February 1
SAUDI ARABIA:
Saudi Female Activist Spared Death Penalty Amid Outrage
Authorities in Saudi Arabia have confirmed that its public prosecutor is no
longer recommending the death penalty for female activist Israa al-Ghomgham,
who has been held since 2015 after participating in peaceful anti-government
protests.
The Saudi Arabian embassy in London confirmed the shift in approach to Newsweek
on Thursday in response to a request for information about al-Ghomgham’s case.
The 29-year-old was arrested in 2015 for her role in protests in the eastern
region of Qatif. The area is predominantly Shiite, and al-Ghomgham became
well-known for demanding an end to persecution of the country's Shiite minority
by the autocratic government, which is controlled by the Sunni royal family.
She was 1 of 6 people, including her husband, arrested in connection with the
demonstrations. Their alleged crimes included traveling abroad to attend
courses on organizing rallies and protests, using social media to promote and
document events, and using Facebook groups to disseminate videos.
Initially, the Saudi public prosecutor called for death sentences for 5 of the
accused, including al-Ghomgham. This was seen by international observers as a
striking recommendation given the nonviolent nature of their offenses.
Until Thursday, al-Ghomgham was believed to be the first woman facing beheading
for nonviolent activism. As such, her case received significant international
attention from media and human rights organizations.
But the Saudi Embassy in London told Newsweek that the public prosecutor is not
seeking the death penalty for al-Ghomgham. Instead, authorities are calling for
a prison term, fines and the confiscation of anything found to have been used
in her alleged crimes.
The European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights, a human rights nonprofit
group based in Germany, and Reprieve, a nonprofit group based in the U.K.,
confirmed to Newsweek they had received a new indictment that did not recommend
the death penalty for al-Ghomgham.
There is no indication that the Saudi authorities have dropped the capital
punishment recommendations for the other four detainees. This may suggest the
Saudis have dropped their wish for her death to dodge the intensifying
international scrutiny of al-Ghomgham’s case.
Though prosecutors will no longer pursue beheading, al-Ghomgham could still
face a lengthy prison sentence and restrictions on her personal freedoms when
she is freed. In the past, human rights activists have been handed long-term
travel and internet bans even after spending many years in prison.
Maya Foa, director of Reprieve, told Newsweek, "This decision serves to
underline just how arbitrary and unjust the use of the death penalty is in
Saudi Arabia. The kingdom must cease imposing the death penalty on individuals
whose only ‘crime’ is the exercise of freedom of expression and assembly."
Foa called on the international community to "hold Saudi Arabia to account and
call for a review of the cases of all of those on Saudi Arabia’s death row and
the commutation of death sentences handed down in violation of domestic and
international laws."
All 6 of the accused are being tried in the opaque Specialized Criminal Court
(SCC). Nominally an anti-terror body, the SCC is part of the Ministry of the
Interior rather than the Ministry of Justice, placing it firmly within the
national security sphere. It is used by the Saudi government to crush dissent
from human rights and pro-democracy activists far from the prying eyes of the
outside world.
Al-Ghomgham was scheduled to appear before the court again on January 13, but
at the last moment the SCC canceled the session. This marked the 4th time the
hearing had been postponed. The court cited departmental restructuring and
reorganization for the delay.
Ali Adubisi, the director of ESOHR, explained there remain "serious concerns"
over the Saudi government's conduct despite the removal of the death penalty
recommendation. "Replacing the death penalty is a continued violation as she is
charged with offences relating to the expression of peaceful opinion," he
explained. "Therefore, the request for imprisonment instead of execution is a
form of continuous pressure on peaceful activists."
Indeed, that death penalty recommendations remain against the other
co-defendents raises "serious concerns about their fate," Adubisi added. He
noted there are 58 detainees facing death sentences in Saudi Arabia, most of
whom are not accused of serious charges.
(source: Newsweek)
BAHRAIN:
Bahrain Re-Sentences Terrorist Suspect to Death
A Bahraini court re-sentenced to death a defendant charged with killing a
security officer after a Cassation Court had annulled the ruling.
