Welcome, Greetings.
This August update will give you a brief overview of what the Schapelle Supporters have done recently to keep high level
support going for Schapelle Corby, an Australian citizen detained in Kerobokan prison [Bali] since her arrest on October 8, 2004.
Schapelle was convicted of drug trafficking in the absence of a fair trial and sentenced 20 years imprisonment on 27 May 2005.
Schapelle Corby is a kind, compassionate young woman, a loving sister, a loyal friend and faithful daughter.
Schapelle does not deserve to be where she is.
Schapelle is Innocent!
Family News Update
Mercedes would like to thank everyone for writing letters of thanks to the Bishop Dougherty who questioned Schapelle's
guilt in an article by Brian Davies dated 29 July, 2007.
It is a great comfort to Schapelle and her family knowing that there are people out there who are not afraid to stand up
for those who have been treated unjustly. What has happened to Schapelle can happen to any one of us. Mercedes speaks to
the Bishop's brother occasionally and he has been to Bali a few times. She says he is a lovely man.
Very supportive of the prisoners in Kerobokan.
It is Wayan's 8th birthday 2 Aug and Mercedes' family are having a party for him at the beach after school.
Mercedes will be doing all those normal busy mother things like preparing the food and games. She can't believe how fast her kids are growing.
Wayan swimming with the Dolphins.
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Wayan Snr (husband) had a surf contest 1 Aug 2007 (the ripcurl pro at Padang Padang) and he made the finals, he came 4th. This is the second final this year so he has a good chance of having a high ranking overall for the year. Well done Wayan! Maybe we'll have to look into some Schapelle Support sponsorship there ie: logo on surf board!
Mercedes and Wayan's daughter Nyeleigh is pictured here, in Bali traditional dress for her pre school end of year concert.
Wayan Jnr, Nyeleigh and baby Nyoman is almost 7 months now and is a big boy. In the photo he is not yet 6 months. He is crawling now
Judicial Review
Still no news on the appeal for the judicial review. There is no time limit on this one so who knows when it will be decided but the chatter is it is a couple of months off. Schapelle is holding up and other than a runny nose here and there she has been in good health.
New Supporter Forum Free Schapelle.net Online Forum
This is the official online forum dedicated to Schapelle Corby and has been created in consultation with her family, in particular, with Mercedes Corby. The official online forum was established to provide a centralised point where supporters could easily access information, updates and news on the ongoing plight of Schapelle Corby. Dedicated supporters linked to this site include those listed below;
Schapelle Action Support Group (SASG) [National]
A nationally based volunteer group established to raise awareness of the facts surrounding Schapelle's wrongful imprisonment, dispel myths and lobby the Australian Government to bring Schapelle home. SASG distribute regular updates and is the official conduit for the Schapelle Corby Trust Account.
My Story Support Forum
Sponsored by Accommodation Management Systems and moderated by Neville Wright who has been a consistent supporter of Schapelle Corby's fight for justice. This site is mainly for discussions that support Schapelle's plea of innocence with the aim of gaining her freedom. The site is not a closed site and is open to all people with an interest in bringing her home.
The forum is located at
http://www.myaustralia.ws/saveschapelle/
Other Forums and Blog Spots
Schapellecorby.com
http://www.schapellecorby.com
Fighting for Freedom
http://littleozzybloke.com/lobdc1/index.php?showforum=148
Schapelle Freedom Network
http://schapellefn.30.forumer.com
True Blue Supporters Blog
http://www.truestblue.blogspot.com/
Hacia la Justicia - Supporters blog.
http://www.hacialajusticia.blogspot.com/
Love to Schapelle - Supporters blog
http://www.lovetoschapelle.blogspot.com/
Rodent Millenium - Supporters blog
http://www.clearblogs.com/rodentmillenium
New Zealand Support groups. Schapelle has a strong support base in New Zealand.
We encourage other NZ's to contact us and list their pro-Schapelle sites.
http://www.schapellecorby.co.nz/
&
http://www.schapelle.co.nz
The SOS website no longer active.
SOS was created by Kirstie McKay and it was a fantastic site where many friendships were developed and active support given to numerous campaigns to support Schapelle. Well done Kirstie and the former SOS team for the valuable contribution you made. We wish you the very best in all future endeavours, both personally and professionally. Despite the site closing, the Spirit of Schapelle will live on in all our hearts!
White Hats
After battling through some last-minute red tape and getting the last few signatures on forms, the White Hats campaign is now ready to launch. Bali Rotarians have been working closely with Perth Rotary and White Hats founder Chris Dickinson, to establish initiatives in support of all female prisoners in Bali.
