[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

June 20



RUSSIA:

Almost 80% of Russians want death penalty to fight corruption, Twitter poll 
shows



Some 79 % of Russians want their country to use Chinese means to fight 
corruption, with the death penalty for large-scale bribery, according to a 
Twitter poll conducted by the head of the Defense Ministry's public council.

Earlier this week renowned Russian journalist and military expert Yuri 
Korotchenko asked his Twitter following to answer the question: "Does the 
Russian Federation need death penalty as punishment for corruption and bribery 
among high-placed officials, military and security officers and civil 
servants?" When Korotchenko decided to wrap up the research he had 1775 answers 
with almost 80 % of respondents positive about the idea.

"In other words, my followers want our country to use the same anti-corruption 
measures that are being used in China," the journalist concluded.

9 % of Korotchenko's Twitter followers replied that such harsh measures were 
not necessary, 8 % chose the answer "this is not going to help" and 4 % could 
not choose the answer from presented options.

Chinese laws currently allow for the death penalty for "extremely serious" 
cases of graft and bribery, usually determined by the amount of money embezzled 
- it should be over 3 million Yuan or just short of half a million US dollars. 
The exact number of executed people is classified but Amnesty International 
estimated the overall number of executions in China in 2017 at "thousands" in 
its latest report on capital punishment released in April this year.

Russia currently has a moratorium on the death penalty, introduced in 1996, as 
the country aspired to join the Council of Europe. The last execution in the 
Russian Federation took place on September 2, 1996.

In a public opinion poll conducted in early 2017 by the independent research 
center Levada, just over 40 % of respondents claimed that they wanted the 
moratorium on death penalty lifted. An equal share of respondents have said 
that they wanted it to remain in place.

Of those who wanted the death penalty brought back, 32 % said that in their 
opinion it should be used under the same rules that existed in the 1990s, 
before the moratorium. Some 12 % said that they wanted the use of the death 
penalty expanded.

Among those who opposed the state-sanctioned killing of convicts, 25 % wanted 
Russia to maintain the moratorium and 16 % think that the authorities should go 
a step further and abolish it from the legislation.

Many Russian politicians and officials have raised the issue of lifting the 
moratorium, especially after terrorist attacks or other brutal crimes which 
attract public attention. However, the country's top authorities have so far 
refused to introduce any changes, claiming that the question was too complex.

(source: rt.com)








INDIA:

Man In Madhya Pradesh Sentenced To Death For Rape, Murder Of 9-Year-Old 
Girl----The Madhya Pradesh Assembly had last December unanimously passed a Bill 
awarding death penalty to those found guilty of raping girls below 12 years of 
age.



A court in Sagar Madhya Pradesh on Tueday sentenced a 21-year-old man to death 
for raping and killing a 9-year-old girl last year. Additional Sessions Judge 
Suman Shrivastava awarded death penalty to the Sunil Adivasi after holding him 
guilty of the child's rape and murder, said Additional Public Prosecutor Balbir 
Singh Thakur.

The Madhya Pradesh Assembly had last December unanimously passed a Bill 
awarding death penalty to those found guilty of raping girls below 12 years of 
age. The incident took place on April 13, 2017 when the girl had gone to a 
forest near her village Ujnet under Bandri police station to collect mahua 
seeds, Mr Thakur said.

He said Sunil Adivasi took the girl to his hut where he raped and killed her.

(source: ndtv.com)








THAILAND:

Thailand uses lethal injection to execute 1st prisoner in nearly a 
decade----Amnesty International condemns action as 'deplorable'



Thailand has carried out its 1st execution in nine years in a move human rights 
campaigners condemned as "deplorable". Theerasak Longji, 26, was executed by 
lethal injection on Monday, six years after being convicted of aggravated 
murder for stabbing a 17-year-old 24 times in order to steal his mobile phone.

The brutal killing drew widespread anger in Thai society, and his conviction 
was upheld in the appeal and supreme courts.

?Theerasak's execution comes as Thailand's army chief-turned-premier Prayut 
Chan-ocha prepares to travel to the UK and France on a highly-anticipated 
official visit.

