March 23
INDONESIA:
EU Urges Indonesia To Re-enforce Moratorium Of Executions
EU Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton has expressed deep regret at the
recent execution in Indonesia.
The death row inmate, Adam Wilson, was executed on 15 March, after a gap of 5
years during which no execution had taken place.
In a statement issued on Friday, the High Representative termed it as "a step
backwards and goes against the global abolitionist trend."
"The European Union hopes that Indonesia will return to its previous moratorium
policy, and consider joining the wide community of states that have abolished
the death penalty entirely."
Aston made it clear that "The EU is opposed to capital punishment in all cases
and without exception, and has consistently called for its universal
abolition."
(source: RTT News)
MALAYSIA:
Pinoy terrorists in Sabah
The Malaysian government filed terrorism and waging war charges, which carry
the death penalty, against 8 Filipinos in connection with the Sabah crisis.
A Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo spokesman said Malaysia's move is
"terroristic" and amounts to "usurpation" of the sultan's power because Sabah
belongs to the sultanate.
What Malaysia saw as terrorists were merely the sultan's repossession men.
President Noynoy Aquino has directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to
retain lawyers to defend the Filipinos in court in Sabah.
This must be confusing to the members of the royal army of Sultan Jamalul Kiram
II.
The government gives them lawyers in Sabah, but if they come home, the
Department of Justice will run after them.
7 of the 8 Filipinos, reports said, were taken to the High Court in Tawau town
in Sabah for arraignment in straightjackets.
Straightjackets are normally used for insane inmates at mental hospital and
asylums who are violent.
Perhaps the Malaysian authorities consider the insane and those who come to
Sabah armed and uninvited are one and the same.
(source: The Sun Star)
INDIA:
Sent marines back on India's assurance they won't be hanged: Italy
The Italian Deputy Foreign Minister, Staffan de Mistura, who was in India on
Friday, said that a written assurance by the government of India, that the two
Italian marines facing trial in the fishermen killings case won't be hanged
made Rome rethink its decision of not allowing the duo to return. The marines,
who had been allowed to go back to Italy by the Supreme Court to take part in
the elections there, returned to India on Friday, the last day of their leave
period.
Addressing a press conference, de Mistura said, "A potential diplomatic crisis
has definitely been avoided. The news of death penalty became a crucial issue
in Italy. Death penalty is unacceptable to us, even for foreigners convicted of
crime in Italy. The government of India wrote to Rome assuring that the marines
will not be sentenced to death. The guarantee was enough for the Italian
government."
De Mistura, however, added that the official position of Rome on the matter
still remained the same - that it reserves the right to try the marines. "Our
official position remains the same that when officials, while discharging
duties in international waters, commit a crime, they will be adjudicated in
their own countries. An Italian judge met the marines twice when they were in
Rome. We too want to start a case against the marines." He, however, added that
Italy respected India's position too.
He further reiterated demands for a special court to try the marines. "We wish
that the special court be established quick and fast, as had been requested by
the Indian Supreme Court. We want justice and clarity on the matter," he said.
(source: IBN Live)
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