Veil of silence? Try a concrete wall. [the quote below is only the relevant extract. For full article, refer URL]
SINGAPORE'S Prisons Department has drawn a veil of silence over the impending execution of convicted Australian drug trafficker Van Tuong Nguyen.
Today it rebuffed inquiries about how it handles final arrangements for death row inmates.
Its refusal to detail standard practices for executions in the city-state echoed a decision midweek from the Government, which offered no new response to a complaint filed with the UN by local anti-death penalty activists.
The controversial case has also received scant attention in Singapore's print and broadcast media, which has strong links to the Government and is broadly supportive of its policies.
Silence over Nguyen's hanging - National Breaking News
Whichever side of the death penalty argument you stand on, one has to agree that the inmate has to be treated with humanity, one which is lacking in the machine known as the Singapore government. The previous article posted about the letters to Nguyen demonstrates this amply. Execute a man if you will, but at least make sure he gets to talk to his mother before he dies.
technorati tags: singapore, hanging, death penalty
Finally, i saw "Buangkok MRT to be opened in mid-Jan 2006" runs over as brief in channel u today (11/11/05).
ReplyDeletePerhaps, hold another forum for more support to abolish death penalty!
ReplyDeleteLet's be clear about something here. The Prisons Department has to treat all inmates equitably and in accordance with the prescribed code of conduct. I am not sure it is answerable to the media, especially the foreign media. And do you think it should carry out the dictates of activists just because they have made one inmate a cause celebre?
ReplyDeletesorry, don't really understand yr question.
ReplyDeleteokay... anonymous and anonymous, the point here is not really Nguyen's case, but the treatment of deathrow inmates in general. No matter how heinous their crimes, they should be allowed to speak with their loved ones, and receive letters.
ReplyDeleteSure, absolutely correct.
ReplyDeleteSpecial treatment shouldn't be given on the basis of the convict being the focus of local news or campaigns. Although they should all receive equal previliges as death row convicts. I'm sure it would not be the end of the world for the Prison Dept to grant access for relatives.
ReplyDeleteStandard codes of conduct should be made known to human rights groups and the public. People need to know, especially friends and relatives of such convicts, how their loved ones are going to be treated and affirmation of their rights as a prisoner. Transparency is needed to ensure these rights are in place. Granting "charity" visits at their own discretion is not good enough.
To execute a man is already taking away his right to life. Taking away his right for a final visit by his mom is just kicking him when he's down. And even that's a low blow for the Prison Dept.
I'm sick of such treatment to Nguyen, grossly disproportional punishment on him and utter contempt to human right and life by Singaporean Government.
ReplyDeletePersonally I pledge I will have NO holiday in Singapore anymore and NO Singapore Airlines for my regular trip to London. I will encourage my mate to boycott Singapore too.
Singapore - a "Disneyland with the death penalty"
Hong Kong - has a Disneyland which is crap, but at least come without death penalty
I know where I want to live.
When the Filipina maid, Flor Contemplacion, was executed in 1995, there was a hue and cry in the Philippines that she was not allowed to embrace her children just before she was led to the gallows. Over the years I have always wondered about this. As a Singaporean I thought, isn't this cold and cruel. I soon realised that this is actually the prescribed practice in those jurisdictions which have capital punishment, including the United States. In the US, deathrow inmates are also not allowed to touch their relatives during normal visitations (the reason why isn't clear). For more on this, please read: http://maxpages.com/prisonministry/Interview
ReplyDeleteProbably some 19th century practice, which refuses to budge from the constitution. Singapore has a classic case of that: Section 377.
ReplyDeleteThe usual practise is, once a condemned prisoner is hanged at Changi Prison at 5am, the bell wil be ringing for a while.
ReplyDeleteThere fore, on 2 Dec 2005, Friday, all you so call human rights people may want to buy a flight to Singapore on 1 Dec and camp outside Changi Prison to heard for yourselves when My Nguyen is hanged.
Trafficking heroin is a stupid thing, and the consequences for the users of the shots from Nguyen's hall may well be dire. What about the others selling dangerous drugs legally in Singapore - the hundreds of outlets that sell cigarettes?
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about a Government that has a policy to murder one guy and tax the other?
Hey Guys!
ReplyDeleteDo you know what is happening tomorrow? Nguyen will be hanged at 5am!
It's a funny thing when you say that singapore has done nothing to curb smuggling. Do have the proof that it has not reduced? Or are you just making statements with your heart? Countries have laws and when you go to the country you have to abide to those laws, even if you just happen to want to transit through. Now I for one do not agree with the death penalty but he has broken the law and has to pay for it. No country can stop these smuggling completely. As you said, the more the penalty, the higher the cost to get people to smuggle. What would be an ideal punishment for someone that is bringing in heroin that will be sold on the streets to our children. 3 years in a cell? then they are out again? you tell me..
ReplyDelete