19 March, 2024

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For The Love Of Humanity

By Thisuri Wanniarachchi

Thisuri Wanniarachchi

Thisuri Wanniarachchi

The purpose of this article is not to lay out my political beliefs, to brag about my liberal values or to simply appear above the fray. In an age in which we constantly contradict our democratic beliefs and our personal sentiments, this was written purely for the love of humanity, which we sometimes disregard, in our search for justice.

Whenever a hate crime (murder, rape etc) that gets considerable media attention surfaces, it has been a trend in our society to lash out with demands to restore the death penalty. Although I have trouble understanding the logic in anyone who supports the death penalty, since it produces no positive outcome, I do understand the causes behind such an extreme demand. It is a demand heavily induced by anger; a justified anger. The anger, however is a temporary emotion. Similarly the death penalty, is a temporary solution to the larger problem that A Grade crimes represent. It is only impractical that we let our temporary emotions be reflected in the law of the state. Instead we must look for sustainable solutions to the causes of the crimes.

Law, to me, is a scale of liberty. Yes, punishment must match the crime, but the variables used to equalize the weights on both sides of the scale have to be variables that we can define. How can we define death if we have not yet experienced it ourselves? What gives us the liberty to assign a punishment of which the boundaries, or depth we cannot define?

Research shows that the death penalty is not a proven deterrent to future murders. In fact a recent research from Northeastern University, explains that that the death penalty has the opposite effect: that is, society is brutalized by the use of the death penalty, and this increases the likelihood of more murder. Take the United States, for instance, where different states have different penal codes. States in the United States that do not employ the death penalty generally have lower murder rates than states that do. Similarly when the U.S. is compared to similar countries, the U.S. with the death penalty has a higher murder rate than the countries of Europe or Canada, which do not use the death penalty at all.

In a just, rational society, unlawful conduct is preferably prevented before rather than punished after. That is what we must aspire to as a society, to prevent, than cure and to correct than punish. As evolved human beings in a civilized society it is time we leave behind antiquated laws such as the death penalty and replace concepts such a imprisonment with more sustainable humane solutions such as mental rehabilitation and correctional institutions.

We don’t have to kill people who kill people to teach people that killing people is wrong.

*Thisuri Wanniarachchi, 21, is the author of novels The Terrorist’s Daughter and Colombo Streets. She is Sri Lanka’s youngest State Literary Award winner and the world’s youngest national nominee to the prestigious Iowa International Writers’ Program. She is currently an undergraduate student and full scholar of Bennington College studying Political Economy and Education Reform.

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Latest comments

  • 21
    3

    Having read the article by Thisuri Wanniarachchi, I fully agree with her views.

    Until this moment, I have been in full agreement with the re-introduction of the death penalty. I lived in Saudi in 1976, and killings, rape and theft have not stopped to-date.

    Sometimes it takes a very young person to make us see reality.

    • 16
      6

      Thisuri Wanniarachchi

      “to brag about my liberal values”

      No need to apologise. On the contrary all must be educated to celebrate it.

      “We don’t have to kill people who kill people to teach people that killing people is wrong.”

      Hope most of us in this forum are right behind you, including Jamis Muthu Banda, Ben Hurling, ………………. except a few.

      • 10
        3

        Native,

        FYI, I have been anti capital punishment. As long as I have lived. That position is unlikely to change. Ever.

        Nobody has a right take a life. Including the state. So said, Nelson, The Great from South Africa. I subscribe to that fully.

        However, we live in a stupid country. Where people elected Geetha Kumarasinghe to our Parliament. Despite all the widespread arguments to the contrary.

        Therefore given our serious crime rate, backed by the degree of stupidity of the population & opportunistic politicians, we may well see death by hanging at Welikada. In the near future. That will be truly a sad day to be alive in Sri Lanka.

        Therefore it is important to defeat the noise for capital punishment ideologically. Now.

        Thisuri has done her part. We must do ours.

        Cheers!