In an unprecedented move on Thursday, the Fourth High Criminal Court sentenced
in a re-trial the defendant to death for establishing and joining a terror
group and killing an on-duty police officer and a civilian.
On October 22, the Cassation Court overturned the death sentences it had upheld
in 2015 against 2 Bahraini defendants and returned their cases to the Appeals
Court for trial.
The 2 suspects had been convicted on Dec. 24, 2014 for the murder of a
policeman in a terrorist attack in Al-Dair District.
The policeman was killed while on duty southwest of the Bahraini capital
Manama, in the village of Damistan.
Bahrain’s news agency quoted on Thursday the head of the anti-terror crime
prosecution, Ahmad Al Hammadi, as saying that the defendant’s charges included
carrying out an explosion, the possession of explosives and weapons for
terrorist purposes, raising funds for a terror group, illegal rallying and
rioting.
The court also ruled to revoke his citizenship, he said.
The case involving 23 defendants had been reviewed by a court that sentenced q
of them to death and the others to life in jail.
The court also revoked their citizenship and ordered 2 defendants to pay up to
BD200,000.
The ruling was approved at the next stage by the Court of Appeals.
In the death penalty ruling, and in accordance with Bahrain's laws, the case
was referred to the Cassation Court and the judges decided to send it back to
the High Criminal Court that issued its verdict.
(source: aawsat.com)
******************
Death sentence upheld for cop killer
The Fourth High Criminal Court yesterday awarded a man death penalty and
stripped him of his citizenship for establishing and joining a terror group,
killing an on-duty police officer and a civilian. Terror Crime Prosecution
Chief Advocate General Ahmed Al Hammadi confirmed that the accused was also
found guilty of causing an explosion and possessing weapons and explosives to
use in acts of terror, as well as raising funds for a terror group, illegal
rallying and rioting.
The case involving 23 defendants had been reviewed by a court that sentenced
one of them to death and the others to life imprisonment. The court also
revoked their citizenship and ordered two defendants to pay up BD200,000. The
ruling was approved at the next stage by the Court of Appeals.
With regards to death penalty ruling, Al Hammadi added that the case was
referred to the Cassation Court, in accordance with Bahrain’s laws, and the
judges decided to send it back to the High Criminal Court that issued its
verdict. The incidents took place on 8 December 2014, when the defendants
placed bombs in Damistan and Karzakkan villages in the Northern Governorate,
causing the death of policeman Ali Mohammed Ali in Damistan and a 72-year-old
citizen in Karzakkan, in addition to injuring other policemen and civilians.
(source: News of Bahrain)
ZIMBABWE:
Govt taking steps to abolish death sentence
The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is working towards the
abolition of the death penalty in Zimbabwe.
In its bid to safeguard life as espoused in the Universal Declaration of
Rights, the Zimbabwe government has been avoiding executing inmates on the
death row and for over a decade it has been exercising a moratorium on
executions.
This was revealed by an Acting Director in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and
Parliamentary Affairs Mr Charles Paul Manhire on behalf of Minister Ziyambi
Ziyambi at the Zimbabwe Staff College in Harare today.
The question of the death sentence has been under serious debate for a while
with some countries advocating for its total ban while others feel it has to
continue to be applied in serious cases.
In the case of Zimbabwe the last executions were in 2005 as the country takes
steps to end capital punishment.
Minister Ziyambi said the Justice Ministry has made further efforts to save
those on the death row by requesting that authorities consider granting of
clemency so that the death sentences imposed are commuted to life imprisonment.
Presently there are 81 prisoners on the death row and 127 prisoners serving
life terms.
Last year 34 prisoners on death row had their sentences commuted to life
imprisonment emphasizing Zimbabwe’s determination to move towards total
abolition of the death penalty.
The 2013 Zimbabwean Constitution imposes a death penalty on a person convicted
of murder committed in aggravating circumstances.
The sentence is, however, not imposed on women, male persons who are under the
age of 20 and over 70 years.
(source: zbc.co.zw)
RUSSIA:
State Duma offers to introduce death penalty for corrupt officials and make a
separate cemetery for them
“Corrupt officials should have a separate cemetery, so that when relatives came
to say goodbye to them, everyone knew and saw them,” the author of the
initiative, Aleksandr Sherin (LDPR), said.
