] Yet long before the sentence was handed down many
] concerned Australians had elevated Corby to martyr
] status. But a martyr to what cause? There are 155
] Australians in foreign jails on drugs charges, two facing
] the death penalty.

This take on the Corby verdict is pretty harsh, but is some truth to it.

The drug laws in South East Asia are fucked up. The reason is that militaries in places like Myanmar fund themselves through drug trade in the region, as well as knowledge of the political history of the opium trade. However, those reasons are not reasonable justifications for the laws as they stand. Death sentances for pot are not just.

Austrailia has very liberal attitudes about pot. Its illegal there like is illegal in Holland. You can smell it wafting through the streets in the cities at night. Austrailians like to travel all over South East Asia for business or pleasure. They like to bring their pot with them. This is a bad combination. People end up getting executed.

However, it is absolutely clear that pot smugglers from Austrailia are not funding military juntas in Myanmar, and it is stupid for these countries to hold them to the same legal standard. This individual is a media darling because she is a pretty girl, but the outrage surrounding her is probably outrage that would have been justified for the hundreds of not so pretty Austrailians who've been the victims of this problem.

The Government of Austrailia is likely to negotiate treaties that allow its citizens to be extradicted back home to be tried for crimes committed in other countries. I think this is a good idea and I'd like to see more countries follow suit with this kind of contract.

Corby verdict the inevitable - Editorial - Opinion - smh.com.au