I oppose the mandatory death penatly against drug trafficking at
many levels:
1) There is no need for the prosecution for proof of intention
ie. the burden lies with the defence why is the defendent not
guilty and not vice versa as in most other laws. This is
particularly unjust when the mule in question is practically
uneducated or ignorant. Recall that African teenager who was
executed and the illiterate Combodian man whom the President
pardoned? Ordinarily, we would say that ignorance of the law is no
defence. However, the death penalty is an ultimate and irreversible
punishment and it warrants extra consideration when it comes to its
application.
2) As a deterrent, I have yet to see the death penalty playing a
huge part in the destruction of drug cartels. I would suppose that
the mules know abit about the in and outs of the cartels but if you
are hanging them I doubt they will want to help you very much. Do
we have a law for the death penalty for the conspiracy to traffic
drugs? I don't think so, correct me if I am wrong. This raises
quite a few eyebrows doesn't it? Who recalls a drug lord being
hanged or convicted for a long time. Why are they being protected
so well.
3) An eye for an eye. Most people can easily take the view that
the death penalty is a just punishment for murder. Some can accept
it as the punishment for drug trafficking as drugs 'destroys
lives'. Let us examine this twisted logic. We justify the death
penalty for drug trafficking because it causes death somewhere. To
preserve generality, any activity that causes the same effect ought
to deserve the same punishment, doesn't it? That will lump in the
cigarette peddlers, booze sellers etc.
4) The gah-men maintains that the death penalty is an effective
deterrent. Well, for it to be more effective, shouldn't it be more
open to discussion about the death penalty? Why do the authorities
clamp up when asked with satistics about executions? Wouldn't
publishing them raise awareness of the consequences of drug
trafficking. Even better, why not have a hugeass poster at Changi
airport that says, "Bringing drugs? We will hang you!".
5) I also belive that the reluctance to repeal this law is due
to neighbouring peer pressure even if the gah-men doesn't admit it.
Think, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesion etc all has similar laws, if
Singapore has repeals the death penalty for drug trafficking, we
would become the drug hub for SE Asia. Well that just adds another
hub to our desire to become the hubs of hubs doesn't it?
Rant Over.
