UPDATE (Singapore): Australian confirmed to hang 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information confirming that Singapore will go ahead with the execution of an Australian man convicted of drug smuggling. As reported in our previous forwarded appeal on 25 October 2005 (FA-33-2005), Nguyen Tuong Van, 25, was sentenced to death for
importing 396 grams of heroin into Singapore. He was convicted under the Misuse of Drugs Act, which carries a mandatory death sentence for anyone found guilty of trafficking in more than 15 grams of heroin.

In October 2004 the Court of Appeal rejected his appeal against the death sentence. On 21 October 2005, his appeal for clemency was rejected by Singapore’s President. And now, the Singaporean Foreign Minister has confirmed that the execution of the young man will go ahead, despite please for clemency from the Australian government, and from people protesting worldwide. Although a date has not yet been announced for the execution, it is likely the hanging will be carried out within weeks.

Even though Article 6(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) strictly restricts a sentence of death to be imposed only for the “most serious crimes” such as intentional murder, the Singapore government have been using the death penalty for non-violent drug offences. We have previously reported that two Africans were sentenced to death in Singapore on drug trafficking charges (See further: FA-22-2005). Also, in May 2005, a father of two children was hanged amidst the appeals from various human rights organization, including the AHRC, asking for clemency to save his life (for details see: UP-60-2005). There are also a number of other prisoners, including foreign nationals, facing the death penalty in Singapore (please see: UA-24-2003).

The AHRC strongly condemns the action of the Singapore government, which is a violation of the right to life, which is one of the most fundamental of human rights. It is also a clear violation of the ICCPR, which Singapore is a state party.

In light of this, and due to the extreme urgency of saving this young man’s life, we ask that you please write an appeal letter to the President of Singapore calling for moratorium on Nguyen Tuong Van’s execution. Please also urge the Singapore government to abolish the death penalty and, in the meantime, to establish a moratorium on all executions. We also recommend you to write to the embassies of Singapore in your respective country.

You can also join the Think Centre’s online petition calling for the Singapore government’s moratorium on death penalty at: http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=2657

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

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