Two sidelights on Van Nguyen's forthcoming execution
In today's media:
Van Nguyen faces death bravely
1) Van Nguyen's friend says that he is smiling and composed, and she says it is his nature to not want his mother and family members to be any more stressed than they are. She says he is "a very modest person, a humble person", who cannot see "why there is so much fuss about him".
Stretching a young man's neck, or avoiding tax: which is worse?
2) Sen. Bob Brown, Leader of the Australian Greens Party, put a motion before Parliament condemning capital punishment. The government passed it yesterday in an amended form, changing the word "abhor" to "oppose". Sen. Brown wryly pointed out this morning that the Prime Minister has used the word "abhorrent" in parliamentary reference to tax avoiders, but refuses to use the word in the case of the cruel killing of human beings. Reading between the lines -- Singapore is a trading partner.
Tagged: singapore, australia, execution, van+nguyen, capital+punishment, human+rights
Van Nguyen faces death bravely
1) Van Nguyen's friend says that he is smiling and composed, and she says it is his nature to not want his mother and family members to be any more stressed than they are. She says he is "a very modest person, a humble person", who cannot see "why there is so much fuss about him".
Stretching a young man's neck, or avoiding tax: which is worse?
2) Sen. Bob Brown, Leader of the Australian Greens Party, put a motion before Parliament condemning capital punishment. The government passed it yesterday in an amended form, changing the word "abhor" to "oppose". Sen. Brown wryly pointed out this morning that the Prime Minister has used the word "abhorrent" in parliamentary reference to tax avoiders, but refuses to use the word in the case of the cruel killing of human beings. Reading between the lines -- Singapore is a trading partner.
Tagged: singapore, australia, execution, van+nguyen, capital+punishment, human+rights
Pip Wilson posted item above at 7:47 AM | Permalink
1 Comments:
Something has to be done about the arrogance of the Singaporean authoritarian government. Unfortunately, Australia is not a very strong country, and it’s leader seem clearly lacking in courage and forcefulness.
If a citizen of a powerful country is ever on death row in Singapore, I’d like to see the leader of that powerful country tell the Singaporean government unequivocally that if they carry out the execution, it will be treated as an act of war.
Then, if they were to go ahead and executed him anyway, I’d like to see two cruise missles launched taking out both the President and the Prime Minister of Singapore, followed by a warning to whomever replaces the eliminated leaders that another execution of one of their citizen will result in Singapore’s sovernty being completely revoked.
One can argue that Singapore has a sovereign right to execute drug smugglers, even when there are mitigating circumstances. In fact, one could even argue that Singapore has the sovereign right to execute those who chew gum. But, history has shown that a county’s sovereign rights only go so far as that country’s power. Throughout history, one country has constanty had its sovernty revoked by another. Furthermore, Nietzsche has asserted that there is no absolute good or evil, adn ultimately it’s power that determines what is right.
It’s time for Singapore’s sovernty to be revoked, and for some powerful country to plunder it. I don’t believe in boycotting product; I believe in kicking some ass.
Eric von Schonberg
Post a Comment
<< Home