#Article (Archive)

The ugly scenes

Jun 21, 2012, 1:07 PM

Girls who are under 13 years of age or even less than that no longer seem to be safe. They are hounded by men with weird sexual urges, and raped.

People young or old commit suicide unbelievably, whiles decent people also involve themselves in murder on a daily basis.

Such seems to take place everywhere, since people commit suicide, rape and murder even in homes.

This is what we read about in the papers every day. It is so nauseating. But why do they defile our girls and leave them with scars for life? Why do people commit suicide? Why do people take lives without any genuine reason? The answer is left for all of us to reason.

However, whatever the motive, rape, suicide and murder are abominable crimes, and must not be condoned.

Take the case of a middle-aged man who allegedly committed suicide in the village of Banjulinding in the Kombo North district of the West Coast Region on Tuesday by stabbing himself.

The reason(s) for his decision is yet unknown, and the incident has brought trauma among residents in the area.

People have to understand that life is more important than any problem they might have or face; so they have to always protect their life in the interest of their family and humanity.

No matter the magnitude of any problem they may have, or the bad experience they may be going through, people should avoid committing suicide.

We are of the view that, even if someone is aggrieved, it does not warrant him or her to commit suicide.

On the issue of rape, our point is that government should impose maximum penalty on perpetrators of rape and murder. Once it is established that the act is not consensual, the perpetrator should go in for life.

We hold that one reason for the rise of rape and murder cases in our society is that the law is lenient on offenders. If a perpetrator knows that he will be jailed for life, he might think twice before taking any such action.

“Punishment is not for revenge, but to lessen crime and reform the criminal.”

Elizabeth FRY