[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Jan. 18



PHILIPPINES:

Arroyo Watch ---- Developments in the Arroyo Presidency

Arroyo is firm on death penalty stand


PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo remains consistent in her stand against
the re-imposition of death penalty for heinous crimes, a Malacaang
official said Friday.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said he supports Arroyo's
stand against death penalty, adding that many members of the Cabinet share
the same stance.

Death penalty, according to him, does not lower the crime rate because the
quantity and quality of crimes remain the same now that there is no death
penalty.

He also said there remains the possibility that the death convict could be
innocent.

For his part, presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said only
Congress could revive the death penalty by enacting a law.

"If there should be new proposals for such reimposition, we can rely on
Congress to make a careful, sober, and comprehensive evaluation or review
of this issue, listening as thoroughly as possible to the views of various
sectors involved including law enforcement agencies, crime advocates as
well as the clergy," Claudio said.

According to Presidential Management Staff director general Cerge Remonde,
Malacaang will listen to the views of other people in the appropriate
fora, but "there are those who believe that the death penalty is the
answer to heinous crimes, such as drug trafficking."

Remonde said a meeting with Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Vicente Sotto
III and Cebu Representative Antonio Cuenco, vice chairman of the House
oversight committee on dangerous drugs, has led him to believe that
"something good will come out of this ('Alabang Boys' drug case)
investigation."

"We talked about reforms for DDB and the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA) for more efficient campaign against drugs. The President
will also come out with a strong policy statement in the campaign against
illegal drugs very soon," he said.

He said the President will study the results of the investigation that
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. would submit on the "Alabang Boys"
case.

Arroyo, he added, might also get reports from other sources "and make the
appropriate decisions at the appropriate time."

Remonde said investigation results so far showed lack of cooperation and
coordination among law enforcers, the prosecutors and the judiciary. He
said the proposal involves the inclusion of enforcement, prosecution, and
rehabilitation in 1 agency.

He said a more comprehensive anti-drug program would be a better
alternative to the reimposition of the death penalty.

(source: Sun Star)






JAMAICA:

Hang all child molesters


The Editor, Sir:

The man convicted of murdering the 3 children in St Mary, in January 2005,
has become the 1st person to be sentenced to hang since the both Houses of
Parliament voted to retain the death penalty in Jamaica.

Now, if we are going to have a death penalty and if the death penalty is
reserved for the most heinous crime, such as the one this reportedly
mentally disturbed man is convicted for, then we should have capital
punishment for all those in our society who are convicted for raping and
sodomising our toddlers and defenceless children in Jamaica.

Child sexual abuse is widespread and rampant in our society, cutting right
across any social, religious, political spectrum, economic or race
boundaries. It is even worse if the abuser is the child's parent or a
family member. I think there is no punishment severe enough for those
types.

Paedophiles and child molesters are usually seriously, twisted, disturbed,
mentally sick and a threat to society, and all children, should be
protected from them.

Horrific

I am not trivialising rape by calling for the death penalty, only for
those who rape and sodomise our toddlers and defenceless children in
Jamaica. But the brutal kidnapping, raping and murdering of our young
children is particularly horrific to me as a parent, compared to the rape
of an adult.

What we need in Jamaica is more moral outrage over the brutal sexual abuse
of our children.

I am, etc.,

COTTRELL HYATT

(source: Letter to the Editor, Jamaica Gleaner)