Suicide in Indonesia...

Suicide is a tragedy. It is not only a tragedy for those that make the ultimate choice to end it all, it is also a tragedy for those that are left behind and who must deal with the shattered lives that remain. Two things had me thinking about death and the way it is portrayed and discussed this morning: the first was an article in The Jakarta Globe and the second was seeing that "RIP Justin Bieber" was trending on Twitter (just about anything that has a Justin Bieber link trends or goes viral on Twitter, just ask Conan O'Brien. And, I am wondering whether or not "Justine Bieber: Suicide Death" within this post will result in any additional traffic to this blog post? If there is, then this might be a good thing from an awareness perspective).

This short post is an opinion piece on suicide in Indonesia.

According to The Jakarta Globe, the Ministry of Health's 'suicide hotline' has been ringing off the hook with a sharp increase in the number of calls during the first three months of operation. The hotline number for those that need it is 500-454 (although I recall Jakarta phone numbers having more digits than that...the number is correct, I checked!). The hotline was launched as part of World Mental Health Day in October 2010. Dr. Bella Patriajaya, Head of the Suharto Heerjan Mental Health Hospital, said that the reason was that more people were seeking help for their problems.

The data to-date is showing that not everyone who calls the hotline is intending to commit suicide. There are also significant numbers of people calling who are depressed or suffering other mental disorders. Even though, there is no confession of intent to kill themselves, the suicide hotline is still an excellent starting point for a sympathetic ear and perhaps some direction to services that can provide longer-term support.

Interestingly, the World Health Organization 2001 data states that the suicide rate in Indonesia is 1.6-1.8 suicides per 100,000 people. Nevertheless, a more recent study conducted by Ahmad Prayitno of Trisakti University in Jakarta supports more recent WHO data for Southeast Asia that claims that the suicide rate is closer to 24 incidents per 100,000. This is a staggering number as it would equate to about 50,000 suicides per year or 1,500 suicides per day. The reality is that even this study suspects that the actual rate and numbers are much higher.

The more recent studies are showing a trend in the reasons for suicide becoming more economic related. This includes losing a job, being demoted, or even living beyond one's means and getting into a spiral of uncontrollable debt. Nevertheless, the study also shows that more 'traditional' reasons relating to an inability to deal with emotional trauma remains a significant factor.

One of the biggest difficulties in determining exact numbers is the taboo nature of the subject. In most religions, and communities, suicide is frowned upon. Therefore, it is not uncommon that many suicides go unreported or are misreported as natural or accidental deaths.

It is important to remember that suicide is not a problem unique to one country. So, speak up and reach out! You might just save a life.

Schapelle Corby Gets Another 45 Days in Remissions...

The Indonesian way of administering a prison sentence in many respects provides an outcome that ends up seeing a convicted person serving about the same length of time in prison as they would in Australia.

The Australian system usually involves the imposition of a "head sentence" and then a non-parole period. For example, a person convicted of a drug crime might be sentenced to 20 years in prison with a non-parole period of 12 years. After 12 years the convicted person can begin to apply for parole. Assuming that the person has been of good behaviour and are ready to be re-integrated back into the community, they will be paroled.

In the Indonesian context a person is sentenced to a period of imprisonment and then there is a system of remissions that may see a 20-year drug sentence reduced with remissions to a period of 12 years. A remission is generally granted for good behaviour and showing signs of remorse for one's conduct that lead to the prison sentence being imposed. In most cases a convicted person will serve about two-thirds of their original sentence. In some cases a convicted person may even serve less time than that.

Remissions in Indonesia are generally granted for Indonesian Independence Day and for the religious holiday of the relevant prisoner. A prisoner of Islamic faith may get two remissions a year; one on Independence Day and one at Idul Fitri (Eid ul-Fitr). For prisoners of the Christian faith a remission may be granted on Independence Day and on Christmas Day.

Schapelle Corby has just been granted a 45-day remission on her sentence. Corby has received remissions to date that now total 18.5 months.

Corby has a clemency appeal currently being considered by the President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). The Supreme Court of Indonesia was tasked with making a recommendation to the president. If the Supreme Court recommends quashing the conviction or a reduction in the sentence, then the president then decides as to whether they will endorse the Supreme Court recommendation and grant the clemency appeal or refuse to sign-off on the Supreme Court recommendation. It has been reported that the Supreme Court recommended a significant cut in Corby's sentence. Although, the Supreme Court has not officially confirmed or denied the reports.

What does this mean for Schapelle Corby? Assuming the president rejects the clemency appeal, which is being made on humanitarian grounds relating to Corby's mental illness, then it would still be likely that Corby would serve approximately four more years and then be released. However, if the president was to affirm the Supreme Court recommendation which allegedly includes a sentence reduction then Corby may in fact be released and returned to Australia sooner than that. One might need to be a psychic to predict an exact date, but generally there is an expectation that Corby will not serve two-thirds of her sentence.

Irrespective of her guilt or innocence at this stage, Corby has done more than enough time for the crime she was convicted of. Personally, I would not be outraged if the Indonesian authorities decided that she has done plenty of time, she has suffered in prison, she has been suitably punished for the crime for which she was convicted, and that there is no longer any need to keep her in prison. Yet, many wonder whether Corby's steadfast belief in her innocence and the subsequent belief that she has nothing to show remorse for is providing Indonesian authorities with the necessary reason to ensure she serves the complete sentence in an Indonesian prison.

