The Schapelle Corby Files

Parliamentary Debates & File's on Record

The Schapelle Corby Files

PREMIER CRITICISE REDUCTION OF ABU BAKAR BASHIR'S JAIL SENTENCE

KEVIN RUDD - BOB BROWN - MIKE RANN - ALEXANDER DOWNER

Radio - PM : http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/

Source number: KXZG6 Reporter’s - Mark Colvin & Kim Landers

Flash back file Monday 15 August 2005

Shadow Minister, Greens Senator and SA Premier criticise reduction of Abu Bakar Bashir's jail sentence; President of Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian, appeals f or an end to ban on Taiwanese leaders visiting Australia

MARK COLVIN: Back to our own region now. And the suggestion that the Muslim spiritual leader convicted for his role in instigating the Bali bombings would get out of jail early has caused anger in A ustralia, with the Labor Party comparing it pointedly to the jail sentence on Schapelle Corby.

And the Federal Government says it will raise its concern about the possible cut in Abu Bakar Bashir jail term with Jakarta. Abu Bakar Bashir was sentenced to 30 months jail. Now it appears he may get more than four months cut out of that sentence.

From Canberra, Kim Landers reports. KIM LANDERS: Abu Bakar Bashir was jailed in March for conspiracy over the Bali bombings, which killed 88 Australians. Now the Indonesian media is reporting he'll have his

sentence cut as prisoners across the country are granted leniency to mark Independence Day this week.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says the Government is concerned.

RUDD BROWN RANN DOWNER

Abu Bakar Bashir

The Schapelle Corby Files

PREMIER CRITICISE REDUCTION OF ABU BAKAR BASHIR'S JAIL SENTENCE

KEVIN RUDD - BOB BROWN - MIKE RANN - ALEXANDER DOWNER

Radio - .... contSource number: KXZG6

Reporter’s - Mark Colvin & Kim Landers

Flash back file Monday 15 August 2005

ALEXANDER DOWNER: We wouldn't want to see his already rather short sentence reduced and our Ambassador is taking this matter up with the Indonesians. So, we'll get a report back from him in time, but the Ambassador will be talking with the Indonesian Attorney-General and the Justice Minister about this.

The Opposition wants to go one step further.

Labor's Foreign Affairs spokesman, Kevin Rudd, says the Prime Minister should take up the issue with Indonesia's President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. KEVIN RUDD: If someone like Schapelle Corby can be sentenced to 20 years having been accused of importing marijuana, why is it that Abu Bakar Bashir — ultimately responsible for murdering nearly 100 Australians in Bali — could only be sentenced to 30 months and on top of that have the possibility of that 30 months sentence being reduced even further?

KIM LANDERS: South Australian Premier Mike Rann is even blunter. He's written a blistering letter to Indonesia's Ambassador in Australia, Imron Cotan, expressing his "shock and revulsion" at the prospect of a reduced sentence for Bashir. Mr Rann says that would be a "disgrace" and an "insult" to those who died.

RUDD BROWN RANN DOWNER

Imron Cotan

The Schapelle Corby Files

PREMIER CRITICISE REDUCTION OF ABU BAKAR BASHIR'S JAIL SENTENCE

KEVIN RUDD - BOB BROWN - MIKE RANN - ALEXANDER DOWNER

Radio - .... contSource number: KXZG6

Reporter’s - Mark Colvin & Kim Landers

Flash back file Monday 15 August 2005

MIKE RANN: Indonesia promised that they were going to deal with this terrorism seriously. They promised that they would deal with the Bali bombers in the harshest possible way and yet we've seen Abu Bakar being given a disgustingly low sentence and now apparently it's going to be reduced even further.

KIM LANDERS: As Australia waits for a response on the Bashir matter it has another dilemma, with the President of Taiwan airing concerns he's not allowed to visit here.

In an interview with The Australian newspaper, Chen Shui-bian has appealed for the Government to end its ban on Taiwanese leaders visiting Australia, a veto that even applies to transit stops.

Mr Downer says he can't recall Taiwan ever raising the matter. ALEXANDER DOWNER: Obviously we would talk to Taiwan about any requests they had, but the point we'd make here is that we made our bed on the China issue in 1972 and our Government doesn't have any plans to change the policy that was set in place way back then in 1972.

KIM LANDERS: Greens Senator Bob Brown says Taiwan's leaders should be welcome in Australia. BOB BROWN: Unlike Communist China, it's not a dictatorship. And we need to see a bit more backbone from the Howard Government in backing up freedom, democracy and the reasonable recognition of another head of state. MARK COLVIN: Greens Senator Bob Brown ending that report from Kim Landers.

RUDD BROWN RANN DOWNER