Asian Political News: Aceh allows caning as punishment for Islamic law violations

JAKARTA, June 10 Kyodo

Caning was officially allowed Friday in Indonesia's troubled province of Aceh, with 20 law breakers set to be caned in the near future, a local government official said.

Mustafa Gelanggang, regent in the province's Bireuen Regency, told Kyodo News the punishment has become official following the signing of a gubernatorial decree by Acting Gov. Azwar Abubakar in the town of Meulaboh in West Aceh Regency.

Islamic sharia law was imposed in the province in 2002, three years after Jakarta adopted a special autonomy law for Aceh.

In announcing the decree before residents and religious leaders of Meulaboh, Abubakar said it was issued to show the resolve of the local authorities to implement sharia law in the majority Muslim province.

Since the imposition of sharia law, at least 20 people have been found guilty of gambling, extramarital sex and prostitution and sentenced to caning.

The punishment, however, has not been carried out as the decree had not been signed until Friday.

''Fourteen people will be caned six times, five, eight times and another one, 10 times,'' Gelanggang said.

The punishment will be carried out in the near future before the public in the yard of a mosque after Friday prayers.