First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, LDPR deputy
Aleksandr Sherin proposed to introduce the death penalty for terrorists and
corrupt officials and make a separate cemetery for the latter, Moskva agency
reports.
“Corrupt officials should have a separate cemetery, so that when relatives came
to say goodbye to them, everyone knew and saw them,” Sherin said. According to
him, corrupt officials are those who “rob the people” and take bribes.
As a positive example, Sherin cited China, which has “the second economy in the
world.” The deputy recalled that there is a death penalty for corruption in
China.
Sherin noted that prison sentences are not a strict enough punishment for
corrupt officials. “Those who steal from the people for a long time will have
no problem serving time in any prison and with any term. Moreover, they will
get amnestied and be totally fine,” the deputy explained. He stressed that
corruption cannot be eradicated by less violent methods than the death penalty.
“Let's change the punishment to a fine, but believe me, corrupt officials will
steal even more so that they could share it and not be imprisoned. And if they
get shot or just hanged, so as not to spare the cartridges because a rope is
reusable, then they will think twice whether to take a bribe or not,” the
deputy said.
(source: crimerussia.com)
GREAT BRITAIN:
Sisters of Fred and Rose West victim call for death penalty during interview on
This Morning----It's their 1st TV interview since Juanita died
The sisters of Fred and Rose West victim Juanita Mott have spoken out about
their sister's murder for the first time on This Morning, calling for the death
penalty for killer Rose.
Ahead of new documentary Fred & Rose West: The Real Story with Trevor McDonald,
Belinda Mott and Mary-Ann Mitchell spoke to Holly Willoughby and Phillip
Schofield about the killing that devastated their family.
The Wests were accused of raping, torturing and murdering 12 women between 1967
and 1987, one of them being their own daughter, Heather.
Fred confessed to the murders and was found hanged in his prison cell. It is
rumoured Rose, who was convicted of 10 murders and sentenced to life in prison
in 1995, is now hoping for release.
She has a fiancee in prison and wants to start a new life with her.
But Juanita's sisters are determined that will never happen.
When Holly revealed Rose was appealing her sentence and to this day denies any
wrong-doing, Belinda said it made her angry and it was a waste of tax payers'
money.
Mary-Ann added: "We go to work and pay our taxes to help keep this country
funded - and keep her in the lap of luxury – she gets three square meals a day,
a nice warm roof over her head, a comfy bed. There's people on the streets that
deserve more money than she does.
"I’d like to see her rot in hell if I'm perfectly honest. And I hope when her
girlfriend gets released from prison it rips Rose’s heart out because she’ll
never get out. And if she did I’m sure there’d be a queue waiting."
Phil asked Belinda if she felt the same and she said: "Yes, that or a very slow
electric chair."
Mary-Ann added: "This is where I feel the death penalty is needed, when there
is no doubt. There is no doubt at all that she was involved."
The sisters also said they felt cheated when Fred took his own life: "We didn't
get the justice, yes he would have ended up in prison, but still cheated. But
then part of me is glad he's not on this earth breathing the same air that we
are," Mary-Ann said.
Juanita had gone missing in 1975, but the sisters say it wasn't unusual for her
to disappear for long periods of time and turn back up again.
It was 1978 when they started to worry about her whereabouts. They believe
Juanita may have been lodging with the Wests.
In fact, Belinda visited the house, dubbed the house of horrors after the
bodies of all their victims were discovered, to see a friend there.
She told how Rose was waiting on the street and said she was a "loose" woman
and that Fred was "creepy".
Phil asked if they thought Fred and Rose were clever to have got away with it
for so long, Mary-Ann replied: "They weren't clever, they’re not intelligent
enough to be clever, it was pure luck."
Holly asked them about dealing with their grief all these years and picking up
the pieces after it was confirmed Juanita was one of the Wests' victims.
Mary-Ann said: "It’s what we're used to now it’s part of our lives. The worst
part is our children our grandchildren won't ever get to meet their aunty. Her
memory is kept alive through photographs, but we’ve learnt not to live with it,
but to just plod on."
