I never knew laws were so bizzare in Indonesia.

[Gorgon]

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120921a9.html

 

It would be interesting to know what the effect of draconian drug laws have been. Are there markedly fewer drug addicts or just more people in prison.

[Hurlshort]

http://www.japantime...20120921a9.html

 

It would be interesting to know what the effect of draconian drug laws have been. Are there markedly fewer drug addicts or just more people in prison.

 

It's a good idea to know the law when you are in a different country.

[Orogun01]

http://www.japantime...20120921a9.html

 

It would be interesting to know what the effect of draconian drug laws have been. Are there markedly fewer drug addicts or just more people in prison.

 

It's a good idea to know the law when you are in a different country.

Either way I hope that the consulate takes this up, he should be tried by his home country's courts. Cultural relativism and all that jazz.

[Meshugger]

Backwards countries are continuing being backwards. It would be easier just to the deport the guy.

[ShadySands]

It reminded me of this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Fay

[Hiro Protagonist]

Similar thing happened with an Australian teenager last year.

http://news.yahoo.com/australian-teen-freed-bali-drug-detention-055013290.html

 

You would think they wouldn't do anything with drugs, especially in a country with harsh laws.

[Lexx]

So if I put stuff secretly into the pockets of someone else, I can get that person "out of my way"? Interesting.

[BruceVC]

http://www.japantime...20120921a9.html

 

It would be interesting to know what the effect of draconian drug laws have been. Are there markedly fewer drug addicts or just more people in prison.

 

 

Personally I think this is a ridiculously strict penalty for a minor offense. But Muslim countries are very strict on drug related offenses. I travel to the Middle East for work regularly and there in most countries if you get caught bringing drugs into the country you could face the death penalty. So you could argue the teenager got off easy

[Humodour]

http://www.japantime...20120921a9.html

 

It would be interesting to know what the effect of draconian drug laws have been. Are there markedly fewer drug addicts or just more people in prison.

 

 

Personally I think this is a ridiculously strict penalty for a minor offense. But Muslim countries are very strict on drug related offenses. I travel to the Middle East for work regularly and there in most countries if you get caught bringing drugs into the country you could face the death penalty. So you could argue the teenager got off easy

 

Well take it from somebody whose (geographically) closest neighbour is Indonesia: Indonesia is not so much a Muslim country (although it is the most populous one in the world) as it is an Asian country, and Asian countries hate drugs. Stupid, but that's how it is. They don't even drink much alcohol (so hey, at least they're consistent in they're vilification of drugs, unlike Western countries).

 

I just thought that it was worth pointing out that Indonesia's drug laws come more from that influence, although this century it is true that fundamentalist Islamic culture (mostly funded by extremists in Saudi Arabia) has tried to exert more sway in Indonesia on things like alcohol and porn. There's a big liberal pushback against that sort of restrictive socially conservative ****, too, though. And the people pushing back are Muslims themselves (hard not to be in a 90% Muslim country). It's the same story as in Turkey. Liberal Muslims vs extremist Muslims. It's the same story in the United States, too. Liberal Christians (Democrats) vs extremist Christians (Republicans).

 

The world moves forward. One day we will be rid of the current batch of bat**** social conservatives (even in Asia and the Mid East) as the younger generations replace them. I know that at least in Australia, conservatives my age are pretty okay with gay marriage and they want to solve and prevent global warming. They're also pretty lax about religion (at least by US standards - I still consider them pretty non-secular and extreme).

[BruceVC]

http://www.japantime...20120921a9.html

 

It would be interesting to know what the effect of draconian drug laws have been. Are there markedly fewer drug addicts or just more people in prison.

 

 

Personally I think this is a ridiculously strict penalty for a minor offense. But Muslim countries are very strict on drug related offenses. I travel to the Middle East for work regularly and there in most countries if you get caught bringing drugs into the country you could face the death penalty. So you could argue the teenager got off easy

 

Well take it from somebody whose (geographically) closest neighbour is Indonesia: Indonesia is not so much a Muslim country (although it is the most populous one in the world) as it is an Asian country, and Asian countries hate drugs. Stupid, but that's how it is. They don't even drink much alcohol (so hey, at least they're consistent in they're vilification of drugs, unlike Western countries).

