Naked prison caning vid draws fury - Singapore's Online Community

**uyen** · 04-08-2007, 02:28 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (Reuters)

Malaysia defended on Friday its practice of caning criminals after a disturbing video of a prison-yard caning session burst onto the Internet, reigniting criticism from lawyers and human rights advocates.

In the video, a naked man is shown strapped to an upright wooden frame, his rear exposed to a uniformed official who lifts a meter-long rattan stick above his head before bringing it down on the prisoner's buttocks, tearing the flesh with each strike.

The video, in which the moaning and shaking prisoner is struck six times, has spread quickly across the Internet, capturing headlines in the Web sites of some European newspapers and forcing the Malaysian government on to the defensive.

"The government at this stage has no plans to abolish the cane as part of punishment," Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow told Reuters by telephone.

He said the video was an official recording that had been leaked onto the Internet. The video had been produced for deterrent purposes, with excerpts shown during anti-narcotic education sessions to would-be drug dealers, he added.

"This video was taken officially by us for a demonstration purpose, but it is not supposed to have the victim's face identified. Somehow somebody must have taped (copied) it."

Malaysia is not alone in caning criminals, which critics say breaches human rights norms, including the U.N. Convention Against Torture. Neighboring Singapore also wields the rattan stick and caused a U.S. outcry 13 years ago when it caned an American teenager, Michael Fay, four times for vandalism.

But Malaysia's Bar Council, which represents about 12,000 lawyers, recently called for a ban on caning, saying the "cruel" practice was rising in Malaysia, especially on illegal immigrants after hasty hearings arranged at crammed detention centers.

"They have started imposing the caning sentence in a more rigorous way and it can affect anyone who comes in (to Malaysia) without a passport or papers, so it happens to asylum-seekers and refugees," said Latheefa Koya, of the council's Legal Aid Center.

The government denied use of the cane was widespread against illegal immigrants and Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu said it was reserved mainly for the traffickers of illegal immigrants in addition to drug-traffickers and violent criminals.

Fu said the government also faced calls from victims of crime for the use of the cane to be maintained or even increased for some serious crimes "in view of the crime rate in Malaysia".

Crime is seen as a major electoral issue in the run-up to a possible early general election, expected early next year.

"We respect the view of the Bar Council but there are many other views from the people and also from the victims of crimes that there should be an increase (in caning)," Fu said.

source : http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/as...eut/index.html

**Ican** · 04-08-2007, 02:36 PM

What can I say....another episode of embarrassment.

**diggingforbucks** · 04-08-2007, 02:45 PM

Why would they wan to demostrate the caning process in the first place? :speechless:

Benkee · 04-08-2007, 03:46 PM

Maybe they want to show that they are as tough as Singapore? Sour grapes?

**Peuan Sanit** · 04-08-2007, 03:52 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by diggingforbucks
	Why would they wan to demostrate the caning process in the first place? :speechless:

It was supposed to be shown as a deterence clip to those who might commit serious crime

**mendy** · 04-08-2007, 05:33 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Peuan Sanit
	It was supposed to be shown as a deterence clip to those who might commit serious crime

true.
but to those whom can't understand the whole story or by only looking at one view, really piti them.

**Peuan Sanit** · 04-08-2007, 08:47 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by mendy
	true. but to those whom can't understand the whole story or by only looking at one view, really piti them.

The point that the Director wanted to get across to the mass is that you can end up being caned and showing a person being caned would have a huge impact on the masses.

**matchstickheaven** · 05-08-2007, 03:41 PM

yes, do not think of committing crime, or else you will be caned if you are caught

**genzo2106** · 06-08-2007, 09:43 AM

the telecast of the caning was really uncalled for.What if kids happen to watch it?

**yinfeng** · 08-08-2007, 01:23 AM

Negative effect....the gamen should not even tape it at all...its called privacy...even if its tat person's wrong doing and canning is being sentenced, still he should be caned...in private...

He is not some animal in the zoo which ppl are suppose to watch or some documentary in discovery channel ma...respect the prisoner as they are humans as well...who wants to do wrong anyway if he/she has a chance to do good...

if the gamen is really bend on showing the effects, den maybe show photos of the after-math of the canning...tats all...not video....its too intruding....prisoners have feelings too...wat if the person watching it is his children or parents...wat do u think they will feel....

Put urself in others shoes and think for a moment.

**sgelite** · 08-08-2007, 01:37 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by genzo2106
	the telecast of the caning was really uncalled for.What if kids happen to watch it?

Tend to disagree a little here. As it might do some good here, especially to some incorrigibles. :mellow3:

**derelicte** · 08-08-2007, 01:54 AM

yup, they should be shown the video. Let it be etched in their mind that if they did a serious enuff offence when they grow up later, the punishment will be something that they should be afraid of. But dun think, S'poreans will take kindly to this. If even the quit smoking ad featuring a sick woman is blamed for the kids having no appetite, what's more a real life caning video.
Still they shouldnt have showed the prisoner's face.