Fanatical education

It is now clear that in the fight against terrorism, however efficient the Indonesian police may have been since the Bali and Marriott bombs -- and they have been -- that we are not facing an organized terrorist organization like, say, the IRA, but small teams of madmen who, having had their minds polluted at an early age by fanatically religious education, have matured, if that is the word, into fully-fledged psychopaths.

Amrozi's constant grinning is classically symptomatic of psychopathic behavior. He has no feelings, and takes pleasure in killing. To root these people out, which is almost impossible, we can at least try and start at the beginning, and educate the educators to cut back on the religious indoctrination and instead instill the true value of life. This cannot eliminate the psychopathic personality, but it might expose it at an early age although psychopaths are noted for their ability to conceal their condition, often being outwardly charming.

Perhaps teachers in the pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) would benefit from lessons in psychology, as well as the Koran, before they are let loose to spew out more Amrozis into our society.

CHRISTOPHER R McRAE Jakarta