        • 10
          1

          Ben Hurling

          Brilliant

          I am right behind you.

          • 2
            2

            I totally disagree, Thisuri missed the point.

            The crime rate in US has nothing to do with death penalty,

            It’s the GUN CULTURE in US guaranteed by constitution.

            How many times Obama said this in public, whenever mass killing is reported in US ?? perhaps dozens .

            Obama’s exact words , 24 July 2015 on BBC,

            “it is Distressing not to have made progress on the issue even in the face of repeated Mass Killings”.

            “If you look at the number of Americans killed since 9/11 by terrorism, it’s less than 100. If you look at the number that have been killed by gun violence, it’s in the tens of thousands.”

            WHERE did Thisuri LIVE all these days ????

            • 2
              0

              John,

              Whereabouts of Thisuri’s residence is not relevant.

              Is it safe to assume you are strongly for capital punishment?

              If so, it will be great to hear the reasons? Would be a good contribution to the debate.

              Looking forward to hear from you.

              Cheers!

              • 0
                1

                I am strongly for Capital Punishment , those who are sentenced to lifetime jail or 20 years come back in 9 years in our country.

                On the other hand from 1977 todate crimes ; murder, rape, abduction & ransom demand are on steep rise perhaps one reason is non implementation of capital punishment by JRJ in 1977 & followed by successors.

                So we should not talk any nonsense with only academic interest , but get things moving , applying deterrence to ever increasing crime.

                P.S.-When I asked where Thisuri live, I meant in which world ; real, imaginery or her own, not physical residence

      • 6
        2

        Agreed. Well said

        • 3
          1

          Manisekaran

          Can’t you stop your saffron clad thugs messing about with private life of ordinary people.

          Unnecessary focus on Jihadhi love, couples can’t hold their hands in public, writers can’t express their ideas, Historians can’t teach proper history, Astrology now being introduced as science subject, ……. uni students are catching up with these stupid political agenda, Non vegetarians are banned from consuming meat for nine days, ………

          Why don’t you spray haldi/chilli mix or kumkum powder all over India to mark that part of the world is going complete bongos?

          Outsiders can keep away from India.

          Why can’t the government send members of RSS, Shiv Sena, ………..BJP to the border areas to kick the Pakistani back to where they belong? Or send them to fight the ISIS. When they go ask them to take their BJP (BBS Sri Lanka) with them.

          Whats the matter with you Hindians?

          By the way are you a born again Hindu fanatic and a member of RSS, Shiv Sena, Hindu Munnani (Tamil Nadu), Hindu Makkal Katchi (Tamil Nadu), ……… Vishva Hindu Parishad, ………..?

          What are you doing to help the poor boy A G Perarivalan out of prison?

    • 9
      3

      Thisuri Wanniarachchi

      RE: For The Love Of Humanity

      “Whenever a hate crime (murder, rape etc) that gets considerable media attention surfaces, it has been a trend in our society to lash out with demands to restore the death penalty. Although I have trouble understanding the logic in anyone who supports the death penalty, since it produces no positive outcome”

      “It is only impractical that we let our temporary emotions be reflected in the law of the state. Instead we must look for sustainable solutions to the causes of the crimes.”

      “In a just, rational society, unlawful conduct is preferably prevented before rather than punished after. That is what we must aspire to as a society, to prevent, than cure and to correct than punish.”

      Thank you for a very thoughtful essay, especially coming from a young person, instead of joining JVP or LTTE of an earlier era, and killig fellow citizens.

      Certainly, the real question is identifying the problem.

      What was the problem or problem, that caused the people to kill other people?

      However, there should be some kind of punishment, and deterrent.

      Now remember, nature makes errors in the birth of a humans, and these “birth defects” cause some of those born to violence. Accept it as part of nature, and as part of the evolutionary process.

      Instead of the death penalty, they can be made to contribute to society the rest of their lives, so that they will produce for their upkeep plus more.

