[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

July 9



BULGARIA/LIBYA:

Inevitable Sentence against Bulgarian Medics in Libya

The agreement between EU and Libya for solving the case had stumbled in
the finance demand of the infected children's families.

Libyan Supreme Court should announce this Wednesday, July 11 its decision
on the case with the Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor.

Justice must give another chance and to leave the both sides to give
superiority to the true, especially when a death sentence is involved,
stated lawyer Osman Bizanti.

The finance part of the case is still an obstacle for its solving.

Qaddafi Foundation informs that the negations continue because the kids'
relatives have to reconsider their demands and to decrease it.

The agreement for compensate payments will be considered as abolishment of
the death sentence. Libyan Supreme Court will review the sentences and the
medics could serve their sentences in Bulgaria.

(source:  international.news.bg)







GLOBAL:

DEATH PENALTY NOT A DETERRENT BUT A CAUSE OF VIOLENCE

Fortunately for humanity, the death penalty is being eliminated from the
world. Executions have dropped by 25 percent between 2005 and 2006 and
the countries that still have the sanction are growing fewer and fewer,
writes Fatima Aburto, Socialist spokesperson for the Commission on
Foreign Affairs of the Spanish Chamber of Deputies.

In this analysis, Aburto writes that while a moratorium is not the same as
abolition, it does offer the opportunity to demonstrate that the death
penalty is not a deterrent but a cause of violence and vengeance. The
moratorium also frees its supporters from the feeling of complicity,
however indirect, in causing the death of a human being through execution.

This is all the more relevant today in the context of international
terrorism, which can be easily manipulated by those in power to convince
the people that a barbaric punishment like the death penalty might
increase security. Apart from the fact that this argument is flat wrong,
tapping people's fears in order to awaken their instincts for vengeance
and cruelty is absolutely despicable. The fight against terrorism will
only succeed when it is rooted in a complete respect for human rights and
fundamental liberties.

(source:  IPS)






ETHIOPIA:

Ethiopian Prosecutor Requests Death Penalty for Opposition Officials


Ethiopian prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for 38 opposition
officials accused of inciting violence and trying to overthrow the
government.

A prosecutor argued in an Addis Ababa court Monday, that the defendants
should receive the maximum penalty because they caused a social crisis
that led to the loss of life.

Relatives of the accused packed the courtroom. Many of them cried as they
heard the prosecutor's request.

The 38 were convicted in June on charges that include "outrages against
the constitution." Several were convicted of inciting an armed rebellion.

Human rights groups have condemned the trial as a sham.

The violence happened during protests against election results in 2005.
The ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi retained power after the
election, despite official results showing strong gains by the opposition.

Ethiopian security forces used force to stop the protests, killing at
least 193 people.

(source:  VOA News)