Dear friends,
We are forwarding you the latest information we have received from Think Centre in Singapore regarding the death penalty to Mr Shanmugm Murugesu, a Singaporean father of two. Mr Murugesu’s family has now been informed that he will be hanged on 13 May 2005 at 6am. With this being less than two days away, we call for your urgent intervention in this case.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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Shanmugam Murugesu’s Family has been informed that he will be hanged on Fri 13 May 2005
at 6.00am. Arrangement are make for the body to be return home at 3 pm and at 5 pm to
Mandai Crematorium. Think Centre asks all to express their solidarity. You can write
email messages, express your solidarity with Shanmugam’s family c/o <thinkcentre@hotmail.com>
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Sign Petition – Singapore: Calls for immediate moratorium on the death penalty
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/TCAction/petition.html
Please Sign the petitions AGAIN – unfortunately we have lost all the 170 signatures due
to a technical trouble. Shanmugam has less the 48 hours and there 8 more on death-row.
Lets Save their life – ask the President to give them a chance to change.
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Last News: Think Centre
Think Centre calls for Constitutional Court decision and Moratorium on death penalty
http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=2587
(Think Centre) 11 May 2005
Let us rise above our feelings of fear and vengeance to seek solutions to drug trafficking and crimes that reflect human dignity and promote justice for all. We call on our government, the members of parliament, to abandon the use of death penalty.
When a court wrongly sentences a person to death, the result is irreversible.
The preamble of the UN Charter reminds every nation “to reaffirm faith in the fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small.” How a state treats its own people? It depends on the political will of the government to bear and assume the responsibility of implementing the international human rights instruments, constitutional and legislative reform, national institutional building, implementation of all human rights standards and human rights education and training.
In a modern democracy, even a guided democracy, like Singapore, public opinion does count. Each person has a conscience, each person can influence public opinion, we can say no to death penalty by writing petitions and voicing our concern. Singapore constitution Article (1): All person are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law.
We want to promote a fair and humane system where there is justice. The laws should be just and implemented fairly with due respect for human dignity and rights. The death penalty is not acceptable and should be abolished or a moratorium called. It’s ‘a cruel, inhumane and degrading” punishment. That does not give a chance for human beings to change. Such unjust and unfair laws do not correspond to the peoples desire for compassion, care and concern. Neither promote respect for human dignity nor respect for human rights.
Unfortunately, the Singapore courts do not have the power to review or re-open the case after the appeal process is exhausted. Can we say that there is a “constitutional crisis” when the court claims a person has been found procedurally guilty and sentences an innocent person to death. Taking note of the fact if the court decides wrongly the death penalty is irreversible. Surely, this will be seen as miscarriage of justice by anyone with consciences.
With due respect to the efficiency of the courts in Singapore, are we not throwing justice away, the courts are powerless to stop an innocent man from being hanged. But the elected President has the power to convene the Constitutional court. Singapore Constitution Article 100 says “The President may refer to a tribunal consisting of not less than 3 judges of the Singapore court for its opinion any question as to the effect of any provision of this Constitution which has arise or appears likely to arise.”
Laws are not static; it has to be relevant and appropriate, as societal values and morals change. Today, people are more informed of their rights and international standards, participate in local governance and decision that impact their life. We are consciences that the death penalty is a ‘cruel, inhumane and degrading” punishment, and it should not be applied in any circumstances. Today, many will not view “simple possession” of drugs deserve to be punished administrative with death penalty and no person should be presume guilty before the due process is exhausted.
Shanmugam Murugesu is facing the death sentence. Is it fair and just? Is it fair and just to presume a person guilty from the moment of arrest? Are there loopholes in the Misuse of Drugs Act that could result in the execution of an innocent person? Will the President Convene the Constitutional Court?
The death penalty is an act of vengeance that is detrimental to building a civilized society, and demeaning to all of us as citizens. Based on numerous studies, Criminologists agree that the death penalty has no deterrence value. Why then sentences a man to hang for possession of drugs? Is death penalty consistent and appropriate for possession of drugs?
Let us rise above our feelings of fear and vengeance to seek solutions to drug trafficking and crimes that reflect human dignity and promote justice for all. We call on our government, the members of parliament, to abandon the use of death penalty.
In the interim, Think Centre calls for the moratorium on the death penalty as fair and just regarding the death penalty. It gives a chance to re-examine both the purpose of the penalty and its perceived effectiveness, and can save the lives of the condemned.
A sentence of life in prison for the most serious offenses would keep us just as safe. We could offer more help and guidance to troubled kids before they turn to drugs and crime. Instead of investing foolishly in vengeance, we ought to be investing wisely in humanity and human dignity.
Death penalty is a practice from the past like torture and slavery which must be rejected by all decent human beings. The death penalty is a inhumane, cruel and degrading punishment. The right to life is the most fundamental of all human rights. Since 1991, the government had hanged to death more then 400 human
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Shanmugam Murugesu will be hanged: 13 May 2005
http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=2585
(Think Centre) 09 May 2005
The family of Shanmugam Murugesu received a letter today that he will be hanged the coming Friday 13th May 2005. Think Centre calls on our government, the members of parliament, to abandon the use of death penalty
Singapore finally finds a voice in death row protest
http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=2584
(The Observer) 09 May 2005
The government clearly does not want the campaign gathering momentum. The partially state-owned local media ignored the vigil and the police shut down the open mike session just as the first person was getting into his stride
6th May Candlelit Vigil
http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=2578
(Think Centre) 26 April 2005
A candelit Vigil was held on May 6th, 7 pm at the Furama City Centre Hotel organized by the Think Centre.
For more Information contact:
Sinapan Samydorai
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Sinapan Samydorai
President
Think Centre
Tel/fax: 65 – 6425 0709
Mobile: 65 – 9479 1906
Email: samysd@pacific.net.sg
URL: www.thinkcentre.org
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URGENT APPEAL: PLEASE WRITE NOW!
“Please appeal to the President on my behalf,” Mr Shanmugam pleads to all Singaporeans. There is not much time left. Mr Shanmugam will be executed in less than two days.
Please write to the president requesting him to commute the death sentence of Shanmugam Murugesu to imprisonment.
SEND APPEALS TO:
1. The President
His Excellency S R Nathan
Office of the President
Istana, Orchard Road
Republic of Singapore 0922
Faxes: + 65 738 4673
CC Copies to:
1. The Honourable Goh Chok Tong
Senior Minister
Office of the Senior Minister
Istana Annexe
Singapore 238823
Email: goh_chok@pmo.gov.sg
2. The Honourable Lee Hsien Loong
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Istana Annexe
Singapore 238823
Email: Hsien_Loong_LEE@pmo.gov.sg
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister
3. Wong Kan Seng
Minister of Home Affairs
New Phoenix Park 28,
Irrawaddy Road
Singapore 329560
Fax: + 65 6734 4420
Email: Wong_Kan_Seng@mha.gov.sg
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
