[Deathpenalty] death penalty news-----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

July 16



LIBYA:

Death row medics to learn fate later today


"Innocent" reads the banner in the Bulgarian capital Sofia as Libya's High
Judicial Council meets to discuss the fate of the 5 Bulgarian nurses and a
Palestinian doctor currently held on death row. All 6 have been condemned
to death for infecting 426 children with HIV.

The EU is hopeful the 6 will be released after holding talks with an
association of victims. The families demanded compensation of 10-million
euros for each infected child's familiy. "Blood money" under Islamic law
allows victims relatives to withdraw death sentences in return for
reparations.

The EU refuses to accept the idea of compensation, which would imply the
medics were guilty, but has offered a fund to pay for future care of those
afflicted believed to be 700,000 euros per family. The 6 have been held
since 1999. Some Western scientists say negligence and poor hygiene were
to blame and the infections began before they arrived at the hospital.

(source: EuroNews)






SAUDI ARABIA:

Makkah Committee Wins Pardon for 117 Death Row Convicts


The Higher Committee for Reconciliation in Makkah has been successful in
winning pardons for 117 people on death row in the last 6 years, according
to Dr. Nasser Al-Zahrani, its executive president.

Al-Zahrani revealed these figures while briefing Makkah Governor Prince
Khaled Al-Faisal on the committee's activities and achievements. The
prince recently visited the organizations headquarters in the holy city.

The 117 people, who were on death row after being convicted of murder by
courts, won pardons from relatives of the murdered as a result of the
committee's reconciliation efforts and intervention by tribal leaders.

"We are now working to save the lives of 400 others who are on death row.
In addition, we are trying to settle more than 4,000 social, family and
financial conflicts," Al-Zahrani said.

The committee, which was established in 2001, is affiliated to the Makkah
Governorate and has 4 main branches and a women's branch in Makkah. It
also works to promote a culture of tolerance and settles disputes among
families and individuals. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal is its current chairman.

The committee employs 66 officials, 26 of which are located at the
organizations headquarters, 13 in administration, 17 at its branch in
Jeddah and 3 in Taif.

The committee's activities are significant as it works to strengthen
social unity and establish better relations between family members and
individuals by settling their disputes peacefully.

Prince Khaled also attended an exhibition highlighting the committee's
achievements over the past six years. He was received by Al-Zahrani and
the committee's members.

Prince Khaled also met Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman
Adel Kaaki on Saturday and discussed with him matters relating to
business.

The governor also held talks with officials of the Association for
District Centers in Makkah. Dr. Yahya Zamzami, secretary-general of the
association, said his organization had carried out nearly 1,000 cultural,
social, religious and sports programs last year.

(source: Arab News)






ETHIOPIA:

Life in jail for Ethiopia leaders ---- The opposition blames the violence
on the security forces


An Ethiopian court has handed down life sentences to all of the main
opposition leaders convicted of links to violent election protests in a
major trial.

8 of the 38 opposition figures in court were given shorter prison terms.
The prosecution had demanded the death penalty for them all.

They refused to recognise the court, saying the trial was political.

Their relatives say the detainees have signed a document which could pave
the way for their release.

High court judge Adil Ahmed also barred the 30 Coalition for Unity and
Democracy (CUD) leaders from voting or standing for election. 5 were
sentenced in absentia.

"The accused have committed serious crimes, which caused the death of
civilians and security forces and attempted to overthrow the government,"
he said.

Democracy on trial

"The accused have also failed to present to the court mitigating evidences
for the charges brought against them."

But he said they did not deserve the death penalty.

Before the sentences, the US had warned that any judgement should promote
reconciliation between the government and the opposition.

The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa says the trial has been closely
watched in the city, a CUD stronghold.

She says that the entire front row of seats in the court was taken up by
diplomats and a simultaneous English translation was provided.

Apology?

5 of the 38, including CUD leader Hailu Shawel, were also convicted of
inciting, organising and leading armed rebellion.

Ethiopia's government has always stressed that the courts are independent
and denies that the trial is political.

Relatives of the 38, who include two women, say they have signed a
document which could lead to them being freed. Our correspondent says this
could be some form of apology or plea for mercy.

Among the 38 are the entire CUD leadership, several of the capital's
elected MPs and city councillors, including Berhanu Negga, mayor-elect of
Addis Ababa.

Prosecutor Abraham Tetemke said they had tried to bring down the
government when he called for the death penalty last Monday.

Hundreds of thousands took part in demonstrations complaining of fraud and
rigging in the elections won by Prime Minister Meles' party.

Some 193 people were killed in protests at alleged vote-rigging.

Most of the dead were protesters, killed by security forces.

Tarnished

An independent inquiry carried out by an Ethiopian judge concluded that
the police had used excessive force.

He went on to accuse them of carrying out a massacre. The judge later fled
Ethiopia, saying he had been put under pressure to change his findings and
had received death threats.

The government points out that it introduced multiparty elections to
Ethiopia after years of military rule.

In the elections, the opposition made huge gains but says it was cheated
out of victory.

Three months ago, a judge threw out controversial charges of attempted
genocide and treason against 111 people, including those sentenced on
Monday, over the election protests.

The violence and the charges of election fraud have tarnished Mr Meles'
image as a favourite of Western donors and one of a new wave of reforming
African leaders.

Some donors have reduced aid over the case.

(source: BBC News)






TAIWAN:

Taiwan pardons 25,600 prisoners to mark end of martial law


Taiwan began releasing some 25,600 prisoners from Taiwan jails on Monday
under a presidential amnesty marking the 20th anniversary of the lifting
of the martial law.

The amnesty is part of a string of activities celebrating the 20th
anniversary of the end of the martial law imposed on Taiwan by late
Chinese Nationalist president Chiang Kai-shek, who ruled Taiwan from 1949
to 1975.

Chiang Kai-shek's son Chiang Ching-kuo, who was president from 1978-1988,
lifted the martial law in 1987 in response to islanders' calls for freedom
and democracy.

Human rights groups welcomed the presidential amnesty, but regretted that
President Chen Shui-bian has not abolished the death penalty.

'We welcome President Chen's reduction of sentences for petty criminals,
but we reiterate our long-standing demand for abolishing the death
penalty,' Lin Chia-yi, executive-director of the Taiwan Alliance to End
the Death Penalty, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

'We hope President Chen can issue a memorandum on the death penalty as the
first step towards abolishing the death penalty,' she added.

Taiwan has 25 death row convicts.

On Monday, some 10,000 prisoners walked out of jails across Taiwan after
their sentences were reduced.

Most of them were jailed for robbery, burglary and using or trafficking in
drugs. 1/5 of them are drug addicts or AIDS patients or HIV carriers.

To prevent them from using drugs and catching or spreading AIDS, the
Department of Health (DOH) presented each released prisoner a 'Welcome
Home Bag' containing a peace penchant, a face towel, a nail clipper, 5
condoms as well as brochures on AIDS prevention and how to kick the drug
habits.

'The brochures have information on where to exchange syringes and how to
get treatment to kick drug habits,' Yang Shi-yang, an official from the
Centers for Disease Control, told dpa.

(source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur)