[Deathpenalty] [SPAM] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Aug. 20




JAPAN:

Amnesty chief targets death penalty---But ex-DPJ lawmaker knows how tough it is 
to effect political change


There is a wide gap between Japan and much of the rest of the world when it 
comes to human rights issues, and nongovernmental organizations need to play a 
role in changing people's awareness, especially on the death penalty, said 
Hideki Wakabayashi, the newly appointed executive director of Amnesty 
International Japan.

Japan currently has 120 people on death row. Every day they live in fear, not 
knowing when they are going to be hanged.

Meanwhile, the global trend is slowly but surely moving toward the abolition of 
capital punishment.

According to AIJ, the most recent information shows 139 countries have ended 
the death penalty by law or in practice while 58, including Japan, retain it.

During a recent interview with The Japan Times, Wakabayashi, who became head of 
AIJ in March, stressed that the government, which is responsible for the death 
penalty, also is responsible for creating a society in which some people become 
criminals.

"The death penalty is a symbol of human rights issues," Wakabayashi said. "I 
don't think the government has the right to rob the most important right — to 
live."

According to a 2010 government survey, 85 percent of the public approved of the 
death penalty, the highest rate of support since the survey was first taken in 
1994. This public support is often used to back the government's policy of 
maintaining capital punishment.

"We can't just pursue advocacy," Wakabayashi said. "We need to win the sympathy 
of the general public to change society.

"We need to act so that people supporting the death penalty will change their 
opinions — and that will change policies and politicians and ultimately, 
society."

But as a former lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Japan, Wakabayashi knows 
just how difficult it will be to get the government to move away from 
executions.

He served as an Upper House member for 6 years starting in 2001, while the DPJ 
was still an opposition party, but health problems prevented him from running 
again in 2007.

During that time he held several key positions, including as the party's shadow 
trade minister and as chairman of a committee to draft a new Constitution.

Looking back on those days he regrets one thing — that he quit the nonpartisan 
group of lawmakers promoting abolition of the death penalty after being warned 
that affiliation with such an organization would hurt his re-election chances.

"The death penalty is still a controversial issue and I was told that being in 
the group would affect my next campaign," Wakabayashi said. "I've always 
regretted quitting the group. I am ashamed that I cast my philosophy and 
policies to the winds for the election."

When the DPJ took over the government in 2009 after a historic Lower House 
election, it was believed that various human rights issues, including capital 
punishment, would come to the forefront, especially with the appointment of 
Keiko Chiba, a known opponent of the death penalty, as justice minister.

Chiba opened the execution chamber to reporters for the 1st time in an attempt 
to increase transparency, and she set up a study panel to discuss capital 
punishment, but in the end she also signed off on 2 executions.

Wakabayashi pointed out that DPJ campaign platforms have been written to play 
up differences with the then ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

"So when the party includes measures on human rights, those opposed to it 
remain quiet . . . to win the election (by presenting a unified front)," 
Wakabayashi said. "But whether the party is serious about human rights is 
another matter."

One example, he said, was the DPJ's pledge to establish a human rights 
commission.

The need for an independent human rights organ has been cited because human 
rights issues are currently dealt with by the Justice Ministry, which oversees 
prisons and immigration control.

But earlier this month, Justice Minister Satsuki Eda announced that the 
commission would be an affiliate of the ministry, triggering criticism not only 
from opposition parties but from within the ruling coalition.

"The human rights commission has been eviscerated," Wakabayashi said.

Aside from being a former lawmaker, the director has had an interesting career.

A graduate of Waseda University with a bachelor's degree in commerce and a 
master's in forestry from Michigan State University, Wakabayashi worked as a 
salesman for Yamaha Corp., the musical instrument maker.

>From there, he became an executive member of the Japanese Electrical Electronic 
and Information Union and then worked as a diplomat at the Japanese Embassy in 
Washington. He was also a visiting fellow at the U.S.-based Center for 
Strategic and International Studies.

"Japan is viewed as a country that is behind when it comes to human rights 
issues and I would like to use my experiences to make even a small difference," 
he said.

And along with Wakabayashi's appointment this year, the global Amnesty 
International saw its 50th anniversary. Despite being one of the largest 
international NGOs in the world, with 3 million members and supporters, the 
Japanese group has only about 6,500 supporters nationwide.

Wakabayashi said he thinks the low number is a reflection of the limited image 
in Japan of human rights, with the focus on issues like discrimination and 
social integration.

But he pointed out that human rights covers other aspects of society, including 
labor issues like taking child-care leave.