 

I just thought that it was worth pointing out that Indonesia's drug laws come more from that influence, although this century it is true that fundamentalist Islamic culture (mostly funded by extremists in Saudi Arabia) has tried to exert more sway in Indonesia on things like alcohol and porn. There's a big liberal pushback against that sort of restrictive socially conservative ****, too, though. And the people pushing back are Muslims themselves (hard not to be in a 90% Muslim country). It's the same story as in Turkey. Liberal Muslims vs extremist Muslims. It's the same story in the United States, too. Liberal Christians (Democrats) vs extremist Christians (Republicans).

 

The world moves forward. One day we will be rid of the current batch of bat**** social conservatives (even in Asia and the Mid East) as the younger generations replace them. I know that at least in Australia, conservatives my age are pretty okay with gay marriage and they want to solve and prevent global warming. They're also pretty lax about religion (at least by US standards - I still consider them pretty non-secular and extreme).

 

You have raised some good points about the Philippines and where there conservative values come from. There is a huge difference between liberal and conservative Muslim countries so I understand what you are saying.

[NOK222]

it is an Asian country, and Asian countries hate drugs. Stupid, but that's how it is.

 

I wonder how they'll do as countries start slowly decriminalizing and legalizing.

[AGX-17]

Saying Asian countries hate drugs is hyperbole. Japan, for example, loves them some booze. The native alcohol, Sake, is a wine made from rice. Beer is immensely popular there as well. You can almost certainly find Japanese beers (big brands like Asahi or Kirin,) in more upscale grocery stores. And notice that the culprit was a Japanese teen in possession of marijuana.

Edited October 11, 2012 by AGX-17

[Tigranes]

Drug is not alcohol.

[Humodour]

Saying Asian countries hate drugs is hyperbole. Japan, for example, loves them some booze. The native alcohol, Sake, is a wine made from rice. Beer is immensely popular there as well. You can almost certainly find Japanese beers (big brands like Asahi or Kirin,) in more upscale grocery stores. And notice that the culprit was a Japanese teen in possession of marijuana.

 

As Tigranes pointed out, 'alcohol' is not synonymous with 'drugs'. Alcohol is but ONE hard drug. And it is a hard drug which, for whatever stupid reason, most of the world's societies have decided to treat differently to the others (for the record I am pro the legalisation and regulation of drugs, especially soft drugs).

 

And yet, even with alcohol you should still note the huge per capita consumption rate gap for alcohol between Western and Asian countries (which, IMHO, is a good thing for Asia from a health perspective).

 

It doesn't matter that a Japanese teen was the one arrested with possession of marijuana. Marijuana is still illegal in Japan, and the penalties for possession even in Japan are much more harsh than those of Western countries.

 

Japan

 

Penalties for possession or use of marijuana in Japan are severe' date=' and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and fines.[52'] Possession of any amount, as little as 0.1 g, is punishable by jail sentence for up to 5 years and/or a fine of up to 30,000,000 yen (USD 344 790).[53] Moreover, the defendant has to stay in police custody for at least a few weeks until a court decision is made.

[Hurlshort]

It's pretty obvious why alcohol is treated differently than anything else. I can't think of any good pills that go well with a nice steak.

[Gorgon]

I wonder what Indonesian courts have to say about cats eating catnip, or monkeys and elephants eating fermented fruits. Drugs are not legal or illegal based on objective criteria. It's tradition, historical accident.

[pmp10]

I wonder what Indonesian courts have to say about cats eating catnip, or monkeys and elephants eating fermented fruits. Drugs are not legal or illegal based on objective criteria. It's tradition, historical accident.

Nothing accidental about it.

Religious and cultural bans on alcohol/drugs were often of vital importance and would sometimes decide which side of muslim/christian divide you'd join.

[Humodour]

It's pretty obvious why alcohol is treated differently than anything else. I can't think of any good pills that go well with a nice steak.

 

Sounds like you've never had the munchies.