Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Capital punishment

This refers to the editorial "Clemency — for the right reasons" (Oct. 9). That capital punishment has been done away with in Europe is no reason for abolishing the same in India. Though it is apparently civilised, Europe had no qualms about making draconian laws for its colonial subjects. European countries abolished the death penalty when they did not confront terrorism. But after 9/11 and 7/7, they have started enacting tougher laws that seek effectively to contain terror.

Amaruvi Devanathan,
Minato-ku, Tokyo

* * *

I do not believe that even European countries that have ostensibly abolished the death penalty will observe moral restraint if their security is challenged the way India's has been in the last two decades. The time for abolition of the death penalty will come when the Indian people and nation attain a state of peace and tranquillity.

Dinkar Koppikar,
Tallahassee, Florida

* * *

Capital punishment is indeed abhorrent and uncivilised. But can a country like India, where life imprisonment is commuted after some years, abolish the death penalty? Even though life imprisonment means imprisonment for a lifetime, it is usually 10-14 years. The purpose of a life sentence is to reform the criminal. But Mohammed Afzal Guru is not even ready to sign his mercy petition, which shows his reluctance to turn a new leaf.

R. Sreeram,
Kollam, Kerala

* * *

The fear that Afzal's execution will make him a hero is misplaced. Afzal did not fight like a soldier. He struck stealthily. On the other hand, it is the security personnel who died defending Parliament who are real martyrs.

After every terrorist strike, the government makes vociferous statements that it will put terrorism down with an iron hand. This is the time to translate them into reality.

K.V. Gayathri,
Pollachi, T.N.

* * *

The Afzal debate reminds me of what Mark Twain says about clemency to criminals and murderers in Adventures of Tom Sawyer: "This [Injun Joe's] funeral stopped the further growth of one thing — the petition to the governor for Injun Joe's pardon ... Injun Joe was believed to have killed five citizens of the village, but what of that? If he had been Satan himself there would have been plenty of weaklings ready to scribble their names to a pardon-petition, and drip a tear on it from their permanently impaired and leaky water-works."

B. Mallikarjuna Rao,
Vijayawada

* * *

When the death penalty is imposed, chances of reforming a person are curtailed and an abrupt end to life is sought. It will not cure the disease but will only do away with the symptoms. It will not provide the healing touch but will only remove an inconvenient aberration. It is worth recalling George Bernard Shaw's words: "And so, to the end of history, murder shall breed murder, always in the name of right and honor and peace, until the gods are tired of blood and create a race that can understand."

K. Ashis,
Raipur

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