The last executions to take place in Thailand were of 2 drug traffickers. They 
were put to death in August 2009, after a period of no executions since 2003, 
according to Amnesty International.

Theerasak was the 7th convict to be executed by injection since Thailand 
switched methods in 2003 from a firing squad. Thailand has executed 326 people 
since 1930, according to the country's Department of Corrections.

The department said Monday that Theerasak was executed to be an example to 
those who think of committing serious crimes.

"Even though many countries have abolished the death sentence, there are still 
many other countries that still use it such as the US and China who focus on 
the protection of society and citizens to not become victims of crimes over the 
priority of the human rights of those who had violated the law," the statement 
said.

"The Department of Corrections hopes that this execution will serve as a 
reminder to those who think of committing serious crimes or violating the law 
to stop and consider this sentence."

Amnesty International said the execution was a major setback for the country.

"This is a deplorable violation of the right to life," said Katherine Gerson, 
Amnesty International's Thailand campaigner.

"Thailand is shockingly reneging on its own commitment to move towards 
abolition of the death penalty and the protection of the right to life, and is 
also putting itself out of step with the current global shift away from capital 
punishment."

The Thai prime minister already faced pressure over his human rights record on 
his forthcoming trip to Europe.

Human Rights Watch's Asia director Brad Adams said in a statement released on 
Monday: "Prime minister Theresa May and President Emmanuel Macron should 
strongly express their deep concerns about the deteriorating state of human 
rights under military rule in Thailand.

"They should make clear to General Prayut that there will be no return to 
business as usual until Thailand holds free and fair elections, establishes a 
democratic civilian government, and improves respect for human rights."

General Prayut has vowed to transform Thailand's government into a 
rights-respecting one and has scheduled general elections for 2015.

But, 4 years later, the promised polls have yet to take place and the junta 
continue to be criticised by human rights groups for enforcing censorship and 
blocking public discussions about the state of human rights and democracy.

(source: The Independent)

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

Prayut: Death penalty necessary for peace



Capital punishment must remain to deal with severe crime and ensure national 
peace and most people agree with it, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said 
Tuesday.

He was responding to critics of the execution on Monday of a 26-year-old man 
convicted of a brutal crime.

When the government considered whether the death penalty should be revoked, 
most people thought it should remain in place, Gen Prayut said.

"The death penalty is legitimate. Many cases of severe crime have happened. 
Capital punishment exists to guarantee national peace and teach lessons. It is 
a necessity for us and people want it," the prime minister said.

Executed with lethal injection on Monday was Theerasak Longji who was convicted 
for the brutal killing of a 17-year-old boy in Trang province in 2012.

He stabbed his victim 24 times and made off with the victim's mobile phone and 
money although his victim tried to run away and beg for life. Theerasak 
committed the crime when he was 19 years old. He was drunk and angry with the 
victim who was the new lover of his ex-girlfriend.

The Justice Ministry Tuesday stated that brutal murder justified the death 
penalty.

Amnesty International issued a statement condemning the move.

Amnesty International on Tuesday held a symbolic protest in front of the 
Bangkwang Central Prison where Theerasak was executed.

Piyanuch Kotsan, director of Amnesty International Thailand, said execution was 
not the answer to crime and was a serious violation of rights.

"If society doesn't want to see violence or murder, we shouldn't resort to 
violence when solving problems.

"Several studies have been conducted abroad and locally, by the Justice 
Ministry, and they've found the death penalty could not solve a crime," she 
said.

There is no evidence the punishment would deter people from committing a crime.

Mrs Piyanuch said the rally on Tuesday was not aimed at supporting criminals.

"We support punishments but perpetrators must have access to a fair trial and 
the penalties carried out in other manners."

Most of the prisoners on death row are poor with no access to lawyers. In some 
cases, they were not guilty.

Monday's execution tarnished the country's image and would affect Thailand's 
commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which it ratified in 
August 2009.

"If Thailand hadn't used the death penalty for 10 years, or by August next 
year, we would have been regarded as practically abolishing the capital 
punishment. "Monday's punishment eliminated that chance. It's shocking how the 
Justice Ministry violated its obligation to end the death penalty."

