Free Schapelle

Hello everyone, hope you are all well and enjoying a lovely Sunday. I did a search for the latest news on Schapelle this evening and rather worryingly came across and article from the coastconfidential website claiming that very few people in Bali knew of Schapelle’s plight and condition.

Given her status abroad in Australia and America you would have thought that she would be well remembered in Bali, but it appears that few locals have given her a thought in recent times. The conditions she currently lives in are deplorable and are not fit for a rat let alone a human being, something has to be done.

CC report that “There are requests to visit Schapelle and bring her a present or some comfort but it is virtually impossible.

“Unless you are family or apply beforehand and Schapelle wants to see you, it is not going to happen.”

If you read Schapelle’s book “No More Tomorrows” you will discover that she gets tired of people turning up to have a gawp at her just because they feel like killing half an hour or they just want to return home saying they’ve met Schapelle Corby. The obvious problem with this is that people with true and honest intentions could possibly lose out and not get chance to meet her.

Way back in 2005 the Sydney Morning Herald reported:-

HER cause has spun off enough souvenirs to rival a royal wedding and generated more polls than a federal election campaign. There are T-shirts, hats, bumper stickers and unconfirmed sightings at suburban barbecues of stubbie coolers bearing the same slogan: Free Schapelle.

Her surname (Corby, if by some small chance you missed it) has become almost superfluous, if not in the stifling courtrooms of Bali, then in the minds of the Australian public.

In other related news it appears that the global protest in support of imprisoned Australian Schapelle Corby arrived at the United Nations this morning (March 6th). Photographs of people demonstrating by holding “Free Schapelle” cards in cities throughout North America, Europe, Australasia and even the Middle East, were presented to UN representatives and officials. Performing the delivery was Tara Hack, the indie-pop artist, whose “Saya Tidak Bersalah (I’m Not Guilty)” has become a global anthem of support.

One thing that does surprise me is the apparent lack of support or knowledge of Schapelle in the UK. I haven’t met anyone who is aware of Schapelle’s terrible conditions in jail or her trumped up drug charges. This is certainly something that has to be rectified – however I do fear that there is very little hope of releasing Schapelle with into Australian custody or set free.

We can live in hope.

I was out celebrating my brother’s birthday today, a lovely lunch at one of the premier hotels a few miles from my house. I sat there enjoying the silver service, great wine and amazing food – not forgetting the wonderful company -  not once did I think of Schapelle, her prison conditions – let’s face it, there is very little I can do. I can post a blog however and in some small way I hope it helps preserve her public memory.