As Belinda said the family were "destroyed" by it, Mary-Ann added: "Mum refused
to believe that it was her [Juanita] to the day she died."
(source: entertainmentdaily.co.uk)
PAKISTAN:
Pak government: Aasia Bibi free to leave country----Pakistan’s top court
rejected an appeal against Bibi’s acquittal on Tuesday, paving the way for her
potential departure from the country
The government of Pakistan on Thursday said that Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman
who has been cleared of all blasphemy charges after spending eight years on
death row, was free to leave the country.
Pakistan's top court rejected an appeal against Bibi's acquittal on Tuesday,
paving the way for her potential departure from the country.
"There is a Supreme Court verdict which everyone has. It is not something
secret. The verdict of the Supreme Court will be implemented", Pakistan Foreign
Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal told reporters in Islamabad.
"To the best of my knowledge, Aasia Bibi is still in Pakistan. It's up to her
if she wants to live in Pakistan and if (she) want(s) to go abroad," Faisal
said, adding that Bibi was "a free Pakistani citizen" and that there were no
restrictions on her movement.
Ahead of the court ruling on Tuesday, Bibi's lawyer Saiful Malook told Efe news
that she might join 2 of her daughters in Canada, but it was as yet unclear
whether she would choose to leave her homeland.
Pakistan's blasphemy laws, which date from the period of British colonial rule,
carry a potential death sentence for anyone who insults Islam and its figures.
Critics allege that the laws have been used to persecute minorities in the
country of 200 million people - 95 to 98 % of whom are Muslims.
Bibi, a mother of 5, was accused by 2 other women in 2009 of making offensive
comments against the Prophet Muhammad, the most revered figure in Islam.
A court sentenced her to death in 2010 and she lost an appeal before the Lahore
High Court 4 years later.
In October last year, the Supreme Court overturned her death sentence,
triggering massive protests by far-right Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik
Pakistan that paralyzed the country for 3 days.
Bibi was released from prison on November 7 but was kept in a safe house and
barred from leaving the country while the Supreme Court reviewed the appeal
against her acquittal.
The government, led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, reached an agreement with the
Islamist group in November to end the protests, promising to allow them to
request the judiciary to ban Bibi from moving abroad until the top court had
issued its ruling.
At the end of November, the government arrested TLP leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi
along with 3,000 of his followers for inciting the protests.
(source: nationalheraldindia.com)
**********************
Murder convicts get death penalty, life term
A murder suspect was sentenced to death while another was given a life term in
Bahawalnagar on Thursday. The judgment was announced by Additional Sessions
Judge Chaudhry Khalid Mehmood.
The prosecution told the court that Sajida Bibi, in connivance with her friend
Imran, murdered her husband Maqbool a few months back.
The police registered a case against the culprits and presented the challan
before the court.
After hearing the arguments, the judge handed down a death sentence to Imran.
The judge also imposed a fine of Rs0.25 million. The court also awarded life
sentence to Sajida Bibi.
Earlier, a court awarded a death sentence to an accused for his involvement in
a murder case in Faisalabad. The judgment was announced by Additional Sessions
Judge Asadullah Siraj.
Accused Fakhar Imam had killed his wife Hina and son Hasnain Ali over a
property dispute in 2015.
The local police registered a case and presented the challan before the court.
After hearing the arguments, the judge handed down a death sentence on two
counts to Fakhar, along with a fine of Rs0.5 million.
(source: The Express Tribune)
***********************
Impact of Death Penalty on reduction of Terrorism in Pakistan
Pakistan is the country which suffered the worst impact of terrorism. We
suffered more than all the other countries of the world combined. Especially
during the period of 2007- 2013, there were almost 730 terrorist attacks,
causing thousands of death causalities and so many more injured. Only in the
year 2012, the country witnessed 217 acts of terrorism.