In the end, a 45-day remission is 45 days that she does not have to serve in Kerobokan.

Renae "The Protector" Lawrence...

It was with some interest that I read an article by Tom Allard in today's (24/01) Sydney Morning Herald. It was with interest because there are two pieces of relevant information provided in the article.

In Allard's opinion from what he has witnessed during a brief visit is that Schapelle has deteriorated both physically and mentally. Nevertheless, the prospects for an imminent or early release have faded. And, that Renae Lawrence has taken on the role of 'protector'.

The second important piece of 'news' was that Renae Lawrence is pretty angry about the book written by Kathryn Bonella titled "Hotel Kerobokan" which Corby supporters are promoting as the god-given truth of what conditions are like inside. To the contrary, Lawrence claims the book is nothing more than a pack of lies. Of specific concern seems to be the claims that Lawrence frequently indulges in lesbian orgies in her queen-sized bed.

I wonder if Kathryn Bonella is going to come out and defend herself against the claims reported by Lawrence? Simply, if Bonella is not telling the truth about Lawrence as Lawrence claims, then this brings into question the content of the whole book.

The prison authorities have consistently denied that the conditions are as bad as Bonella makes out. In fact, the prison authorities recently held a media open day to highlight the very fact that conditions are not as bad as they are claimed to be. They have also denied that Schapelle is in a desperate place and situation that requires her immediate removal to a mental health facility or her immediate repatriation to Australia.

It will be interesting to see if there is any response to this Tom Allard article from either side of the debate.

Schapelle Corby -- A Humanitarian Appeal...

The Schapelle Corby case continues to draw the public's interest more than five years after her incarceration. Schapelle Corby was convicted of smuggling more than 4kgs of marijuana from Australia to Indonesia. For this, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

There is much debate about whether she is guilty or innocent. Much of this debate focuses on the evidence or lack thereof, and the procedures that were followed at trial. If you are interested in a discussion of this, then you can find one here. Personally, the issues of guilt and innocence at this point in time are secondary to more pressing concerns.

However, what I post here is a short video that can be found on YouTube which deals with this pressing concern.

All the doctors involved with Schapelle Corby agree that she is depressed and that there is a need to treat her for that depression. Nevertheless, the doctors do disagree on the severity of the depression and the manner in which it needs to be treated.

My belief is that prisoners still have human rights and those rights must be respected. If it is agreed that Schapelle Corby is suffering from depression, then there is clearly a right held by her that entitles her to be treated. Treatment must be provided on humanitarian grounds, even if there was some belief in the circles of the powers that be that medical treatment for prisoners was not a foregone conclusion as a right.

I am not sure that the first step is immediate repatriation to Australia. Indonesia has mental health facilities that would be more than capable of providing the initial treatment and medication. In the event, that a local intervention fails then a more serious discussion is warranted on whether the best option available is to repatriate Schapelle Corby to Australia,

Yet, the most pressing concern is to ensure that her depression is treated and managed in order to allow her to continue to live.

World Wide Chain Of Compassion...

Maybe it is time to spin off the posts that I have done on Schapelle Corby and her case into a blog of its own. I am intent on The RAB Experience remaining a blog on a wide and varied subject matter. However, I received this email earlier today. My visitor statistics are showing that there are lots of people passing through looking for information on Schapelle Corby and her plight.

If you feel strongly enough about wanting to help then perhaps you could start with copying and pasting the letter included on the previous post about letters to the PM of Australia, which you can find here. I have not heard of the World Wide Chain of Compassion before (but it turns up about 515 hits on a Google search).



From The World Wide Chain of Compassion

Regardless of how you, the reader of this email, currently feel about her
innocence or guilt, I ask you, please, to show compassion for Schapelle
Corby.

Jailed for 20 years, she has maintained her innocence to the crime and now,
after 5 years, has been reduced to a severe state of mental illness.

A report from eminent psychiatrist Dr Jonathon Phillips, who has just been
to Bali to assess Corby's mental condition, has been sent to the Australian
Government. It paints a shocking picture of Schapelle's state of mind. This
once fun loving, clean living young woman, has been reduced to a state of
mental illness with severe psychosis, hallucinations and suicidal
tendencies. She has already cut her arms with broken glass in an attempt to
end her life.

I believe this action was a desperate and final cry for help. Next time she
could go all the way and die in a pool of blood, somewhere in the squalor of
her prison hell.

In 2006, Schapelle wrote this:

"Right now I'm empty, lost and numb. I used to have a clear fresh sparkle
radiating within, showing through my laugh and my eyes. I never had a
problem looking in the mirror, I knew who I was, I didn't question myself.
Lately now, two years on from that fatal date and after repeated blows, I'm
finding a confusing, distant reflection in the mirror; it's dull, my eyes
don't seem to speak anymore, they're lifeless as though my soul is drying
up. Where have I gone, where am I going?"

In a letter to supporters she once said:

"Courage doesn't always roar, sometimes it's just a little voice at the end
of the day that says, 'I'll try again tomorrow'."

How many more tomorrows does Schapelle have? How much longer can she last
before she finally succumbs to the voices in her head saying, "enough is
enough?"

Is it now time for us all to say, "enough is enough?" She has suffered
enough! It's time for compassion.