01/07/2007 00:00:00
Press Release: Death Penalty for Cannabis
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Legalise Cannabis Alliance Press Bulletin: Amnesty International (AI)
says executing people for drug offences - Fails to deter, Fails to deal
with the issues - And violates international legal standards.
On 28 June " Amnesty International (AI) published an 8 page Action
report: "UN Anti-Drugs Day : Death Sentences for drug-crimes rise in the
Asia Pacific - Action".
Abstracts:
"The use of the death penalty against drug offenders is on the rise,
(particularly in South East Asia)...Bangladesh, Brunei, China, India,
Indonesia, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan,
Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Viet Nam."
"Seven of these countries; Brunei, India, Laos, Malaysia, North Korea,
Singapore and Thailand – a mandatory death sentence is applied for
certain drug offences. Moreover, countries including Malaysia, China and
Singapore fail to apply the presumption of innocence for the crime of
drug trafficking. These are violations of international legal standards."
The Legalise Cannabis believe the only way to remove the inequities and
unfairness inherent in the administration of the death penalty for drug
offences (Including cannabis) is to end prohibition"
There are several countries that legislate or contemplate the death
sentence for cannabis offences for possessing cannabis above a specified
limit. (See Ed. Note 4)
Legalise Cannabis Alliance
PO BOX 2883
STOKE ON TRENT
S74 9EE
http://www.lca-uk.org
publicrelation@lca-uk.org
07984 255015
Editors notes:
The LCA http://www.lca-uk.org is a UK-based organisation for the
legalisation of cannabis. The LCA is affiliated to the European
Coalition For Just and Effective Drug Policies (ENCOD
http://www.encod.org The European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug
Policies, is a Euro region-network of 140 NGO’s, individual experts and
procured citizens involved in the drug issue. ENCOD is also the European
section of an International Coalition, which consists of more than 200
NGOs from around the world that have adhered to a Manifesto for Just and
Effective Drug Policy (established in 1998).
Contact details for ENCOD:
Joep Oomen
Lange Lozanastraat 14 – 2018
Antwerpen
Belgium
Tel. + 32 (0)3 293 0886
Mob. + 32 (0)495 122644
E-mail: joep@encod.org
Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) which Amnesty International (AI)
is a member of are calling on countries using the death penalty against
drug offenders - To find alternative ways to break the cycle of drug
abuse and crime.
http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/apro/aproweb.nsf/pages/adpan
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - Public Statement AI Index: ASA 01/004/2007
(Public) News Service No: 114 26 June 2007
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/antidrugs-250607-feature-eng
Amnesty International (IA) report - (UN Anti-Drugs Day : Death Sentences
for drug-crimes rise in the Asia Pacific - Action) AI INDEX
NO.:ASA/01/02/2007 <
http://www.amnesty.org/resources/downloads/e-news.pdf > PDF 46kb
Countries that legislate or contemplate the death sentence for cannabis
offences:
http://www.ccguide.org.uk/deathpenalty.php
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12655
Author:
Legalise Cannabis Alliance via UKCIA
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