Terrorism in Pakistan originated with the Afghan War in the 1980s when the US
and its allies gathered “mujahideen” i.e. holy warriors, from all over the
world. They trained them, armed them and funded them to be used in a proxy war
against USSR. Extremism, Intolerance, Terrorism, and hate was promoted in
Pakistani society. Traditionally, Pakistan was a peaceful and tolerant society.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Pakistan was a paradise for western tourists. It was
among one of the safest countries with an abundance of natural beauty and
pleasant climate. Affordable cost of living had attracted many western tourists
at that period of time. All religious factions were enjoying very cordial
relations. Pakistan was a multi-ethnic society and was living in perfect
harmony since ages. The Afghan War turned everything and the society faced
increasing divide and intolerance.
In fact, after the withdrawal of USSR’s troops from Afghanistan, and lack of US
interest from Afghanistan left the fighting forces directionless. Such fighters
who were deemed heroes in the US and the western world were left jobless. They
were not educated, trained for any skill, except for war and fighting. Their
funding was also suspended. Under such scenario, they were left with no other
option, except indulging in terrorism on behest of foreign agendas for easy
earning of their livelihood.
After the 9/11 incident in 2011, these heroes trained and armed by US and
Allies were labeled terrorists and war on terror was waged against them.
Pakistan sided with the US and NATO during its war on terror and became the
victim of terrorism.
On 17 December 2014, a major incident of terrorism happened in APS School, in
Peshawar, northwest of Pakistan. It was a major act of terrorism where school
children and teachers were martyred. The incident jolted the Government of
Pakistan and the whole nation was united to fight against the menace of
terrorism.
On 24 December the Prime Minister (PM) in a televised address to the nation
announced the ‘National Action Plan’ (NAP) to deal with terrorism. According to
the Interior Minister, the plan was prepared in the light of the decisions
taken by All Parties Conference. For this purpose, the PM established the
National Action Committee consisting of the members from all the political
parties and decision were taken in the light of the recommendations of this
committee. Prime Minister of Pakistan reached consensus over the issue of
“National Action Plan” to fight against terrorism on war footings. Sufficient
resources were allocated to fight against terrorism. Adequate legislation were
formulated and relevant amendments were introduced to the judiciary, law
enforcement organizations. Among many decisions, one of them was “setting up
military courts” for tackling terrorism cases in the country, along with a
wider plan to tackle terrorism. The death penalty was also approved for
terrorists. Previously, the death penalty was banned in Pakistan and criminals
were very confident that they can come out of jails after some time and again
get involved in similar activities on a much larger scale. Slow access to
justice has made it impossible to eradicate terrorism. Additional amendments
were unavoidable.
Implementation of “National Action Plan” has shown great achievement and
terrorism has been reduced to a huge extent. Death penalty to terrorists proved
to be a key to success in eradication of terrorism in Pakistan. There is a
comprehensive consensus among all political parties and the general public over
the death penalty for terrorists.
Prime Minister of Pakistan has announced, “Continuation of Death Penalty”
recently representing the voice of 220 million people of Pakistan. Being an
elected Prime Minister, he has to represent the people of Pakistan. Pakistan is
a free country and constitution of Pakistan ensures the freedom of expression
to its citizens. We enjoy the highest degree of press freedom, however, only a
few misuse it and work on the agenda of enemies of Pakistan.
I believe, Pakistan is very mature and civilized. We understand our situation
and needs. We hope to decide our own destiny and make our policies indigenously
to suit our needs. It is possible, after some time, when we have rooted out
terrorism completely, we may ban the death penalty forever. I request the
international community to strengthen Pakistan’s drive against terrorism, which
are the enemies of humanity. Please extend your full cooperation and all
possible support to make Pakistan successful against terrorism. I trust that
our friends and civilized nations will come forward to support Pakistan.
However, we are committed to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan absolutely.
(source: moderndiplomacy.eu)
CHINA:
China sentences to death driver who killed passenger of ride-hailing firm Didi
A court in China handed the death sentence on Friday to a man who raped and
killed a passenger of ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing last year, while he was
employed as a driver.
The court in the eastern coastal city of Wenzhou, where the driver, Zhong Yuan,
28, committed the crime in August, said in a post on its Twitter-like Weibo
account it had ordered the death penalty.
