'Lingering resentment' over Nguyen
Email Print Normal font Large font November 27, 2005 - 4:20PM
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Prime Minister John Howard has warned Singapore to prepare for
lingering resentment in Australia if it goes ahead with the
execution of convicted drug smuggler Nguyen Tuong Van.
It comes as Nguyen's best friends arrive in Singapore for painful
farewells, with the condemned drug trafficker approaching his final
100 hours alive.
The days leading up to the dawn hanging this Friday are expected to
be marked by a rising tide of anger and frustration in Australia,
but no change of heart from the city-state.
The looming execution has become the most intense examination of
the Asian country's policy of capital punishment in its 40-year
history.
Bronwyn Lew and Kelly Ng arrived from Melbourne at Changi Airport,
the same facility where Nguyen was arrested in late 2002 carrying
almost 400 grams of heroin.
Neither made any comment, but they wore yellow ribbons on their
shirts and luggage, symbolising their hopes for a last-minute
reprieve for the 25-year old former Melbourne salesman.
They brought with them letters of support from well-wishers.
Earlier, Mr Howard made his fifth personal appeal to Singapore's
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Valletta - but says Singapore will
not change its mind.
Mr Lee told Mr Howard that Singapore would not accept the
jurisdiction of any International Court of Justice appeal against
Nguyen's death penalty, making a challenge impossible.
Mr Howard has refused to bring the matter up formally at CHOGM as a
matter for debate.
But both he and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark raised
Nguyen's case informally with Mr Lee today, pleading with him to
spare his life.
"I did have quite a discussion with him and he was left in no doubt
as to the intensity of feeling within Australia," Mr Howard told
reporters.
"I did not get the indication that the Singapore government was
going to change its position in any way in relation to the decision
to go ahead with the execution."
Nguyen's supporters have called for a consumer boycott of
Singaporean-owned companies, including Optus, if the execution goes
ahead.
Mr Howard has previously refused to endorse boycotts but said he
had told Mr Lee repercussions would be likely.
"I have an obligation to explain to the government of Singapore
that there will be lingering resentment on the part of many
Australians regarding this issue," he said.
"They are certainly carefully monitoring what is occurring but I am
equally of the view, as I have been now for some time, that the
government of Singapore is not going to change its mind."
Mr Howard said he was sorry he had not been able to do more to
spare Nguyen.
"I can promise you I've tried in all the appropriate ways to
persuade them to do otherwise and I regret that I have been
unsuccessful," he said.
"I'm sorry about that."
Ms Clark also made a case for clemency in informal talks today,
raising her strong views against capital punishment.
She backed Mr Howard's handling of the case.
"I know that John Howard is doing absolutely everything he can
about this case," Ms Clark said through a spokeswoman.
Some of Nguyen's closest friends left Australia today bound for
Singapore, carrying messages of support and hope for the condemned
man.
Mr Howard said he felt deeply sorry for Nguyen's mother and hoped
she would convey his feelings to her son this week - but did not
say whether he would be sending Nguyen a personal message.
"The best thing that I can do for that man is to be honest with his
family and to show compassion towards his family, and I have done
that," he said.
"I saw his mother without fanfare ... and I tried as best I could
as a human being to comfort her, and I hope that that was of some
assistance to her.
"That is the best thing that I can do."
Mr Howard said he had done his best to be honest with the family,
to comfort them, and not to exploit the situation
politically.
"I hope that's known to her son and if that is of some comfort to
him, I'm pleased," he said.
"I don't think I can say much more on this issue. I have done my
level best, and, if there are other opportunities, I will take
advantage of them."
- AAP
Thought Howard dun want to appeal anymore and now he is
warning us.
