Labor urges action on death penalty

Labor's foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd says he does not agree that little can be done to change attitudes towards the death penalty in the region.

Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out a diplomatic offensive against capital punishment in the wake of the execution of Van Nguyen in Singapore.

Mr Howard has told ABC TV's Insiders program that while he is against the death penalty, he is realistic about what can be achieved.

"I'm not saying we won't pursue it in different ways," Mr Howard said.

"But if anybody imagines that a diplomatic offensive by Australia is going to change the attitude of China or Singapore or Malaysia or other countries in the region to capital punishment then I think they're mistaken."

Mr Rudd says Australia should be encouraging more countries to sign up to the United Nations Optional Protocol on Civil and Political Rights.

"Australia has signed and ratified that optional protocol, so have 50 other countries," Mr Rudd said.

"That means there's about 150 countries to go around the world.

"That's where Australia can team up with the Europeans, who have a similar attitude to Australia, to make sure that we put in every effort to abolish the death penalty universally and for all time."

Mr Rudd believes change is possible.

"People said 200 years ago we'd never get to a stage where we abolish slavery," he said.

One of Nguyen's lawyers, Lex Lasry QC, says he is determined to see Singapore's laws change.

"When [Singapore's] Prime Minister Lee talks about the rule of law being applied to this case, he's as wrong as he can be," he said.

The body of the Nguyen, who was executed on Friday as punishment for drug trafficking, has been flown back to Melbourne for burial.

Nguyen's family has also arrived home.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sun, 4 December 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Email: comments@your.abc.net.au
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Website: http://www.abc.net.au/