong on November 24, 2002.
"Since the amount of cannabis exceeds 600 grammes, the sentence we are obliged to pass is one of death, with a direction that he be hanged by the neck till he is dead," said the Chief Justice in passing his verdict.
The court rejected explanations of the defendant, who is represented by Counsel Mr Zamri Hj Md Taha, about his right ring finger impression found on the black packet inside the plastic bag, which led to the conviction.
"Having considered his evidence, we are of the considered opinion that there is nothing in his evidence or in the circumstances appearing in the prosecution case that would rebut that presumption of possession in him of
the cannabis in the packet, which bore his fingerprint impression," the Chief Justice noted.
Meanwhile the first defendant, Sylvester Anak Kuling, who was previously involved in road laying work in Kanowit, Sibu and later helped his friend working at a vegetable garden, was found innocent of the charge as the court accepted his explanation on the presence of his right middle finger impression on a black plastic bag which was discovered by the NCB officers beneath the front passenger seat of a car bearing registration number BF 9924.
During the trial, Sylvester, who is represented by Counsel Mr Ridzlan Hj Ibrahim, claimed that he accidentally touched "something" which was beneath the seat of the car when he was adjusting the seat backwards. As it was not his car, he did not pay much attention to it.
"The phrase lack of credibility seems to us to imply that a defendant has to be credible to avoid his defence and/or explanation rejected by the court. He may not seem credible, yet the defence on which he relies may raise reasonable doubt about the prosecution case against him, which would entitle him to an acquittal," said the Chief Justice in acquitting the defendant.
Besides the joint charge, both of them faced two charges of consuming Methylamphetamine and cannabis respectively to which they pleaded guilty earlier. The Judge sentenced Sylvester to 3 months' imprisonment while Lam, who is a second offender under the MDA, was sentenced to 3 years' jail on each of the charges. The sentences, however, were ordered to be run concurrently with effect from the date of their arrest on November 24, 2002.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Hj Nabil Daraina, assisted by DPP Hjh Anifa Rafiza, conducted the prosecution.
Subj: Indonesia: 'Help Me' Pleads Student At Risk Of Death Sentence
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04.n1454.a06.html
Pubdate: Wed, 13 Oct 2004
Contact: letters@herald.co.nz
'HELP ME' PLEADS STUDENT AT RISK OF DEATH SENTENCE
DENPASAR - A Gold Coast student who could face the death penalty for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into Indonesia from Australia, has pleaded for help, Australian media reported.
As Schapelle Leigh Corby, 27, of Tugun, in Queensland, was taken back to her cell after interrogation by Bali police, she pleaded with reporters, "I'm petrified, I'm scared - help me. Tell Mum and Dad I love them," say reports in the Daily Telegraph and Sydney Morning Herald.
Customs officers at Bali Airport allegedly found a package of 4.2kg of high-grade cannabis in her bodyboard bag.
Police said it was the largest quantity of cannabis taken into Bali, and the first such case involving an Australian. Drugs squad director Bambang Sugiarto said the beauty therapy student screamed and cried as she pleaded her innocence during interrogation by police in Denpasar.
In contrast to Sugiarto's comments, news reports showed Corby smiling and waving at cameras and saying hello to her parents.
Police showed journalists Corby's labelled bodyboard bag. Inside were a bodyboard and the plastic bag of cannabis.
Sugiarto said the cannabis was of much higher quality than Indonesian cannabis.
Corby's lawyer, Lily Sri Rahayu Lubis, said the package might have been planted without Corby's knowledge.
Corby could face the death penalty if charged with drug trafficking, or 20 years in prison if charged with possessing an illegal drug.
2: CAMPAIGN AGAINST EXPULSION OF CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL FOR CANNABIS POSSESSION
sample letter:
Dear ............
I am writing with extreme concern and outrage at the expulsion of schoolchildren from their classes for what amounts to a victimless misdemeanor.
Over the last months I have read several newspaper reports and received e-mails from the parents of children who have been caught with very small amounts of cannabis in their possession, or been seen smoking it near their school.
Now that cannabis is a class C drugs, adults would seldom be arrested for such small amounts (although we understand they are more likely to be arrested if near a school) but we are speaking here of kids.
So long as cannabis remains a “street” drug, seemingly available almost as easily to children as to adults, we will continue to be faced with these instances.
But let’s face it, whether or not the children are doing this out of rebellion, bravado, experimentation, peer-pressure, the need for attention, or whatever, if they have harmed nobody, threatened nobody, damaged no property, caused no disturbance .. surely expulsion from school is an extremely harsh punishment that will benefit nobody, least of all the kids themselves? It is more likely to drive them away as they will begin to feel like social outcasts. Is that was this Government wants cannabis users to feel, or just the kids?
I can assure that I do not want to encourage children to use any drug non-medicinally and that includes cannabis, but to remove them from education and put risk on their future careers and prospects - both to a greater extent than would have been applied to 18-year-olds - is simply an outrage.
Do you support their expulsions from school or would you issue some sort of recommendation of an alternative “punishment” (although still for an action that has harmed none)?
I hope you will be able to find the time to respond to this personally
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