I'm not a perfect person I never meant to do those things to you and the reason is you!Singapore: Nguyen Tuong Van, 25, an Australian citizen of Vietnamese origin will be hanged within two weeks in Singapore after various pleas for clemency failed.
This is the end of the processes of appeals for Nguyen. The execution by hanging is expected to be carried out very soon, which is the custom in Singapore.
Nguyen is set to become the fourth Australian sentenced to death by Asian countries on drug charges. Brian Chambers and Kevin Barlow were hanged in Malaysia in 1986. Michael McAuliffe was hanged in Malaysia in 1993.
Nguyen was caught in transit at Singapore's Changi Airport in December 2002 on a flight from Cambodia to Australia. Nguyen said he had the drugs because he was trying to raise money to clear debts incurred by his twin brother in Melbourne Australia.
He was convicted on March 20, 2004 of trafficking 396 grams of heroin and sentenced to death by hanging. An appeal to the High Court on October 20, 2004 failed.
Kim Nguyen fled Vietnam alone in a boat in 1980 and gave birth to her twin sons in a transit camp in Malaysia, before the three were accepted as refugees into Australia four months later.
According to Amnesty International, Singapore executes more people per capita than any other country in the world and has the toughest drug laws. Anyone caught with 15 grams or more of heroin faces a mandatory death sentence.
ACADP is appalled and shocked by the news, and expresses deepest sympathy to Van's mother and twin brother - the innocent victims of the Singapore justice system.
" ... Because it's the law of that country and the law should apply equally to everybody. We don't believe in capital punishment in Australia. But that doesn't mean that we conduct a campaign around the world in every case to stop it occurring.
I will always argue that if an Australian has received the death penalty anywhere in the world, I will make representations to the Government of the country in which the penalty's been handed out that it not be implemented. Beyond that, I don't see it as the role of Australia to run around expending an enormous amount of energy in relation to the death penalty ... "
----------Australian Prime Minister John Howard
Melbourne Radio 3AW - October 21, 2005
SAVE THE LIFE OF NGUYEN TUONG VAN:A PLEA TO SINGAPORE PRESIDENT
On behalf of the Australian Coalition Against Death Penalty (ACADP) and in the spirit of respect for human life, I make a heartfelt plea for clemency, compassion and mercy, to spare and save the young life of Nguyen Tuong Van, currently under sentence of death at Changi Prison in Singapore. Nguyen Tuong Van, is a 23-year-old Australian man of Vietnamese origin. Nguyen was arrested at Changi Airport in December 2002, whilst in transit from Cambodia to Australia. He was later charged and convicted of drug-trafficking. In March 2004 he was sentenced to death for his crime.
By ACADP posted 21 October 05
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AUSTRALIAN COALITION AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
Inc.Australian Students Against Capital Punishment
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The Premier Australian Internet
Resource on Capital Punishment
URGENT ALERT
NGUYEN TUONG VAN - Please don't hang this man
He now faces execution, possibly within 10 days.
Nguyen's mother fled Vietnam alone in a boat in 1980 and had her twin sons in a transit camp in Malaysia before being accepted into Australia four months later.
Nguyen's Australian lawyers described the decision as "devastating for him, his family and friends".
Lex Lasry QC said Nguyen had always admitted his guilt and given constructive help to authorities including the Australian Federal Police.
"The decision appears to pay no heed to the provisions of the Singapore Constitution that make specific reference and provide for clemency to those who assist the authorities with information which can be used to prosecute others," he said.
Mr Lasry called on the Singapore Government to reverse its decision.
Nguyen was sentenced to death last year after being found guilty by a Singapore court of smuggling almost 400 grams of heroin from Cambodia via Singapore.
Nguyen said he had the drugs because he was trying to raise money to clear debts incurred by his twin brother.
Please write to the President of Singapore Mr S R Nathan and plead clemency for Nguyen Tuong Van. email: istana_general_office@istana.gov.sg
Please address the President as Your Excellency and end the letter with Yours respectfully.
Kate Gibbs
Prisoners Overseas
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Here come de Judge - Time to Leave [266]
There have always been examples of rulings and interpretations that have supported the saying "The law is an ass". This is increasingly the case, because even the best intentioned judges are now facing an avalanche of new technologies and social change. But, it is no good making excuses for the judiciary and continuing to accept their strange interpretations. We must recognise that not only judges but the whole legal system will struggle more and more. In the end the whole system will become a farce. This is the way empires end.
