Archbishop says death penalty not the answer

 By SHIRLYN BELDEN 

A CHURCH leader says implementing the death penalty will not deter violent crime.

Archbishop of Mt Hagen Douglas Young questioned the government whether it was serious about deterring crime through the death penalty or consider other support policies to address the problem. 

He said the severity of the punishment was not likely to stop serious offences but the assurance that the death penalty would curb serious crimes at all.  

“The knee-jerk reaction of many, even the attorney-general, is to call for the death penalty,” he said. 

“It is already well known that the death penalty is not a deterrent to violent crime. Those who commit these offences do not believe that they will be caught and even be actually sentenced. 

“The major deterrent to crime is not the severity of punishment but its certainty. 

“Talk of the death penalty is giving in to the same vengeful streak in PNG culture that is part of our current problem.”

Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Kerenga Kua said there were concerns about the rise in serious crimes in PNG.

He was forced to consider capital punishment for sorcery-related killings, rape and other serious crimes against women. 

Young suggested the government turn to other support policies which can genuinely address violence in PNG and not those that serve only to further brutalise the nation.

“What has to happen is provide support programmes that will help young men find employment, identity, and satisfaction in life,” he said. 

“Strengthen police capacity to find, arrest and prosecute offenders. Give the clear message, if you do this you will be caught and you will be punished.

“Change cultural norms that encourage the protection of offenders.”