[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Dec. 16


GLOBAL:

Executions on the Rise in Some Nations


25 countries executed 1,634 people in 2015. That is the highest number of 
executions worldwide in 25 years.

The information comes from the rights group Amnesty International.

3 countries -- Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia -- carried out 89 % of the 
executions last year, the group said. The numbers do not include executions in 
China.

Amnesty International said it believes the Chinese government executes 
thousands of people every year. But the exact number cannot be learned because 
the government keeps that information secret, Amnesty said.

Death Sentence Back in Pakistan

In 2014, Pakistan resumed non-military executions after a terrorist attack on a 
school in Peshawar. The attack killed 144 people, mostly children.

Last year, Pakistan executed 326 people for terrorist activities and other 
crimes, Amnesty International said. It said people tried and found guilty of 
murder and blasphemy were also put to death. Blasphemy is speaking or acting 
against the established religious beliefs.

Death Sentence Bill Before Philippines Congress

The Congress in the Philippines is considering President Rodrigo Duterte's 
proposal to re-establish the right to execute criminals. His plan would permit 
executions for crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping and drug offenses.

When Duterte campaigned for the presidency, he promised to lead a war on crime, 
particularly drug crimes. He also said he would bring back the death penalty.

Executions were banned in 2006 by then-President Gloria Arroyo.

Even without the death penalty, the Philippines National Police said Monday 
that nearly 6,000 people were killed as part of the government's "war on 
drugs." The National Police said that 2,086 people were killed in police 
operations and 3,841 in vigilante killings over the past 6 months.

On Monday, President Duterte said that when he was mayor of the Philippines 
city of Davao he shot criminal suspects himself.

Opposition to the killings and the proposed return of the death penalty is 
coming from the Roman Catholic Church. About 86 % of the Philippines' 100 
million residents are Catholic, according to the Asia Society's Center for 
Global Education.

Catholic Archbishop Socrates Villegas said that the killing of people by the 
government goes against the church's teachings.

The United Nations said that, as of 2014, 160 nations had banned the death 
penalty. In the past 2 years, Bangladesh, Fiji, Madagascar and Suriname stopped 
executions, the UN reported.

Executions Down in United States

In the United States, 20 people have been put to death for their crimes in 
2016, the lowest number in 25 years. The number comes from the Death Penalty 
Information Center, a non-profit organization.

Death penalty supporters say that people found guilty of horrible crimes should 
be put to death. They believe the sentence will act as a deterrent. By 
deterrent, they mean it might cause someone to decide against killing someone 
else.

But opponents argue that a moral society does not put people to death. They say 
sometimes innocent people are found guilty of crimes. Once a person is 
executed, such mistakes cannot be fixed, death penalty opponents say.

(source: Voice of America News)






SOUTH AFRICA:

Exhumation of Poqo 13 prompts death penalty concerns


On Thursday, the remains of 13 Poqo members were exhumed at the Pretoria West 
cemetery as part of the Gallows exhumation project.

Justice and Correctional Service Minister Michael Masutha says South Africa 
will continue to call for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.

Masutha was speaking during the exhumation of the remains of 13 members of the 
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania's (PAC) former armed wing, Poqo, who were 
executed by the apartheid government.

They were sentenced to death for killing 5 white people at the Mbhashe River in 
the then Transkei in 1963.

Masutha points out that in present-day South Africa, the right to life is 
entrenched in the constitution.

On 5th February 1963, a group of 60 Poqo members from Phuthi village, in the 
Eastern Cape attacked a construction camp near Mthatha and Engcobo and killed 5 
white people.

Thirteen people were arrested and later executed in Pretoria.

On Thursday, their remains were exhumed at the Pretoria West cemetery as part 
of the Gallows exhumation project.

The project was launched earlier this year to exhume the remains of political 
prisoners who were hanged and buried at the Gallows in Pretoria during the 
apartheid era.

Masutha says South Africa is one of the countries that has called for the 
abolition of the death penalty and has entrenched the right to life in the 
constitution.

"As a progressive force South Africa has joined hands with many countries 
across the world calling for the end of the death penalty, given, amongst 
others, its arbitrary nature. Our democratic government took a conscious 
decision to entrench right to life in our constitution given the problems 
attached to the death penalty some of which had been well pronounced by our 
Constitutional Court," says the minister.

...the exhumations ensure that a dark chapter in the history of the country is 
closed.

