[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Sept. 12


ARGENTINA:

Argentina abolishes the death penalty


2 recent ratifications by Argentina unequivocally support its recent
abolition of the death penalty. This latest initiative paves the way for
other countries to follow suit, and makes Argentina the sixth country to
ratify all the human rights instruments of the inter-American system.

On 2 September 2008, Argentina ratified the Second Optional Protocol to
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aimed at the
abolition of the death penalty.

This was followed by the government's ratification of the Protocol to the
American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty, on 5
September 2008, making Argentina the 10th country to ratify. Both of these
instruments were ratified without reservations.

These significant developments come only a month after the Argentine
Senate unanimously approved the law repealing the 1951 Military Code of
Justice, on 7 August. This move abolishes the death penalty for all crimes
including those committed in times of armed conflict or in peace time by
members of the armed forces, and deposes the military courts of justice.

Initiatives taken by the government of Argentina over the past month
illustrate their international commitment to the abolition of capital
punishment. Furthermore, it supports the call made by the Organization of
American State's (OAS) Secretary General, Jos Miguel Insulza, for other
countries to follow Argentinas example and put an end to the death penalty
in the Americas. In the region, only the USA, Guatemala and several
Caribbean countries retain the death penalty.

To have ratified all of the important human rights instruments of the
inter-American system is a very positive development, but must be followed
through by their full implementation, said Susan Lee, Americas Director at
Amnesty International.

Background information:

As of 10 September 2008, 137 countries in the world have abolished the
death penalty in law or practice.

This global trend towards abolition was recognized by the adoption of
Resolution 62/149 calling for a moratorium on executions by the UN General
Assembly on 18 December 2007.

The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in
1989. The Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish
the Death Penalty was adopted by the General Assembly of the Organization
of American States in 1990.

Both can be ratified by any state party to the relevant instruments, and
provide for the total abolition of the death penalty but allow state
parties to retain the death penalty in time of war if they make a
reservation to that effect at the time of ratifying or acceding the
Protocol.

Argentina ratified both of these Protocols without any reservations, since
the repeal of the Military Code of Justice abolished provisions for the
use of death penalty in such instances.

Other countries to have ratified all the human rights instruments of the
Inter-American system are Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay
and Uruguay.

The last execution took place in Argentina in 1916.

(source: Amnesty International)






SAUDI ARABIA:

Airing immodest shows could incur death penalty: Saudi cleric


The head of Saudi Arabia's Islamic Sharia courts has said owners of Arabic
television stations airing immodest shows in Ramadan could face execution,
Saudi web sites said on Friday.

Sheikh Saleh al-Lohaidan, one of the most powerful clerics in the world's
biggest oil exporter, was responding to a question on a radio phone-in
program on Wednesday about the owners of TV stations airing programs that
"offend modesty", especially during the holy month of Ramadan. "If the
evil of those who promote corruption in belief and actions cannot be held
back through lesser punishments, then they can be put to death through the
judicial process," Lohaidan, head of the Supreme Judicial Council said.

Recordings of the show were posted on web sites and passed around by
mobile phone message in Saudi Arabia.

He appeared to be referring to Turkish soap operas that became hugely
popular in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries this year, provoking a
storm of anger among conservatives in Saudi Arabia who fear the spread of
secular culture.

They gained huge popularity partly because they were dubbed into
colloquial Arabic and focused on a Muslim country whose culture many Arabs
can relate to. The characters would fast in Ramadan but also drink wine.

The government's official advisor on religious affairs, Grand Mufti Sheikh
Abdelaziz Al al-Sheikh, said in July it was not Islamically permissible to
watch the Turkish serials.

The shows, "Nour" and "Lost Years", were aired by MBC, a satellite
television group owned by a brother-in-law of former Saudi King Fahd and
based in the United Arab Emirates.

Concerned about the country's international image, some key members of the
Saudi royal family have promoted liberal reforms but others have stayed
close to the powerful clerics.

Ramadan is a month of fasting when Muslims are supposed to focus on God,
but critics say it becomes an orgy of TV and food consumption once the
fast ends at sunset.

(source: Reuters)






TANZANIA:

Call on Tanzania to ratify protocol on death penalty


The United Nations has advised Tanzania to ratify the International
Covenant on civil and Political Right\'s Optional Protocol on Abolition of
Death Penalty as a step in protecting and promoting human rights.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Tanzania Oscar Fernandez Taranco made the
call in Dar es Salaam during the launch of the declaration of human rights
campaigns in the country prepared by the Commission for Human Rights and
Good Governance.

The envoy insisted that it was not enough to ratify international
conventions, but to ensure that the instruments were domesticated and
applied properly in the country.

"This is of paramount importance to the objectives of truly achieving the
status of compliance and upholding rights," said Ambassador Taranco.

He said protecting and promoting Human Rights was first and foremost a
national responsibility.

The UN would assist the government and parliament to domesticate and
fulfill its international obligations.

