INDONESIA Angry mob showed no mercy to a man accused of raping a disabled woman. The act seemed so abhorrent to them that they bypassed the state justice system and decided to punish him themselves. First, they beat him painfully, then tied him to a motorcycle and dragged him until he died.
Although cases of mob justice are not as common in Indonesia as in some African countries, the phenomenon still persists, especially in rural areas. It often stems from a sense of personal responsibility for overseeing their local community and a low level of trust in official state justice.
However, violence can never be justified. Even the worst offender or murderer has the right to at least a fair trial and a sentence according to the law. There are other ways to ensure that state authorities act transparently and fairly. Anyone participating in a lynching often exposes themselves to greater legal consequences than the perpetrator himself.
