Thai Protesters Seek Amnesty For Young Man Facing Death In Singapore

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Protesters seek amnesty for young man facing death in Singapore

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Volunteers and members of the Thai chapter of Amnesty International were gathered in front of the Singapore Embassy yesterday afternoon shouting, "give him a second chance!" They were rallying to save the life of Yong Vui Kong, a 22-year-old Malaysian man who is on death row for drug trafficking.

Singapore's judicial system continues imposing the death sentence and a source at the embassy, who chose not to be named, said the republic had no history of pardoning or allowing clemency to those convicted of drug trafficking.

Yong was arrested when he was 19, a minor under Singaporean law, for having 47 grams of heroin on his person. He has since found solace in Buddhism and is spending the remaining days of his life counselling fellow inmates, the protesters said.

A year ago, his case was taken over by human-rights lawyer M Ravi, who succeeded in obtaining the stay of execution a few times. However, on April 4, the Court of Appeals dismissed Yong's request and ordered that the death sentence go ahead.

"There was a protest in Hong Kong last week," said Sutharee Wannasiri, campaign coordinator for Amnesty International Thailand. She, like the other 10 or so protesters, was also carrying a placard that read: "He has one life, just like us all".

When asked about how much hope she had of the young man being set free, Sutharee admitted that the chances "are rather dim", but added that at least the public would know about the case.

The pamphlet handed to passersby yesterday argued that though previous death convictions had not prevented similar crimes, "Yong telling people of the lesson he has learned in his life may". It also called on Singapore President S R Nathan to give the convict a second chance.

"Your Excellency's decision on his clemency plea is a judgement on whether more lives can be saved by ending one life or by allowing him the second chance to make good for the damage he has caused to society," it read.

According to Amnesty Interational, at least eight death sentences were handed down in Singapore and at least seven in Thailand last year.

-- The Nation 2011-04-12

[geriatrickid]

It would be nice to know of the condemned's background. If it was a wayward youth with the potential for rehabilitation and reintegration into society, then I can understand the calls for clemency.

On the other hand if it was a violent thug, then I'll just put this aside.

[elshaheen]

Singapore does not bow down to any country, big or small for any type of violation. He'll be shot like the rest of them.

[Bakseedaa]

Singapore does not bow down to any country, big or small for any type of violation. He'll be shot like the rest of them.

Each execution is carried out by hanging at Changi Prison at dawn on a Friday. Shooting in Thailand if they can find a gun...

[Bagwan]

Singapore does not bow down to any country, big or small for any type of violation. He'll be shot like the rest of them.

It is not a matter of anybody 'bowing down' , more a matter of people losing their arrogance while sitting on their high horses. The protesters are asking that further and more enlightened thought be applied in this case. I do not support murder by the State in any circumstances and certainly not in the case of drug 'mules'. Execution brightens and enhances nobody's life nor does it act as a deterrent. The lad was 19 years old, hardly having reached the age of discretion has he? Of course he knew the difference between right and wrong but having the mindset to seriously contemplate possible consequences and outcomes of delinquency? There is evidence that this young person has looked into the abyss, seen the error of his ways and the right way forward, and that a good outcome for him in his future life, and for those who he may well be able to persuade to alter their ways, is a distinct possibility. I'd say that was a positive result. Execution smacks of revenge to me and belongs in the Dark Ages.

Before the hard of thinking climb aboard, I am in no way a wishy-washy do-gooder liberal, nor a bleeding heart socialist, and totally against the drug culture.

[hazz]

All of the Singaporean governments statements about these executions are necessary to protect society from the evils of drug addiction might have carried some weight in the past, but given that the Singaporean government is promoting Singapore as the biggest gambling den in SEA, pushing gambling.. only addiction which is more destructive than drugs... their statements smack of pure self interested hypocrisy.

All cities and countries of any note will have something that defines them in the view of the world, sheffield its steel, Detroit its cars, paris the Eiffel tower and france cheese and wine. Unfortuanlty Singapore is such a historical and cultural desert that the only thing they can find to make them special is compassionless killing of petty drug smugglers and this is why this young man will die.

Edited April 12, 2011 by hazz

[Oberkommando]

Singapore does not bow down to any country, big or small for any type of violation. He'll be shot like the rest of them.

Each execution is carried out by hanging at Changi Prison at dawn on a Friday. Shooting in Thailand if they can find a gun...

Lethal injection in Thailand now, the machine-gun (HK MP5) was retired in 2005.

Executions commenced again in 2009 after a 6 year hiatus under the Thaksin administration (extra-judicial executions notwithstanding).

[slapout]

Its a tough call. No matter what side your on, there are pros and cons. Several countries sentence the mules they apprehend to death, yet never seem to find the main supplier, so they could meet the same fate. When/what age do people outgrow getting involved with this sh.t? From what I read the age runs from teenagers thru the middle age recruits.

I guess the arresting officers could give the carriers a choice, when they claim its for personal use. OK, ingest all of it now, or give us the details to find the individual to replace you on the execution block. I read about a lot of drivers who say they were paid 5000 baht to transport a couple million worth of dope. Would you trust someone with that much value if you did not know them and their family?

[roamer]

One irony here of course is that the Singapore Government is one of the biggest investors in Myanmar, by far the largest producer of heroin in the region and where no doubt this heroin originates from. Singapore is believed to execute more people per head of population than anywhere in the world. Its rules of evidence in Misuse of Drugs cases have been roundly condemned. And of course as is so often the case its only the mules that face the penalty. You can even find yourself in trouble for writing about the death penalty; Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock’ by British writer Alan Shadrake, well he has just been in the dock himself for daring to impugn the justice system.

Personally I think if your prepared to supply the means to keep one of the worlds most obscene regimes in power you lose claim to taking the higher moral ground when it comes to sentencing the lower links in the chain to death.

[Somnambulist]

She, like the other 10 or so protesters, was also carrying a placard that read: "He has one life, just like us all".

Oh really? A Thai who doesn't believe in the reincarnation. Well, at least the convicted does.

[asiawatcher]

One irony here of course is that the Singapore Government is one of the biggest investors in Myanmar, by far the largest producer of heroin in the region and where no doubt this heroin originates from. Singapore is believed to execute more people per head of population than anywhere in the world. Its rules of evidence in Misuse of Drugs cases have been roundly condemned. And of course as is so often the case its only the mules that face the penalty. You can even find yourself in trouble for writing about the death penalty; Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock' by British writer Alan Shadrake, well he has just been in the dock himself for daring to impugn the justice system.

Personally I think if your prepared to supply the means to keep one of the worlds most obscene regimes in power you lose claim to taking the higher moral ground when it comes to sentencing the lower links in the chain to death.

Valid point. One of the pros is it still sends a clear message. Drugs are drugs and they are destructive in totality to humans. No-one can argue that. I think 47 grams is a little - probably more a user than a seller. At any rate - Singapore will carry out the sentence.

[beano2274]

47 grams is not for personal use, it is gonna be definitely sold to people, so he is not a user but a supplier or seller. Sorry but you know the rules, if you get caught you know what will happen to you, although death is a bit too much, at least life (and that means life in prison).