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Even though the footy season’s only just started, a lot of players are already planning the end of season boys trip.
88 Australians were murdered in the horrific Bali bombings in 2002, including young men on end-of-season footy trips. Understandably, Bali became a no-go zone both in response to the bombings, the kangaroo courts that prosecuted the bombers and Indonesia’s generally chaotic handling of the crime. As a result, for a couple of years the Balinese literally went hungry.
But finally Kuta managed to redeem itself as the favourite spot for end of season trips. It’s cheap, it’s fun and there’s always someone worse behaved than you – what’s not to like?
In the wake of the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran yesterday, teams considering a Kuta trip this year would do well to rethink their plans.
Regardless of whether you agree with the death penalty or not, whether you think they deserved it or not, the executions have brought to light a few things worth considering when planning a pissy blokes week away.
Firstly, the police are corrupt to the core. The selection process for joining the force involves being personally selected by the local police, then paying an informal $5000 AUD fee, well outside the means of the average Indonesian. The police are a no more than a self-selected, middle-class militia.
Secondly, the judicial system is corrupt to the core. Despite substantial Western aid investment in anti-corruption, change is glacial. Anyone who goes to Indonesia thinking they will be protected by a justice system on par with the Australian one needs their head read.
Thirdly, diplomatic relations are haywire. Indonesia has thumbed its nose at international convention for years and evidence is that they don’t plan to stop.
One-punch murders and maimings show that once people get on the lunatic soup it doesn’t take much for things to get out of hand fast. Combine getting out of hand in Bali – and it’s probably not your fault anyway – with corrupt police, a corrupt judiciary and the diplomatic middle finger. Things could get hectic, stay hectic and there wouldn’t be a thing you could do about it from a filthy prison cell.
I write as someone who has spent time in Bali and who loves the Balinese. But I travel there knowing that, if the shit hits the fan, I’m pretty much on my own.
Until the smoke clears, I’d say Fiji’s looking pretty good this spring.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.