Feb. 26
SOUTH KOREA:
Former SKorean president calls for abolition of death penalty
Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung has called for scrapping the
death penalty as his nation showed signs of ending the controversial
practice.
Kim, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate known for his lifelong struggle for
democracy and human rights, made the appeal in an article distributed by
Amnesty International on Sunday.
"Capital punishment goes against the foundation of democracy," Kim said in
the article datelined Feb. 20. "To end a person's life even in the name of
law clearly runs counter to the basic principle of human rights."
Kim cited concerns about the possibility of judges making misjudgment or
dictators misusing the punishment to oppress political dissidents.
"This was what happened ... when I was on the verge of being executed," he
said.
Last week, South Korea's Justice Ministry said it would reconsider whether
the death penalty is necessary. It was the 1st time that the ministry has
indicated the possibility of ending the punishment.
In 1980, Kim - then a dissident - was sentenced to death after the then
military junta pressed trumped-up sedition charges against him over a
pro-democracy uprising in Kim's home province.
After Washington's intervention, however, Kim had his death sentence
reduced to life imprisonment and was allowed to leave for exile in the
U.S. in 1982.
15 years later, Kim was elected president in 1997 - the first South Korean
opposition leader to come to power. He won the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize for
his drive to reconcile with North Korea.
South Korea has not carried out an execution since Kim took office.
(source: The China Post)
INDIA:
5 Chhota Rajan gang members get death penalty
The Etawah Court today awarded death sentence to 5 alleged members of
underworld don Chhota Rajans gang, in connection with the 2002 murder case
of Suresh Pal Singh.
The 5 - R Katab Rajan, Duttashree Pandhare, Firoz Taiyyab Tanashah,
Chandrakant Sitaram Gurab and Sushil Suresh Tarkhanish - were convicted
for murdering Suresh Pal within the premises of Etawah Court on October 1,
2002.
All 5 were arrested from near Etawah the same year, and have been under
trial since.
According to police sources, the story goes back to September 3, 2000,
when R S Sengar, an Etawah-based advocate, his wife Shashi Prabha and
their 2 daughters - Indu and Beena - were murdered in their house in the
city's Civil Lines area. Reports said the family's dispute with Indu's
husband Suresh Pal Singh - over land owned by them - led to the murders.
Police later arrested Suresh Pal and one Sunil Laiq for their involvement
in the murder based on a complaint by Rekha Sengar, the slain couples
third daughter.
During their trial in Etawah, the 2 were attacked by 5 persons, allegedly
linked with the Chhota Rajan gang, inside the Court premises - while
Suresh Pal died on the spot, Laiq was injured. According to sources, this
murder was also linked with the land dispute as the 5 accused were
reportedly eyeing the property.
Police found during interrogation that all 5 hailed from Mumbai and were
associated with the Chhota Rajan gang. Police sources said they had at
least 40 cases - including murder - registered against them in different
cities.
The 5 accused were shifted from Etawah jail to Agra and Fatehgarh jail
after they reportedly received life-threatening warnings from the Chhota
Shakeel gang.
While stating his judgment today, Justice O P Dixit also gave them an
additional imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of Rs 5,000 each.
(source: Express India)
