OPINION: Withdrawing ambassador not enough after executions
WITHDRAWING our ambassador in the wake of the executions of two Australians in Indonesia is about as useful as hitting them with a limp piece of lettuce.
It's a 30 second sound grab on the nightly news.
We all know the ambassador will slink back to Jakarta in two week's time unnoticed by the world's press.
MORE: Mixed reactions over executions of Chan and Sukumaran
Let's get things straight from the outset: I am totally opposed to the death penalty.
Yes, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran broke the law in Indonesia, but they didn't deserve to die in such a violent way.
If we are such good friends with the Indonesians, close neighbours and allies, they should have listened to our appeals for leniency and commuted this pair of convicted drug smugglers' sentences to life in prison.
That way at least their families could have gone to visit them and their would have been a chance for time off for good behaviour or even a presidential pardon.
Reader poll
Australia has recalled her ambassador from Indonesia. Is this the right reaction to the Chan and Sukumaran exectutions?
This poll ended on 04 May 2015.
Current Results
Recalling the ambassador sounds about right.
7%
It's not enough. We should be considering sanctions.
26%
Australia should lodge a formal protest with Indonesia and in the United Nations.
13%
The Australian Prime Minister and Indonesian president should discuss it.
3%
We shouldn't be taking any action. We should respect Indonesia's right to enforce their own laws.
50%
This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.
Two of our citizens get killed and we withdraw our ambassador? Is that it?
Some people have been calling for Australians to boycott travelling to Indonesia.
I feel like this will also be ineffectual and doomed to fail as Bali is the budget destination for Aussie travellers.
Instead, I think we need to introduce a range of other measures to let Indonesia know of our displeasure.
How about cutting our $600 million aid budget in half, or severing defence and intelligence sharing ties, or targeted trade sanctions to put pressure on the Indonesian government to end the death penalty?
Australia's foreign policy towards Indonesia needs a re-think and let's stand up for our citizens.
