Raymond Anthony
Fernando’s letter to The Straits Times: The harsher the punishment, the less
chance of rehabilitation
My press letter to
The Straits Times is published today, Friday 5th July 2019
Forum contributor Osman Sidek has rightly pointed out
that it is not wise to shame radicals or terrorists (Shaming may hurt efforts
to rehabilitate radicals, July 2).
People who move in this direction are most likely
disgruntled and dissatisfied, and mistakenly view the world as being unfair.
They need in-depth counselling and have to be closely monitored to prevent them
from re-offending.
We cannot be judgmental and humiliate them by publishing
their photographs as this would only deepen the hatred in them and make them
bitter.
We also have to be sensitive to the feelings of their
relatives. Must they be "punished" in the process?
Everyone who has made a wrong turn in life, including
prisoners and radicals, needs a second chance in life. Isn't that the objective
of the Yellow Ribbon Project?
Radicals or prisoners must be open to entertaining the
possibility that they may be wrong and be open to learning from the experience
of others. That said, can we not find some kindness in our hearts to work
towards rehabilitation instead of wanting to punish wrongdoers all the time?
Let's be mindful that the harsher the conditions, the
less chance of rehabilitation.
Raymond Anthony Fernando
