I think that perhaps the case should be reconsidered.While he
did violate the law by smuggling drugs,I think Singaporeans need to
take a good look at the law.Having a mandatory capital punishment
for drug trafficking can be a bit of overkill,and perhaps life
imprisonment or a a term of say 20-30 years with 24 lashes of the
rotan for the first 5 years might be a better penalty.
And we should consider;
http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer...y851303621.asp
"A third brother, Ali Imron, received a life sentence after he
cooperated with authorities, showed remorse and urged family and
followers not to imitate him."
This is in reference to the Bali Bomber.Nguyen has cooperated with
the Singapore authorities,so why not stay the execution and let him
rot in jail as a more fitting punishment for himself.
and from another site:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17051708-30977,00.html
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Envoy rebuffs clemency bid
From: AAP By staff writers and AAP
October 27, 2005
LAWYERS for an Australian on death row in Singapore will push ahead
with appeals for clemency despite an official saying the convicted
drug dealer had been given a fair hearing.
Former Melbourne salesman Van Tuong Nguyen, 25, was caught with 396
grams of heroin strapped to his body and in his hand luggage at
Singapore's Changi airport in 2002.
He is expected to be executed in the next four to six weeks.
Joseph Koh, Singapore's high commissioner to Australia, today said
Nguyen's plea for clemency had been dealt with fairly.
"He was given a fair hearing throughout the legal process and his
appeal for clemency was carefully considered," Mr Koh said.
"After taking into account all factors, the president (of
Singapore), on the advice of the cabinet, was unable to make an
exception to Mr Nguyen's case."
But Nguyen's Australian lawyer Lex Lasry, QC, today said this was
an unsurprising statement and did not deter him from persisting
with his appeal to the Singapore Government for clemency.
Mr Lasry said he took issue with Mr Koh's statement that Nguyen's
appeal for clemency was carefully considered, as he said there was
a clear case for it.
"I see it as a statement of the Singapore Government's position as
of today," he said. "It's not surprising."
Mr Koh said Singapore took a serious view of all drug
offences.
"We weigh the rights of offenders against the rights of victims and
the rights of the community to live and work in safety and
security," he said.
International campaign
However, while Singaporean representatives have played down the
chances of a successful appeal for clemency, an international
campaign to spare Nguyen from the death penalty is gathering
steam.
Mr Lasry's colleague, Melbourne barrister Julian McMahon, said
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer was planning to continue talks
with the Singapore Government and he was hopeful these would be
positive.
"We've now raised the profile of what we consider some of the key
factors and I think that everyone involved will have another closer
look," Mr McMahon said on ABC radio.
The Federal Opposition has made a separate bid, with shadow foreign
affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd yesterday speaking to Mr Koh, and
writing to the country's foreign minister.
Nearly all Federal Members of Parliament are expected to sign a
petition addressed to the Singaporean President and Prime Minister
pleading for him to be spared the gallows.
Julia Gillard, Senator George Brandis, Bruce Baird, Senator Joe
Ludwig and Laurie Ferguson are among those who have signed so far.
About 200 workers around Parliament House are also expected to
sign.
The Tasmanian and Queensland Governments have now joined Victoria
in calling on Singapore to spare Nguyen.
Mr Lasry said his client needed all State, Territory and Federal
Governments to pass motions seeking clemency.
International human rights agencies Amnesty International and the
Asian Human Rights Commission are also appealing for
compassion.
Amnesty International has asked its global network of more than 1.8
million activists in 140 countries to lobby on behalf of Nguyen,
while the Asian Human Rights Commission has called on President
Nathan for a moratorium on his execution.
Local civil rights group Think Centre will also today hold a press
conference in Singapore, detailing its legal case and accuse
leaders of the island nation of imposing a "disproportionate and
cruel" punishment on him.
It marks only the second time in Singapore's 40-year history that a
death penalty case has led to a public outcry.
The first case involved champion athlete Shanmugan Murugesu,
described as a "Death Row confidant" of Nguyen. He was convicted of
smuggling marijuana and hanged in May.
Nguyen's lawyers said the groundswell of support they had received
from Australian governments and international human rights agencies
was fantastic and would help their appeal for clemency.
Extradition case comparisons
Meanwhile, Australia's extradition of an accused killer to
Singapore last month will be used in a last-ditch bid to save
Nguyen.
High-profile Singaporean lawyer M. Shavi, who will spearhead the
new legal team for Nguyen, said a brief to President SR Nathan
would rest heavily on the extradition from Australia of Michael
McCrea.
The British businessman, originally from Nottingham, England, has
been charged with killing his chauffeur Kho Nai Guan and the
driver's girlfriend, Lan Ya Ming in January 2002.
The Howard Government agreed to extradite Mr McCrea after the
Singapore Government pledged not to execute him.
Mr Shavi said he would argue a breach of the Singaporean
constitution in extending clemency to one person, charged with a
capital offence, while not showing the same sort of consideration
to Nguyen.
"The Constitution guarantees equal treatment before the law and
clearly that is not happening with these two people, one extradited
from Australia and one an Australian national," he
said.
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While I'm definitely not against hanging the bugger,there is a
bigger picture to consider and perhaps it might be more merciful to
let him live in Singaproe jails for the rest of his life and extend
such a sentence to fellow drug traffickers.
The Law should be amended to allow for the option of the death
penalty or life imprisonment and caning,decided at the discretion
of the judge and dependent upon the severity of the offence.
