February 7
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT:
MEPs want to prohibit trade with countries that still have death penalty
Speaking at the opening of seventh World Congress Against the Death Penalty on
February 5, a number of European Parliamentarians took the opportunity to
demand that the EU prohibit trade with countries who still retain capital
punishment.
Members of the European Parliament political parties, the Socialist & Democrats
and Greens/EFA, said Brussels should apply the principle of conditionality with
respect to a country’s human rights record when distributing EU funds in
African, Caribbean, and Pacific, or ACP, states.
“As EU citizens, we say ‘No’ to the death penalty…this message must be heard
across the world. The EU should make it easier for authorities to block trade,
for example, to countries which still retain the death penalty,” Alex Mayer, a
Member of the Committee of Economic and Monetary affairs said.
The initiative to make the abolition of the death penalty a prerequisite for
trade relations with the EU was also endorsed by Klaus Buchner, a member of the
sub-committee on human rights, who said trade is a primary tool to encourage
states to respect both the rule of law and an individual’s fundamental rights.
The initiative, however, has little chance to attain any legal framework in the
near future as in the run-up to the unpredictable economic and political
consequences posed by Brexit, few in the EU have the appetite to risk trade
relations with any state linked to the EU by the Cotonou Agreement that covers
over 100 countries with a total population of some 1.5 billion people.
The ACP-EU Partnership Agreement was signed in Cotonou, Benin in 2000 and
expires in 2020. It is the most comprehensive partnership agreement between
developing countries and the EU. At present, there are 53 states in the world
who still have the death penalty, including China, India, the US, Japan, and
Singapore.
(source: New Europe)
NIGERIA:
Court sentences NURTW chairman to death for killing Lagos policeman
The world currently clamours to eradicate capital punishment due to the notion
that punishment should give room for rehabilitation – in other words, the death
sentence is giving up on a human being. But on the other hand, Positivists
minds clamour equal punishment for people who simply kill others.
That argument is due to arise again as the chairman of National Union of Road
Transport Workers (NURTW), Boundary/Aiyetoro Unit, Saheed Arogundade has been
sentenced to death by hanging. His offence, he killed a Police officer, Gbenga
Oladipupo, at Gbara junction, Ayetoro, Ajegunle, Lagos around 8am on April 10,
2010.
According to Instablog9ja, Arogundade was sentenced to death by Justice Olabisi
Akinlade of Lagos High Court, Ikeja, yesterday. after he found Arogundade
guilty of murder.
In November 2011, the prosecution arraigned Arogundade alongside Mustapha
Layeni, Adebayo Abdullahi, Seyi Pabiekun, Sikiru Rufai and Yusuf Arogundade on
a 2-count charge of conspiracy and murder.
When Oladipupo was reportedly stabbed to death by the convict and his cohorts
in 2010, he was reportedly going to Olayinka Street, Ayetoro, to visit his
mother. His corpse was later deposited at Isolo General Hospital morgue.
The deceased was stabbed to death for limiting the NURTW’s income around
Aiyetoro area, Lagos by encouraging the operation of tricycles.
(source: pulse.ng)
MALAYSIA:
RESPA: Death penalty should remain
The Retired Senior Police Officers Association of Malaysia (Respa) supports the
stand of families of murdered victims who want the death sentence to remain.
Its president Tan Sri Ismail Che Rus said that no crime should go unpunished,
whatever the degree of punishment.
“In respect of the death penalty, the sentence should depend on the severity
and circumstances of the crime.
“We support the stand of families of murdered victims that the death sentence
should remain while also supporting the views of cross-sections of the public
that the death penalty should be reserved for serious crimes so that justice
will truly be served,” he said in a statement on Thursday. The association also
feels that those currently on death row can have their sentences commuted to
life imprisonment after due and careful evaluation of their sentences, taking
into consideration that they have truly repented, he added.
“For drug trafficking cases under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, there are
instances where the mandatory death sentence is warranted due to overwhelming
grounds.
“There are also other cases under the Act, in which the accused is sent for
rehabilitation. We support the principle that sentencing of offences should be
more in favour of rehabilitation and be an avenue for a person to turn over a
new leaf,” Ismail said.
He was commenting on the government’s plans to amend and repeal a total 117
laws on punishment for serious offences, the repeal of eight laws with 32
offences involving the death penalty of which 12 are mandatory death sentences,
and the repeal of the Sedition Act 1948.
On the plan to repeal the Sedition Act, Ismail urged the government to instead
amend and improve the Act.
“We propose that the preamble of the Act be crafted clearly and precisely and
that the words “seditious tendency” in Section 3 (1) be defined specifically
and clearly so that the Act may be enforced fairly to safeguard racial harmony
and national stability in multiracial Malaysia,” he said.
