Van Truong Nguyen

[hnpcc]

Link to GetUp! Campaign for clemency.

I just can't see what purpose executing him would serve. No one disputes (including him) that he was attempting to traffic heroin into Australia, no one disputes that he deserves to be punished. But I don't believe he deserves to be executed. Especially by a country where he neither bought nor attempted to bring the heroin into (he was arrested in transit at Singapore airport).

He's cooperated with police, he's admitted guilt, he has the potential to become a fully rehabilitated productive citizen.

But not if he's dead.

Comments

[dsn.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, however he has been convicted in Singapore ( and there is no dispute as you say over guilt ) where this penalty applies. The fact that Australian penalties for the same offence are differet is hardly relevent imo

If a Singaporian was convicted of a crime in Australia , what would you expect the Australian reaction would be if the Singapore Government tried to pressure Australia into sentancing in a manner other than in accordance with the laws in place?


Dave

[hnpcc]

He has been convicted in Singapore but given that he was not attempting to enter or exit Singapore it's a bit dubious as to whether he should have been. If you're transiting through Saudi and are arrested and jailed for carrying duty free alcohol is that reasonable? Transit is international airspace.

According to Singaporian law (at least according to what I've read wrt this case) there is provision for clemency to be granted in some circumstances and Nguyen's case should be eligible. I don't believe they should recind the conviction but I do believe that there are grounds for and good reasons for clemency to be granted.

If a Singaporian was convicted of a crime in Australia , what would you expect the Australian reaction would be if the Singapore Government tried to pressure Australia into sentancing in a manner other than in accordance with the laws in place?


It would depend a lot on what the request was to be honest. If there was a reasonable case to be made then I'd hope most people would be accepting of that. This isn't just an "Australian government pressuring Singapore government" thing either - there are groups within Singapore who also believe that the case warrants clemency.

But due to the whole stiffneckedness of governments in general I don't believe it's going to be. Which is a shame.

[dsn.livejournal.com]

Are you sure about the International Airspace aspect?

If an airport was international airspace, then surely countries would not be able to require that transitting passengers require visas? Some countries do require visas to just transit through an airport , which I know since I am trying to get one for Libya at the moment, though am considering actually getting a tourist visa n staying for a day or so

Dave

[hnpcc]

Reasonably sure, but then again I could be wrong (again. :-)) I know the US requires transit visas as well, but I've always understood that once you'd cleared customs you were effectively in no man's land. Either way, it's a bit harsh to be hanged for trafficking in a country you weren't even trying to get into!

[dsn.livejournal.com]

No question about the severity of the punishment, however it is part of law due to the culture there. I believe that airside is just as part of the country as landside just that most countries allow people to pass airside without formally immigrating and clearing customs.

As a comparison, in some countries honour killings are permitted or would only merit a slap on the wrist whilst someone committing the same activity in Australia would be imprisoned for a long time on conviction since the law and culture here is different. Should a person of that country be convicted in Australia of that offence be sentanced under Australian law and how would you expect Australia to act if pressured by the country to act leniantly?

please don't get the wrong idea in that I support the death penalty or this execution only in that I respect that countries have the right to define their own laws and apply them equally

Dave