Canberra to act on death penalty ban – from The Age
Date: July 01 2009
Cynthia Banham
THE Federal Government has written to the states, telling them of its plans to introduce laws banning them from ever reintroducing the death penalty, whether they like it or not.
While all states have abolished the death penalty, there is nothing preventing a government from bringing it back.
The Age has a copy of a letter sent from Federal Attorney General Robert McClelland to his state counterparts on June 16, informing them “of the Commonwealth Government’s intention to introduce legislation to prohibit the application of the death penalty throughout Australia”.
The language of the letter is significant, as it indicates the Federal Government has opted to use the external affairs power in the constitution to put the prohibition in place.
This is instead of asking the states to refer their powers to the Commonwealth to enable it to pass the laws banning the reintroduction of the death penalty — an option that is seen as less watertight by the Federal Government because usually states only refer their powers for a limited period of time.
It is understood the Federal Government has legal advice that under the external affairs power and international treaties signed by Australia, including the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, it is able enact the laws and so intends to take this path.
Read more.
Togo: Fifteenth country in Africa to abolish the death penalty
23 June 2009
Togo today decided to abolish the death penalty following a unanimous vote by the national assembly.
Togo has thereby become the 15th member of the African Union and the 94th country in the world to abolish the death penalty for all crimes.
“This country has chosen to establish a healthy justice system that limits judicial errors…and guarantees the inherent rights of the individual,” said Justice Minister Kokou Tozoun when the cabinet first adopted the abolition bill on 10 December 2008. “This (new) system is no longer compatible with a penal code that maintains the death penalty and grants the judiciary absolute power with irrevocable consequences.”
Togo stopped applying the death penalty more than three decades ago. The last executions of people sentenced to death date back to 1978 and the last death sentence was handed down in 2003.
Through today’s vote, Togolese members of parliament have reinforced the trend towards abolishing the death penalty in Africa.
Burundi adopted a new penal code in April 2009 which abolished the death penalty from the legislation. Several other countries, notably Mali, are reviewing their legislation and considering the possibility of removing any recourse to the death penalty.
Original story here.
Groups want end to drug offense executions
The groups say 16 Asian countries now do so, adding that while it is impossible to know exactly how many such death sentences are imposed, reports from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand indicate a high percentage of executions in those countries are imposed on those convicted of drug offenses.
ADPAN, Human Rights Watch and the IHRA singled out China, Indonesia and Vietnam for particular concern, saying they continue to execute people for drug offenses and that some countries have marked the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with such executions.
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Original story here.
Australians Against Capital Punishment submission to National Human Rights consultation
“Every person has, after he or she has been born,the right to life. Any loss of life attributable to agencies of the state must be fully and independently investigated. No death penalty should be carried out in this nation.”
The Statute of Liberties by Geoffrey Robertson
Australians Against Capital Punishment is a community group formed in early 2007 to advocate for a total abolition of the death penalty across the globe, and to call on our government to once again commit itself to opposing the death penalty in all cases, in all countries wholeheartedly.
Australians Against Capital Punishment believes that a Human Rights Act for Australia is a positive move towards protecting and valuing human rights in our country, and will help Australia in promoting an international culture of respect for the rights of all people.
We believe that a Human Rights Act should include, but not be limited to the following:
The Death Penalty being irreversible and unconscionable shall not be permitted in Australia.
Australia’s opposition to the Death Penalty, domestically and abroad, must be absolute.
No Australian government or government agency shall cooperate in any operation which can lead to the Death Penalty.
The Australian government is obliged to act on behalf of any Australians who are arrested or detained overseas.
Executions to Resume After Presidential Elections (Indonesia)
Attorney General Marks Four for Date with Firing Squad from Among 111 Now Sitting on Death Row.
(6/1/2009) NusaBali reports that Indonesia’s Attorney General has identified 4 among the 111 people sitting on death row in Indonesia for execution shortly after the coming presidential elections to be held in July 2009.
While not specifically naming those next to be placed before a firing squad, the Deputy Attorney General for General Crimes from the Attorney General’s office, Abdul Hakim Ritonga, confirmed that the date of the four deaths will happen sometime after the presidential poll.
MP lobbies to lift death sentence (SMH)
Cynthia Banham
June 3, 2009
THE NSW federal MP Chris Hayes has made what is likely to be his last impassioned speech in Parliament before lawyers for Scott Rush file the appeal against his death sentence to the Indonesian Supreme Court.
Mr Hayes said he hoped Rush received “a fair and objective hearing from the Indonesian Supreme Court”.
The MP has campaigned for Rush, the convicted drug mule and member of the Bali nine, since meeting his parents, Christine and Lee, a year ago.
Multi-faith forum – the Death Penalty
The Multi-Faith Centre at Griffith University, in cooperation with various faith, interfaith, and community organisations, will host the following event:
The Death Penalty: An Interfaith Forum
Speakers:
Prof. Sarva-Daman Singh (Hinduism)- Honorary Consul of India in Brisbane
Flame
Dr. Anne Nguyen (Buddhism) – Senior Lecturer, Computer Science & Technology, Griffith University
Peter Arndt (Christianity) – Executive Director Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, Brisbane
Imam Dr. Tariq Syed (Islam) – Council of Fatwa, Australian National Imams Council
Date:
Wednesday, 29 April
Time: 7.15 – 9.30 pm
Where: Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University
For further information, email to: mfc@griffith.edu.au
RSVP by April 25 to: 3735-7052 or mfc@griffith.edu.au
Family prays for Bali Nine drug mule Scott Rush to be spared death penalty
AAP
April 10, 2009 04:48pm
* Family prayer vigil for Scott Rush
* 100 people at special Easter service
* Waiting outcome of appeal
THE family of convicted drug mule and Bali Nine member Scott Rush have continued hope he will be spared the death penalty.
About 100 people crowded into Brisbane’s Christ the King Church today, where Rush used to attend, for a prayer vigil, aimed at renewing debate about the death penalty.
Justice Delayed: Nine Death Row Inmates Lost Appeals Due to Late Filings By Counsel
Jonathon Turley writes about nine recent death penalty cases in Texas where appeals were lost due to the tardiness of lawyers, and in one case where a judge ordered the clerk’s office to close early when a last-minute appeal on a death penalty case was in the offing.
Read more here…
Scott Rush’s agony – from The Catholic Leader Online
CONVICTED Bali Nine drug trafficker Scott Rush’s death-row agony persists with mixed messages relating to his likely fate continuing to emerge from Indonesia as he enters his fifth year of captivity.
Fr Tim Harris, of Scott’s former parish at Corinda-Graceville in Brisbane, said reports from Jakarta carried both hope and danger for Scott and others on death row.
For a second year, a prayer vigil will be held on Good Friday (April 10) at Christ the King Church, Graceville, to offer prayers for 23-year-old Scott and all those on death row around the world.
Scott’s parents Lee and Christine have indicated they expect to attend the vigil, and Lee Rush is expected to speak on his son’s dire predicament.
Fr Harris said he could not express “strongly enough” how crucial 2009 would be for Scott.
“It will be a make-or-break year because it’s when Scott’s final appeal will be made,” he said. “The legal team are, as we speak, working on the appeal.