"I think that the concept of human rights is narrow in Japan," Wakabayashi 
said. "It is important to view human rights from a broad angle . . . and to 
change the definition and image of human rights."

(source: Japan Times)






MALAYSIA:

Man to hang for drugs


A subcontractor has been sent to the gallows by the High Court for trafficking 
154.25gm of drugs.

Chong Soon Wah, 38, was sentenced to death for trafficking 103.02gm of heroin 
and 51.23gm of monoacetylmorphines in Ulu Tiram at about 8.30pm on Jan 10, 
2004.

He had been ordered to enter his defence by the Court of Appeal for his charge 
under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which carries the mandatory 
death penalty, after the prosecution lodged an appeal against the earlier 
decision to acquit and discharge him.

The case was later transferred back to the High Court.

In his ruling, Justice Azhar Mohamed, who was presiding when Chong was 
acquitted on March 3, 2008, said the prosecution had succeeded in proving the 
case beyond reasonable doubt.

“There is only one penalty for the offence under this Section and I therefore 
sentence you to death,” he said.

Chong had also been given the death sentence by the High Court on July 24, 
2008, for trafficking a total of 49.19gm of drugs in Taman Desa Jaya at about 
8pm the same day, which was later upheld by the Federal Court.

DPP Rahimah Abd Majid prosecuted while Chong was represented by counsel 
Sukhaimi Mashud.

In an unrelated case, moneychanger Amin Abidin, 52, was slapped with a RM10,000 
fine and jailed a day by the Sessions Court here after he pleaded guilty to 
bribing a traffic policeman.

He had offered RM150 to Sjn Zamani Abdul Aziz as an inducement not to take 
action against his worker Jahafar Ali Esmail for riding a motorcycle without a 
licence.

Amin, who was charged under Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption 
Commission, was not represented.

(source: The Star)



INDIA:

Fresno Sikh fights India death-row verdict


Tejinder Bhullar's brother might be hanged at any time, achingly far from 
Bhullar's Sacramento Valley home.

The Indian government calls Bhullar's brother a terrorist who confessed to a 
murderous conspiracy. Bhullar calls his older brother, Devinderpal, an innocent 
man bent by torture. He's trying to save his sibling by making him a cause 
célèbre and a symbol of ethnic oppression.

"I'm really proud to be an American, because I know I could get justice over 
here," Bhullar said. "But in India, if you are a Sikh, there's a good chance 
you won't see justice."

This month marks the 10-year anniversary of Devinderpal Singh Bhullar's 
conviction on conspiracy charges. His fate is followed closely within the U.S. 
expatriate Sikh community, which includes an estimated 200,000 living in 
California.

"Everybody knows about it," said Harjinder Dhillon, a Fresno resident and 
former president of the Sikh Association of Fresno. "His life should be 
spared."

Prosecutors say Devinderpal Bhullar helped plot a 1993 bombing of a Youth 
Congress office in New Delhi that killed nine people and injured 29 others. In 
August 2002, a divided Indian Supreme Court upheld the conviction and death 
sentence under the country's now-defunct Terrorist and Disruptive Activities 
Prevention Act.

Indian authorities identified Devinderpal Bhullar as a member of the Khalistan 
Liberation Force. In its heyday during the 1990s, the group fought for Sikh 
independence in the Indian state of Punjab.

Tejinder Bhullar, though, insists his brother was neither a militant 
organization member nor a bombing conspirator. A resident of the U.S. since the 
early 1990s, Bhullar now speaks, writes and travels on his brother's behalf.

"He was not involved in any independence party," Bhullar said. "He was against 
the killing of innocent people, and he was very vocal about that."

His brother's confession was wrung out through torture, Bhullar said. A U.S. 
State Department report issued last year says that many Indian citizens allege 
that authorities used torture to coerce confessions and to extort money or as 
summary punishment.

Indian Embassy officials did not respond to several calls seeking comment.

Certainly, Indian leaders remain concerned about domestic terrorism. In a March 
2009 meeting with FBI director Robert Mueller, for instance, Indian 
intelligence officials warned that "Sikh extremism in Punjab is a concern" and 
that some Sikh militants are "maintaining a tempo of jihad," according to a 
secret State Department memo made available to McClatchy by WikiLeaks.

There is no documented indication that State Department officials have raised 
Bhullar's fate with Indian counterparts.

"The U.S. supports due process and a fair and transparent trial for all people, 
but beyond that, this is a matter for the Indian authorities," said Beth 
Gosselin, a State Department spokeswoman.

Before his arrest, Devinderpal Bhullar was a mechanical engineer and college 
instructor. His family members say he was targeted because he was a vocal human 
rights supporter.