      Will a Gulag Archipelagos and Work Camps, solve the “Problem”?. A Sustainable solution?

    • 8
      0

      I see the few comments singing the chorus of “Abolish Death Penalty ” without thinking of the consequences might be. In a Third world country as SL with corruption and lack of Law and Order nothing of the sort can be implemented.
      With a simple BRIBE a powerful murderer will be released the next day while the GOOD-GOVERNANCE will be looking at the other side giving a NOD AND A WINK TO THE CORRUPT LAW AND ORDER MAKERS.

      This is our Buddha land of no sufferings of mankind or even insects for that matter.
      We created this kind of mentality with the officials and prelates in the name of Bribing we see the evidence now of a country WITH NO LAW TO PUNISH THE PLUNDERERS AND THE MASS MURDERERS IN OUR LAND OF BUDDHISM.
      Just as the FCID circus continues on its second chapter and no ending to be seen yet. The plunderers and the murderers are walking the streets as though they have done nothing wrong while they continue with their misdeeds. Even bribing the Yellow robed prelates.
      The GG is appearing to have gone to slumberland. All the Hype created before the election all the promises made to us were they just humbug??

      This is the kind of law we see in our pious land of Buddha. Over to you Thisuri Wanniarachi.

      • 1
        0

        Analyst:-
        More Analysis-

        Someone commits a Murder.
        A Judge Passes a Sentence of Death Penalty.
        A ‘Hangman’ commits another Murder, Legally.

        Who ultimately collects the Kamma Vipaka?

        The First Murderer, The Judge or the ‘Hangman’ or all Three?

  • 8
    3

    Thisuri had beutifuly written and I am lookingforward to read her novels. I accept her views. Most cases people Can be changed. Some cases there will be difficulty in changing people from correction facilities. These cases should be seperated and given different type of purnishment but not killing.

    This is also my believe

  • 7
    11

    What are you saying ….. Other states that has more murder because of death sentence does means there is rise in murders…… There might be other reason …. Mayb justice is corrupted in courts….. The police system is corrupt…… Ect ect …… To give death penalty is the best way….. Don’t try to write smart articles thinking this a modern and civilised way where as it is actual not … k u tell what’s the best punishment he should get

    • 4
      0

      Exactly why I do not support death penalty, the justice and police system can be corrupt. What if that corrupt system give a death penalty to an innocent? Or even due to a manipulation of evidence. We can’t give life back to them.

      Also for a person guilty of a hideous crime isn’t death a merciful act? They get their death after maybe a small struggle and who knows for sure what life is after death…I say we give life time imprisonment and rigorous work. Let them regret their act forever.

  • 5
    7

    “We don’t have to kill people who kill people to teach people that killing people is wrong.”

    Great statement.

    Perhaps we should reward the killers to motivate them not to kill?

  • 3
    9

    Where is Bennigton… I thought this lass is an Elite living in Vancouver..

    It was only yesterday , our new Yahapalana Defence Sec said he is beefing up state security not only against Terrorists but also to protect the inhabitants. ( I guess the ones who don’t have security guards or 24/ 7 security cameras).

    Another woman bit the dust close to Bloemendl Road where Pathalaya bosses organized the procession to distribute how to vote cards for Yahapalanaya.

    And a Sampath and a Muslim woman got killed by an AK 47 attack.

    A 4 year old kid was abducted from the safety of her own house, raped and killed.

    Father Mother and their teenage daughter were killed and the girl’s body was dumped in a well.

    All these incidents are just in a month, since Yahapalanaya dawned on us thanks to the Elite, Anglicans, Vellalas and Wahabis.

    And all occurred in the WP or nearby…

    If such terrible crimes occurred before, Rajapaksa and his supporters. would have copped the blame big time..

    Now that Yahapala Mangala has promised the UN HR Chef that he is going to import humane Military Officers from overseas to teach Humanity as a core subject to our bad Commanders,. this PhD Scholar should also bring her fellow humanists to educate our budding murderers and rapists about human values.

