Stop This Culture of Violence, 5 Apr 2007
The Women’s Centre for Change, Penang (WCC) is appalled at the incident of a second year student alleging torture for a month by his seniors at the Air Force Training College as recently highlighted in the press. It is shocking that a group of young men could not only carry out such barbaric and dehumanizing treatment of a fellow student but that it lasted for as long as month before a complaint was made.
WCC supports the on-going internal investigation as it is important that such violent, bullying behavior is recognized for what it is and wholly condemned. We cannot brush aside the incident by saying that the report should not have been taken to the media or excuse the incident if there is no sustained physical injury or glorify the incident as ‘toughening’ up a person for life in the army or accept it as part of military life.
This incident should not be seen in isolation but as part of the wider culture of violence in our society. There is child abuse and domestic violence in homes, snatch thefts and road rage on the streets, canning and bullying in schools, physical and sexual assaults in the community, sexual harassment in the workplace, ragging and bullying in colleges and military training camps, deaths in police custody and so on. Daily there is a range of violent incidences against men, women and children. What does this say about our society? What behavior will the younger generation model given the current examples?
The senior cadets involved in the incident will have to take responsibility and accept punishment for their behavior. The training college has to accept responsibility for their students as well. But we, as members of society, both in our personal and professional capacity, also have a responsibility to curb not just violent behavior when we come across it but the mindset which allows it to take place. There are serious implications for our society if we allow the current culture of violence to persist.
Prema Devaraj
Women’s Centre for Change, Penang