Sept. 21
THAILAND:
Death sentence verdict on judge's killer upheld
The Court of Appeals on Tuesday upholds the death sentence given on former
Army major Chalermchai Majchaklam, while overturning acquittal verdict on
2 accomplices, condemning them to death penalty.
Former Army sergeants Manit Srisa-ard and Suwat Khamngao also faced the
death sentence, for their joint effort in the gruesome murder,
masterminded by Chalermchai, of a provincial governor in a Bangkok hotel 2
years ago.
A woman also involved in the crime, Anchanang Sunthornwiphak, has her
guilt verdict on embezzlement of the victim's properties switched to the
charge of possession of stolen items.
(source; The Nation)
RUSSIA:
Russia's Fed Council speaker against death penalty for terrorists
Speaker of the upper house of Russian parliament, Sergei Mironov said
Monday he opposed proposals to revive death penalty for anyone, including
terrorists.
"I'm against death penalties," he said in a conversation with reporters.
"Life terms without the right to pardoning are a sufficient measure of
punishment for such criminals."
As he mentioned television coverage of the issues related to fighting with
terrorism, Mironov said: "Society has the right to getting such
information, but only on the condition that TV footage doesn't affect the
safety of people in the situations where hostages are involved/"
He urged reporters to abide by the medical principle of Do No Harm in
covering hostage crises.
(source: ITAR-TASS)
ZIMBABWE:
Verdict promised in Zimbabwe treason case
Zimbabwe's High Court will rule next month on the case of opposition
leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who had been tried on charges of plotting to
assassinate President Robert Mugabe, his spokesman said Monday.
If convicted, Tsvangirai could face the death penalty by hanging under
Zimbabwe's laws. His trial, which lasted for more than a year, ended in
February.
"Morgan Tsvangirai has now been informed that the verdict on his treason
trial will be delivered on 15 October 2004 at the High Court in Harare,"
spokesman William Bango said, citing a letter to the opposition leader's
lawyers. Court officials were not available for comment.
During the trial, Canadian-based consultant Ari Ben-Menashe testified for
the state that Tsvangirai -- leader of the opposition Movement for
Democratic Change, or MDC -- plotted to kill Mugabe before the 2002
presidential elections.
The state's case against Tsvangirai hinges mainly on a videotape of a
meeting he held with Ben-Menashe in Montreal at which prosecutors say
Mugabe's "elimination" was discussed.
Tsvangirai's legal team said he only discussed suggestions that the
veteran leader might accept a retirement plan before the March 2002 polls,
which Mugabe won amid allegations of rigging from the MDC and several
Western countries.
Mugabe, 80 and in power since independence from Britain in 1980, insists
he won fairly and that Tsvangirai is a puppet of Western powers out to
overthrow him over his seizure of white-owned commercial farms for
redistribution to landless blacks.
(source: Reuters)
INDIA:
'Pothuraju' a powerful plea against death penalty:
[Cinema, South India] Film: "Pothuraju"; Director: Kamal Haasan; Producer:
B. Subramanyam; Music: Ilayaraja; Cast: Kamal Haasan, Abhirami, Napoleon
and Pasupathi.
This remake of Tamil original "Veerumandi" is yet another feather in
pioneering star Kamal Haasan's cap.
The veteran and versatile actor comes up with a brilliant performance as a
ruffian who falls in love and reforms. It is as a director, however, that
he scores higher.
He narrates the story from the perspectives of both the protagonist and
the antagonist.
Handling a complex subject with characteristic competence, he enhances the
film's appeal with his technical finesse. A memorable illustration is an
aesthetically shot moonlight duet.
Maestro Ilayaraja offers a delectable fare of songs, besides a
mind-blowing background score. Popular playback singer S.P.
Balasubramaniam, dubbing for Kamal, breathes life into the character.
The film again reiterates the need for abolishing capital punishment.
Perhaps Kamal will find a hit in this anger-driven film since a hit in
Telugu is long overdue for him.
The story begins with Kamal returning to his village from Dubai to look
after his mother and their land. He gets involved in local life and even
participates in the traditional bull-catching sport.
He falls in love with Abhirami, kin of wicked village head Pasupathi.
After losing his mother, Kamal falls into the trap of Pasupathi, who eyes
his land. Napolean plays the rival leader.
A set of developments leads to the lovers' elopement. Pasupathi chases
them and kills Abhiramai. For the rest of the story, watch the film.
(source: Indo-Asian News Service)
INDONESIA:
Amnesty fights for death row inmates in Indonesia:
A worldwide campaign by international rights body Amnesty International to
save 10 people on death row in Indonesia has come too late for an Indian
who was executed last month.
The group has stepped up its campaign to save 2 Thai nationals --
sentenced to death in Indonesia along with the Indian Ayodhya Prasad Dubey
for drug trafficking in 1994 -- and eight others facing execution in the
country.
The 2 Thais, one a 62-year-old man and the other a 32-year-old woman,
asked Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri for presidential pardon.
But their petitions were rejected in July this year.
The Indonesian prosecutor's office is said to have publicly stated that
final preparations are being made for their executions, which could occur
within 2 weeks of the presidential election on Sep 20.
It was not known immediately if Dubey had also asked for a presidential
pardon. The Indian was executed by firing squad on Aug 5 this year, making
him the 1st person to be executed in Indonesia since 2001.
The execution came to light when Amnesty stumbled on the case of the 2
Thais.
It also discovered that along with the 2, 8 others faced imminent
execution in Indonesia. Besides 3 Indonesians, they include a Pakistani,
36-year-old Muhammad Abdul Hafez, a Nepalese, 24-year-old Indra Bahadur
Tamanag, 2 Nigerians and a Malawi national.
According to Amnesty, there are over 56 people on death row in the
far-east country.
The rights body has started a signature campaign to stay the death
sentences. It is petitioning the Indonesian president as well as attorney
general and the Thai ambassador to Indonesia.
However, the campaign comes too late for Dubey, who Amnesty believes, may
not have had a fair trial due to lack of access to legal representation
and interpreters during police investigation.
In July 2002, Amnesty's special rapporteur on the independence of judges
and lawyers had visited Indonesia and expressed concern regarding
corruption within the judiciary.
Amnesty says that while it recognises the need to address serious crime
all over the world, including the trade in illicit drugs, death penalty
will not provide a solution.
Currently, Amnesty is also campaigning to commute the death sentence given
to 4 Nepalese in Tibet.
(source: Indo-Asian News Service)
