Background

Capital Punishment dates back to the beginning of history. People have been being executed since bible times, back when the first systematic death penalties were carried out. In that time, there were hundreds of crimes that were punishable by death and the capital punishment methods were far more brutal. Since then we have slowly made our killings more humane and less often. Almost all countries have stopped using capital punishment for cases other than murder. Singapore remains one of the few that still enforces capital punishment for crimes other than murder.

As many people know Singapore is an extremely culturally diverse place, with many expatriates. Since 1993, roughly 36 percent of the people executed were foreigners, men and women. The Singapore government often ignores pleas to grant them life in prison and proceeds to punish them as they see fit. When all of these factors are in play many begin to realize that we are living in a dictatorship, where one false move means death, and that the government is, ultimately, playing the role of God.

Singapore has the most executions of almost any country in the world, and they are the highest per capita, capital punishment users. Since 1991 roughly 400 people have been executed by hanging, and the number is not diminishing. Another issue with the government here is that they never announce the executions, even to the family. It leaves the family in the dark and they never even get a chance to say goodbye. Despite many government’s pleas for clemency for the convicted felons, the Singapore government always says no.

 Singapore remains the only fully developed country who still uses such brutal methods of punishment, and execution for crimes other than murder. It is a human rights issue because it violates our most basic human right, the right to live.

 

The Issue with Singaporean Government

            Since the beginning of Singapore, people have been being put to death for their crimes. The death sentence goes against our most basic human right, the right to live.  Not only is this a very controversial method of punishment but the sentence is mandatory. This leaves the criminal without a fair trial, and with hardly any hope. Anyone convicted under the mandatory death sentence law is put to death. Criminals never receive life in prison except in rare government clemency situations.

Another statistic to consider is that 70 percent of the hangings are drug offences. These people are hardly criminals and have hurt no one. To put them in jail for life is one thing, but to take their life is unnecessary and cruel. Singapore is one of the only remaining countries who condemn drug offenders to the death sentence.

Capital Punishment in Singapore is mandatory by law. This means, if you are caught with a certain amount of an illegal substance, no matter the circumstance, you must be put to death. Hardly anyone gets a fair trial, and nothing besides the crime is taken into account. In addition, Singapore never uses the lethal injection method since it is too expensive. They hang a person which is the less human, but more cost efficient method.

Singapore is estimated to have the highest per capita execution rate in the entire world. Between 1994 and 1999 it was estimated that 13 people per million were killed. The Singaporean government is also very quiet about the executions that they carry out. In 2003 the prime minister said that there were “between 70 and 80 hangings” in 2003. When asked again he denied saying that, insisting that the count was only about 10. Even high ranking officials deny us our rights as human beings, to live.

 

 Solutions to the Issue

 

            The only solution possible to the problem of Capital Punishment would be to lessen the sentence for the convicted criminals, to life in prison. Since all men are entitled to the right to life, this could be the only sensible answer. If someone were to stand up to the government then maybe they would take the punishment down a little.

The first step in this direction would be to make the sentence not mandatory. This would begin to make the process fairer for those involved. This would also enable a more fair trial for the criminal. Since the criminal gets hardly any trial when the death sentence is mandatory, this could increase their chance of only getting life in prison.

Another way of dealing with this issue while still punishing the criminals would be to grant them the ability to go back to their home country and serve life in prison there. This would make the system more cost efficient for Singapore and they would not have to deal with as many controversies and unfair trials.

Also, recently, the government has allowed those with a permit to protest in controlled environments. This could greatly increase the chances of the citizens being able to influence the government in the coming years.

Singapore is one of the biggest economies who still use capital punishment. If they were to abolish it then maybe the world may even follow. If we band together and do all we can to protest our rights as human beings, then possibly some day the world will consider taking away capital punishment all together.

 

 

 

Works Cited

"Australian man to be executed in Singapore." Wikipedia. 19 Nov. 2005. Wikinews. 27 Sept. 2008 <http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/australian_man_to_be_executed_in_singapore>.