The high-profile case triggered fierce public and government criticism of Didi,
which suspended its carpool service Hitch after the incident and pledged a
business overhaul to put a greater emphasis on safety.
Didi said it has no comment on the court sentence.
(source: kfgo.com)
SRI LANKA:
18 in line for the death penalty--Minister Thalatha Athukoral
Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms Thalatha Athukorale says that the
responsibility of preparing the list of convicts who have received death
penalties lies with the Attorney General’s Department.
Commenting on the documents regarding the drug smugglers, the Minister noted
that of the 48 death row inmates that they had received from the Prisons
Department, 38 had already appealed their sentences. She continued to say that
details of the other 18 prisoners will be looked into and according to the
decision made by the court that they will consider whether or not the death
penalty should be passed on them.
The Minister added that everything depends on the reports submitted and added
that the cases have already been opened.
(source: newsfirst.lk)
*********************
Citing drug crime, Sri Lanka plans 1st executions since 1976
Sri Lanka's president pledged to end the country's 43-year moratorium on
capital punishment and execute condemned drug traffickers amid alarm over
drug-related crimes.
The statement on the government's website said President Maithripala Sirisena
would order the executions soon but did not say how the prisoners would be
executed. Sri Lanka last executed a prisoner in 1976. At the time, prisoners
were hanged.
Sirisena's announcement came after he visited the Philippines in January and
praised President Rodrigo Duterte's drug crackdown as "an example to the
world." Thousands of suspects have been killed in the crackdown that he
launched after taking office in 2016, and rights groups have denounced the
killings as extrajudicial executions.
The government said Sirisena believes reinstating executions is justified
because he says other countries execute prisoners for drug crimes. It said he
announced his decision Wednesday in a southern part of the island nation where
large amounts of illegal drugs have been discovered.
Sri Lanka has 1,299 prisoners facing death sentences and 48 of them were
convicted of drug offenses. 18 of those condemned drug convicts are on death
row, while the remaining 30 still have appeals of their sentences to be heard.
Sri Lankan police in recent months have intensified their efforts to crack down
on drugs, seizing 90 kilograms (198 pounds) of heroin from a luxury apartment
in the capital, Colombo. 2 Americans, 2 Sri Lankans and an Afghan were
arrested.
Rising crime — including gang-related killings and narcotics and sex crimes —
have generated public calls to restart executions.
Giada Girelli, a human rights analyst with the Harm Reduction International
drug policy research group, said there is no evidence that carrying out
executions in Sri Lanka would serve "as an effective deterrent to drug use or
trafficking."
"It will buck the global trend away from use of the death penalty and only
serve to harm the health and human rights of Sri Lanka's citizens."
(source: Associated Press)
********************
Hang them not, or hang them?----War against illicit drugs
While President Maithripala Sirisena reiterated very sternly that he would
carry out the death penalty for major convicted drug offences who continue the
illicit drug trade while in the death cell. He declared that he had entrusted
the Armed Forces, Police and the Civil Defence Force with the task of
eradicating the narcotics menace the way they had destroyed the LTTE.
While the President’s decision to carry out the fight against drugs on a war
footing did not face any adverse response, some human rights activists
expressed alarm about his references to the strong arm tactics adopted
successfully by President Duterte of the Philippines.
Furthermore, the Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) came
out with a most surprising statement that they would take legal action if there
was a move to arbitrarily execute persons convicted of drug related offences,
who are found repeating such offences during imprisonment. However, CPRP
Chairman Senaka Perera’s argument against execution falls flat by his own logic
that the prisoners should be given a chance to correct their criminal ways.
"rehabilitation where the wrongdoers are afforded an opportunity to rectify
themselves is the solution. This shows respect for human rights,” Perera
asserted.
Drug offenders
The CPRP seems to have forgotten the fact that President Sirisena’s proposal is
to carry out execution for the drug offenders who continue their criminal drug
trading while in prison. If these criminals carry out drug smuggling while in
prison, it is very clear that these criminals do not have any desire to rectify
their errant ways and become good citizens.
“Students are the main target of narcotic dealers and therefore we conduct
awareness programmes in schools,” President Sirisena said adding that when the
National drug Eradication Week was announced a student had questioned whether
the drug menace could be eradicated within 1 week.”