    Yahapalanaya must be too soft.

    And Yahaplana bosses haven’t even put their mates as Independent Police Commission members.

    • 3
      1

      KASmaalam K.A Sumanasekera

      “And a Sampath and a Muslim woman got killed by an AK 47 attack.”

      Brigadier Deshapriya Gunawardena who allegedly ordered troops to open fire at unarmed civilians who were demanding clean water in the Rathupaswala area in Weliweriya two years ago is back after a two year stint at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Turkey, amid the fanfare at the Airport.

      What are you going to do about him? Promote him to the rank of Field Marshall and then send him on a fact finding mission to Texas.

  • 7
    3

    Thisuri,

    You have put it very beautifully with these words,“We don’t have to kill people who kill people to teach people that killing people is wrong.”

    I beg your pardon!

    Is it really yours?

    What a marvellous statement!

    Had anybody, anywhere in the world put it much more forcefully the
    ridiculous outcome of death penalty?

    Thank you, my dear girl!

  • 4
    4

    Some people misunderstand the principle of life, Lord Budda was the first revolusionist in India he didnt like the killing and death. He wanted the Powerful King Ashoka to stop all the killing. The King found the teaching of governing was much better than killing and revange. He placed written scripts in Stones of these rules. His Kingdom became Biger and center for development.

    Some have revange planted in their head, talking about Yalpanya and Singelease. We are on mothers children. Our mother is Sri Lanka or some call it Lanka or Elam.

    We should get over the feelings and think from inner devine or mind.

    This does not mean that we should not punish the people who have done crimes against humanity and also to understand Why it happened. We all have our versions of truth, but the truth must be told and future crimes should be reduced. There are people doing the killing and going to temples and another person is given the punishment. In this case is this correct ?

    I will give you an example, a religious person in great faith eats egg every day, he do not want to be punished by god so he hires a person to break the egg and cook, Now who should be punished?

  • 1
    3

    My point here is murder and death penalty goes hand in hand. Definitely it’s a deterrent, I know the law can make mistakes and give death penalty to an innocent human , the law should be 100% sure that the penalty meted out to the rightful murderer .
    If I can remember the Singaporean law and order ( some might err , “here we go again on Singaporean law” ) Is very much in favour of Death Penalty in their country. As far as I know these strict punishments keeps the crime levels down. Don’t you think?? .
    You don’t give a carrot stick to the murderer and say well done you survive on carrot stick now. What good that will bring out of a MURDERER??
    In the UK there is no death penalty but given a life sentence which can be rigorous in tough prisons, and they are kept away from soft prisons I mean the prisons meant for petty thefts and burglary.

  • 5
    1

    Prabaharan and Rohana Wijeyaweera are no more there to appreciate your excellent view . Nevertheless you must be happy that at least MaRa, GoRa and their commands are there to appreciate it for the hope it gives to them.

    Looking forward to your next master piece who should gracefully leave politics and which institutions should not get involved in politics so that mother Lanka can be happy and her children go forward as united ones.

  • 3
    0

    Thisuri, interesting piece. I tend to agree with you re the inefficacy of the death penalty.
    What sort of punishment would you suggest in its place, in a case like this? Life imprisonment?-where the guy would be released in 20 years?
    How do you cure people who are affected by this so-called disease?

  • 5
    2

    For The Love Of Humanity

    I have read of your few articles of masterpiece , I admired your writings, in this early as early 20, nevertheless your wording here
    ” We don’t have to kill people who kill people to teach people that killing people is wrong”
    very socially attired word to ELEVATE the same society, that HOLDS AND are infected with bigot culprits who cannot see a difference between innocent child or an invalid for an altruistic discharge their shameful desire; how would you then prevent that altruistic behavior of individuals by preaching and counselling alone. I don’t think so it is possible,
    Capital Punishment is a legal outcome of an estimation of the society, to elevate the society, you practice or not it gives a message, such an altruistic behavior is totally condemned unpardonable act that can be voluntarily avoided. You have to revive it particularly in a country practiced it in the past, to curb and get rid of the evil infection of altruistic behavior in the present context of plight Sri Lanka in.