At present, 142 countries or more than 2/3 of all countries abolished the death 
penalty. In Asean, the Philippines and Cambodia are the frontrunners. Attitudes 
and beliefs can change and Amnesty will campaign for an end to the punishment," 
she said.

Human Rights Commissioner Chatchai Suthiklom said execution was not a solution 
but forgiveness would promote peace in society. "Most serious criminals do not 
fear execution but are afraid of asset seizure," he said.

The Corrections Department on Tuesday revealed more details on Theerasak's 
final hours. Relatives already came to fetch his body, said Corrections 
Department chief Pol Col Naras Savestanan.

After acknowledging the execution order on Monday, Theerasak was escorted to 
the execution area. He was allowed phone calls to bid farewell to his family.

The last meal he requested was grilled chicken with sticky rice. After the 
meal, he was brought to the injection room. He remained calm in his last 
moments.

According to Pol Col Naras, the cost of lethal injection was 12,365 baht -- 
10,000 baht for execution reward and 2,365 for substances and equipment. The 
reward was necessary because no doctor agreed to administer the injection. The 
department had to train wardens to do the job and give a reward so they could 
make merit for the dead man, according to Buddhist beliefs.

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

2nd suspect hunted in wake of Monday's execution



Police are stepping up the hunt for the 2nd suspect in the murder of a 
17-year-old student in a public park 6 years ago, in the wake of the much 
debated execution on Monday of the youth's convicted killer.

The teenager was attacked by 2 young men on July 17, 2012 and killed. He was 
stabbed 24 times.

They stole his mobile phone, wallet and contents.

Theerasak Longji, 26, was put on trial for the crime and convicted of 
aggravated robbery. He was put to death by lethal injection on Monday 
afternoon, Thailand's 1st legal execution since 2009.

The 2nd, unidentified, suspect fled with the victim's possessions, deputy Muang 
Trang police chief Prasoet Songsaeng said on Wednesday. He was not the killer.

When the victim tried to run away, Theerasak had chased him down and stabbed 
him to death, Pol Lt Prasoet said.

That was murder with the intention to cover up a crime, he said.

Witnesses had identified Theerasak, who was wanted in another 5 criminal cases, 
as one of the attackers. He was arrested the following day and his knife seized 
as evidence, but he had denied the charges, Pol Lt Prasoet said.

Investigators in the case returned to the park on Wednesday, 6 years after the 
murder, as they planned their renewed hunt for the 2nd suspect.

Theerasak's execution has generated wide debate, especially across the 
internet. Amnesty International, which is against the death penalty for any 
crime, condemned the execution as deplorable.

Theerasak's mother still believes he was innocent.

(source for both: Bangkok Post)

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

As world protests execution, Thai netizens speak up for death penalty



Members of Amnesty International gathered outside Bangkok's Bang Kwang Central 
Prison on yesterday to voice their disapproval of Thailand's 1st execution in 9 
years. That disapproval was echoed by numerous rights groups - considerably 
less so from the general public.

The execution was carried out Monday afternoon, as 26-year-old Theerasak Longji 
was put to death by lethal injection for the robbery-murder of a 17-year-old 
boy, who Theerasak brutally stabbed 24 times.

Among the roughly dozen Amnesty members at the protest, signs could be seen 
reading "Execute Justice Not People" and "The death penalty does not decrease 
crime rates."

"The death penalty doesn't solve crimes. It is a violation of the right to 
live. We do not want to see heinous crimes in Thailand, however, we should not 
use violence as a solution," a Thai representative of the group told reporters.

Thailand was just one year short of reaching an important milestone. According 
to Amnesty International's guidelines, reaching the 10-year point with no 
executions marks the abolition of the death penalty "in practice." But that 
wasn't to be.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 
meanwhile, voiced concern that the execution was carried out without prior 
notice. In a public statement, OHCHR said that transparency regarding the death 
penalty is in the public interest and that information about its application 
should be readily available for every and any citizen.

