Barbarism in Singapore
In a few hours, in the clean, affluent, modern state of Singapore, 25 year old Australian citizen Nguyen Tuong Van, will walk onto a scaffold, be blindfolded, have a noose placed around his neck and be dropped through a trap door. It is a several foot drop so hopefully his neck will break instantly and he will die very quickly.
This is barbarous. This is the cruel killing a young man, merely to set an example. Killing can only be justified in self defence. Nguyen Tuong Van is no threat to any Singaporean citizen. Setting aside the stupidity of criminalising drug abuse, Singapore has a right to punish those who break her laws. Hard labour and long prison sentences are perfectly justifiable. Snapping people's necks is not.
Barbarity is barbarity whether committed in Zimbabwe, Singapore or Texas.
Our government should have the guts to tell Singapore that capital punishment is no longer acceptable in civilised nations.
This is barbarous. This is the cruel killing a young man, merely to set an example. Killing can only be justified in self defence. Nguyen Tuong Van is no threat to any Singaporean citizen. Setting aside the stupidity of criminalising drug abuse, Singapore has a right to punish those who break her laws. Hard labour and long prison sentences are perfectly justifiable. Snapping people's necks is not.
Barbarity is barbarity whether committed in Zimbabwe, Singapore or Texas.
Our government should have the guts to tell Singapore that capital punishment is no longer acceptable in civilised nations.
posted by Trevor Loudon at
12/01/2005 08:52:00 PM
8 Comments:
It is the illegality of the drug which is the problem. Prices rocket on a black market. To pay for their habit users have to obtain large amounts of money. This produces the crime and prostitution. Now, heroin addicts on the methadone programme can lead functional lives. But the state makes them go on a waiting list to get on the programme. Methadone is dirt cheap. If the addict could purchase it direct from the pharmacy they could lead lives free from crime. And they could get help to get clean.
This young man wouldn't have any customers and he wouldn't have to die.
I think Singapore is worse than Texas per capita...plus they don't hang 'em anymore in Texas.
actually killing cannot be justified in self-defence, it's not a recognised defence in NZ
(i meant using killing as self-defence)
Barry, if you think selling an adult something voluntarily that *might* ruin their life is worth executing someone over, then presumably the death penalty should apply to the sale of alcohol and tobacco - any property offences. This is extremely draconian.
I don't know much about the case, but I note Van's defence claimed he was transporting the drug for his brother, a recovering Heroin addict. He was found with 14oz on him. Apparently that's a lot if it is pure.
It's a fair point to discuss downstream effects of selling drugs. It does destroy lives. Whilst Tobacco and Alchohol is also destructive, I think it is because it is "regulated" , the process for getting treatment is better (correct me if I'm wrong - this is conjecture).
If we are going to mention Texas (and its only pushed by the media and greens and other lefty organisations because it's a chance to dig at Bush) then we need to look at China when considering "principled" stands. They execute around 10,000 prisoners a year (minimum 3,400 per year says Amnesty). They are responsible for 90%+ of state executions as a percentage of the world total. It would make sense to pressure them to get the best effect.
Personally, I'm against the death penalty. The State has far too much power, and this is the ultimate abuse of such power. I am for tougher sentencing though, and that would include the lash for certain crimes.
Like you Zen I'm pretty stauch when it comes to tough penalties for crime (not flogging though) As for the death penalty, while some people richly deserve death, I think its barbaric and it gives a highly fallible state the power to commit an act it can never undo.
The best rehabilitation comes through hard physical work, or for some people religious conversion. For the worst scum-hard labour for life. Death penalty-no.
He broke the law in that country.
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