Schoolchildren are the main target of drug traffickers and the Presidential
Task Force carried out dangerous drug awareness campaigns in 51 schools in
Matara district this week. The President, who attended an awareness programme
at the Ruhuna University, presented certificates of appreciation to the best
contributors to the drug eradication campaign. The University of Ruhuna
received a cash award for establishing a research unit for eradicating
narcotics.
CPRP Secretary blamed Parliamentarians and drug barons for importing drugs into
the country and charged that, “President Sirisena, despite being the first
citizen of a democracy, which has human rights obligations as per international
conventions, entered into a war in favour of the inhumane hangman’s noose”.
The CPRP cannot be ignorant that those who continue drug trade behind prison
walls are drug barons who were caught with hundreds of kilos of narcotic drugs
worth millions of rupees. President Sirisena said very clearly that his
intention is to execute few large scale drug dealers who continue drug
smuggling from their death cells. In other words one or two drug barons will
face hangman’s noose and not minor offenders. If any Parliamentarians are
involved in drug smuggling – there very well could be few judging by the
anti-social tendencies display by few MPs – it is for the police to investigate
and bring the offenders to book. The learned CPRP office-bearers should
understand that President Sirisena cannot be expected to hang MPs without a
conviction by the court.
President Sirisena referred to those who ridicule the national programmes for
drug eradication. Without mincing words he said that whatever said and done, he
strongly believe that those who are trying to deplore these activities have
some connection with drug trafficking. Whatever the guise they use, it is clear
that the people who try to ridicule the drug eradication programmes are under
the control of narcotics drug dealers. The drug barons have unlimited funds to
buy people and they are even powerful enough to topple governments.
New programmes
The President said while continuing the programmes that are being implemented
to control and eradicate illicit drugs, new set of programmes will also be
launched within the next few months aiming at the schoolchildren and public
servants to further strengthen the fight against drugs.
He added that the fight against drugs will be carried out on a war footing,
similar to the war to defeat LTTE terrorism.
The President said that he is determined to carry out capital punishment for
repeated drug offenders. Pointing out that certain forces with an agenda carry
out campaigns against the Theravada Buddhist Philosophy, the President said
that the illicit drugs are also a part of a major coup of certain organised
groups to destroy the country. Under these circumstances, it is essential to
take stern decisions and it is the duty of everybody to join hands in the
campaign to eradicate drugs, the President emphasized.
This 13th programme in Matara is the district meetings of the “Mathin Nidahas
Ratak” conducted under the instructions of President Maithripala Sirisena and
operated under the Presidential Task Force Drugs Prevention. A broad set of
programmes were held centering Matara district in the late October. Under that,
all the districts were covered and 650 rural programmes were held at Grama
Sevaka division level and the officers and the public were made aware of the
programme. An awareness programme was conducted covering 51 schools of five
regions in collaboration of the Navy and Air Force.
(source: dailynews.lk)
BELGIUM:
Death penalty abolition on conference agenda
The 7th world congress against the death penalty will be held in Brussels from
26 February to 1 March.
The biennial conference gathers together abolitionist activists and will be
chaired by French lawyer and abolitionist campaigner Robert Badinter.
The 1,500 participants will include many lawyers speaking across five Brussels
locations, but mainly at the Egmont Palace, near the Palais de Justice.
Strategies
Among this year’s themes are abolitionist strategies and how to prevent the
resurgence of the death penalty.
Also for discussion are ‘the private sector and the death penalty’, ‘women and
the death penalty’, ‘LGBT and the death penalty’, and ‘bar associations in the
fight against the death penalty’.
For the past 20 years, the use of the death penalty has been gradually
declining. Yet 20,000 people are still on death row in the 55 countries that
apply the death penalty (on average, 364 people per country).
There are 106 abolitionist countries, 6 that apply the death penalty only in
exceptional circumstances, such as war or revolution – and 31 de facto
abolitionists, that have not carried out executions for at least 10 years.
Registration to the congress is free, but mandatory.
(source: lawsociety.ie)
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