Now this one sure does have many angles to consider..... What is right here?
By James72
@James72 (26790)
Australia
May 3, 2009 3:07am CST
I've just finished reading a news article about a British woman named Samantha Orobator. She is in a prison in Laos after being caught smuggling over a pund of heroin INTO Laos. It was 1.3lbs to be exact, which is well over the amount that attracts the death penalty in that country. Here's the link to the article: http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/5538888/pregnant-uk-woman-faces-death-penalty-laos/
And now the twists and turns begin...... She's been pregnant since December and conceived while she was in prison! The British Government is looking to get the death penalty overturned, but it appears that the Laotion authorities will be acting swiftly on this one.
Smuggling heroin INTO Laos is a bizarre situation in itself! How she fell pregnant in prison is another question to be raised; and then we have the death penalty while she's pregnant angle as well! I am NOT a supporter of the death penalty, but the laws of this country are clear on this area and she should have known better. The fact she is British is also irrelevant because she broke the law on Laos soil and is subject to the local laws in return. Or is my comment here not a fair one?
What's the right thing to do here? Pardon the woman because she's pregnant? Wait until she gives birth and THEN execute her? (Method of execution in Laos is by firing squad) Will the Brits manage to get her sentence reduced to imprisonment only instead? Is she even guilty and is she being given adequate resources to fight the charge?
Any comments?
6 people like this
2 responses
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
7 May 09
I'm just glad it's not ME having to make that decision. Yikes!
I think the only issue is the pregnancy, and how to deal with it, considering she got pregnant while in jail (makes me assume it's from a guard?).
My mind is twisting around too much to think clearly on a definite answer, even of my own opinion. I'm conflicted, because I'm pro-choice on abortion issues. Hmmm... perhaps with that in mind, maybe the best choice would be for Samantha to make that decision?
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
9 May 09
The issue so ar is that she's had her basic human rights taken from her for some time now, so it's unlikely a decision such as this will be hers to make at all. On a more positive note though, the trial has now been postponed and she has been granted access to people that can help improve her circumstances. To my understanding, she's also 5 months pregnant so you'd think this is way too late for an abortion even if this WAS an option for her. What I do wish to know is under what circumstances she became pregnant in the first place, but this hasn't been shared yet. I too reckon it may have been a guard because they seem so keen to cover everything up here. 
@urbandekay (18278)
•
3 May 09
Hmmm, well generally, a person of whatever nationality should be subject to the laws of the country in which they are. As you so rightly say, her nationality is no matter since she was on Laos soil. We need to know, however, how she became pregnant; was she raped in jail? Whatever, the cause the welfare of the unborn is now also a consideration and the application of justice to her may not violate justice to the child or that justice is unjust.
all the best urban
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