On caning and beheading

On caning and beheading

I refer to the opinion article entitled Public caning a
primitive punishment, page 5 in The Jakarta Post on Sept. 22.

First, I am proud of living in Indonesia which is the most
democratic country having the largest Muslim population in the
world. It seems that democracy runs well in Indonesia. An example
of this is to let Acehnese undertake the syaria (Islamic law),
though it is still conducted in a patchy manner.

Public caning represents progress for Acehnese in their
efforts to implement Islamic law.

Some people say that caning, stoning, beheading are primitive,
rude and inhumane punishments. How can they say that? While they
do not know the effect of it yet. Of course, we do not have to be
afraid of the system as long as we go along in the right way.
Sometimes primitive laws can be more effective and efficient than
civilized law that is considered more humanitarian but often
gives vague results.

The law would be primitive, rude and inhumane if it was
conducted for the wrong aims, was unfair, or proposed oppressing
another race -- as were the public floggings done in the early
American colonies to punish black slaves. Furthermore, the case
in Aceh occurred under quite different circumstances.

The Acehnese have made consensus and commitment in order that
they can apply this "primitive and inhumane" law in their
homeland, so there must be a great respect for them from other
Indonesians. No-one should stop them, because it is a consensus
of their society as a part of democracy.

Let Acehnese go with the law, and we will see the outcome
later. In my opinion, we have to be more open-minded, and if it
works well, why not?

YUYUS SAPUTRA, Tasikmalaya, West Java