Swiss could bring back death penalty

As Jack Warner's 'crusade' to being back the death penalty in Trinidad and Tobago gains momentum, the issue is on the front burner in other states.

In Switzerland, the government has allowed campaigners for the death penalty to collect signatures in support of the idea. If they collect 100,000 signatures by February 24, 2011, they could force a referendum on the matter.

The campaigners want murder involving sexual abuse, particularly of children, to be punishable by death. Switzerland abolished the death penalty for civilian criminal cases in 1942.

The BBC reported this week that the Swiss government is still investigating the wider legal situation surrounding the death penalty.

There is a chance that it could block the referendum, even if campaigners get enough signatures. The issue would be whether the return of the death penalty back would contravene international agreements to which the Swiss are signatories.

Switzerland is a member of the Council of Europe, which has made abolition of the death penalty a prerequisite for membership.

However the campaigners say execution is a "fair" punishment for murder involving sexual abuse.

Until 1867, parts of Switzerland executed criminals by chopping their heads off with a sword. From then until the last civilian execution in 1940, a guillotine was employed to behead those convicted of capital crimes.

In Trinidad and Tobago execution is by hanging. The last executions took place in 1999. Since then the murder rate has escalated, reaching more than one a day.

Warner has not embarked on an aggressive campaign such as the the one the Swiss campaigners have undertaken. So far some of his cabinet colleagues have been supportive and the Attorney General has announced the government's intention to bring back execution for murder.

There are no provisions in Trinidad and Tobago's constitution to force a referendum on this or any other matter. However, the People's Partnership government is committed to consultation with the people.

In this context, it may be forced to act if there is a strong enough public lobby.

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