The youngest of those executed was 18-year-old Mbhekaphantsi Vulindela, while 
the oldest was 53-year-old, Right Mangqikana.

Simon Xhego, whose 22-year-old brother, Mtalatala Xhego was executed, says the 
family will finally find peace if his remains are exhumed as they will be in a 
position to bury them with dignity.

"If he can be found the family will be happy, but if his bones are not found we 
will not find peace."

Meanwhile, PAC National Chairperson Phillip Dlamini says the exhumations ensure 
that a dark chapter in the history of the country is closed.

"The anger that is contained by those generations trying to find the remains 
will continue. You will understand that the PAC has more of its cadres hanged. 
So this is why we are saying this is the 1st step ... and Minister - we 
appreciate that it happens under your command," adds Dlamini.

(source: sabc.co.za)






UNITED KINGDOM/ETHIOPIA:

Boris Johnson Defends Stance on Death-Row Brit, Amid MP Criticism


The Foreign Secretary has issued a statement defending his refusal to seek the 
release of a British man who is held under an unlawful death sentence in 
Ethiopia.

In an open letter released today, Boris Johnson wrote that the British 
government was taking the case of British national Andargachew 'Andy' Tsege 
"extremely seriously."

The letter failed to mention that Mr Tsege's case is unusual in comparison to 
other UK consular cases. Mr Tsege was kidnapped whilst traveling through an 
international airport in June 2014 by Ethiopian forces, and taken illegally to 
a prison in Ethiopia. He remains in detention, under an unlawful sentence of 
death that was imposed in absentia while he was living in London, in 2009. The 
death sentence was handed down in relation to his opposition to the Ethiopian 
government.

British consular access to Mr Tsege has been severely limited, and there are 
fears for his wellbeing in detention. Mr Tsege's partner and children in London 
have not spoken directly to him for 2 years.

The Foreign Secretary has faced criticism for his refusal to seek Mr Tsege's 
return to the UK, and today's letter comes as MPs from all parties prepare to 
hold a Parliamentary debate on the case next Tuesday (20th).

In his letter, addressed to "all those who have contacted the Foreign and 
Commonwealth Office in recent months" concerning the case, Mr Johnson said that 
the Government's aim continued to be "to ensure Mr Tsege's wellbeing and access 
to legal advice, and to ensure that the death sentence is not carried out." The 
letter appeared to confirm that the Foreign Office's approach to the case has 
not changed since 2014, despite a lack of progress.

Mr Johnson's letter did not address concerns over the illegality of Mr Tsege's 
treatment by Ethiopia. He said: "I am aware of the suggestion that the UK 
Government should directly call for Mr Tsege's release. As my predecessor has 
previously stated, Britain does not interfere in the legal systems of other 
countries by challenging convictions, any more than we would accept 
interference in our judicial system."

International human rights organization Reprieve, Mr Tsege's family, and MPs - 
including former Attorney General Dominic Grieve - have argued that, given Mr 
Tsege was kidnapped, rendered, and sentenced to death in his absence, the 
Government should request his return home to London. Reprieve has also pointed 
out that the Foreign Office has previously secured the release of other British 
nationals held abroad.

Torture is common in Ethiopian prisons, and the authorities have broadcast 
videos of Mr Tsege being 'interrogated', in which he looks thin and exhausted. 
Concerns for Mr Tsege have grown in recent weeks, amid a worsening crackdown on 
political dissent in Ethiopia. He is held in a prison that has been referred to 
as "Ethiopia's gulag."

Commenting, Maya Foa, a director at Reprieve, said: "It appears Boris Johnson 
has either forgotten or deliberately omitted to mention that Andy Tsege, a 
British father of three, is the victim of a kidnap by a foreign state. Andy was 
abducted in an international airport by forces acting at the behest of the 
Ethiopian government, and he's spent over 2 years on death row in Ethiopia's 
gulag. He now faces another Christmas away from his family in London. The 
Foreign Secretary must acknowledge that this is no ordinary consular case, and 
take urgent steps to bring Andy home to the UK."

(source: commondreams.org)


AUSTRALIA/ASIA:

Aussies on death row for drugs in Asian countries grows


Death by firing squad, hanging or lethal injection are the possible fates of an 
expanding number of Australians who could face execution for drug smuggling in 
Asian countries.

