Aug. 26
GAMBIA:
EU condemns Gambia executions, promises urgent response
The European Union called on Gambia on Sunday to stop executing death row
inmates and said the bloc would come up with a quick but unspecified response
to executions reported last week.
Gambia has neither confirmed nor denied an Amnesty International report saying
that 9 of its 47 death row inmates had been executed overnight on Thursday. An
official in the president's office said a statement would be made on Monday.
But a leading opposition figure said those reported to have been executed
should be paraded on television if they were still alive while international
sanctions should be imposed on the West African state's leadership if they had
been executed.
President Yahya Jammeh, whose rights record has long been criticized since he
seized power in 1994, said in a speech last Monday that he planned to execute
all the country's death row inmates by mid-September.
"I strongly condemn the executions which have reportedly taken place on
Thursday 23 August 2012, following President Jammeh's stated intention to carry
out all death penalties before mid-September," EU foreign affairs chief
Catherine Ashton said in a statement.
"I demand the immediate halt of the executions," she added.
The European Union has previously condemned death sentences passed in Gambia,
but Sunday's statement went further by indicating that action might follow.
"In light of these executions, the European Union will urgently consider an
appropriate response," Ashton said. She reminded Gambia of a commitment to
respect human rights in an accord between the bloc and a number of African
countries.
The EU opposes the death penalty worldwide and often issues statements asking
countries to halt executions, but the language it used in Sunday's statement
was far stronger than usual, showing particular concern over the Gambian
executions.
The EU plans to give Gambia 65.4 million euros from 2008 to 2013 under a
European Development Fund program. The aid funds projects in areas such as
infrastructure and governance.
Jammeh's speech - in which he said the executions would "ensure that criminals
get what they deserve" - has already drawn condemnation from the African Union
and Britain.
Amnesty said in a press release on Friday it had "credible reports" that nine
people, including 2 Senegalese nationals, were executed overnight on Thursday.
3 of those reported to have been executed had been sentenced for treason, it
said.
Gambia's presidency issued a statement late on Friday defending its use of the
death penalty and dismissing "widespread rumors and speculation", but did not
confirm or deny the Amnesty report.
"It is in the interest of the nation that the government should issue an
unambiguous statement to clear the air," said Ousainou Darboe, leader of the
opposition UDP party.
"If the government denies that any execution has taken place, it should go
further and parade all those on death row on TV for their families and the
public to see them. If the execution has indeed taken place, the international
community should consider imposing travel bans on Jammeh and his ministers," he
added.
Despite its poor rights record, Gambia is a popular destination for sun-seeking
British tourists.
(source: Reuters)
**************************
Gambia civic activists say that 9 on death row executed, Amnesty says dozens
more under threat; Gambia civic activists say 9 executed
Gambia has executed nine convicted criminals, the Civil Society Associations
reported Saturday as Amnesty International warned that dozens more on death-row
are under imminent threat as the West African nation carries out its 1st death
sentences in 27 years.
President Yaya Jammeh vowed earlier this month to execute all inmates sentenced
to death "to ensure that criminals get what they deserve, that is, those who
killed are killed and those who deserve to be put away from the society are put
away from the society in accordance with the law."
A government statement issued late Friday night said "All persons on death row
have been tried by the Gambian courts of competent jurisdiction and thereof
convicted and sentenced to death in accordance with the law. They have
exhausted all their legal rights of appeal as provided by the law."
It added "the peace and stability of our beloved nation as regards to
protection of the lives, liberty and property of individuals must at all cost
be preserved and jealously guarded."
8 men and 1 woman were removed from their prison cells Friday night and
executed, London-based Amnesty reported, quoting "credible sources." It said 2
of those executed are believed to be foreigners from Senegal.
A barrage of protests met the move, with expressions of shock coming from the
African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the French and
Nigerian governments and human rights groups.
It was not clear how the prisoners were executed, but Gambia's constitution
says executions should be by hanging. "What is however clear is that inmates
were rounded up at 9.30 p.m. Thursday August 23 and that by the morning of
August 24, the bodies were actually lying in the Mile Two Prison yard," the
Civil Society Associations of Gambia reported.
Amnesty warned "more persons are under threat of imminent executions today and
in the coming days."
Amnesty said the executions are the 1st in Gambia since 1987. Gambia reinstated
the death penalty in 1995 but had not executed anyone, former minister Omar
Jallow has told The Associated Press.
Amnesty said there were 47 inmates on death row before Friday's executions:
government figures put the number at 42 men and two women and another 3 men
reportedly also received the death sentence this year.
Capital punishment can be imposed in Gambia for murder and treason. Three of
those reportedly executed had been sentenced for treason, Amnesty said. It's
not known how many of those on death row have been sentenced for alleged
coup-plotting, a treasonable offense that could indicate Jammeh is using the
executions to get rid of political opponents.
Jammeh was reelected in November in elections that were "neither free nor
fair," according to the U.S. State Department. Its annual human rights report
criticized "the government's harassment and abuse of its critics, which
resulted in a muzzled press and the death, torture, arrest and detention, and
sometimes enforced disappearance of citizens."
Amnesty called the executions, if confirmed, "a hugely retrograde step" putting
Gambia among a minority of African states that still impose the death penalty.
38 of the 54 members of the African Union have abolished the death penalty or,
if it is still in their law books, do not perform executions, Amnesty
International said.
(source: Associated Press)
MALAYSIA:
Nigerian bags death sentence in Malaysia
The High Court in Malaysia has sentenced a Nigerian man to death after finding
him guilty of trafficking drugs, last year.
Judicial Commissioner Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab sentenced Moses Chinedu Nwosu, 50,
after the prosecution successfully proved beyond doubt the case against him.
Moses, who owned a restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand and was also a university
student there, trafficked in 14.302 kg of marijuana at the Shahab Perdana Bus
Terminal here on the night of March 25, 2011.
He was charged under Section 39(B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which
carries the mandatory death penalty, upon conviction.
In his judgement, Mohd Zaki stated that Moses' testimony amounted to a mere
denial and failed to raise a reasonable doubt on the case against him.
"The accused testified that the black bag (with the drugs) seized from him
belonged to a Malay man who travelled in the taxi with him from Bukit Kayu
Hitam to Alor Setar.
"However, according to a witness, Moses was seen carrying the black bag from
the parking lot to the terminal and its key was found in his pocket," he
concluded.
Deputy public prosecutor Nor Shuhada Mohd Yatim prosecuted and Moses was
represented by RSN Rayer.
(source: Business Day)
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