Bhullar's mother, Upkar Kaur, is now a U.S. citizen. She plays a 
behind-the-scenes role on Devinderpal's behalf. Soon, for instance, she will be 
signing letters beseeching members of Congress for help.

Tijender Bhullar, 32, a married postal worker living with his wife and mother 
in Live Oak, north of Yuba City, is more often the public face of the lobbying 
campaign. An organization called Sikhs for Justice also lobbies for 
Devinderpal's release.

In late July, Tejinder Bhullar addressed several hundred supporters rallying 
outside the United Nations in New York. In June, a similar rally was held in 
Toronto. None of the rallies have moved the State Department or the United 
Nations to weigh in on the case.

"They are very quiet on this right now," said Gurbatwant Pannun, legal adviser 
to Sikhs for Justice.

No execution date has been set. India has not executed anyone since 2004.

(source: Sacramento Bee)

********************

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi organises demo demanding clemency to Rajiv 
killers


After a 2-wheeler rally campaign yesterday, it was the turn of Viduthalai 
Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) to organise a protest demonstration demanding that 
the 3 accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case not be hanged.

VCK President and Lok Sabha member Thol Thirumavalavan led the demonstration in 
front of the Memorial Hall in the city, in which more than 200 VCK cadres 
participated.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Thirumavalavan, a strong supporter of Eelam 
Tamils, demanded that Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan, whose clemency 
petitions were rejected by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and were facing 
the hangman's noose, should not be hanged.

Claiming that they were innocent, he also demanded the Centre to release them 
as they have already spent more than 20 years in prison.

He also appealed to the Centre to abolish death penalty in the country as has 
been done in more than 130 countries across the world.

Calling for commuting of the death sentence to Afzal Guru in Parliament attack 
case and also to three AIADMK workers in the Dharmpauri bus burning case, Mr 
Thirumavalavan urged the Tamil Nadu Government to adopt a resolution in the 
State Assembly seeking to commute their death sentences.

''If the State government intervened on the issue, the Centre would definitely 
act and stop their death sentences,'' he added.

The anti-death penalty in Tamil Nadu gained momentum with leaders of various 
political parties, including the DMK, PMK, MDMK and VCK and rights activists 
calling for commutation of the death sentences of the three accused in the 
Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

A 2-wheeler rally was also organised yesterday from Chennai city to Vellore 
Central Prison, where they were lodged.

(source: New Kerala)






BENIN:

Benin closer to abolishing the death penalty----Benin has committed to 
abolition of the death penalty in recent years


Benin has taken an important step towards abolishing the death penalty after 
the country’s National Assembly yesterday voted in favour of ratifying an 
international treaty banning capital punishment.

Benin would be the 74th state worldwide to join the Second Optional Protocol to 
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which calls for the 
death penalty to be abolished.

“The Beninese authorities should be commended for this important step that 
would bring their criminal justice system in line with the global trend to 
outlaw this cruel punishment,” said Véronique Aubert, Amnesty International’s 
Deputy Director for Africa.

“Benin’s President Boni Yayi must act swiftly to finalize Benin’s ratification 
of the Optional Protocol and Benin’s example must be followed by neighbouring 
West African countries who have yet to abolish the death penalty,” said 
Véronique Aubert.

While Benin’s penal code has allowed for the death penalty to be handed down 
for various offences, Beninese authorities have not executed anyone for more 
than 2 decades.

To Amnesty International’s knowledge, the last executions in Benin took place 
in September 1987, when 2 people were shot after receiving death sentences for 
ritual murder. The previous year, six people had been executed by shooting 
after being convicted of armed robbery and murder. The last death sentence was 
handed down in 2010 to a woman sentenced in absentia for murder.

At least 14 people are currently on death row in Benin’s prisons.

Benin joins other countries in moving towards the abolition of the death 
penalty in Africa. To date, 16 African countries have abolished the death 
penalty for all crimes, including three – Burundi, Togo and Gabon – in the last 
2 years.

Despite these important advances, work remains to be done to abolish the death 
penalty worldwide.

In 2010, 23 countries carried out executions and 67 imposed new death 
sentences. Among the methods of execution used were beheading, electrocution, 
hanging, lethal injection and shooting.

“The death penalty is the ultimate cruel and inhumane punishment, and should 
never be used by any state under any circumstances,” said Véronique Aubert.

“Those countries that still execute offenders are increasingly isolated as they 
battle against the changing tide of global public opinion and legal practice on 
the death penalty.”

(source: Amnesty International)