Seven international human rights organisations have written to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar asking her not to resume hangings.In a letter dated July 21 the groups told Persad-Bissessar:
"We the under named write to express our concern and dismay at the recent announcement of the new Government of Trinidad and Tobago that it will imminently resume execution of its death row prisoners."
It is from Amicus, Reprieve, the International Commission of Jurists, Bar Human Rights Committee of England Wales, Centre for Capital Punishment Studies, Law Society International Human Rights Committee of England and Wales and Penal Reform.
The groups have also sent a copy of the letter to Attorney General Anand Ramlogan.
The letter said the groups are not convinced that executions will curb the crime rate.
"We urge you to consider the extensive global research on the deterrent effect of capital punishment and its conclusive findings: there is no correlation between execution and the murder rate," the letter stated.
The organisations suggested that the government should first confront the country's low crime detection rate.
"In the particular circumstances of Trinidad and Tobago, the difficulties in even bringing the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice further distances the act of execution from those engaged in criminal activity.
"The government must regain the public's trust and support so that people feel able to report crime and give testimony in the courts to bring perpetrators to justice. We do not consider that reduction in crime will be achieved through executing convicts who, despite their heinous crimes, continue to be human beings," the letter stated.
"Execution obliterates life. The mechanics of death should not be exercised lightly. We call upon you not to recommence executing your prisoners, but to fully review the imposition of the mandatory penalty and its place within the free and democratic society Trinidad and Tobago can proudly claim itself to be," stated the letter.
The Trinidad and Tobago government is seriously considering hangings for murder, which is mandatory according to the country's laws. Dozens of people are on death row at the present time and many have exhausted all legal procedures.
Related story:St Rose threatens to leave PP over hangings
Also read:
Commentary: To hang or not to hang?
Guest column: Another argument in the hanging debate
2 comments:
These various "anti capital punishment" groups, are largely well meaning, I suppose.
And most definitely the first matter of business in T&T, in this context, must be to vastly improve detection, arrest, timely and effective trials and sentencing.
Everything else is academic without that.
And although if it is made known that the Govt is fully prepared to implement its intentions regarding the death penalty, that right now is highly unlikely to reduce murder rates, immediately, in and of itself.
But of course if it does, if those about to murder change their minds, we'll never know anyway.
My feelings and my sincere beliefs on this matter have been detailed in prior posts.
As a nation T&T has the right to defend itself. Effective law enforcement and due process, followed up by "taking out the trash", goes hand in glove.
Or should do.
The most relevant point concerning the "rights groups" and their objections, is that globally, most unnatural, untimely deaths, (and it runs into millions every year), are not from governmental hangings as a consequence of capital crimes. Not even one percent of the total.
They are from the literally dozens of ongoing wars, terrorist activities, other power struggles, illegal drug trade, from widespread starvation and natural disasters through inadequate preparedness and sub standard buildings unable to hold against a hurricane, earthquake, etc.
Insofar as these "rights groups" and their protests go, it will be wrong but inevitable that some will hold up the group's objections as justification for T&T to withhold capital punishment.
These people, instead perhaps of thinking through the options for themselves, will believe the "rights groups" have already done all the thinking necessary, for them, and blindly support that pre-digested opinion.
Whether well meaning, or simply making themselves a public conscience and voice, and remember it is one the public pays for through their fundraising efforts, the people behind these entities draw status, and usually salaries from being the publics voice, whether we want it or not. And they don't need a majority, just enough people to financially support them.
And their causes in this case are minor.
Their prioritization in this is like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.
I am so tired of everyone else trying to run OUR country. The Death Penalty is OUR law in OUR country for the protection of OUR people.
Right now crime is out of control and we need to do something. Forget those Human Rights groups.
Hang the murderers in Trinidad. Swiftly!
Coincidentally, I wrote a blog entry on this topic today.
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