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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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 Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:50 pm Post subject: The crime of capital punishment |
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A really gross violation of decency.
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"Tochi was crying right up to his last 5 minutes"
01 Feb 07
The funeral service for Amara Tochi was held today, a week after he was hanged by the Singapore Government. A simple Catholic Mass was held for him.
Tochi, a Nigeria was convicted for trafficking diamorphine in Singapore even though trial judge, Mr Kan Ting Chiu, found that "there was no direct evidence that he knew the capsules contained diamorphine."
Despite protesting his innocence and pleading for his life � he had told lawyer M Ravi who visited him in prison last year: "Please don't let these people kill me"- Tochi was hanged last Friday together with co-accused, Nelson Malachy.
The executions have caused an international outcry and focused on the mandatory sentence for drug peddlers in Singapore which legal experts say run afoul of international law.
To make matters worse, it was reported on German television that Malachy had testified that Tochi was never aware of carrying the drug. Malachy has taken all the blame and confirmed that Tochi had never been part of the plan but used only as an unsuspecting drug mule.
At the funeral today held at the Marymount Concent Chapel, the congregation was told that Tochi was crying during the last five minutes of his life. He asked the priest to pray over him.
At precisely 6 am, his life was cruelly snuffed out just as others of his age are just beginning to take shape.
The casket was closed except for a glass panel through which Tochi's face was visible. Towards the end of the half hour service, the congregation was asked to pay its last respects by viewing the casket.
A striped scarf adorned the boy's neck and a golf cap covered the top of his head. He looked much older than a 21-year-old.
At the burial site at Chua Chu Kang cemetery, Tochi's last rites were performed before his coffin was lowered into the ground. Next to his plot lay Nelson Malachy's. Malachy's funeral was held on the day of his execution.
It is a heart-wrenching thought that none of their family or friends were able to see the men when they were in Changi prison and sadder still that their remains are not sent back to those who love them.
Rest in peace, Tochi and Malachy. |
http://singaporedemocrat.org/articletochi15.html |
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Junior
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: the eye
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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I agree, its just too extreme.
However, nobody can deny the effectiveness of Singapore's policy in stopping a drugs or drug trafficking problem before it ever began. |
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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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| The ends don't justify the means, my friend. Life is sacred, and drugs are fun. |
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postfundie
Joined: 28 May 2004
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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| terrible.....Singapore should get a clue |
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Junior
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: the eye
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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My friend,
| BJWD wrote: |
| The ends don't justify the means, my friend. |
In what case would the ends justify the means to you?
"Fighting Hitler was wrong, because innocent people died in the bombing".
You need to get a handle on something called "the greater good" or "the big picture".
How do you reccomend Singapore reach its goal of zero drug problem?
Indeed. Including the lives of drug dealers and terrorists, I presume?
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| and drugs are fun. |
Are you 15? |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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How do you reccomend Singapore reach its goal of zero drug problem?
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Simple. They don't. Just like how, by foregoing the execution of jaywalkers and speeders, Canada doesn't get to achieve its goal of zero traffic accident problems.
That said, Singapore can do anything they want within their own borders. I do think it's good, though, that these stories get out, because that country tends to get a bit of a free ride on its human rights record. |
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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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In what case would the ends justify the means to you?
1) "Fighting Hitler was wrong, because innocent people died in the bombing".
You need to get a handle on something called "the greater good" or "the big picture".
2) How do you reccomend Singapore reach its goal of zero drug problem?
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Life is sacred
3) Indeed. Including the lives of drug dealers and terrorists, I presume?
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4) and drugs are fun.
5) Are you 15? |
1) This has nothing to do with Hitler. I said "the ends don't justify the means" in reference to this gross miscarriage of justice, in Singapore.
2) If I were making policy here, I would move towards a "harm reduction" set of policy instead of a "drug prohibition" model.
3) Yes. Any human life lost is a tragedy. A terrorist that is killed is still a waste of a life. In fact, a terrorist who isn't killed is also a waste of life.
4) They are.
5) No.
Remember that what is an illegal or legal drug is defined by governments and not based on any kind of evidence. Alcohol is a drug. So is Tylenol. And morphine. Tobacco is very dangerous. But they are legal, for purely arbitrary reasons. |
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postfundie
Joined: 28 May 2004
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| Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 4:51 am Post subject: |
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| Alcohol is a drug. So is Tylenol. And morphine. Tobacco is very dangerous. But they are legal, for purely arbitrary reasons. |
cocaine isn't purely arbitrary now is it? |
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Nowhere Man
Joined: 08 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 5:06 am Post subject: ... |
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| That said, Singapore can do anything they want within their own borders. I do think it's good, though, that these stories get out, because that country tends to get a bit of a free ride on its human rights record. |
Indeed.
