Vicious crime<\/p>\n
From time to time The Jakarta Post publishes a truly important
\nphotograph. About a month ago there was the picture of Yasser
\nArafat and a Jewish Rabbi bear hugging each other and grinning
\nlike a pair of long lost brothers (which of course they are).
\nI've stuck this one up on my office wall as an image that cuts
\nthrough all prejudice.<\/p>\n
Then, just the other day, Aug. 4 to be precise, there was the
\nphoto of \"The Culprit\". This showed a stone faced Filipino
\nseamstress seated, staring at the camera, while a police officer
\nstood close by pointing his finger at her. Her crime? She
\nmutilated her sleeping husband by cutting off his penis.<\/p>\n
It has been pointed out that if this crime of obscenity and
\nviolence had been carried out in the United States of America
\n\"The Culprit\" would be feted to a media circus, a legal circus,
\nan offer to publish circus together with the backing of the
\nfeminist lobby (a lobby which now goes all the way to the White
\nHouse). Not so in the Philippines. There, it appears, the old
\nfashioned perception of vicious crime is still adhered to. Unlike
\nin the U.S. where big money can buy smart lawyers who can be so
\nsuccessful in pleading mitigating circumstances that \"The
\nCulprit\" becomes \"The Victim\".<\/p>\n
An exaggeration? Hardly. In the recent Bobbit case in the USA
\nthat is exactly what happened. It was pointed out at the time
\nthat the Bobbit Case was likely to spawn copy cat mutilations.
\nAre we seeing the start of an ugly international trend?<\/p>\n
NARISH STOCK<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vicious-crime-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }