Guys, guys, guys, let's get a bit of perspective here, shall
we?
The Singaporean government's doing its job. The majority of the
Singaporean people don't want drugs in the country and support the
death penalty as a method of achieving this objective. By upholding
the death sentence, the SG government is doing exactly what it's
supposed to do.
On the other hand, the Australian government also has its job to
do, which is protecting the lives and interests of Australians
overseas (regardless of their ethnic origins). Which government can
afford to be seen to be washing their hands of one of their own
citizens who's in trouble overseas?
IMHO the Howard government took its best shot already by suggesting
that the death sentence be commuted in exchange for all that Nguyen
knows about the drug smuggling ring. That has been the only
suggestion so far that goes to achieving Singapore's higher goal,
namely the reduction of drug traffic.
On the other hand, if that plan was to be carried out, it also
means a death sentence for Nguyen - only it will be a drug ring
that kills him, not a government-appointed hangman.
But that's not where the problem lies. The problem lies in
everybody else sticking their noses in.
Who's making noise about the Singaporean government treating
Australia "with contempt"? The opposition. Who's calling for
boycotts and calling the other side names? Private citizens. Who's
sensationalising it? The newspapers.
Let's get a grip here, people. What's flying about in the media is
nowhere near the entire truth. There are plenty of Aussies who
think that Nguyen was very foolish to agree to the gang's demands,
and now it's tough luck that his gamble didn't pay off. However,
that kind of view just doesn't pay well in terms of newspaper
circulation numbers.
Once you filter out the political grandstanding, hyperbole and
other forms of crap, what you're left with is two governments in a
very difficult position, a gang of drug smugglers who caused all
this trouble, and one guy who was either dumb or desperate enough
to be the pawn.
Nufff said.