    • 3
      1

      To be abundantly clear of my above comment,

      For The Love Of Humanity I have read of your few articles of masterpiece , I admired your writings, in this early as early 20, nevertheless your wording here ” We don’t have to kill people who kill people to teach people that killing people is wrong”
      very socially attired words to ELEVATE the same society, that HOLDS AND is infected with the bigot culprits who cannot see a difference between innocent child or an invalid for an altruistic (dis)charge of their shameful desire; how would you then prevent that altruistic behavior of individuals by preaching and counselling alone. I don’t think so it is possible,
      Capital Punishment is a legal outcome of an estimation of the society, to elevate the society, you practice or not it gives a message, such an altruistic behavior is totally condemned, unpardonable act that can be voluntarily avoided. You have to revive it particularly in a country practiced it in the past, to curb and get rid of the evil infection of altruistic behavior in the present context of the plight Sri Lanka in.

      I just misplaced some words eluded by the young beauty of a writer, oh I am sorry I just misplaced some words eluded by the young beauty of writings!

  • 2
    0

    An important point that I humbly submit is that we must have our judiciary and police completely devoid of corruption, that comes from political patronage. Specially, the police must be better trained, motivated and rewarded adequately so that they don’t have to resort to other means to survive. It must start at the very top and the VVIPs, VIPs and all must step back from “seeking and giving” favours. In Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and Germany we see that the police and the judiciary are completely independent of political contacts. (I read an article where in Canada, several top ruling party officials are being charged in Court, for misconduct). In the United States, there is much “lobbying” by all sorts of people through VIPs such as House Reps and Senators: I was told just yesterday by a U.S resident that Donald Trump has refused any contribution from “lobbyists” and he explained that lobbying by both Democrats and Republicans is the cause of all their National problems. He said exactly what he would do to stop the illegal immigration from Mexico and stop crime on the streets of Chicago. I am reminded of what the late, well-respected D.I.G “Jungle” Dissanayake said when a aspiring applicant for the police brought him a letter from a Politico in the SWRD Administration !! I think this is where a well-organized Civil Society can play a part.

  • 3
    0

    Thisuri Wanniarachchi, I read your article, first, to understand the gist, and second, to admire the well crafted sentences. Such a pleasure.

    I agree that the death penalty is crude and antediluvian, and that there should be no place for it in the progressive and compassionate society that we aspire to.

    When I read “In a just, rational society, unlawful conduct is preferably prevented before rather than punished after.” I wondered how much different things would have been if those charged with keeping law and order in our beautiful land had done their duty when faced with the forces of disruption and devastation. Law and order is our first defence, and when that fails we are on the slippery slope to social mayhem. Good law and order should be supported by swift, and sure and consistent justice.

    Punishment should fit the crime, and the more serious the crime, the longer it will take to rehabilitate the perpetrator. A long sentence should be just that; long. Just look at the propensity to re-offend, and it becomes clear that some elements are inveterate, serial offenders.

    There should be NO wishy-washy political machinations that pardon prisoners (and in one case even reward a convicted thug with an island-wide JP’ship). When I last looked, I noticed that we do have an abundance of talented, capable, hard-working, law-abiding citizens needing to be rewarded with such social responsibilities.

    Personally, I feel that a very long spell of rigorous imprisonment will go a long way to punish the more serious offenders, and even help to concentrate their minds and help them reflect on the gravity of their crimes.

    Another good deterrent would be to educate our people with some sobering statistics:
    Our prison population is about 20, 000
    Our prison capacity is just under 12,000.
    Result – many prisoners sleep one on top of another.
    ….and the food is nothing to write home about
    ….and the toilet arrangements, frankly, stink.

