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You cannot put a price on our soverignty. I am not proposing to kill any citizens of Laos: if the government of Laos does push the situation to a confrontation that is a decision they made. If I was in power I would not be asking for regime change, or their oil, or their territory...I would be demanding that internationally recognised standards of human rights are observed in regard to a citizen of the UK. I am not saying she shouldnt be punished because she is pretty (if you look up pictures of her she isnt especially) - I am saying that if I was in power I would not stand by and watch a British citizen, who is a 20 year pregnant woman with a history of mental illness, be shot like a animal on the basis of an allegation in regards to a minor offense which does not involve violence in any way.
If she is a drug smuggler she should face consequences for her actions: but Laos is a member of the community of nations and they must fulfill their obligation to not violate basic human rights of foriegn citizens.
Of course a peaceful resolution is preferable, and whatever is being said in public we should in private be working towards this. But (again if I was in power) I would be making it very clear that the judicial murder of a British citizen would not be tolerated under any conditions and that there would be consequences to this which would be disasterous for Laos.
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"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."
The Gospel of Thomas
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