KNOWING the tremendous harm illicit drugs cause, seeing the utter misery of addiction and the crimes people commit to feed their habit, to see the despair of family and friends of drug addicts makes it easier to accept the comparatively harsh methods other countries employ to deter the get rich quick greed of uncaring, pitiless drug barons and all their associates.

The penalties are clear and Indonesia's hard line tactics are unambiguous .

If heartless criminals coerce people to commit crime then the authorities are forced to take an even harder stance.

It is fine to feel compassionate and forgiving, to offer comfort to someone in despair, but ask, what would be the attitude of the loved ones of dead addicts and those alive suffering devilish torments?

Are there not many more people better deserving of our sympathy than the £1.6m drug smuggler Lindsay Sandiford?

The hostages of Islamic terrorists don’t get a trial or the right of appeal, and haven’t committed a recognisable crime. Indeed, many worked hard to aid and educate the people of other countries. How awful does life seem to them and those who love them as they await a barbaric death?

G Wild, Richmond