    I remember the time I lived in salubrious Negombo, and watching the regular spectacle of shackled prisoners being marched from the railway station to the prison in the fort. Many of us then resolved to scratch a life of crime off our list of career options.

    More ink in your pen, Thisuri!

    • 4
      0

      Spring Koha

      Thanks.

  • 0
    5

    “ In a just, rational society, unlawful conduct is preferably prevented before rather than punished after. “
    A similar fantasy (Preventive war) has been used by the US and it’s rabid proxies, at national level to decimate populations and destroy societies creating millions of refugees in the ME countries which had little ability to defend themselves.
    ‘Humanity’ as a whole is neither humane nor rational . The author is likely to change her views as she matures and joins the rational minority.

  • 2
    0

    High Court judge Sarath Ambepitiya sentenced Veluppillai Prabakaran to prison for Two Hundred years, for the LTTE attack on the Central Bank.

    This sentence could be an alternative to a death sentence for premeditated murder.
    Incarceration for more than two human lifespans is the ultimate punishment.

  • 4
    2

    what a strange world we live in!
    this lovely lady advocates against death penalty and yesterday we witnessed Buddhist monk Ven.Dambara Amila calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty.
    “We don’t have to kill people who kill people to teach people that killing people is wrong”
    Rhythmic and poetic words indeed but death penalty is not supposed to teach anyone not kill but instill fear of death in one self.
    Its about crime and punishment with out which the law becomes meaningless.
    For any society to be healthy it needs to clean itself.
    The rabid dogs need to be put down for the sake of larger society.
    Especially today the drug barons and child abusers are worse than rabid dogs.

  • 3
    5

    We don’t have to kill people who kill people to teach people that killing people is wrong.

    Nicely written!

    However, the killer is not being killed. There is no pre-determination to kill. There is a subtle but important difference. Its the law that punishes him/her. The penalty just happens to be death by hanging.

    For example;

    – Jumping off a cliff will kill anyone. If one decide to jump – then it was his/her choice that brought him his death.

    – Death by hanging is a penalty for murder. If one kills another then it was his/her choice that made him liable to the death penalty.

    • 7
      1

      Vibhushana

      “– Jumping off a cliff will kill anyone. If one decide to jump – then it was his/her choice that brought him his death.”

      Not necessarily.

      Paragliding is relatively safe. It does not kill, but gives you a thrill you will never forget. You need such thrills once in a while.

      You should try it.

      Please avoid listening to voices in your head.

      You might forget your para-glider.

  • 1
    5

    Come on Thisuri, you are too liberal to be in this wicked world and you will the other cheek to the man who assaulted you. So you say that a man who raped and murdered a five year old child should be kept in prison and fed properly and then released in society to rape and murder again. You being a woman, would you say that Isaipriya, the media girl, who surrendered to the army were raped by several army men and then shot dead was justifiable and there shouldn’t be any punishment to the accused. Aren’t they animals who should not be allowed to live in this world. The death penalty was in existence since humans evolved on this earth. The punishment for murder and rape is death penalty and not moral support. I would say that your thinking is not liberal but madness. In Europe murder and rape is very common that the people are agitating to reinstate the death penalty.

  • 1
    6

    I am sorry I left out the incident of rape and murder of Vidya the school girl of Pungudutivu in the North by seven men. According to Thisuri, they should be pardoned and let go free. What a society we would be living in. Yes, the world has become wicked to justify murder and rape.

    • 6
      1

      Sellam

      “According to Thisuri, they should be pardoned and let go free.”

      She is not saying that. Please re read her article. Judicial murder unacceptable, barbaric, potential for miscarriage of justice which cannot be reversed, never worked as deterrent, ………..

      What sort of society do you want to build, instead of being compassionate you are seeking vengeance.

      An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
      -Mahatma Gandhi

      • 2
        3

        Native Vedda

        I am really sorry to read from some of the comments justifying murder and Rape. It is the judiciary that controls the Society. Of course miscarriage of justice is not acceptable. I am talking of a person or persons who really commits Rape and murder. They should face capital punishment.

