HUKUMAN MATI BUKAN SOLUSI
Pernyataan sikap LBH Masyarakat atas Eksekusi Amrozi dkk

Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Masyarakat mengutuk segala bentuk kekerasan dan kekejaman termasuk tindakan pengeboman di Kuta Bali 2002 lalu. Namun demikian, LBH Masyarakat menyayangkan putusan pemerintah Indonesia yang tetap melaksanakan eksekusi mati terhadap tiga orang terpidana Bom Bali I, Amrozi, Imam Samudera dan Ali Ghufron karena justru pemerintah telah mempertontonkan suatu tindakan kekerasan yang dibalas oleh kekerasan pula.

LBH Masyarakat menentang keras penggunaan hukuman mati sebagai bentuk pemidanaan dan jawaban atas penyelesaian kasus-kasus hukum termasuk juga dalam hal tindak pidana terorisme. Kami memandang bahwa Pertama, hukuman mati adalah bentuk pelanggaran terhadap hak untuk hidup setiap manusia yang merupakan hak yang tidak dapat dikurangi dalam keadaan apa pun juga.

Kedua, hukuman mati merupakan suatu bentuk penghukuman yang kejam, tidak manusiawi dan merendahkan martabat manusia. Hal tersebut tak lebih dari pembunuhan yang dilegalisasi yang dilakukan oleh negara atas nama keadilan.

Ketiga, setiap kejahatan berat harus dihukum berat. Namun hukuman terberat tidak boleh sampai merenggut hidup seseorang. Hukuman seumur hidup lebih layak sebagai hukuman terberat yang lebih banyak memberikan kesempatan bagi banyak pihak untuk memperbaiki keadaan.

Keempat, data dan fakta menunjukkan bahwa hukuman mati tidak banyak memberikan kontribusi dalam mengurangi angka kejahatan, sebaliknya, hal tersebut menunjukkan bahwa bukan seberapa kejam hukumanlah yang dapat menimbulkan efek jera; melainkan adanya kepastian bahwa setiap orang yang melakukan tindak pidana pasti dihukum setelah sebelumnya melalui proses peradilan yang adil dan transparan.

Secara khusus dalam kasus ini, penggunaan hukuman mati justru menimbulkan inspirasi bagi beberapa kelompok untuk menempatkan Amrozi cs sebagai “pahlawan” dan seolah-olah memberikan legitimasi akan perbuatan Amrozi cs. Kenyataan menujukkan bahwa Amrozi cs tidak takut hukuman mati. Dan sebaliknya, pasca pelaksanaan eksekusi tersebut, justru muncul gelombang dukungan dari kalangan tertentu yang mendukung “perjuangan” Amrozi cs tersebut.

Penolakan kami terhadap penggunaan hukuman mati terhadap Amrozi cs bukan berarti kami mengesampingkan rasa kehilangan para korban yang ditinggalkan. Namun LBH Masyarakat lebih mendorong keadilan restoratif yakni memulihkan keadaan korban dan bukan melestarikan keadilan retributif yang didasarkan pada balas dendam. Ketika negara mempromosikan hukuman mati sebagai alasan keadilan berarti negara mendorong agar bangsa ini selalu mempergunakan alasan dendam untuk memperoleh keadilan.

Keadilan bukanlah berarti mengambil apa yang telah diambil oleh pelaku kejahatan. Keadilan bukan bicara mengenai kita melakukan hal yang sama dengan apa yang si pelaku telah lakukan terhadap kita. Selama ini kita muak dengan segala tindakan kejam dan meminta pemerintah untuk membalas tindakan kejam tersebut dengan menerapkan hukuman mati. Tanpa kita sadari, penerapan hukuman mati ternyata hanya memperpanjang rantai kekerasan.

Jakarta, 10 November 2008
Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Masyarakat


Taufik Basari, S.H., S.Hum, LL.M
Ketua Dewan Pengurus

Ricky Gunawan, S.H.
Direktur Program

Even the victims opposed death penalty.

Below is the letter from a father of Joshua Kevin Deegan, the victim of Bali Bombing in recent years.

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BRIAN K. DEEGAN

Barrister& Solicitor

15 July 2006


To Whom It May Concern

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Execution of those persons convicted in relation to the Bali bombing -- (12th October 2002).

This letter is an appeal to the highest authorities in the Sovereign State of Indonesia to reconsider the penalty to be meted out to the above.

To introduce myself, I am the father of Joshua Kevin Deegan, a beautiful young man, my eldest child, who was a victim of the atrocity. At the time of his premature death, he was but 22 years of age. He was both an athlete and an academic. His future was neither preordained nor measurable. He was loved by many and many he loved.

This letter is without doubt the most difficult piece of correspondence into which I have entered. As a father I find it difficult to override, negate and avoid the sin of soliciting revenge but as a lawyer, as a former Judicial Officer serving State of South Australia, I have read about and at times, witnessed significant miscarriages of justice. My experiences have been sufficient to have caused me to hold to the view that frailties within the legal systems are of such significance and presence, so as to exclude the irreversible penalty of capital punishment.

I oppose the death penalty under any circumstance. Joshua opposed the death penalty.

It is for these reasons that I am seeking the penalty to be converted to life imprisonment -- without release.

I do not pretend to forgive these men. Whist I do have some understanding of their motives I nonetheless deplore and despise their methods.

I see that no good will come from their execution. I see only harm. The cycle of distrust bordering on hatred between Muslims and Christians spins at an ever increasing rate. These men are at the lower echelon of organised groups, the leaders of which preach hatred and violence. There are many more men and women ready, willing and able to replace those that have been condemned. Executing these men will only be seen as an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth. These men will be seen as martyrs. And so the cycle will continue.

I have three younger children, and I wish for them to enjoy all the fruits of life, free of hatred, free of ignorance, free of bitterness and free of fear.

Nothing will return, my son to me, to his mother, his family and his friends. The execution of a selected few who were responsible for his death and the death and maiming of hundreds more will not cure the pain. But I believe that an exhibition of mercy may have a positive impact on those who are like minded.

I will not beg for their lives to be spared. But I seek that which I consider more appropriate. A penalty which will serve as a constant reminder to others. A penalty which will not destroy the lives of their families. A penalty whereby these men will have time to reflect upon their actions and to come to the realisation that it was wrong and fruitless.

I seek to dis-empower these men. Not to award them martyrdom.


Yours sincerely,

Brian K. Deegan
(signed)


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