(source: thestar.com.my)
SRI LANKA:
Death penalty to be implemented within 2 months
The death penalty will be implemented within 2 months, President Maithripala
Sirisena told Parliament today.
He said that he is determined to implement the death penalty despite some
strong objections.
The President said that he had sought a report on convicts sentenced to death
for grave crimes related to drugs.
However he said the report had been delayed.
(source: Colombo Gazette)
*********************
Sri Lanka leader asks rights groups not to oppose executions
Sri Lanka's president urged human rights groups on Wednesday not to interfere
with his plans to end a 43-year moratorium on capital punishment.
Maithripala Sirisena told Parliament that executions will resume in the next 2
months.
He said many larger nations carry out executions but smaller countries like Sri
Lanka are hampered by human rights groups in their efforts to control crime.
"In carrying out the executions ... I especially appeal to the human rights
organizations not to control punishments given to serious criminals by raising
human rights issues," Sirisena said.
Sri Lanka is predominantly Buddhist, a religion which advocates non-violence.
It last executed a prisoner in 1976.
Sirisena said while the country has had positive influences from all religions,
tough law enforcement is necessary to curb crime and maintain order.
Recent large seizures of narcotics have raised suspicions that the country has
become a smuggling hub.
During a visit to the Philippines last month, Sirisena praised President
Rodrigo Duterte's drug crackdown as "an example to the world." Thousands of
suspects have been killed in the crackdown, which Duterte launched after taking
office in 2016. Rights groups have denounced the killings as extrajudicial
executions.
Sri Lanka has 1,299 prisoners facing death sentences, including 48 convicted of
drug offenses.
Police have intensified efforts to crack down on drugs, seizing 90 kilograms
(198 pounds) of heroin from a luxury apartment in Colombo last month. 2
Americans, 2 Sri Lankans and an Afghan were arrested. On Tuesday, a total 110
kilograms (242 pounds) of drugs were seized from 2 locations near the capital.
Giada Girelli, a human rights analyst with the Harm Reduction International
drug policy research group, said last week that there is no evidence that
executions would serve as an effective deterrent to drug use or trafficking.
(source: Associated Press)
PHILIPPINES:
CHR opposes move to revive death penalty
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday reiterated its strong
opposition to initiatives to re-introduce the death penalty for drug possession
in the Philippines.
“The Commission continues to express its strong opposition to any move that
would reintroduce the death penalty in the Philippines,” CHR spokesperson
Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement.
“Crimes must be punished. But achieving justice is not simply about imposing
harsh punishments, but rather ensuring that a responsive penal system is in
place,” she added.
The CHR statement was made after the House of Representatives withdrew its
approval of House Bill 8909 which revives the death penalty for individuals
found in possession of illegal drugs in parties and social gatherings and
meetings.
“Any proposal advocating for the reimposition of capital punishment also runs
against the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, which seeks to abolish the death penalty across countries.
The Philippines ratified this international statute in 2007,” de Guia pointed
out.
Hence, CHR reminded the government to uphold its international commitments and
its mandate to respect and protect the human rights of the Filipino people.
CHR, however, said it still recognizes the government’s duty to stop the
proliferation of illegal drugs.
“The Commission on Human Rights recognizes the need to address the sale and use
of illegal drugs due to its ill effects to individuals, families, and our
communities at large,” de Guia said.
(source: newsinfo.inquirer.net)
BANGLADESH:
Man handed death penalty for killing his father over a girl
A Mymensingh court has awarded death penalty to a man for killing his father
for refusing to let him marry the girl of his choice.
Mymensingh Additional District and Second Sessions Judge’s Court Judge Md Nurul
Amin Biplob announced the verdict Wednesday on the case started 14 years ago.
Convicted 38-year-old Shariatullah is the son of Ibrahim Khaliulla.
Shariatullah was present in court during the pronouncement of the verdict.
State prosecutor Rezaul Karim Khan said Shariatullah wanted to marry the girl
of his choice. But his father did not permit him to do so. An infuriated
Shariatullah fatally injured his father by attacking him with an axe on Mar 13,
2005.
"His relatives first took him to a local health complex and later admitted him
to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. But he passed away the next day,” said
Rezaul.
Deceased Khaliulla’s other son Sadikullah filed a murder case at the Gafargaon
Police Station. After investigation, police submitted a charge sheet against
Shariatullah in court.
Lawyer Rezaul said after the completion of the hearing, the court declared
Shariatullah guilty of the crime and sentenced him to death.
Shariatullah’s lawyer Sarkar Anwarul Kabir said he will appeal at the High
Court against the verdict.
(source: bdnews24.com)
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