'Convicts probably deserved death'
September 30, 2006

The recent execution of three Christian men convicted for leading several attacks on Muslims in Poso, Central Sulawesi, in 2000 has caused controversy, with some people saying the punishment was politically motivated. The Jakarta Post asked two residents their opinions on the issue.
Sukih, is a native of Cirebon, West Java and drives a taxi:
People need to move on from the Poso executions. There is no need to make the matter bigger as the men have already passed away.
As for the real masterminds of the violence, we can't really be sure about that, so it's better to leave that matter to the government.
However, the government also needs to be serious and strict when it comes to judging people guilty of corruption.
Those criminals can get away easily -- four or five years in prison; these are lenient punishments. It's an imbalanced system when you think about it.
Herwindo Iskandar works for PT Nestle Indonesia. He lives in Rawamangun, East Jakarta:
Indonesia rarely hands down the death penalty so when it does, I think the convicts probably deserve it.
Basically, I agree with capital punishment because a massacre, such as the one in Poso, cannot be justified.
Moreover, having capital punishment as a deterrent helps run the nation and meet certain objectives.
-- The Jakarta Post