Nov. 21
SRI LANKA:
Death penalty for rape, murder and narcotics dealings
The Sri Lankan government yesterday announced that the death penalty may
be imposed starting today for rape, murder and narcotics dealings.
Issuing a statement, the Presidential Secretariat said, "President
Chandrika Kumaratunga and her government have expressed shock and concern
at Friday's assassination of High Court Judge Hon. Sarath Ambepitiya in
Colombo.
"Hon. Ambepitiya was a judge of the highest integrity and independence,"
the Secretariat said. "He was called upon to give judgments against
several well-known drug merchants, as well as operators of organized
crime. He was also the judge who delivered the judgment against Velupillai
Prabhakaran, committing him to 200 years of rigorous imprisonment."
President Kumaratunga held an emergency meeting yesterday morning with the
Minister for Public Security, Law and Order and other high-level
officials. Several important decisions were reached regarding the
prevention of organized crime in the country.
Chief among these, the death penalty will be effective from today for
rape, murder and narcotics dealings. The Polices Crime Prevention Unit
will be reorganised and strengthened with immediate effect. President
Kumaratunga also gave instructions to the relevant authorities to propose
amendments to the criminal law and to adopt procedures to minimize delays
within the next 4 weeks.
A Special Police Unit will be set up for the security of judges and courts
of law. A security plan was discussed in detail today and will be become
effective by next Friday, 26 November.
The Minister for Public Security, Law and Order, the Ministry Secretary
and the IGP will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the
security plan.
(source: ColomboPage)
AFGHANISTAN:
Afghan gets death penalty for killing 4
A Kabul, Afghanistan, court has sentenced 29-year-old Reza Khan to death
for killing 4 journalists in 2001.
Khan was convicted of killing Australian television cameraman Harry
Burton, Afghan photographer Azizullah Haidari of Reuters, Julio Fuentes of
El Mundo, and Italian Maria Grazia Cutuli after robbing them on a road
east of Kabul in 2001, shortly after the Taliban left, the BBC reported.
Khan was also convicted of raping Cumuli.
"The crimes are proven and there is no doubt about it," the judge said.
In unrelated charges, Khan was also found guilty of killing one of his
wives, as well as holding up a bus and cutting off the noses and ears of
four male passengers.
(source: United Press International)