Last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said that the 
number of Australians on death row around the world was 17, with more than half 
detained in China and the others in countries including Malaysia, Vietnam and 
Singapore.

On Wednesday, DFAT refused to reveal just how many Australians are on death row 
in several Asian countries.

However, last year's total of 17 is believed to have grown, following the 
arrest of 2 women in Vietnam allegedly with large amounts of heroin.

DFAT did reveal 36 of the 40 Australians in custody in Vietnam were on drug 
charges, but would only say "a number of these face the death penalty".

Vietnam applies the death penalty is cases of trafficking of 100 grams of 
heroin or more, replacing firing squads with lethal injection 3 years ago.

Australian Nguyen Thi Huong who was sentenced to execution has had her death 
penalty commuted to life, which means the 73-year-old will die in a Ho Chi Min 
prison.

Peter Gardner was arrested with Sydney woman, Kalynda Davis who was later 
released by Chinese prison authorities without charge.

But a second Australian woman aged 37, who was arrested in Vietnam in June this 
year, has yet to be publicly named but will face death by lethal injection if 
convicted.

DFAT media would only say that 77 Australians are under arrest, detention or in 
prison in China, and 17 of those are on drug charges.

Under China's drug laws, anyone convicted of possessing more than 50g of heroin 
or methamphetamines can be sentenced to death. The Chinese government uses 
lethal injection and the firing squad, with the latter more common for drug 
crimes.

Australian/New Zealand dual national Peter Gardner is expected to learn his 
fate in late January when a Guangzhou Court may deliver its verdict on his 
case.

Gardner, 27, was arrested at Guangzhou airport in November 2014 with Australian 
woman Kalynda Davis.

Davis was later freed without charge, but Gardner was indicted for allegedly 
attempting to smuggle a massive 30kg of methamphetamine from China to 
Australia.

Australian grandmother Nguyen Thi Huong had 2.8kg of heroin in soap bars.

At least 4 other Australians are believed to have received death sentences, or 
suspended death sentences in China, which may be commuted to life imprisonment.

The conditions in Chinese prisons are harsh, with 15 prisoners sharing a 6m x 
3m cell, taking turns on a sleeping platform and sharing a single open toilet.

Australian woman Maria Exposto faced charges in court last month in Malaysia, 
which strictly imposes mandatory death by hanging for those possessing 15g of 
heroin or 40g of cocaine.

Malaysia has hanged three Australians for drug trafficking, Kevin Barlow and 
Brian Chambers in 1986 and Michael McAuliffe in 1993.

Australian man Van Tuong Nguyen hanged in Singapore in 2005. Indonesia executed 
Bali 9 ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

China has also cracked down on people carrying drugs to be sold for profit 
rather than for personal use.

PETER GARDNER, 27

Charge: Attempt to smuggle 30kg methamphetamine in suitcases on Sydney flight 
at Guangzhou airport in November 2014

Death penalty: China/ Firing squad

Dual Australian and New Zealand citizen, Peter Gardner was arrested with his 
then girlfriend, Sydney promotions representative Kalynda Davis, at Guangzhou 
Airport in November 2014.

Gardner allegedly tried to board a Sydney flight with Davis and two suitcases 
full of 3kg of ice worth $20 million in bags.

Guangzhou authorities say the suitcases, which were superglued, contained the 
biggest haul of methamphetamine recorded at the airport.

Davis' policeman father made a mercy dash to China and his daughter was 
released without charge and sent home in December.

But Gardner has been languishing in a Guangzhou prison since.

Gardner told a Guangzhou court earlier this year that he thought the suitcases 
contained the performance enhancing sport drugs, peptides, and that this was 
"the biggest mistake of my life".

He reportedly faces another hearing in January 2017, at which he may learn 
whether he will be convicted and sentenced to death.

PHAM TRUNG DUNG, 37

Charge: Smuggling 4kg heroin in suitcases onto a Sydney-bound flight

Death penalty: Vietnam/ Lethal injection

Dung was discovered with more than 4kg of heroin in 2 suitcases as he boarded a 
flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Australia in May 2013.

Dung told a Ho Chi Minh City court that he had been living in Australia with 
his partner and 2 sons and was made an offer he couldn't refuse.

An unidentified man paid him $40,000 to transport the drugs back to Australia 
and deliver them to an acquaintance.

Sentenced to death in June 2014, Dung may appeal but faces lethal injection.

