Singapore lawyers to review death penalty
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Asia-Pacific News
Singapore lawyers to review death penalty
Jan 13, 2006, 11:58 GMT
SINGAPORE, Singapore (UPI) -- Singapore`s Law Society said Friday it planned to review the country`s controversial use of the death penalty and make recommendations to the government.
Society President Philip Jeyaretnam said a committee of lawyers would study the legal issues to explore whether the death penalty should be left to judges` discretion or even abolished, The Australian reported.
The death penalty is mandatory in Singapore for certain crimes, including murder and drug trafficking.
The December hanging of a 25-year-old Australian, Van Tuong Nguyen, for drug trafficking caused an international outcry, backed up by local civil rights groups who want mandatory capital punishment abolished.
The eight-member legal review committee could take up to nine months to complete its work, Jeyaretnam said.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International -
dis is bad...
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I believe they will push to give judicial authority back to the judges.The death penalty will stay, but I believe the Court of Appeal will have the final say.Originally posted by alwaysdisturbed:dis is bad...
This is needed for our judiciary to mature, and ensure judicial authority in a Westminster system is not already weakened further by parliamentary legislation created by a executive which also makes up the majority of the legislature. -
even if they dun throw it back they wun b able to make the decision too rite?Originally posted by LazerLordz:I believe they will push to give judicial authority back to the judges.The death penalty will stay, but I believe the Court of Appeal will have the final say.
This is needed for our judiciary to mature, and ensure judicial authority in a Westminster system is not already weakened further by parliamentary legislation created by a executive which also makes up the majority of the legislature. -
Even if they can't do away with this Death Penalty, they SHOULD at least change the method to Lethal Injection.
But still, it is better to not KILL (or EXECUTE).
Perhaps, reserve execution for extreme crimes. -
Can you elaborate?Originally posted by alwaysdisturbed:even if they dun throw it back they wun b able to make the decision too rite?
Are you referring to the fact that the judges can't have the final say in the death penalty or that the Law Society can't do much?
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Both.Originally posted by LazerLordz:Can you elaborate?
Are you referring to the fact that the judges can't have the final say in the death penalty or that the Law Society can't do much? 
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As I was saying, one of the best things they could do is to recommend a legislative amendment to remove mandatory sentencing and let the Supreme Court have the final say in all capital crimes.Originally posted by charlize:Both. -
The Law Society can recommend all it wants.
But at the end of the day, any new law or law amendments have to be passed through Parliament.
So who do you think has the final say? -
I'm sad to admit that I agree with you on this....Originally posted by charlize:The Law Society can recommend all it wants.
But at the end of the day, any new law or law amendments have to be passed through Parliament.
So who do you think has the final say? -
Clout my friend, clout.The Law Society is made up of influential lawyers and MPs.Originally posted by charlize:The Law Society can recommend all it wants.
But at the end of the day, any new law or law amendments have to be passed through Parliament.
So who do you think has the final say?
There is an air of change, if you can feel it.Parliament needs to look ahead and understand what is in the long-term interest of Singapore, especially in the international arena.The trend today is for nations to fall in line towards international standards as far as possible without compromising national interests.
In fact, it is known that Singapore advocates the strengthening of international law.So that makes one plausible factor that speaks for this evolution.Keeping the death penalty will sooth the conservatives, while empowering the judiciary will strengthen our democratic institutions and also improve our image as a whole. -
The USA is the most influential nation in the world...and they have more executions than Singapore.Originally posted by LazerLordz:Clout my friend, clout.The Law Society is made up of influential lawyers and MPs.
There is an air of change, if you can feel it.Parliament needs to look ahead and understand what is in the long-term interest of Singapore, especially in the international arena.The trend today is for nations to fall in line towards international standards as far as possible without compromising national interests.
In fact, it is known that Singapore advocates the strengthening of international law.So that makes one plausible factor that speaks for this evolution.Keeping the death penalty will sooth the conservatives, while empowering the judiciary will strengthen our democratic institutions and also improve our image as a whole. -
dat was wat i was tryin to ask...Originally posted by charlize:The Law Society can recommend all it wants.
But at the end of the day, any new law or law amendments have to be passed through Parliament.
So who do you think has the final say? -
because they have more people lah bodok.Of course rite everything s more in US than here.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:The USA is the most influential nation in the world...and they have more executions than Singapore. -
There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supercedes all other courts.
- Mahatma Gandhi -
Originally posted by The Count of Monte-Cristo:
yes of course ... but if that court was effective ... there wouldn't be a need for any courts of justice then, would it ? .....
There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supercedes all other courts.
- [b] Mahatma Gandhi[/b]
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Sadly, the USA is also the world's biggest hypocrite.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:The USA is the most influential nation in the world...and they have more executions than Singapore.