SINGAPORE : Singapore maintains it is a country's sovereign
right to decide whether to have capital punishment within its
criminal justice system.
A Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson was responding to media
queries on the press statement issued by a UN human rights
expert.
Philip Alston had said that the execution of Nguyen Tuong Van, a
convicted Australian drug trafficker, violated international legal
standards.
"Mr Nguyen was tried and convicted in an entirely open, fair and
transparent manner, according to due process of law, as has been
acknowledged by the Australian Government," the spokesperson said
in a statement.
Therefore, the spokesperson said, this case doesn't fall within Mr
Alston's mandate.
The ministry said it regrets that Mr Alston has attempted to
mislead the public.
It said Singapore had previously protested Mr Alston's abuse of his
office and will continue to do so as necessary. - CNA /ct