RI should abolish the death penalty

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