THE recent caning of a man and woman, found guilty of adultery in southern Aceh last week, leaves no doubt that Sharia or Islamic Law is slowly taking hold in this region known as the Veranda of Mecca. Public canings, punishment for the crimes of gambling, selling and consuming alcoholic drinks, and illicit relations between men and women, have become more frequent since it was first executed in Aceh in the middle of last year. The shock of publi