Nguyen case will damage Singapore/Aust relations, says
opposition
20.11.05 1.00pm
Singapore has treated Australia with contempt over the case of
condemned drug smuggler Nguyen Tuong Van and the issue will damage
relations between the two countries, the Australian Labour Party
says.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd says Australia must
immediately lodge a formal diplomatic protest against Singapore's
handling of the matter.
"It will have an impact on Australia's bilateral relations with
Singapore," Mr Rudd told ABC television.
"The Singaporean government has treated Australia with contempt on
this question.
"We've had representations from the Pope, the prime minister, the
governor-general, the opposition, a resolution of the Australian
parliament and representations from a huge cross-section of the
Australian people.
"And the Singaporean government's response to that is to tell us
all to go jump in the lake.
"It's time the Australian government raised a formal diplomatic
protest with the Singaporeans to explain the fact that this country
thinks that Singapore's handling of this has simply been
appalling."
He said executions by hanging were particularly cruel.
"Execution by hanging is repugnant," Mr Rudd said.
Singapore has ignored a concerted campaign seeking clemency for
Nguyen, 25, who was arrested at Singapore's Changi airport in late
2002 and found to be carrying 396 grams of heroin.
He is due to be hanged on December 2.
Nguyen's lawyers have signalled they may make a last ditch appeal
to the United Nation's International Court of Justice (ICJ) to stop
his execution -- any application to the ICJ must be through the
Australian government.
Mr Rudd said he had spoken with one of Nguyen's lawyers, Lex Lasry,
who returned from Singapore this morning, and was told of even more
disturbing details.
"He tells me also that in the week or so ahead when young Mr
Nguyen's mother will be visiting him in these extraordinary, ugly
circumstances, that Singaporean processes don't even allow his mum
to give him a farewell cuddle," he said.
"I mean they don't allow physical conduct.
"What sort of government are we dealing with here?
"This deserves and demands a formal diplomatic protest by the
Australian government to try to get some sense and some compassion
out of the Singaporean government."
- AAP http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10356116