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cocaine isn't purely arbitrary now is it?
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What? |
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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 5:32 am Post subject: |
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| postfundie wrote: |
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| Alcohol is a drug. So is Tylenol. And morphine. Tobacco is very dangerous. But they are legal, for purely arbitrary reasons. |
cocaine isn't purely arbitrary now is it? |
In my opinion, coke is the most overblown drug (out of the so-called "hard" drugs). It just isn't that bad. Millions of Americans use it every weekend in their recreational intoxication routine and it causes little harm. Some get hooked (and those who do should be met with compassion and treatment, not incarceration) but their inability to use responsibility should not negate my ability to use legally. |
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Junior
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: the eye
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| Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 6:05 am Post subject: |
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BJWD, has it ever occurred to you that being a westerner does not make you right in every situation? You think drug taking is glamorous, a sign of cultural sophistication.
Some cultures dislike degeneracy.
Wherever you're from, I can assure you that Singapore, is probably 10X cleaner, 10X more GDP per person, and 10X more interesting.
Their kick ass no drugs policy is one of the reasons they are the hub of asia. (The real one, -not incheon  ). In any system of law there are casualties. But ultimately the greater good is served!! And long may it be so.
Singapore is one happening, bustling, modern trade hub, a great and proud city. Your backyard crowded with hippies sleeping off their fix don't compare! Your criticisms of singapore is borne out of inferiority. |
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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 6:15 am Post subject: |
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Dude. That was awesome! Rest assured, I'm not plotting to take down the Singapore government. I rather like Singapore, but none the less think that the execution of this man was a very gross miscarriage of justice.
And yes, it is clean. And crime is low. But that doesn't make murdering that man the right thing to do.
Lastly, their drug laws have nothing to do with their place in Asia. Nothing. All their neighbors have the same laws.
They are a hub in the region because of banking secrecy laws and dirty Indonesian commodity money. Don't believe me? Maybe you will believe the former Lead Asian Economist for Morgan Stanly?
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Oct. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Andy Xie's resignation as Morgan Stanley's chief economist in Asia last week followed an e-mail in which he characterized Singapore as an economic failure dependent on illicit money from Indonesia and China.
Xie, who worked at Morgan Stanley for nine years, sent the e-mail to his colleagues after attending the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings last month in the Southeast Asian island state. The 46-year-old Shanghai-born economist questioned why Singapore was chosen to host the conference, and said delegates ``were competing with each other to praise Singapore as the success story of globalization.'' |
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aK7UIXigIxjM&refer=worldwide_news
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/12/yourmoney/morgan.php
http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=199&Itemid=32 |
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Nowhere Man
Joined: 08 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 6:23 am Post subject: ... |
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Their kick ass no drugs policy is one of the reasons they are the hub of asia. (The real one, -not incheon Laughing )
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Gee, Bangkok beats Singapore in terms of transport hubs. Must be their kick-ass drug policy.   |
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Junior
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: the eye
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| Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:00 am Post subject: |
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| BJWD wrote: |
If I were making policy here, I would move towards a "harm reduction" set of policy instead of a "drug prohibition" model. |
Why change what is obviously working?
The successful economies of Asia do not want your western drugs problem. Can you blame them?
Sure, one (1) guy got caught out. woohoo! yes its regrettable, but get some perspective here. How many peple die in drug-related deaths in countries without such laws? or do you prefer thousands dying to just one person dying?
A small price to pay for a system that protects the lives and livelihoods of thousands. |
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ED209
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:14 am Post subject: |
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From AI
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The city-state has hanged more than 400 people in the last 13 years. According to recent UN figures Singapore's per capita execution rate of 13.57 executions per one million population is nearly three times higher than the next country on the global list, Saudi Arabia.
the death penalty often falls disproportionately and arbitrarily on the most marginalised or vulnerable members of society.
Despite claims by the government that the death penalty has been effective in combating the trade in illegal drugs, drug abuse continues to be a problem particularly among marginalised young people. Observers have drawn attention to the need to combat the social conditions which can give rise to drug abuse and addiction, rather than resorting to executions as a 'solution'.
For the period 1994 to 1999 Singapore had a rate of 13.57 executions per one million population, representing by far the highest rate of executions in the world. This is followed by Saudi Arabia (4.65), Belarus (3.20), Sierra Leone (2.84), Kyrgyzstan (2.80), Jordan (2.12) and China (2.01). The largest overall number of executions for the same period took place in China, followed in descending order by Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United States of America, Nigeria and Singapore.
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