Singapore hangs Touchi and Malachy

Think Centre News

26 January 2007 Singapore hangs Touchi and Malachy
http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=2833

Think Centre is disappointed that Iwuchukwu Amara Tochi of Nigeria and Okele Nelson Malachy of South Africa were hanged at Changi Prison on Friday, 26 January 2007, despite pleas for clemency by Nigeria's president, the United Nations and human rights groups.

The eradication of the supply of the drugs is important but equally important is the alleviation of the social conditions that encourage would-be traffickers or addicts. The socially excluded young and poor are the most affected and drug addictions is also increasing among the young middle-class.

The government seek solutions to drug trafficking and crimes.

But what purposes does it serve to hang the "couriers" and "small fries." Touchi and Van were just small fries used as couriers. The real masterminds of drug smuggling are still hiding in the region and are still supplying. Who is going to stop and bring them to justice? The ASEAN governments including Singapore should allocate more resources in preventing drug addiction and to stop the operation of drug smuggling masterminds.

Humane Criminal Justice System

Any humane criminal justice system could not continue to justify the retention of the death penalty based on retribution.

The Singapore government continues to ignore the UN Special Rapporteurs recommendation of 1996. "The Special Rapporteur wishes to reiterate his call on the Government of Singapore to change its Drug Act so as to bring it into line with international standards. The Special Rapporteur considers that the Misuse of Drug Act, which partially shifts the burden of proof to the accused, does not provide sufficient guarantees for the presumption of innocence and may lead to violations of the right to life when the crime of drug trafficking carries a mandatory death sentence."

25 January 2007, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Philip Alston: "Singapore law making the death penalty mandatory for drug trafficking was inconsistent with international human rights standards, because it keeps judges from considering all of the factors relevant to determining whether a death sentence would be permissible in a capital case." “In the case of Iwuchukwu Amara Tochi, the Government of Singapore has failed to ensure respect for the relevant legal safeguards. Under the circumstances, the execution should not proceed.”

In Singapore drug trafficking carries a mandatory death sentence and is inconsistent with the criteria of absolute necessity and proportionality. When a court wrongly sentences a person to death, the result is irreversible.

Think Centre Calls

Think Centre calls on the government, the members of parliament, to abandon the use of death penalty.

A sentence of life in prison for the most serious offenses would keep us just as safe.

The government could offer more help and guidance to troubled kids before they turn to drugs and crime. Instead of investing in vengeance, it ought to be investing wisely in humanity and human dignity.

Death penalty is a practice from the past like torture and slavery which must be rejected by all decent human beings. The death penalty is a inhumane, cruel and degrading punishment. The right to life is the most fundamental of all human rights.

Sources and Relevant Links:

Think Centre: Death Penalty: Amara Tochi Iwuchukwu is to be hanged
http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=2831
23 Janaury 2007

This Day Online: Singapore Ignores Nigerian President Obasanjo's Plea
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=68848
24 January 2007

LETTER FROM SINGAPORE PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG TO NIGERIAN PRESIDENT
OLUSEGUN OBASANJO
http://app.sprinter.gov.sg/data/pr/20070125972.pdf
25 January 2007

CNB: EXECUTION OF CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS
http://www.cnb.gov.sg/newsroom/index.asp?name=Newsroom%20-%20Events&year=200
7&page=790&type=Current
26 January 2007

UN News Centre: UN expert calls on Singapore not to hang Nigerian on drug
charges, says breaches rights
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=21334&Cr=singapore&Cr1=
26 January 2007

Channel NewsAsia Nigerian drug importer hanged on Friday morning
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/254922/1/.html
26 January 2007

Associated Press: Singapore Executes 2 Africans for Drugs
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/25/AR2007012502
126.html
25 January 2007

BBC: Singapore executes drug smugglers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6300989.stm
25 January 2006

Doha Time: Nigerian to hang today in Singapore
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=129427&ver
sion=1&template_id=45&parent_id=25
26 January 2007

DPA: Singapore hangs two Africans for drug trafficking
http://www.dailyindia.com/show/107391.php/Singapore-hangs-two-Africans-for-d
rug-trafficking
26 January 2007

ENDS

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