Nguyen Tuong Van funeral furore

BRACKS Government MPs are under fire for planning to attend today's funeral of executed trafficker Nguyen Tuong Van.

Premier Steve Bracks yesterday said he did not want Nguyen, 25, glorified in death and would not be at the funeral.

But Mr Bracks said he would not stand in the way of Government MPs wanting to attend.

Richmond MP Richard Wynne, Footscray MP Bruce Mildenhall, Upper House MP Geoff Hilton and the Government's only Vietnamese-born MP, Sang Minh Nguyen, will attend St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral.

Crime Victims Support Association president Noel McNamara said it was insulting for MPs to attend the funeral of a confessed drug trafficker.

Mr McNamara said he didn't support execution but MPs attending went beyond protesting against capital punishment.

"It is outrageous to think the Government, who should be on the side of the victim, is suddenly going along to support a convicted drug trafficker," he said.

"It's offensive to all victims and their families and shows the imbalance between the way victims and criminals are treated by this Government," he said.

Mr Bracks said it was appropriate that the Government be represented by Mr Wynne and Mr Mildenhall, who have large Vietnamese communities in their electorates.

"It's really acknowledging that we do oppose the penalty involved and I think those MPs who represent the areas would want to make sure that was known," he said.

Shadow attorney-general Andrew McIntosh said a funeral should not be used as a political tool.

"We've all been moved by the tragic events of last week and it certainly confirms in my mind why I'm an implacable opponent of the death penalty," Mr McIntosh said.

"But I think there are better forums for registering your concern."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Wed, 7 December 2005
Source: The Herald Sun (Australia Web)
Copyright: 2005 The Herald Sun
Website: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au