"The Indonesian public know that Australia has been pressurising the Indonesian government for a long time to give protection to Corby," Juwana remarked.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The granting of clemency to Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Leigh Corby must not create a perception that the government bowed to Australia`s pressure, said Hikmahanto Juwana, an international law expert at the University of Indonesia, here on Wednesday.

"The Indonesian public know that Australia has been pressurising the Indonesian government for a long time to give protection to Corby," Juwana remarked.

According to Juwana, protecting Corby became Australia`s local agenda after the Australian public pressurised the Australian government, which in turn pressurised the Indonesian government to grant her clemency.

"They began the pressure by proposing an agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, until finally the clemency was granted," he explained.

The Indonesian people will believe that the pressure worked, particularly since it concerned the crime of illicit drug trafficking, which can harm the younger generation, he observed.

To prevent this negative perception, Juwana stressed that the Yudhoyono administration must ask Australia to reciprocate by dealing with the legal cases of many Indonesian fishermen who are being jailed without trial.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono recently reduced Corby`s sentence by five years.

"The president has signed the decision," Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi confirmed here on Tuesday at the presidential palace compound.

He said that the decision letter has been sent to the district court in Denpasar, Bali, to be submitted to Corby.

According to Sudi, the decision has been taken through the existing process and procedures on clemency.

"We have also asked for consideration from the supreme court chief and the concerned cabinet ministers," he remarked.

Sudi said that the Supreme Court, in essence, had advised the president to meet Corby`s request for clemency by reducing her sentence.

Due consideration has also been given to Indonesian citizens involved in legal problems in Australia, he added.

Corby was caught on October 8, 2004, while attempting to smuggle 4.2 kilograms of marijuana through Bali`s Ngurah Rai airport; she had arrived from Australia aboard Australian Airlines AQ 7829.

In mid-2005, the district court in Denpasar sentenced her to 20 years in jail. She has received remissions several times so far.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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