RI should abolish the death penalty

Indonesia's continued use of the death penalty must disappoint those around the world who look to this country for moral leadership. Capital punishment has never proved a deterrent to serious crimes. The death penalty simply does not work.

In fact, evidence suggests that executions have a general brutalizing effect, and may actually increase the level of crime and violence in society. People say: If our government can resort to killing in order to solve its problems, why can't everyone?

The United Nations has called on all countries to abandon capital punishment. This message is being heard, and one by one governments are halting executions and striking such laws from their books. It is time that the government of Indonesia did the same.

PATRICK KAVANAGH

Jakarta