Opposition to Death Penalty

Rudd Government Misses the Boat on Opposition to Death Penalty

Media Release
Sunday November 9, 2008 7:30am WST
For immediate Release
No Embargoes

"There has been no noise, no statements, and no expression of Australia's long-held opposition to the death penalty in the context of Indonesia's execution of the Bali Bombers, and while this sorry undermining of Australia's strong and principled opposition to the death penalty was started by Prime Minister Howard, Kevin Rudd has shown the same undermining of these principles," WA Human Rights group said this morning.

"When Kevin Rudd came to power last year, we thought that under his prime ministership Australia would be much stronger in maintaining such principles, nurtured by Kevin Rudd's faith, Christian convictions and strong ethics and moral underpinnings, but regrettably Rudd has shown himself more a politician than a moral and ethical leader, and we deeply grieve about this," the group's spokesman Jack H Smit said.

"You cannot hold a principled opposition to the death penalty, and then go quiet when criminals get executed. That principle is universal, and it does not depend on the nature of the crime."

"Kevin Rudd has furthered the undermining of Australia's human rights principles, and this is very disturbing. He is too weak to stand up when it counts," Mr Smit concluded.

ENDS

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