Caning it - so to speak

The shocking outrage (for that is the right word - as in, outrageous) news in the Republic this week has been the appalling behaviour of the Swiss expat who, in cahoots with a Brit, grafitti-ed an MRT train.

The real source of the embarrassment could be that the transport authorities allowed the train to run for two days before anyone even noticed that the train had been damaged - believing passively that there must be some kind of On Da Street "Arts Festival" going on.

His partner-in-crime, the Brit, fled to Hong Kong straightaway after the damage was done. Such is the level of offence caused, he is apparently being extradited back here from HK. That's right, an extradition treaty is being invoked over this - that's one hell of a statement. Normally, extradition is reserved for murder, arson and robbery - surely? To extradite for an action that happens in cities like New York or London on an almost daily basis seems remarkable for its severity in relation to the deed itself.

But extradition is nothing compared to being caned - which awaits them both - once they are convicted. This isn't a kind of "hold out your hand you naughty, naughty boy" but a full-on beating that involves the recipient to be stripped down to his bare-cheeked buttocks, with his spine and kidneys protected against destruction by a long wet rattan cane, soaked in water for extra flexibility. This long and rather painful instrument is whelped down on the skin with such force that it apparently causes prisoners to piss themselves in pain, and frequently to pass out unconscious.

There's a useful little diagram showing how it's done on here : http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/06/caning-violates-international-norms/

Such deviation from the pre-ordained norms is, in itself, a source of outrage it seems. What with demarcated smoking areas, jaywalking tickets (with photographic evidence of the misdeed) handed out in the city, arrows for showing the direction to walk along busy passageways (with surly warnings such as 'Do Not Cross The Line') ... it's hard to miss the message that Crossing The Line Is Not Good - At All.

Indeed, the reaction of the MRT workers, who presumed the dirty deed to be there by approval of the authorities (for how else could it have happened?) poses some interesting questions about the Individual and their relationship to the State. Their reluctance to comprehend that anything could happen that had not been pre-ordained at some higher level, is noteworthy.

Indeed, that it was even possible that the Line could have ever been Crossed in the first place.