'Firstly, we will be doing that all-important work on the women's water supply. We will make it reliable, and clean. That is our core mission. We will also be providing bedding for the women, so that the poorer inmates do not have to sleep on hard concrete, which is both unhealthy and very painful!' says Chris.
The Rotary Club will fund a prison education program aimed at "ending offending". The program is run by the local Yayasan Sri Kandhi group. It encompasses vocational training and life-skills, such as proper sanitation, baby nutrition, and so on. It's all stuff the women need to raise their expectations in life, and avoid further prison sentences! If money permits, the new 'White Hats Campaign' will also be looking at other issues, such as general upkeep of the cells, health and sanitation.
This is a wonderful opportunity for people to offer assistance to the women of Kerobokan. This campaign has the support of the Prison authorities, the Australian Consulate in Bali, the Yayasan Sri Kandhi group, and the international Rotary Club. Rotary will administer all funds to ensure donors have complete confidence that they will not be lost or misused.
All donations are strictly confidential. The total amount of money needed for the White Hats project is twelve thousand dollars, but due to the funding arrangements already in place, we only need to raise another $2,500 to make it happen!
To donate, simply post a cheque to:
Rotary "White Hats" Campaign
Third floor 110 William Street
Perth 6000 Australia
Cheques are payable to: Brearley Custodians Pty Ltd
Remember to write WHITE HATS on the reverse of the cheque, or on a cover note, so they will know what it is for! This is very important!
Lastly, remember to put a return address on the envelope. This will enable Rotary to post you a receipt, which your accountant can use to get you a nice REFUND at the end of the financial year. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in supporting this initiative.
Prisoner Transfer Agreement
There is no new news on the Prisoner Transfer Agreement [PTA]. It has stalled. The Australian government attempted to get better terms for Australians. Foreign Prisoner Support Service Advocates are continuing to lobby the government in the hope that better outcomes be put in place.
Under the present text, Indonesia requires prisoners to serve at least half their sentence before making application for transfer. The agreement is expected to be a long way off signing but is still on track if compared to the Thai - Australia agreement, which took at least four years to negotiate.
ICCPR
In Schapelle's case, there were several clear breaches of the Indonesian Code of Criminal Procedure (KUHAP), and at least fourteen breeches of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Indonesia ratified in 2006.
When Indonesia ratified the ICCPR, it was understood that all the existing laws in the country would be brought in line with the requirements of the Covenant. No attempt has been made to make domestic laws consistent with the ICCPR. Though given an opportunity in early 2007, the President of Indonesia, His Excellency Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, refused to meet with the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations. Clearly many are concerned that Indonesia continues to refrain from implementing much needed reforms.
If reforms are implemented then the justice institutions of Indonesia will be in a better position to assure the people are granted proper due process of their legal rights and dignity. No longer will an Indonesian Chief of Police have to stand before the public and admit that in the prosecution of a foreigner, the investigation that led to a conviction was only 50% complete, as was the case with Schapelle Corby.
LETTERS and CARE PACKAGES to:
Schapelle is still receiving a good supply of supporter mail and care packages are getting through. Thank you to everyone who took the time to send 'Lucky Elephants' to Schapelle… she has received an overwhelming number of these that we are still presently counting.
Schapelle Corby
C/- LPM Kerobokan Jl.
Tangkuban Perahu Kerobokan,
Denpasar 80117 Bali, INDONESIA
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Any persons wanting to offer financial support to the Corby family can do so via:
Schapelle Corby Trust Account
C/ Schapelle Action Support Group
PO Box 149 Mulgrave
VIC 3170 AUST
Please include a stamped, self addressed envelope if you require a return receipt.
Your financial support will assist the family to travel to Bali to visit with Schapelle
and take her clean drinking water, medicines, food and other essential items.
RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO DON'T SUPPORT SCHAPELLE
'My fundamental belief is that regardless of the situation, we absolutely must have the right to have our most basic human rights upheld, the right to be treated with dignity, to have our legal rights defended by our government when clearly they are violated, and the right to be judged in an open and transparent civil court where evidence is submitted and the rule of law upheld. After all, the right to a fair trial is an essential right in all countries respecting the rule of law.
None of us is above the law. UN mandates are designed to offer protections for citizens of the world but when it suits a government to ignore these mandates, to which they are a signatory to, then how can anyone feel safe?
One of Schapelle's greatest concerns has always been that she would be forgotten not only because what happened to her was unjust, but what happened to her might also happen again to some other young Australian.
Is everyone guilty just because it's reported in the media that they are? Did the media assiduously seek the truth? Do the courts always get it right? Just think for a moment as you look at your own child and imagine if it were them in a similar situation. What would you think? What would you feel? How would you cope?' - Kay Danes, Advocate FPSS.
