[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Oct. 27


INDONESIA:

Indonesia tightens security ahead of execution of Bali bombers


Indonesia has stepped up security at major installations across the
country to guard against possible attacks ahead of the execution next
month of 3 Bali bombers, police said on Monday.

"National police issued an order for all regional police across Indonesia
to boost security in vital installations to anticipate possible sabotage
or terror attacks," national police detective chief Susnoduaji told AFP.

Officials have said the 3 extremists convicted for the 2002 Bali bombings
would be executed in early November.

Extremists Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra face a firing squad over the
attacks on packed nightspots on the resort island which killed 202 people,
mainly foreign holidaymakers.

They were sentenced to death in 2003 but their execution has been
repeatedly delayed by a string of failed appeals and religious
considerations.

Susnoduaji said the vital installations under increased security included
major contributors to economy such as power plants and fuel depots of
state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina.

An official at major power plants in Cilacap in central Java, close to a
prison island where the convicted bombers were being held, confirmed that
security in the area had been tightened with more paramilitary police
deployed.

Elite anti-terror police have also reportedly stepped up security near
Amrozi and Mukhlas' village in East Java province in anticipation of their
execution.

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: ChannelnewsAsia)






JAMAICA:

'Death penalty is God's command'----Pastor says gov't not fulfilling role
if it does not support capital punishment

Miller. God requires accountability from one who takes the life of another


OUTSPOKEN clergyman Rev Al Miller says Government would not be fulfilling
its role as God's authority to dispense justice in the land, if it does
not support the death penalty which is a clear command in scriptures.

Miller who has been vociferous in his support of capital punishment made
the statement yesterday, as the capital punishment debate continues to
heat up, amidst the country's spiralling crime rate.

The clergyman said persons who refer to the scripture "thou shall not
kill" as an argument to oppose capital punishment, do so in error as the
verse speaks directly to an individual killing another and not to the
state.

Governments, he said, represent the authority of God to dispense justice
in the land, and so capital punishment would not be considered murder when
dispensed for justice.

"If Government doesn't exercise it then they will not be carrying out
their role," Miller told the Observer.

The reverend's statements come in the wake of fiery arguments directed at
him since last week, when he was quoted as describing opposers of capital
punishment as "dunce".

But yesterday, Miller clarified what he meant as he addressed a packed
congregation during the weekly church service at the Fellowship Tabernacle
in Kingston. He said that it did not mean that those who opposed capital
punishment were dunce, rather, in light of biblical evidence, when man's
wisdom in believing capital punishment to be wrong is taken above God's
this suggests they believe they are wiser than God.

Miller said he expects opposing views, and does not consider the opposers
to be dunce, however, when compared to the wisdom of God and in light of
evidence, one has to have another agenda to think otherwise.

"If persons misunderstood what I said I apologise for the wrong impression
because that was not the intent," the clergyman said.

However, despite coming under heavy criticism for his recent utterances,
Miller maintains that while the methods of capital punishment are
debatable, capital punishment itself is not.

In reference to Genesis 9, Miller said God requires accountability of one
who takes the life of another.

He said capital punishment is one area of scripture which is not
ambiguous, as it is the only way to ensure that life is sacred and
secondly that others should fear consequence.

For those who do not fear consequence, Miller said they are dangerous and
do not value the importance of life in the first place.

Capital punishment has to be a deterrent Miller said, since this is what
the gangs use to control communities. "The dons maintain order because of
fear of punishment in that if you cross them punishment is sure, swift and
certain," Miller said. "People don't have the same fear of the law of the
land."

He said there is, however, no doubt that the justice system needs to be
fixed to ensure it is just and fair, but more important, is the sanctity
of life. For those Christians who argue that the New Testament supersedes
the law of the Old Testament, where believers should now be living under
grace, Miller says this argument is also flawed, and does not apply to
capital punishment as grace is for personal salvation not social justice.

"I will lead any murderer to Christ for personal salvation but he must
suffer the consequence for his behaviour," he said.

Miller joins Bishop Ronald Blair and Rev Terrence Brown, the former head
of the Spanish Town Ministers Fraternal, who have also called for the
reinstatement of hanging to stem the island's high murder rate. Last week
Brown said he would willingly take on the job of putting the noose around
the necks of criminals if the Government decides to resume hanging in the
near future.

Although the death penalty is still on the books in Jamaica, the last
execution was carried out more than 20 years ago.

In considering the issues, especially in the face of the country's
galloping murder rate and public outcry, Government has said that it would
put the matter to Parliamentarians for a conscience vote.

(source: Jamaica Observa)