Two wrongs don't make a right

I was appalled to see the Nov. 7 The Jakarta Post article, that announced the sacrifice in Bali of over 79 animals including rare species like deer, small antelopes and civet cats, by slaughter or drowning. Apart from the fact that I am opposed to unnecessary slaughter, the fact is that more bloodshed, be it that of other species or humans, isn't going to change anything, far less cleanse our beloved island of the bombings.

Even if these animals are not protected species, they are wild animals. True, animals are slaughtered for food every day. But this?

Born a Hindu myself, although I understand and accept that Balinese Hinduism differs greatly in a lot of ways, I find it reprehensible that the Balinese, a largely gentle people, would actually willingly cause trauma and death in this manner, to wild animals that are terrified of human beings.

Being captured is bad enough. Being surrounded by crowds of people in a religious frenzy, and then slaughtered or drowned? I can't bear to think about it.

I quote from the article: "The pemarisudha karipubhaya' is only carried out when there is a mass, violent death caused by enemy attack," Brahmana scholar Ida Bagus Wijaya Kusuma said.

My question: Who, then, will hold a pemarisudha karipubhaya for the mass, violent deaths of over 79 animals?

I have loved Bali since I first visited over a decade ago, and have since visited countless times, and will always go back. But the thought of this enormous sacrifice of innocent creatures is unlikely, to my mind, to appease any Gods. On the contrary, I do believe that needless suffering caused to the innocent would, rather, invoke their wrath.

PRIYA TULI, Jakarta