"We urge the Royal Thai Government to take steps to immediately instate a 
moratorium on the use of the death penalty as part of a process toward the full 
abolishment of capital punishment" said Cynthia Veliko, a representative of 
OHCHR.

Kingsley Abbott, a senior legal adviser for the International Commission of 
Jurists, tweeted that the execution "flies in the face of Thailand's repeated 
commitments on the international stage to work towards abolition."

The reaction of many Thai netizens, however, stood in stark contract to that of 
rights groups, as comments disagreeing with the prison-front protest flooded 
Amnesty International Thailand's Facebook page.

"You advocate for a convict who stabbed the victim 24 times. Have you thought 
about what he was thinking when the he stabbed the victim? The 1st, 2nd, 3rd 
stab - what was going through his head? Do you have a proven successful 
solution?" said a comment that has received more than 500 likes.

A quick scan of Twitter - where the hashtag #deathpenalty was Twitter's top 
trending topic yesterday - showed fairly widescale support for the decision to 
bring back death penalty.

And few were using facts to argue that the death penalty is an effective 
deterrent. Rather, most seemed to see capital punishment as simply a sensible 
way to remove a proven threat from the public. Or, as with the tweet below, a 
justifiable form of vengeance.

"The Thai laws already consider the violators' rights and often give them a 2nd 
chance - too many chances, in fact. When a crime is too hideous and any sort of 
opportunities to redeem themselves have gone to waste, they should be punished 
by the full extent of the laws."

Meanwhile, E-jeab Liab Duan, an anonymous internet personality who offers his 
own take on news stories of the day, defended the death penalty's surprise 
reintroduction to his 2.5 million Facebook followers.

"I'm very okay with the 1st execution in almost 10 years - just like all of 
you, the majority of people in this country," reads post yesterday, which has 
gained nearly 70,000 likes.

"I don't want the death penalty to be carried out just for the sake of the 
public's satisfaction - just the heinous cases where the convicts had 
repeatedly committed crimes, the cases with solid proof.

"For the sake of those human rights folks, I won't say I agree with death 
penalty. I'll just say I don't disagree, and thanks to Department of 
Corrections for bringing it back, okay?"

The online outpouring of pro-death penalty sentiment is far from new in the 
decade of social media - movements for the government to bring back death 
penalty often follow the news of horrific crimes such as the rape and murder of 
children.

(source: coconuts.co)








IRAN:

UN Experts Urge Iran To Halt 'Arbitrary' Execution Of Juvenile Offender



2 UN rights experts have called on Iranian authorities to halt the planned 
execution of a man convicted of killing his teacher at the age of 15.

In a June 19 statement, the experts cited reports suggesting that Mohammad 
Kalhori will be executed shortly after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which 
ended last week.

"Iran has committed itself to prohibiting the use of the death penalty for all 
those under 18 by its ratification of both the International Covenant on Civil 
and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child," said Agnes 
Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary 
executions, and Renate Winter, who heads the UN Committee on the Rights of the 
Child.

"As such, this execution is unlawful and arbitrary," they added.

Callamard and Winter also noted that in 2013, Iran amended its Penal Code to 
allow judges to pronounce alternative sentences for juvenile offenders if there 
was any uncertainty about their "mental development" at the time of the crime, 
or if they did not fully realize the nature of the crime committed.

They pointed out that Iran's state forensic experts concluded that Kalhori, who 
was convicted of killing his teacher at the age of 15, was not mentally mature 
at the time of the crime.

A court initially sentenced Kalhori to prison and a fine, but the Supreme Court 
overturned the verdict and he was sentenced to death during a retrial, the 
experts said

"Notwithstanding the clear prohibition of the application of the death penalty 
for those under the age of 18, this case demonstrates flagrant disregard for 
the amendment to the Penal Code itself," Callamard and Winter said.

The UN experts issued their "urgent appeal" a day after the United States and 
human rights watchdogs condemned Iran's execution of a man who was convicted of 
killing 3 police officers.

Iran is one of the world's leading executioners. Amnesty International said in 
April that 507 people were executed in the country last year, including at 
least 5 juvenile offenders.

(source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty)