Indonesian bird smugglers get off scott free

[Onestepmore]

This just sucks. Two Indonesian air force pilots found trying to smuggle galahs and indian ringecks in their personal luggage and the cargo hold of a RAAF Hercules transport plane being transferred to their conuntry are getting off scott free. This sends a message that wildlife smuggling doesn't matter. I wonder if the Indonesian authorities would do the same for an Australian trying to smuggle something out (or in) to their country. (PS the article in the paper itself is better than this linked on-line version)
Note the ones in the hold were discovered first, and then the ones in the luggage after. I wonder if after the first ones were discoverd, they hoped the second lot wouldn't be?
I guess with the recent spying issues and all the things going on with the people smugglers a few birds don't matter.....don't rock the boat seems to be the policy (I just realised what bad pun that was)

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nationa ... 771752286#

[GPSGuided]

It's called international diplomacy. With the spying scandal out there, this is obviously the preferred outcome for the Govt. Everything is relative.

[gayet]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-29/i ... ng/5125496

ABC had the same story but it indicates

"A warning was issued in accordance with the normal process and the due process was applied as it would be applied in any such situation," he said.

"There was no departure from any normal process. We take these issues very seriously regardless of who's engaged with them."

The Indian Ringnecks are not a protected species and the galahs are regulated, rather than prohibited. But it wasn't clever of them to try it. And who knows what has been said in diplomatic circles. One hopes something at least.