"The UN through Delivering as One reform is committed to strengthening its
relationship with the Parliament and its subcommittees. During the next
session it will sensitize MPs and facilitate a discussion on ratification
of the Disability and Migrant Workers Conventions," said the envoy.

Ambassador Taranco said while piloting the Delivering as One reform, all
people are reminded that Human Rights were intrinsically linked to
development.

"Human rights can never advance without development, just like development
can never progress without human rights," he said.

He added that education was a key to ensuring that people understand and
realize their rights.

Meanwhile, the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance has
launched a campaign in support of the UN in commemoration of the human
rights day in the country, the first to be held since independence.

The campaign to commence in October would review the significance of the
day, its relevance to good governance and in promotion and protection of
human rights in the country.

The Commission chairman, Justice (rtd) Amiri Ramadhani Manento told
reporters that Tanzania has named December 10 as a national day for the
commemoration of Human rights in the country every year, according to
Justice Manento.

"This commemoration nationally, will be done in Dar es Salaam and the
theme is Justice and Dignity for all," he said.

Earlier on, the UN envoy had congratulated the government for its decision
to mark the day. "60 years after it was launched there is still a struggle
in its complete realization. The UDHR has yet to benefit all humanity
equally," he said.

(source: Guardian)





MALAYSIA:

Death Penalty Not The Way To Address Criminality, Says Amnesty


It is the responsibility of governments to address criminality effectively
without resorting to the death penalty, said Amnesty International
Malaysia executive director Nora Murat.

She said public support for the death penalty was most often based on the
"erroneous belief that it is an effective measure against crime".

"The reasons for a seemingly strong public support for the death penalty
can be complex and lacking in factual foundation. If the public are fully
informed of the reality of the death penalty and how it is applied, many
people may be more willing to accept abolition (of the death penalty),"
she said at an inter-college debate on the death penalty, here Friday.

The debate on "Should Malaysia Abolish the Death Penalty?", organised by
Amnesty International Malaysia, was between ATC College and Help
University College.

Nora said in December 2007, the United Nations General Assembly passed a
resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty and executions.

"The decision, adopted by the UN highest political body with universal
membership, is a clear recognition of the growing international trend
towards worldwide abolition of the death penalty, endorsed by the UN
Secretary-General."

She said that today, two-thirds of the countries in the world had
abolished the death penalty in law or practice.

Malaysia is among the countries where the death penalty is in place for
offences such as drug-related.

(source: Bernama)






EUROPEAN UNION/JAPAN:

EU "deeply concerned" by Japan executions


The European Union on Friday said that it was 'deeply concerned' by the
execution in Japan of 3 death-row inmates and asked Tokyo to bring in a
moratorium on further hangings.

'The European Union is deeply concerned at the Japanese authorities'
announcement that 3 people under sentence of death - Mr Yoshiyuki Mantani,
aged 68, Mr Mineteru Yamamoto, aged 68, Mr Isamu Hirano, aged 61 - have
been hanged,' a statement on behalf of the EU from the French government
said.

'The acceleration of executions in Japan confirms a particularly
disturbing trend at a time when there are more than 100 prisoners waiting
on death row ... (The EU) asks Japan to re-introduce the moratorium on
executions which was applied before 25 December 2006 and to contemplate
abolishing the death penalty,' it said.

On Thursday the Japanese authorities announced the execution of the 3 men,
all of whom had been found guilty of murder.

The EU firmly opposes the death penalty and regularly condemns the use of
the penalty in other parts of the world. The French government currently
holds the bloc's rotating 6-month presidency.

(source: Asia-Pacific)






INDONESIA:

Firing squad not torture: Bali court


Execution by firing squad is not torture, the Indonesian government argued
at a Constitutional Court hearing launched by three Bali bombers on death
row.

"It is not torture. If they feel pain, it's just a natural process and it
doesn't contradict our constitution," Justice and Human Rights Minister
Andi Matalatta told the court.

"The pain and torture are two different things," he said.

The three members of the Jemaah Islamiah militant Islamic network have
been sentenced to death for the 2002 bombings which killed 202 people,
mostly foreign tourists including 88 Australians, on the Indonesian
holiday island of Bali.

A panel of Constitutional Court judges opened hearings last month after
the bombers, who have exhausted all other appeals, sought a ruling on the
legality of firing squads.

Lawyers for the condemned men - Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Ali Ghufron -
have argued that firing squads amount to torture.

The bombers have asked to be beheaded.

They have shown no regret for the attacks and say they are looking forward
to dying as "martyrs". They are in custody at an island prison off Java
island.

"The government cannot accept other methods in execution and urges judges
to reject the (bombers') request," Matalatta told judges.

Officials had said the executions would occur before the Muslim holy month
of Ramadan, which began on September 1.

But late last month Attorney-General Hendarman Supandji said the sentences
would be carried out at an unspecified date after Ramadan ended on October
1.

The Constitutional Court hearing is to resume on September 18, when
lawyers for the bombers are expected to call an expert witness.

Executions in Indonesia are by firing squad, usually carried out at night
in undisclosed locations after the prisoner receives at least 72 hours'
notice.

(source: Agence France Presse)