Death penalty serves terrorist goals: Experts<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A death sentence will not put an end to the cowardly acts by
\nterrorists, as the ones that are allegedly committing them in the
\nname of religion, believe that their death will earn them status
\nas syuhada (martyrs), according to a legal expert and a rights
\nactivist.<\/p>\n
Topo Santoso from the University of Indonesia and Bambang
\nWidjoyanto, former director of the Indonesian Legal Aid
\nFoundation (YLBHI), expressed concerns over the weekend that a
\ndeath sentence could even provoke other people with similar
\nbeliefs to emulate Amrozi and his cohorts.<\/p>\n
Amrozi was sentenced to death by the Denpasar District Court
\non Thursday after a panel of judges declared him guilty of
\nhelping organize last year's deadly bombings in Denpasar, Bali.
\nBesides Amrozi, another 29 terrorist suspects are being tried in
\nthe court and could possibly recieve a similar sentence.<\/p>\n
\"I think the main goal in sentencing criminals to death is to
\nprevent others from doing the same crime. In the case of
\nterrorism, I don't see that the death sentence will prevent
\nperpetrators because they have been indoctrinated to die for what
\nthey believe in,\" Topo said.<\/p>\n
Bambang said a death sentence might affect corruptors because
\nmost of them wanted to live and spend their ill-gotten wealth,
\nbut for terrorists like Amrozi, death was their ultimate goal.<\/p>\n
Frans Hendra Winarta from the National Law Commission (KHN),
\nnevertheless, said that terrorists should be sentenced to death
\nbecause \"they inflict severe suffering on the victims, spread
\neverlasting horror, and affect all aspects of life, including
\neconomy, society and politics.<\/p>\n
\"As a lawyer, my personal position is usually against capital
\npunishment. But in certain situations, I can accept it (the
\nsentence),\" Frans said.<\/p>\n
\"With regard to terrorism, I support the death penalty because
\nthey (terrorists) are committed to their beliefs and nothing will
\never change them. Nothing.\"<\/p>\n
Upon hearing Amrozi's verdict, most victims of the Bali
\nbombing and their relatives expressed satisfaction, saying that
\n\"Amrozi will be dead.\"<\/p>\n
More than 200 people, mostly foreign holidaymakers, were
\nkilled and hundreds of others injured when terrorists attacked
\ntwo nightclubs, Paddy's and the Sari Club, on Bali last October.<\/p>\n
Police have linked the bombers with Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), a
\nregional terrorist group allegedly connected with al-Qaeda, which
\nis blamed for the Sept. 11, 2001 attack in the United States that
\nkilled more than 3,000 people.<\/p>\n
Security officers have also linked JI with last week's blast
\nat the American-owned Marriott hotel in South Jakarta. At least
\n10 people were killed and more than 150 others injured in the
\nalleged suicide bombing.<\/p>\n
Apart from the people's reactions, Amrozi appeared to welcome
\nthe verdict and even showed a big smile and displayed two thumbs
\nup to onlookers just seconds after the panel of judges pounded
\nthe gavel.<\/p>\n
\"The sentence could lead some to believe that Amrozi is an
\nactual martyr,\" Bambang told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Even though it was strongly believed that law enforcement
\ncould curb terrorist activities in the country, Topo said
\ninternational events would be dominant factors in determining
\nwhether or not such threats could be ended.<\/p>\n
Topo was referring to foreign policies imposed by certain
\ncountries, including the United States and Australia, which many
\npotential terrorists perceive as unjust, especially with regard
\nto the various issues in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Bambang suggested that courts impose a life sentence on
\nterrorists as he believed that during their stay in jail, the
\nstate would have a chance \"to give a lighter, more humane
\npunishment.\"<\/p>\n
Chronology of executions since 1980<\/p>\n
1980
\nJan. 5: Hengky Tupanwael, convicted for murder in 1964.<\/p>\n
Feb. 6: Kusni Kasdut, convicted for murder in 1964.<\/p>\n
1983
\nApr. 13: Islamic fundamentalist Imron bin Mohammed Zein,
\nconvicted for hijacking and other acts of terror.<\/p>\n
1985
\nFeb. 14: Islamic fundamentalist Salman Hafidz, convicted for his
\nrole in the same acts of terrorism as Imron bin Mohammed Zein.<\/p>\n
May 14: 1965 alleged coup plotter and political prisoner Mohamad
\nMunir executed.<\/p>\n
July 1-3: Coup-related prisoners Djoko Untung, Gatot Lestario,
\nand Rustomo are secretly executed, despite appeals from foreign
\ngovernments and human rights groups to spare their lives.<\/p>\n
1986
\nSept. 12: Islamic activist Maman Kusmayadi is executed.<\/p>\n
Sept. 26 - early October: Nine coup-related prisoners -- Syam
\nalias Kamaruzaman alias Achmed Mubaudah, Supono Marsudidjojo
\nalias Pono, Mulyono alias Waluyo alias Bono (all three apparently
\nexecuted on Sept. 26), Amar Hanefiah, Wirjoatmodjo alias Jono
\nalias Tak Tanti, Kamil, Abdulah Alihamy alias Suparmin, Sudijono
\nand Tamuri Hidayat.<\/p>\n
1987
\nOct. 31: Liong Wie Tong alias Lazarus and Tan Tiang Tjoen, both
\nconvicted for murder in 1962.<\/p>\n
Nov. 17: Coup-related prisoner Sukarman was secretly executed on
\nEast Java's Madura Island.<\/p>\n
1988
\nApril: Islamic activist Abdullah Umar probably executed during
\nthis month.<\/p>\n
June\/July: Islamic activist Bambang Sispoyo was probably executed
\nat some point during these two months.<\/p>\n
Oct.15: Coup-related prisoners Sukarjo and Giyadi Wignyosuharjo.<\/p>\n
1992
\nDecember: Sergeant Adi Saputro, sentenced to death for murder.<\/p>\n
1995
\nMalaysian national Chan Ting Chong alias Steven Chong, sentenced
\nto death in 1986 by West Jakarta District Court for heroin
\npossession.<\/p>\n
2001
\nMay 19: Gerson Pandie and Fredik Soru, sentenced to death for a
\nmultiple murders in 1989, are executed in a forest east of
\nKupang, the capital of West Timor.<\/p>",
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