Call for action on hanging
20-11-2005
From: The Sunday Telegraph
Support ... Friends place hands from their reach out campaign in front of the State Library in Melbourne / David Crosling
AN international campaign to abolish Singapore's mandatory death penalty would gain momentum with the execution of Australian drug smuggler Nguyen Tuong Van, his lawyer, Lex Lasry, QC, said yesterday.
Speaking from Singapore, where he will be visiting Nguyen later today, Mr Lasry, a Melbourne barrister, said there was little hope his sentence would be repealed.
Mr Lasry said, however, the fight to save Nguyen would continue.
He said yesterday's visit was probably the most difficult of his career.
Nguyen's execution has been set for December 2.
His mother, Kim, and twin brother, Khoa, will fly to Singapore to visit him in Changi prison this week.
It will be the first time Nguyen has seen his brother since he was caught with 396 grams of heroin strapped to his body and in his hand luggage at Changi airport in 2002.
He told the court he was trafficking heroin to pay legal fees incurred by Khoa.
An international campaign to abolish Singapore's mandatory death penalty for possession or trafficking of more than 15 grams of heroin had just begun, Mr Lasry said.
"Even if our client is executed, as he probably will be, the campaign against Singapore's mandatory death sentence will continue," he said.
"I've been on this case for three years now, and I'm of the view that it's a fight we have to continue."
I am appalled that a western civilized country like Singapore can still believe that it has the right to take a human life. I will be avoiding using Optus, Tru energy and Singapore airlines until Singapore abolishes the death penalty.
ReplyDeleteWTF !!! Nobody held a gun to his head, he flew of his own volition through Singapore with drugs. If he doesn't deserve to be hung for that he at least deserves to be hung for being stupid. Just like the Bali 9 and Schapelle how stupid can you be to take drugs into/through/out of a country that advertises it's policy on drugs is death.
ReplyDeleteWhat did he really believe he was special?
If you don't like the laws of another country then don't leave home!