Criticism of caning in Singapore seems to overlook Singapore's own careful study of the issue. A few years back, a special commission was struck to examine alternatives to caning, but after considerable debate no changes were recommended. It might be useful to review the commission's findings.
It was suggested first that the taint of sexual sadism could at least be toned down a bit by furnishing the prisoner with some appropriately light covering for the whipping. But this idea was dismissed because it might mitigate - and for lighter sentences maybe even eliminate - the slashing away of skin and resultant scarring. Contrary to the obvious purpose of the law, that might allow reformed criminals to conceal the past from their siblings, wives, children, friends, club-members and others; and the commission confirmed that one of the purposes of caning is to ensure the permanent branding of offenders.
Perhaps, though, scarring could be accomplished by slicing the skin of the prisoner instead of whipping it? But this was thought unsatisfactory for two reasons. Deliberately cutting into a living body is associated in the popular mind with surgery, and that might evoke a sentiment that the incisions should afterward be stitched - but of course sewing up the prisoner's wounds might again reduce the scarring. Besides, what if sewing up the wounds involved anaesthesia? Moreover, merely cutting into the skin wouldn't cause the deeper and more lasting nerve and tissue damage that the cane can achieve. The incisions would have to be so deep that popular feeling might even see it as tantamount to torture.
No further procedural alternatives were entertained, but there were two administrative suggestions. One was to whip the prisoner at the beginning of the term of imprisonment, rather than reserve it for some unspecified time much closer to the prisoner's release. But most members of the commission agreed that a prolonged period of dread is a good thing in itself. The second administrative suggestion was to televise whippings. The telecasts wouldn't have to show the bloodier aspects - even if they just kept on the prisoner's face for the few minutes while he was being beaten, that would be something. That idea is still being popularly discussed, but the commission didn't approve it.
The commission is, of course, only a fiction, but the ironies aren't. Singapore - where, as an Indian friend of mine put it, "they try so desperately hard to be white" - continues to flay the skin off its criminals. If we look back, we find that the practice was introduced to Singapore by the English. Thus, when the English left Singapore, the former colonials had two choices. They could stop being whipped - or they could do the whipping themselves. The choice they made is a sad measure of how successfully the English had inculcated a coolie mentality, and how durable that mentality has proven.
Of course, we in the West "don't understand." I'm never sure what to make of this. Is it that Singapore is so densely populated a country that even the slightest deviation from the norm could have devastating consequences? But Singapore is a wealthy and educated country, by most common measures. Monaco is twice as densely populated. The Netherlands is the most densely populated country in Europe, but the standards of voluntary good citizenship of the Dutch are extraordinary. Why should Singapore (and Saudi Arabia and others) worry that society would lapse into chaos if its citizens weren't controlled by fear of being disfigured, mutilated, beheaded? Shades of Vlad the Impaler. And look at us in the West - we even believe that immature children can be taught to behave without being hit.
Maybe caning is part of a larger picture in Singapore. Despite a constitution and legal system that have an English look, Singapore is at best what sympathetic commentators have termed a flawed democracy. The press is theoretically free, but defamation lawsuits prevent anyone from being very critical of the government. The judiciary is theoretically independent, but is often seen to side with government wishes - and jury trials aren't permitted any more. Elections are theoretically free, but the People's Action Party has always held a large majority of the seats, and ridings are warned to expect low priority if they return a candidate from another party.
It sounds a lot like the next destination for endangered western democracy, doesn't it? A beleaguered press, a stacked judiciary, a dirty-tricks government. Press, schmess. What the facts are is just what someone's version is - and think tanks with proper values could produce all the news we need. Get sadistic with criminals - and why not publicize it better, with chain gangs and televised executions? Promote the police as heroes - that will come in even handier, as we get closer to the desired state. Rally round or we'll be overwhelmed by the bad people.
Well - I've let myself get carried away. The main reason we don't understand is probably quite simple - we don't understand because we're not used to being treated the way people in Singapore are. If we got used to it, I'm sure we'd be much more sympathetic.
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