On Wednesday, Aprile 26th, at dawn in Singapore, a 46 year old man named Tangaraju Suppiah was executed by long drop hanging for smuggling 1 kg of marijuana into the country, (which is about 2lbs, 3 oz). Singapore law considers anyone in possession of 1.1 pounds of marijuana or more to be a drug trafficker, and they are given the death penalty by hanging. In 2022, Singapore executed 11 people by hanging for drug offenses, including marijuana. Suppiah was convicted in 2018 and his family and activists have been fighting to appeal, saying he had been convicted on weak evidence and received limited legal access during his prosecution. In a last ditch effort, billionaire entrepreneur and human rights activist Sir Richard Branson had issued a plea earlier in the week, hoping to draw attention and stop the death. Branson, who is also a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, has said Suppiah “doesn’t deserve to die,” and that the circumstances for Suppiah’s arrest and conviction were “dubious.” He further said that “Singapore may be about to kill an innocent man.” According to Branson’s press release, Suppiah “was actually not anywhere near these drugs at the time of his arrest. This was largely a circumstantial case that relied on inferences,” and Suppiah “has maintained his innocence from the very beginning of his ordeal.” Amnesty International have also said his conviction relied mainly on statements allegedly made during his interrogation by police, which they claim was done without the presence of a lawyer or an interpreter being present. Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau said that he “was accorded full due process under the law, and had access to legal counsel throughout the process.” However, Singapore’s own court documents in other past cases have affirmed that these type of arrests are only allowed access to a lawyer after the police have done their investigation. Amnesty International also said futher evidence in Suppiah’s case was from “the testimony of his two co-accused, one of which had his charges dismissed.” And with an even larger global presence, in Geneva earlier this week, a Spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged Singapore’s government “to urgently reconsider this execution,” and not proceed. Family members have said, “He didn’t want us, the family, to feel worse, so he will not show any emotion or his distress to us. So he always tries to appear strong.” The family has said they definitely did not “think [he has] had a fair trial,” and none of them “can accept it… we’re just hoping for a miracle and we will do whatever we can.” It’s worth remembering that despite the United Nation’s stance on the alleged human rights injustice, former President Trump has said several times that he admires Singapore’s death penalty policy for drugs, and quick trials and executions. In Pennsylvania in September 2022 Trump said, “I’m calling” to “immediately … institute the death penalty for drug dealers.” (Trump transcript from 9-3-22 speech in Pennsylvania: 01:02:29). And in July of 2022, Trump praised quick trials and said “you absolutely … execute a drug dealer.” During that same speech he added, “you look at Singapore, you look at other countries where they have the death penalty, they have no drug problem whatsoever.” Trump further praised Singapore’s executions by adding, “It doesn't take 15 years in court. It goes quickly … You know what a quick trial is right? Two hours. That’s what.” Trump has also made similar statements in 2018, in 2020. Comments are closed.
|
Proudly powered by Weebly