        • 2
          1

          Sellam

          “They should face capital punishment.”

          Capital punishment no, no, noooooo, not in my name.

          We already have capital punishment in the statute books. No one was executed since 1967.

          Yet horrendous crime have been committed by many including rape and murder of 3 year old babies. Capital punishment did not prevent LTTE, JVP, Politicians, armed forces, committing various crimes.

          Put those criminals in prison and throw the keys away. Let them stay there until they kick the bucket.

          JVP and LTTE used murder as weapons. Would you like state to use statute as murder weapon.

          An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
          -Mahatma Gandhi

          Crime prevention, detection and punishment are far more effective tools than state killing another human being.

          We say no to capital punishment.

          We say no to capital punishment.

          We say no to capital punishment.

          We say no to capital punishment.

          We say no to capital punishment.

          We say no to capital punishment.

          We say no to capital punishment.

          We are with Ben Hurling on this matter of life and death.

          Jamis Muthu Banda

          Where are you? We need you.

        • 0
          2

          Sellam

          Smart. logical. Now you are prepared to pull the lever or push the last button? Or you want me to do it so that you can go to heaven or attain Nibbana?

          Ask Native Vedda who got a big dictionary by his side what is the definition of “hypocrite”.

          Soma

          • 2
            1

            soma

            “Now you are prepared to pull the lever or push the last button? Or you want me to do it so that you can go to heaven or attain Nibbana?”

            Welcome back to humanity.

            Who is going to pull the trigger on last remaining person?

  • 4
    0

    The main argument against the death penalty is that it is irreversible. In Canada , which does not practice the death there have been instances of wrongfull convictions. This was brought about by the use of DNA , something that is now being widely used for investigations.

  • 4
    3

    Cant help but wonder if you would continue to feel the same way if someone you love was raped and killed.
    Let’s talk facts… The innocent little 4 year old girl who was raped and killed last week, what do you feel about the demon who did this? Does he deserve pardon? What if it was your precious little daughter?
    The terrorists who planned 9/11 (to deliberately kill so many civilians). Do you honestly think that they deserve to just live in jail while the relatives of the victims suffer their loss for the rest of their lives? Put yourself in the shoes of a victim’s loved one.
    Let’s look at it from another perspective. Your kid is a hostage of a psychotic killer who is holding a gun to your kid’s head. You are behind this scene and you have a gun in your hand, and you know that you can save your kid only if you shoot the @$%@#& in the head. What would you do?
    If you would opt to do it (which I’m sure you would) you are contradicting what your saying. And if you are not… well.. your just not human.
    The mentality of people never sieze to amaze us… one way or the other.

  • 3
    4

    what about the victim.Should they not get justice or does the author think that they do not deserve justice just because they are no more.For example divya does not need justice though she was raped by 9 men and tortured.If someone raped and tortured and killed the author i am sure she would not want justice for herself because she would be in heaven enjoying all the benefits and would be grateful to those who sent her there.

    the principal purpose of the death penalty is not to deter people from killing but to ensure that justice is provided to the victim.A few days ago a 5 year old child was raped and strangled.Now the soul of that child will be restless.It will rest in peace only if the perpetrators also feels the agony it felt and is executed.So first the genitals of this bugger has to be cut off and he should be slowly allowed to bleed to death.Then only that child’s soul will stop wandering around restlessly for ever and ever burning with hate and cursing the people who govern this country wishing that something like that will happen to their children too.

  • 6
    0

    Pretentious liberals…….

    Once, Thisuri Wanniarachchi spoke rubbish in a silly voice on Channel Eye (Rise and Shine Morning Show).

  • 1
    0

    We don’t have to kill people who kill people to teach people that killing people is wrong.” sounds good. But think about that 5year old girl who was sexually abused and killed. how can some one show mercy to the killer?(spare his life)It is not only to teach others to learn a lesson.But removing the dirt from the community.

