It was 12:30 AM, April 29, 2015. The eight
prisoners were brought out and tied to a cross-like figure. Blindfolds were
rejected because they wanted to see their executioners. Each prisoner had 12
soldiers assigned to them. Nine soldiers’ guns were
loaded with blanks while only 3 had live ammunition, so that no soldier knew
who fired the fatal shot. The prisoners sang Amazing Grace. At the
signal, shots rang out, and all went silent. Within 3 minutes, the prisoner was
dead.
Among the prisoners were two Australians, Andrew
Chan 31 and Myuran Sukumaran 34. They were part of the ‘Bali Nine’ arrested
in 2005 and were executed for drug trafficking in Indonesia.
The foreign execution of the two Australians,
the first in nearly a decade, brought back to the fore the issue of capital
punishment, also known as the death penalty. The term comes from the Latin term
capitalis, a reference to the head and beheading. A state exercises
capital punishment when they take the life of the convicted person as recompense
for their crime.
In the ‘old days,’ there were
various means of execution, including crucifixion, guillotine, sawing in two,
burning, flaying, suffocation, dismemberment and other methods too hideous to
mention. Today, the death penalty comes by stoning, lethal injection,
electrocution, firing squad, beheading, hanging, gas chamber, and shooting.
Capital punishment is, by its very nature,
highly controversial. The European Union, in Article 2 of its Charter of
Fundamental Rights, strictly forbids it, as does the 47 member Council of
Europe. In addition, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted several
non-binding resolutions calling for a moratorium on capital punishment. The
eventual goal is to abolish it totally.
Despite these stances, only 40% of the world’s
population live in countries that do not have the death penalty. The four most
populous countries on earth still practice executions: China, India, the United
States of America, and Indonesia.
Indonesia is a sovereign country and in an age
where national sovereignty is being eroded by the day through such entities as
the United Nations and the European Union, it is worth remembering and
preserving. In addition, Indonesia is a vitally important neighbour to
Australia and Asia Pacific.
Drug trafficking is a very serious offence which
has caused untold suffering and death to millions, while lining the pockets of
the criminals. A tough approach to drug usage and trafficking will be much more
effective than the soft version. However, does it really necessitate the death
penalty?
Some powerful arguments exist for the abolition
of capital punishment. First, there is the possibility of executing an innocent
person, compounding the tragedy because the punishment is irreversible. Reform
and rehabilitation are also ruled out for the same reason. The death penalty is
often the instrument of autocratic and totalitarian regimes more than
democratic ones, which means the possibility of torture and abuse are
ever-present, despite supposed safeguards. For those who think it will ‘save money’ because the taxpayer does not have to pay
for the life-long incarceration of a felon, think again: it is estimated that
one high-profile execution cost the American taxpayers $2 million due to
numerous appeals and the cost of the execution itself. Proponents say that
capital punishment will deter others from committing crime but this is highly
questionable. Some even say that the death penalty was practiced in the Bible;
indeed it was (the crucifixion of Jesus being the prime example) but this does
not mean God endorses it today during this age of grace.
Australians were understandably outraged when
Chan and Sukumaran were executed. There have been grassroots calls to boycott
our near neighbour with hashtags #boycottbali and #boycottindonesia. Why was
the anger so high? Here are three reasons:
1. Death penalty: Australia abolished the
death penalty in 1967. Ronald Ryan was the last person to be legally executed.
Even for the most heinous of crimes, like the mass murder of 36 people at Port
Arthur, Tasmania in March 1996, Tasmanian Martin Bryant received multiple-life
sentences in prison. The last time an Australian was executed overseas was Van
Nguyen in Singapore, December 2005. Even for Australians who theoretically
support the death penalty, the fact is that after almost 50 years, we are
simply not use to it. They could have second thoughts if the gallows come up
again.
2. ‘Fair Go’ mindset: Giving
people of a fair-go is integral to Australian culture. Chan and Sukumaran were
21 and 24 respectively when they committed their crime and spent 10 years in
prison, nearly a third of their lifespan. They were declared completely
rehabilitated, no small feat, and established programs to help other prisoners.
Yet, repeated calls for mercy were denied and they faced the firing squad
anyway.
3. The Christian connection: Although
briefly alluded to by the mainstream media, this is also part of the angst.
Though Australia is a secular country in terms of governance and civil culture,
there is a strong Christian underpinning. Every 5 years, the Australian census
reveals that 2/3s of the population identify themselves with Christianity. This
also undergirds the disappointment and anger at the executions of the two young
Aussies. First, both men expressed remorse over their drug trafficking. Andrew
Chan especially did so to his family and Australia. Second, they showed what
the Bible calls the
‘fruit of repentance.’ They weren’t merely apologising ‘because
they got caught.’ They lived their lives as men
who wanted to get it right. Hence, the cultural and rehabilitation programs established
at Karobokan Prison at Bali. Chan went even further: he underwent theological
training and was ordained into Christian ministry. It is a rare thing but true:
a prisoner who becomes a fully credentialed minister in prison. From a
Christian perspective, when someone repents - with real fruit - forgiveness and
mercy should be extended. Humanely speaking, this was not the case for the
young pair. So on April 29, 2015, at the Nusa Kambangan ‘execution
island,’ the two young Aussies and six other men faced the
firing squad.’
4. Justice: Was justice served that night
on Nusa Kambangan?’ It depends who you speak to. In our fallen world, true justice is
often elusive - innocent people suffer while guilty ones prosper (only
temporarily however). As for me, let me give you a tip: it is always better to ‘err’ on the side of mercy. Jesus said it best in the Sermon on the Mount
- blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7).
When men like Chan and Sukumaran, facing death with Amazing Grace on their
lips and Christ in their hearts, there can be no question that they are now
experiencing the greatest mercy of all.
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