[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

June 5



PHILIPPINES:

UK envoy to PH: No to death penalty


BRITISH Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmid said his government will not 
extradite convicted Filipinos from the United Kingdom even under an existing 
treaty if the Philippines revives the death penalty as espoused by incoming 
president Rodrigo Duterte.

"We oppose the death penalty everywhere in the world, whether it is in the US, 
China, Singapore, wherever it is in operation we oppose it. It would be very 
sad for the Philippines to go back to that," Ahmid told reporters during the 
British Queen's 90th birthday celebration at the ambassador's residence in 
Makati last Thursday.

He said the governments of the UK and the Philippines had an existing 
extradition treaty and its implementation would be affected if capital 
punishment was revived.

"It (death penalty) will affect the ability to use the extradition treaty," 
Ahmid said, adding "we would not extradite somebody to the Philippines if the 
outcome of that is the imposition of the death penalty."

He said capital punishment was not the solution to drugs and crime as the death 
penalty did not solve these problems both in the United States and Indonesia.

(source: inquirer.net)






BANGLADESH:

Human chain demands death penalty for Konika's killer


Different women's and non-governmental organisations formed a human chain in 
front of Shaheed Setu Hall in Chapainawabganj town yesterday, demanding capital 
punishment of the killer of schoolgirl Konika Rani.

Activists of Jago Nari Banhishikha, Bangladesh Mohila Awami League, Jubo Mohila 
League, Bangladesh Girls Guide and several other non-governmental organisations 
joined the hour long programme from 10:00am.

Addressing a rally at the venue, the speakers demanded speedy trial and capital 
punishment of killer Abdul Malek, who murdered Konika Rani and injured her 3 
classmates.

They later submitted a memorandum to the home minister through the deputy 
commissioner in Chapainawabganj.

Among others, local women leaders Gouri Chand Barman, Nurunnahar, Shahanaz 
Begum, Halima Khatun and advocate Yesmin Sultana addressed the rally.

On May 27, Konika Rani, 14, a Class X student of Mohipur SM Dwimukhi High 
School in Sadar upazila, was hacked to death by drug addict Abdul Malek around 
9:15am.

Konika's 3 classmates Tarin Afroz, 15, Tanzima Khatun, 14, and Moriom Akhtar, 
14, also sustained serious injuries in the attack. The injured girls are still 
undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Villagers caught Malek and handed him over to the police, Officer-in-Charge 
Mazharul Islam of Sadar Model Police Station said.

Konika's mother Anjali Rani filed a murder case against Abdul Malek with the 
police station the same night, the OC added.

(source: The Daily Star)