  • 0
    2

    Liberal values are good, just keep it up.

  • 0
    0

    Flowery words indeed but from then onwards the flower begins to wilt.

    We humans are still barbarians to the core living not in an ideal world.

    The idealistic young writer says, “As evolved human beings in a civilized society”. I refute both her claims. We are evolved barbarians waiting for the slightest of excuses for the cave man instict to be let loose. Civilised society is no where to be found. All are engaged in screwing the maximum benefit out of all others. Land is to be forceably colonised and then plundered. The sea creatures are there to be caught until extinction in the most barbaric ways and dressed and eaten with forks and spoons by so called civilised people engaged in civilised conversations. The environment is there to be poisoned and heated. The human race can never be civilised. It is just another flowery word.

    Why are we so imbued with the death penelty – the killing of one, when we are so utterly helpless to stop the utterly destructive bombs that keep falling from the skies killing and maiming people in their thousands. And who makes and drops this bombs – the very people who claim to be the most civilised people on earth.

    About the death penelty, I couldn’t care less.

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    I fully agree with Thisuri.But I suggest that death sentence be temporary reintroduced to hang all the voters who voted for candidates of the caliber of Geetha.

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    Dear Author,
    If one of your sisters or close relations or friends were raped, and Killed, then what will be your reaction. what kind of punishment the juducual system can give them?

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    What a beautiful piece.

    “We don’t have to kill people who kill people to teach people that killing people is wrong.”

    Ask those who support capital punishment to “pull the lever or push the last button”. You will discover that 99.9999 are hypocrites. For how many years we are struggling to find a man for the hangman job in a country where about 15 million support the capital punishment? Everybody seems to be aspiring to go heaven or attain Nibbana at the expense of others.

    If there are 500 murders a year the actual number with capital punishment becomes 1000.

    Of all myths the greatest is that it is a deterrent. Europe has abolished capital punishment for over sixty years now and the US with the people of same cultural stock continues it. Which has the higher murder rate?

    The argument based on the principle of “justice for the victim” appears to be tenable on the face of it. The proponents seem be forgetful of the fact that the “injustice to any erroneously accused” is a billion times a greater crime. It is the “irreversibility” of this possibility that basically made some societies to give up capital punishment.

    In general murders committed “angered on the spur of the moment” are looked upon with a degree of relative leniency in awarding punishment. Now look what the state does. Years of imprisonment for litigation, family members, loved ones and the priest on the last day, the crying / unconscious convict being dragged to be slaughtered!

    Levels of civilization:

    Level 1) No capital punishment at all. The highest level. Europe, Australia, Canada, Australia, Israel.

    Level 2) Capital punishment only for murder. Most countries including USA, India.

    Level 3) Capital punishment for even non murder offences like, drug trafficking, corruption. China, Singapore, Malaysia.

    level 4) The lowest and most abominable level. Capital punishment for change of religion – apostates. Islamic countries.

    Now Sri Lanka our motherland is another funny case. Yes in principal (including drug trafficking) and No in practice! May all our citizenry attain Nibbana.

    Soma

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    “How can we define death if we have not yet experienced it ourselves? What gives us the liberty to assign a punishment of which the boundaries, or depth we cannot define?”

    That was profound!

    Pope John Paul II said that the death penalty should be used only in the most extreme of cases :

    “…the nature and extent of the punishment must be carefully evaluated and decided upon and ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: In other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society. Today, however as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.”

    –Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, 1995
    http://www.priestsforlife.org/magisterium/indianadeathpenalty.htm

    The rape and murder of that 5-year old is a case of an extreme nature. Till society can properly organize itself so that such type of madness does not live on in the psyche of humans, it is better that that kind offender be put down. If not caught, or let loose too soon, it will go looking for new victim (like the vampires that got the taste of human blood). Maybe, the person can be given the choice of a 1000 year sentence (with no possibility of parole), or the death penalty.

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