RETURN TO PARADISE 3 American guys, Sheriff, Tony and Lewis enjoy their holidays in Malaysia. Sheriff and Tony go back to N.Y., and Lewis stays to join activities for orangutan reintroduction in Borneo.....they leave cheap hashish there. 2 years later Sheriff works as a limousine driver, Tony as an architect. One day a lawyer called Beth comes to meet Sheriff. She tells that Lewis is going to be hanged 8 days later because of hashish they left over 100g, the owner of a bike they rent came to the hut with police to get a bike back, police found hashishi. But if Sheriff and Tony come back to Malaysia and hare responsibility, Lewis will not be considered as a dealer, both of 2 guys will be in prison for 3 years, 1 of them for 6 years. Sheriff and Tony didn't know at all, and if they don't go back to Penang, Lewis will be hanged, to save him they have to be in prison. They are really suffering. Both is trying to persuade Sheriff and Tony to go back. A newspaper reporter called M.J. comes to Beth, telling her this case needs a public outcry. But Beth refuses it because it will make the thing worse. Actually there's case in Southeast Asia settled when medias of Western countries hit the headlines. Beth asks M.J. no to write about it until Lewis' hearing is over. Sheriff talks to his father, Tony's fiancee doesn't want him to go back. Sheriff and Beth fall in love. Sheriff and Tony go back to Penang together with Beth to save Lewis. They go to prison to meet Lewis, only 1 person is allowed to meet him, Sheriff meets Lewis and gets to know how awful the environment in prison is. On the way back to hotel, when Tony asks Sheriff how Lewis is and what the prison is like, Beth tells them that Lewis is her brother. Tony feels cheated and go to the airport with Sheriff, buy a ticket to N.Y. When they go on board, Sheriff decides to stay. A hearing of Lewis is started, Sheriff comes to the hearing. The court estimates his courage and that he admits he's guilty, they consider to reduce the charge. Sheriff will be detained in prison. But the situation gets worse after a break.....the chief justice gets so angry about an article which M.J. wrote, he says "American journalist criticizes out judical system." Lewis will be hanged next day as scheduled. Many Western journalists already come to the court. Next morning.....Lewis is hanged. Sheriff tries to talk to Lewis from his window. And Beth comes to the prison to meet Sheriff. She tell him that she'll come back and stay in Penang until he is with her after taking Lewis back to the U.S......she lets him know that the ambassador heard through back channels, it's going to be 6 months, maximum. |
In western countries and Japan the penalty for illegal drug possession is a prison sentence for some years, even for a drug dealer it won't be a death penalty. From "our" point of view it's just crazy that drug possession (drug trafficking) is punished by the death penalty, and there are some countries like Malaysia using it. From "their" point of view it's neccessary to eliminate drugs. But in their countries illegal drugs are available illegally, some of them are exported. Some people risk their lives, is the death penality really working? I don't think it's 100% correct that a country like the Netherlands allows a small amount of soft drug for personal use. And it's never understandable about the death penalty for drug possession (trafficking). Is it just a matter of difference between countries with different religions and values? It's not good at all that the chief justice decides that Lewis is going to be punished by the death penality because foreign media criticize and it's an intervention in the domestic affairs of his country. He should judge the case fairly. We should reflect on "our" attitudes that we think our point of view is all correct and don't accept another values. The Media should not report that sensitive case louder, "freedom of press" is not the mighty power to everything. At least when they get to know what happened to similar cases in the past, they would understand that they'd better not criticize "the country's decision is awful". Most of countries on this earth consider that drug possession and abuse is a crime, they should report first that the suspect really reflects on his crime. I really think that we should check information carefully when we go to another countries! |