Death by hanging could be the fate of Maria Exposto for trafficking 1.1kg of 
ice if a Malaysian court convicts the Melbourne woman.

MARIA ELVIRA PINTO EXPOSTO, 52

Charge: 1.1kg methamphetamine in 2014

Death penalty: Malaysia/ Hanging

Sydney grandmother Maria Exposto was stopped at the Kuala Lumpur airport 
customs desk on December 7, 2014.

Exposto was in transit from Shanghai and about to catch a Malaysian Airlines 
flight to Melbourne.

Customs officer Mohd Noor Nashariq scanned her bag and allegedly found 1.1kg of 
methamphetamine secreted in a hand stitched compartment.

In Malaysia, death by hanging is mandatory for anyone convicted of carrying 
more than 50g of drugs.

Exposto has maintained her innocence since her arrest, claiming she travelled 
to Shanghai for romance with a man claiming to be a US serviceman, but who 
turned out to be a scammer.

She says a stranger duped her into carrying a backpack, which she believed was 
full of clothes, not drugs, to Melbourne.

Customs officers found the ice stitched into the pack.

Exposto faced hearings at the Shah Alam High Court last month but no decision 
has been made as to her verdict or fate.

NGUYEN THI HUONG, 73

Charge: Boarding a December 2014 flight for Sydney with 2.8kg of heroin hidden 
in 36 bars of soap

Death penalty: Vietnam/ Lethal injection

Sentenced to death by lethal injection in June this year after the Ho Chi Minh 
City People???s Court found her guilty of attempting to smuggle 2.8kg of heroin 
in bars of soap 2 years ago.

Huong said a woman gave her the soap and she planned to take them back to 
Australia as gifts for family.

She said she did not know it contained heroin, but the Ho Chi Minh City court 
rejected her defence in a half day trial.

Late last month, the People's High Court reduced the great grandmother???s 
death sentence to life in prison, which means she will die in Chi Hoa prison, 
which is infamous for its harsh and squalid conditions.

UNNAMED AUSTRALIAN WOMAN, 37

Charge: Trafficking 4.8kg of heroin in her luggage.

Death penalty: Vietnam/Lethal injection

Arrested in June this year, the 37-year-old Australian of Vietnamese origin was 
detained at Tan Son Nhut Airport in the southern hub of Ho Chi Minh City.

Officials claim they found nearly 5kg of heroin hidden in picture frames in her 
luggage.

The woman allegedly told officers she was paid $33,500 to transport the heroin 
to Australia.

She has yet to face trial, but Vietnam has some of the world???s toughest drug 
laws and trafficking even small amounts of heroin is punishable by death.

Queensland man Ibrahim Jalloh is reportedly awaiting trial in China on drug 
charges.

BENGALI SHERRIF AND IBRAHIM JALLOH

Charge: in June 2014

Death penalty: China/ Firing squad

Chinese officials arrested the 2 young men from Queensland at Guangzhou airport 
in June 2014 in possession of methamphetamine.

Sherrif has received a "suspended" death sentence, but the outcome is 
uncertain.

Jalloh, who has an intellectual disability, has received a suspended death 
sentence, which may be commuted to life in prison.

HENRY CHHIN

Charge: concealing 270g of methamphetamine in computer equipment in May 2004/ 
700g of meth in furniture in 2014

Death penalty: China/ Firing squad

Shanghai police intercepted 270g of ice concealed in computer equipment which 
they alleged Chhin tried to send from China to Australia in 2005.

Chhin was sentenced to death and his sentence was suspended for 2 years.

But Shenzen police uncovered a further 700g of meth in cabinets at Chhin's 
residence, and his fate is currently unclear.

ANTHONY BANNISTER, 43

Charge: Attempt to smuggle 3kg of methamphetamine to Australia

Death penalty: China/ Firing squad

Former Adelaide jockey Bannister was arrested at Guangzhou International 
Airport in March 2014.

Customs officers claim they found 3kg of methamphetamine in envelopes inside 8 
handbags in his luggage.

Bannister claims he was set up by online conmen who convinced him he could 
obtain a lucrative divorce settlement from his former wife.

Bannister's lawyer told a court that he was given a suitcase containing women's 
handbags to take back to Australia as a favour.

Given a suspended death sentence, he may end up with life in a Chinese prison, 
but is appealing his conviction.

(source: abs.com.au)