Politics Over Principles

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith pre-empted criticism yesterday by claiming that refusing to appeal for the lives of the Bali bombers was not inconsistent to Australia’s opposition to the death penalty.

Mr Smith’s clear refusal to address the execution Bali bombers is more than simply remaining silent, it is a clear acceptance of the sentence. As an abolitionist nation we must show that we do not only reject capital punishment in Australia but also worldwide, anything else would be inconsistent to our values. Indeed, we do push for abolition worldwide, and as a member of the United Nations we are not softly spoken on this point, nor should we be. Indonesia, as one of our closest neighbours, as a nation that is a liberal democracy, as a country where three Australians are sentenced to die, how can we do anything but make our refusal to accept capital punishment abundantly clear? Our integrity, our principles and the lives of our own citizens depend on it.

By refusing to apply our abolitionist values to the execution of terrorists, yet vowing to always appeal for the lives of Australians on death row, Mr Smith and Prime Minister Rudd are creating a glaring inconsistency. Would they change their tune were the Bali bombers Australian citizens? I sense a paradox.

The Bali bombers are to be executed for a crime committed, in part, against the Australian people, and we have a duty as abolitionists to send a clear message in response – don’t kill in our name.

I am not asking that we excuse the Bali bombers, but that we treat the value of life as inherently equal, terrorist or drug dealer, Australian or Indonesian, and send a clear, unequivocal message that we in no way support the execution of the Bali bombers.

Capital punishment in the world will only dwindle when our stance is united and unconditional, when we are consistent with our values, and when our politicians refuse to allow a nation’s principles to bend under politics.

Quote of the day:

"We are not so mad as to think that we shall create a world in which murder will not occur. We are fighting for a world in which murder will no longer be legal."

- Albert Camus