[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

August 23


BRAZIL:

Many Brazilians Favour Death Penalty


Adults in Brazil think capital punishment should be put into practice in
their country, according to a poll by Datafolha published in Folha de Sao
Paulo. 51 % of respondents would vote to reinstate the death penalty in a
referendum, while 42 % would not.

The city of Sao Paulo has been affected in recent weeks by street violence
and gang activity. In December 2003, Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula
da Silva presented his proposal to change the countrys gun legislation,
which set specific limitations for ordinary citizens to legally buy, sell
or own firearms and ammunition. Lula said a Brazilian person dies every 12
minutes because of gun-related violence.

A referendum on a new gun law took place in October 2005. 64 per cent of
Brazilians voted "No" on the question: "Should the commerce of guns and
ammunition be prohibited in the entire national territory?" The new rule
would not have affected law enforcement officers, security guards and
registered hunters.

Lula will seek a new term as president in the Oct. 1 election. Lulas
Workers Party (PT) does not support capital punishment.

On Aug. 14, Brazilian Party of Social Democracy (PSDB) candidate Geraldo
Alckmin urged for tougher measures against criminals, saying, "We need to
crack down on organized crime. Brazil has only harsh laws to deal with
petty crimes."

The South American country abolished capital punishment in 1979, with the
exception of crimes of treason committed in a time of war. Brazil ratified
the Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the
Death Penalty in August 1996.

Polling Data

How would you vote in a referendum on whether Brazil should reinstate the
death penalty?

In favour----51%

Against----42%

Not sure----7%

[source: Datafolha / Folha de Sao Paulo----Methodology: Interviews with
6,969 Brazilian adults, conducted on Aug. 7 and Aug. 8, 2006. Margin of
error is 2 %]

(source: Angus Reid Polling)






TANZANIA:

Tanzania's President Kikwete commutes 112 death sentences


The Community of Sant'Egidio salutes and appreciates the act of clemency
issued by President Jakaya M. Kikwete in favour of 112 people imprisoned
on death row in Tanzania. His gesture follows the dialogue started in the
parliament about the situation of prisons and death row inmates.

(source: Community of Sant'Egidio)