No TV News for me tonight

I am an avid News watcher.  I could watch News for hours, from one channel to the other, when free. First time I watched TV was in Aug 1980, in a hotel in Washington.  I watched Ted Kennedy passionately argued why he should be the Presidential candidate for Democratic Party.  He did not persuade me.  Despite knowing very little about Jimmy Carter, I wanted him to win the nomination.  He did that only to lose to Ronald Regan big times in a few months.  The period between Aug and Nov of 1980 was the period when I became a News addict.  The addiction stayed with me until today, but this night, I do not want to watch or hear the News re the Bali 9, awaiting execution in a remote island of Indonesia.

As I write this, they probably have another 10 hours or so life left for them.  They will be executed for the crimes they committed about ten years ago, when they were 20 and 24.  Foolish boys they were, driven by greed and foolhardiness.  They were a part of drug smuggling network, only to get caught in Indonesia.  The Australian Federal Police tipped them off instead of arresting them here.  Reasons only known to them.  The crime took place about ten years ago when I lived overseas, that’s a lame excuse for my ignorance.

During the past few months, I have learnt a bit about them, they are two reformed ex-drug-smugglers.  One is a painter and the other is a Minister.  Not for long.  I learnt it through the efforts made by Australian Government to seek their reprieve from execution.  Hats off to Australians all shapes and colors, they were united in seeking the reprieve.  Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Spokespersons for all Political parties, retired Judges of Supreme Courts, Pastors, and Media persons.  The appeal was united and solemn.  A media person summed it, ‘We stand for mercy, because we are all imperfect’.  So are we, so are Sukumaran and Chan.

Death penalty is not uncommon around the world.    Many states in US still execute condemned prisoners.  In countries practicing Sharia, this is a weekly event.  For the evil cult of ISIS, it’s a daily ritual.  So, why does this imminent execution aches me so much?

I am sure there are many youngsters ruining their lives, because of drug dealers and pushers making this poison readily available at low cost.  But will executing these people solve the problem?  Can’t those arrested locked up in a cell, and made to repent right through their natural lives? Wouldn’t that be a better deterrent to other potential drug pushers, than being executing those caught?  Every pusher will learn from prisoned inmates that, the future is not rosy if they get caught.

I think so.  I truly abhor capital punishment, it’s a remnant of our medieval past.  Like many, I held hopes that Indonesians are strong and will become stronger by granting exemption to these two, because of the extent to which they have reformed.  I also felt that the Indonesians will accede the pleas made by the Pope and UN Secretary General.  

That’s not all.  Every time I saw Sukumaran’s family – the grandmother, mother, brother and sister, and Chan’s family – his brother, mother and girlfriend pleading for mercy, I squirmed inside.  Every new portrait Sukumaran released as time passed by, my heart wrenched.  There was one with a bullet hole on his chest without blood pouring, and then another, just a heart.  Isn’t forgiveness the ultimate punishment?

As the clock ticks, I am unable to watch TV.  I am alone in my flat, and feel absolutely helpless.  I am unable to entertain myself with a drink or a movie.  I just do not want to go near the TV.  Usually, when I watch news, I feel informed.  Not tonight.