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