Kay Danes/Foreign Prisoner Support Service Release

Attention: Media Watch
Re: ACA [Ch9] victimisation of Schapelle Corby

As you know, Schapelle Corby is a prisoner in Kerobokan Prison. Recently I tuned into the Australian television ‘A Current Affairs Program’ on Monday evening 3 March 2008. I could not believe that they had compiled an elaborate story to mislead the Australian public. Airing photo's of tourists who resembled Schapelle and her sister Mercedes and alluding that they were in fact, Schapelle and her sister, enjoying a night on the town - unsupervised by prison police.

It was devastating the way ACA compiled the story but more disturbing was the fact that they refused to show the said photographs to Schapelle's distraught mother unless she agreed to view the photo's on air. Then they had the audacity to ask her how she could be so convinced that the photo's were not actual photo's of her daughters. Rosleigh Corby has just lost her former husband to cancer and at the time the photo's were taken, his funeral was underway and Mercedes had flown back to Australia to attend.

I am of the understanding that the girls who took these photographs were attempting to sell them to the Australian media, although I personally cannot verify that. In any case, I strongly believe that Schapelle’s current legal case will suffer as a result of the ACA program and that is more than just unfortunate, it is in my opinion, highly concerning.

Foreign Prisoner Support Service is lodging a formal complaint to the Australian Attorney General's Office in relation to the continued victimisation of Australian detainee Schapelle Corby.

Prisoners are not, and should not, be put at risk simply to increase ratings or to sell more newspapers. The story was nothing more than sensational rubbish based on hearsay from people who don’t even know Schapelle Corby, have never met her or her family!

I am of the opinion that Schapelle Corby’s civil rights are being blatantly violated by Australian media, in particular, A Current Affair [Ch9] in this instance.

Journalists in Australia need to be mindful that inaccurate reporting such as we have seen in this latest media fiasco can have detrimental affects on Australians detained overseas. In fact, given that Indonesia does monitor our media to a greater extent, this could undermine and negatively impact on the current negotiations of the Prisoner Transfer Agreement. The bilateral relationship between Australia and Indonesia is one that requires a certain level of respect and sensitivity. Clearly the ACA report does not provide support to either.

Schapelle Corby is currently serving a twenty year sentence. She is waiting on a decision from the Indonesian court pending her application for a judicial review. What right does Channel nine or any other media outlet have to report falsely, inaccurately, and in a way that has the potential to negatively impact on any prisoner's current judicial proceedings and/or appeals?

Australian media reports that falsely claim that she is frequently let out of Kerobokan prison and has an easy time in the jail, are completely false but more importantly, they are reckless and insensitive. This type of journalism only undermines her right to be treated fairly and serves to insult the Indonesian authorities and the way in which they manage prisoners and the security of their prisons.

Kerobokan prison is no holiday camp or idyllic paradise, contrary to some media reports. I should know because I’ve been there as a visitor to Australians and foreigners detained there. It’s a disgusting place. Schapelle Corby is doing HARD TIME and is NOT given any special considerations over any other prisoners. She does not leave the prison on trips to the beach or to restaurants or nightclubs. These allegations are completely false and can be verified with Indonesian authorities as false.

These people who went on ACA and reported that they saw Schapelle and Mercedes at some restaurant in Bali are people who have never met the Corby’s. When I watched the program I saw within seconds that it was not Schapelle or Mercedes. At no time did the journalists at ACA approach any of us, who they know could easily verify the photo's, and one has to question why that is? This type of smear campaigning by A Current Affair is unwarranted and is disgusting! I have not seen anything so appalling in my life. I personally witnessed the way ACA begged me and the Corby family to let them into Schapelle’s dilemma at the onset of her trial and their promises to help tell the Australian public what we all knew, that Schapelle wasn’t getting a fair go. Now they turn on her … for what reason? For a story? Is that all that poor girl means to those journalists at Ch9?

The media’s victimisation of Schapelle Corby is not something that I have ever seen before in the history of this country, or elsewhere throughout the world where we [FPSS] are dealing with foreign media on a daily basis.

I am appealing to the Australian public to disregard ACA’s report on Monday evening. I am also appealing to the Australian Civil Libertarians to look into this appalling situation and voice their outrage to the Australian government, if they are to support the proper and fair treatment of Australians detained overseas.

So called ‘experts’ called upon by media to make comments about foreign prisoners being able to buy their way out of Kerobokan prison on day release trips are careless and untrue. Foreigners are not able to ‘bribe’ guards to leave Kerobokan. This is absolute rubbish and Mr. Paul Wilson, a leading Australian criminologist hasn’t a clue what he’s talking about if he truly thinks that is the case! He claims he was taken out of context by the ACA reporter and certainly his statements, as aired, will have a negative effect in Bali. Where is the accountability of journalists searching for a comment to actually make sure that the so-called expert knows what they are talking about in the first place.

The rights of prisoners should be observed and upheld. Schapelle Corby continues to claim innocence and regardless of public opinion, she should be given every right to appeal her case without the continued harassment and hindrance of Australian media and their so-called experts!

The Corby family are constantly dragged into the limelight and portrayed by the media as wacky as the Osbornes - when all they want to do is find a way to bring Schapelle home after such a dreadful ordeal.

I hope ACA’s sensational and inaccurate report does not offend the Indonesian authorities or jeopardise Schapelle’s already precarious situation! Why don’t they do some serious investigative journalism and find out why Schapelle Corby continues to claim innocence?

I would like to see media watch investigate this matter further and take ACA to task. They are quite dangerous in my opinion because the Australian public are lead to make judgements based on falsehoods that are put out there by ACA journalists. Whatever happen to the days when journalists had to check the facts, recheck and then report? Now they appear to be just making things up and not caring who they hurt.

As an International Human rights advocate for prisoners all over the world, I am appalled by the standards or lack thereof in our media industry. There is seemingly very little accountability. Families who are already enduring great hardships both financially, emotionally and physically are plunged even further into a nightmare when they are unable to defend their very public humiliations brought about by certain members of the media.

I implore you on behalf of Australian familes with loved ones detained overseas to do whatever you can to restore ethics, professionalism and accountability in the media sector which is so obviously lacking.

regards,

Kay Danes
Foreign Prisoner Support Service

http://www.foreignprisoners.com/
FPSS DVD [with sound]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT-tkX0F7GA
Author Website: http://www.kaydanes.com/