[RE: FA-33-2005: SINGAPORE: Australian national faces imminent death by hanging; UP-128-2005: SINGAPORE: Australian confirmed to hang; UP-140-2005: SINGAPORE: Australian confirmed to hang on Friday December 2]
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UP-153-2005: SINGAPORE: Execution of Australian national carried out in Singapore
SINGAPORE: Death penalty; Right to life; Rule of law
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to you with sadness and regret following the execution of Nguyen Tuong Van at Changi prison in Singapore this morning. It is now known that the Singapore government went ahead with their decision to execute Nguyen, despite pleas from the Australian government and members of the public to grant clemency.
Nguyen was able to meet with his mother one last time yesterday, where they held hands and his mother was able to touch his face and hair. They were not permitted to hug one another however.
Then at 6am Singapore time this morning, as supporters gathered in Australia and Singapore to mark Nguyens death and protest against Singapores policy of mandatory capital punishment for drug traffickers, the young mans life was taken.
The AHRC strongly condemns this senseless, uncompassionate and abhorrent act by the Singapore government. Likewise it voices its full opposition to the death sentence in all cases. The death penalty is the ultimate violation of human rights – the right to life. The Singapore government’s decision to carry out this and other executions, is at odds with current global trends to abolish the death penalty. The Singapore government must acknowledge these trends and move to abolish its barbaric use of the death penalty without delay.
The AHRC therefore calls on you to pressure the Singapore government to take this measure.
Please write to the relevant authorities listed below voicing your condemnation of the Singapore governments decision to execute Nguyen Tuong Van, despite the many pleas for clemency they received. Please urge the Singapore government to impose a moratorium on all executions, with a view to complete abolition, in line with the April 2005 UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) resolution on the question of the death penalty. Finally, please remind the Singapore government that Article 6(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which it is a state party, strictly restricts a sentence of death to be imposed only for the “most serious crimes” such as intentional murder.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear His Excellency
Execution of Nguyen Tuong Van
I write to you to voice my condemnation at your countrys decision to execute Nguyen Tuong Van, despite the many pleas from around the world for Singapore to save his life.
While I acknowledge and in no way condone the crimes for which he was convicted, under no circumstances is it acceptable for persons to take the life of another.
The death penalty is the ultimate violation of human rights - the right to life. The Singapore government's decision to carry out this and other executions is at odds with current global trends to abolish the death penalty. The Singapore government must acknowledge these trends and move to abolish its use of the death penalty without delay.
I call on your government to impose a moratorium on all executions, with a view to complete abolition, in line with the April 2005 UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) resolution on the question of the death penalty. I also take this opportunity to remind the Singapore government that Article 6(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which it is a state party, strictly restricts a sentence of death to be imposed only for the "most serious crimes" such as intentional murder.
Today a young mans life was senselessly taken. I hope that the Singapore government in the future acknowledges the right to life, and takes measures to ensure that no further lives are senselessly taken.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND A LETTER TO:
The President
His Excellency S R Nathan
Office of the President
Istana, Orchard Road
Republic of Singapore 0922
Fax: +65 738 4673
Email: s_r_nathan@istana.gov.sg
PLEASE SEND A COPY TO:
1. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Office of the Prime Minister Istana Annexe,
Orchard Road
REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE 0923
Fax: +65 732 4627
Email: lee_hsien_loong@pmo.gov.sg
[Salutation: Dear Prime Minister]
2. Prof. S. Jayakumar
Minister of Law
Ministry of Law
100 High Street
The Treasury #08-02
REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE 179434
Fax: +65 6332 8842
Email: supmlaw@cs.gov.sg
[Salutation: Dear Minister]
3. Chan Sek Keong
Attorney General
Attorney General's Chambers
1 Coleman Street #10-00
REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE 179803
Fax: +65 6332 5984
[Salutation: Dear Attorney General]
4. Chief Justice Yong Pung How
Supreme Court
Supreme Court Building
St Andrew's Road
REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE 178957
Fax: +65 6337 9450
Email: supcourt_registry@supcourt.gov.sg
[Salutation: Dear Chief Justice]
5. Mr. Miles Kupa
High Commissioner to Singapore
Australian High Commission
Level 2, 25 Napier Road
REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE 258507
Tel: +65 6836-4100
Fax: +65 6735-1242
Email: Public-Affairs-Sing@dfat.gov.au (ATTENTION: Mr. Miles Kupa)
6. Jospeh Koh
High Commissioner
Singapore High Commission in Australia
17 Forster Crescent
Yarralumla ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA
Telephone: +61 2 6273 3944
Fax: +61 2 6273
Email: Singapore_hc@bigpond.com or joseph_koh@mfa.gov.sg
7. The Hon John Howard MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA
To email the Prime Minister contact: http://www.pm.gov.au/email.cfm
8. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
Atten: Lydie Ventre
Room 3-016, c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9155
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (general)
Email: lventre@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
