Support up for proposal to scrap death sentence<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The proposal to reduce the death sentence to life imprisonment
\nin cases where a convict has not been executed five years after
\ntheir verdict was handed down has won support among lawyers and
\nlegal experts.<\/p>\n
\"I personally don't agree with the death sentence because
\neverybody has the right to live and that is a right that cannot
\nbe abrogated,\" lawyer and human rights activist Hendardi told The
\nJakarta Post on Friday.<\/p>\n
He said that the proposal, made by Supreme Court Chief Justice
\nBagir Manan on Thursday, reflected progress in Indonesia's legal
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
Prevailing laws allow the execution of a criminal on death row
\nto be delayed indefinitely.<\/p>\n
\"To make people wait for so long before they are executed is
\nto make them suffer double their punishment,\" Hendardi said.<\/p>\n
He said that most of the executions in Indonesia were of
\nmurderers or people convicted of drug-related crimes.<\/p>\n
Hendardi said there was no data showing the existence of the
\ndeath sentence deters people from committing crime.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, he said, the death sentence might be applicable
\nin certain cases, such as for embezzlers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, legal expert with the University of Indonesia Topo
\nSantoso said that in fact an initiative to reduce the death
\nsentence to life imprisonment had been accommodated in the new
\nnational criminal code currently being drafted by the government,
\nwhich is expected to be submitted to the House of Representatives
\nfor deliberation in the not too distant future.<\/p>\n
\"In the future, the death sentence should not be regarded as a
\nprimary penalty, but rather exist to be used for certain cases
\nonly,\" Topo said.<\/p>\n
Citing China as an example, he said the death sentence might
\nbe changed into life imprisonment after a certain period of time.<\/p>\n
\"But we don't know how House members will respond to the
\ndraft,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Using a classic argument against the death penalty, he said
\nthat imposing the death sentence was risky.<\/p>\n
\"If new evidence surfaced, and in the meantime the death
\nsentence had been carried out, there would be no way for the
\nmistake to be corrected,\" Topo said.<\/p>\n
Topo said the death sentence might be applicable in cases of
\nterrorism that cause the deaths of many.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the theory that the death sentence discourages
\ncriminals, Topo said that experts were yet to agree on its
\ndeterrence effect. (004)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/support-up-for-proposal-to-scrap-death-sentence-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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