This article was about Ngyuen Tuong Van, the Australian man who was executed last year for possession of drugs. This article talks about how unfair it was not to grant clemency to the individual.

 

Bagaric, Mirko. "Capital punishment: lessons from singapore." Moral Dilemma. 15 Nov. 2005. 27 Sept. 2008 <http://www.moraldilemma.observationdeck.org/?p=22>.

This article addresses the fact that the crime should fit the punishment and how in Singapore drug sentences are far too severe and should be changed

"Capital punishment in singapore." Public Debate. 2 Dec. 2005. 27 Sept. 2008 http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/capital_punishment_in_singapore_-_public_debate/id/622564.

This article addresses the point that there is virtually zero protest over Singapore Capital Punishment. The public also has no opinion on the subject. It’s good to note the stranglehold that the Singapore government has on the Singapore people.

"Capital punishment in Singapore." Wikipedia. 1 Dec. 2007. 27 Sept. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/capital_punishment_in_singapore>.

This shows many facts about the history of Singapore’s capital punishment laws compared to the rest of the world. It illustrates the main differences between developed countries and third world countries capital punishment methods and laws. Singapore is about in the middle.

Ibrahim, Yasmin. "Capital punishment and virtual protest: A case study of Singapore." Information Society Watch. Sept. 2006. Information Society. 27 Sept. 2008 <http://www.is-watch.net/node/597>.

This article shows the first real protest in Singapore against capital punishment. Although it did not persuade the government to change their mind, it did get noticed, and shows that eventually we can get laws overturned.

Malakunas, Karl. "S'pore: Capital punishment soars." Thinkcenter. 25 Sept. 2003. 27 Sept. 2008 <http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?articleid=2183>.

This article is trying to show Singapore’s death penalty by releasing hidden evidence and secret records kept by the Singapore government. It’s more eye opening but tends to be really one sided.

 

Sabhlok, Sukrit. "Singapore's controversial death penalty." ATTRACT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT? 27 Sept. 2008 http://www.helium.com/items/977458-singapores-controversial-death-penalty.

The article reveals several times that Singapore has defied the UN and other laws with capital punishment. Mostly for executing foreigners. It shows how the rest of the world sees Singapore.

 

"Singapore activists: Rethink death penalty." Asia Death Penalty. 23 Jan. 2007. Death penalty blogspot. 27 Sept. 2008 <http://asiadeathpenalty.blogspot.com/2007/01/singapore-activists-rethink-death.html>.

The web page was written by an author against capital punishment. she expresses her views about the subject and releases facts about how it violates human rights.

 

"Singapore 'tops execution league'" One minute world news. 15 Jan. 2004. BBC news. 27 Sept. 2008 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3398043.stm>.

The article is a news report about the UN’s feelings toward Singapore and how their capital punishment laws are breaking rules set up by the UN human rights experts and cannot be tolerated.

Tan, Amy. "Singapore death penalty shrouded in silence." Singapore window. 12 Apr. 2002. 27 Sept. 2008 <http://www.singapore-window.org/sw02/020412re.htm>.

This shows how although Singapore has been violating countless human rights laws and been killing many people for the wrong crimes they continue and people have yet to take real notice.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2007/11/giving_the_death_penalty_the_c.html&usg=__ct5keQDcdB2SY4ltdBEmNQvSfbA=&h=210&w=210&sz=32&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=YXh9FBl2M1Y3TM:&tbnh=106&tbnw=106&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcapital%2Bpunishment%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

This picture was to get people thinking about the motives behind capital punishment

http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/507/3noose-med.jpg

This picture was to add dramatic effect to our movie.

http://gallowsgallery4.blogspot.com/&usg=__dnq8WnpKYlJEjKDA77UALof1sOA=&h=294&w=400&sz=19&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=XcJhuzZCrgXkM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhanging%2Bexecution%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX

This was added to make the audience feel sick at the sight of a dead man. It was meant to shock the viewer and show capital punishment for what it really is, murder.