[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Oct. 27



THAILAND:

Parents of Myanmar Suspects Petition Thai Prosecutor


The parents of the Myanmar suspects charged in the murder of 2 British tourists 
on the Thai island of Koh Tao have petitioned the Koh Samui prosecutor asking 
for reconsideration and justice over their sons' arrest and incarceration, 
according to migrant activist Mr Andy Hall.

3 parents and an uncle of Myanmar suspects Ko Zaw Lin Oo and Win Zaw Tun made 
the plea after arriving on Samui Island on 24th October and travelling to the 
island's prison where they had a meeting with the 2 men.

The parents emerged from Koh Samui prison "delighted to have seen their boys in 
good health, having heard the guys saying they are innocent of any crimes," 
reports Mr Hall, who has been following the case closely and tweeting 
developments.

The parents of the 2 suspects, both 21, had flown to Thailand with the help of 
the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok and the Thai authorities.

The suspects were arrested on 3rd October over the murders of British tourists 
Ms Hannah Witheridge, 23, and Mr David Miller, 24, on Koh Tao on 15th 
September. They are charged with conspiracy to murder and rape, plus robbery, 
and could face the death penalty if found guilty.

The murder case and how the Thai authorities have been handling it have grown 
into an embarrassment for the Thai military junta that grabbed power in a coup 
in May. Some rights groups question whether the two men have been made 
scapegoats as the Thai authorities have come under pressure to find the 
murderers.

(source: Mizzima News)






NIGERIA:

Nigeria releases man who barely escaped the gallows after 19 years on death row


The release of a man who spent 19 years on death row in Nigeria and was seconds 
away from execution last year painfully illustrates the inherent brutality and 
unfairness of the death penalty, said Amnesty International today.

ThankGod Ebhos was released under an order issued by the governor of Kaduna 
State. He had been tried and sentenced to death by a military tribunal in 
Nigeria at the time.

Amnesty International raised questions about the fairness of military tribunals 
in Nigeria at the time.

"The release of ThankGod Ebhos brings great hope to the many hundreds who are 
languishing on death row across Nigeria," said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty 
International???s Africa Director, Research and Advocacy.

"Nigeria must build on the positive step taken, immediately halt plans to carry 
out any more executions and move towards abolishing the death penalty once and 
for all. Killing inmates is not an effective way to deal with crime."

In 24 June 2013, ThankGod was seconds away from execution, when officers at 
Benin Prison took him to the gallows, forced him to watch 4 men being hanged 
and told him he was next.

The execution was halted when prison authorities realized that his death 
sentence required it to be carried out by firing squad, which the prison was 
not prepared for.

The other 4 men were executed despite an appeal pending on their cases.

"ThankGod's long ordeal shows that the death penalty has no place in the 21st 
century," said Netsanet Belay.

In June 2014, the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) court 
upheld its earlier decision to grant an injunction to restrain the government 
from executing Thankgod.

"The release of Thankgod in the aftermath of the decision of the ECOWAS Court 
on June 2014 shows the impact such a ruling can have on the desperate situation 
of an inmate on death row for more than 19 years and encourages litigation of 
such critical cases before regional courts" Jean-Sebastien Mariez, attorney at 
Avocats Sans Frontieres France.

In 2013, 4 men were hanged in Nigeria - the 1st executions in more than 7 
years.

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception, 
regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime; guilt, innocence or 
other characteristics of the individual; or the method used by the state to 
carry out the execution. The death penalty violates the right to life and is 
the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.

Amnesty International calls on Nigeria to immediately establish an official 
moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

(source: Amnesty International)