Friday, March 05, 2010

Protest against Malaysia in Brussels, Copenhagen, Kathmandu, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris and Vienna.

Protesting against death penalty for drug possession in Malaysia


Protesting against death penalty for drug possession in Malaysia 267556
Protesting against death penalty for drug possession in Malaysia 267555
Protesting against death penalty for drug possession in Malaysia 267558
Protesting against death penalty for drug possession in Malaysia 267563
Protesting against death penalty for drug possession in Malaysia 267565
Protesting against death penalty for drug possession in Malaysia 267566


A small group of protesters belonging to the European NGO Council on Drugs (ENCOD) gathered outside the Malaysian Embassy in London to speak out against the death penalty for drug possession and use in Malaysia. London, UK. 04/03/2010.

The protest was very small but the implications for those caught in possession of even the smallest quantities of drugs, including cannabis are huge for those living in Malaysia. The death sentence is mandatory, and judges have no authority to reverse a case. The individual involved is seen in the eyes of Malaysian law to be guilty unless he or she can prove otherwise. 

According to the UN Secretary General and International conventions on Human Rights, the death penalty should only be applicable in circumstances where, “the crime is intentional and results in lethal or extremely grave consequences, not in cases of economic, non-violent or victimless offences. In those cases a death sentence may be considered as an arbitrary execution.”

ENCOD believes that the legitimised current drug prohibition by the United Nations “continues to drive repressive policies.” Despite the harsh penalty associated with drugs in Malaysia the amount of users have continued to rise. People that do get caught are often not involved in the high ranks of the supply chain and therefore the main players are not deterred. Instead they can continue to charge inflated prices for their products. Currently some 300 prisoners are on death row.

Governments will meet from March 8th until the 12th at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna to reinstate their global war against drugs. However, for people in Malaysia, as well as 21 other countries, perhaps the law should be modified in line with the UN’s view of the death penalty. 

A letter was handed to Embassy officials, in parts stating, “The prohibition of cannabis was installed and promoted worldwide by Western countries, especially the USA, during a period in which they dominated the world. Meanwhile, in most European countries, cannabis possession for personal consumption is not penalised anymore. In a growing number of states in the USA, major law changes are taking place that legally regulate the cultivation and distribution of cannabis to adults for medicinal purposes. It would be extremely sad to see Malaysia continue executing people found in possession of cannabis, while the countries that have installed its prohibition have come to the insight that this is a useful substance whose consumption can be perfectly integrated in society.” The letter was also handed in at similar demonstration at Malaysian Embassies and consulates in Brussels, Copenhagen, Kathmandu, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris and Vienna.
Well

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Open letter to Najib Tun Razak. - Abolish Death Penalty

Open letter to Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Tun Razak.

March 2, 2010
By admin
220px-Dato_Sri_Mohd_Najib_Tun_RazakDear Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak,

It is with the greatest respect to you and your country and it’s legal system that we write to you today in the hope that your government will join the vast majority of UN member nations and urgently reconsider your current use of the death penalty, in particular for drug trafficking.

As you may know there are coordinated peaceful protests planned on Thursday March 4th at Malaysian Embassies in cities worldwide, including Britain (London), Denmark (Copenhagen), France, USA (New York & LA) and Nepal (Kathmandu). There will also be protests at the UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs in Vienna on 8th-12 March.

These protests represent continued and growing international concern at Malaysia’s current policy, a concern which will grow with every death sentence, tarnishing Malaysia’s reputation as a modern and progressive nation with a fair system of justice which takes basic human rights as it’s foundation.

We therefore respectively ask you to consider the overwhelming evidence that the use of the death penalty does not prevent serious crime, and carries a major risk of innocent people being executed for crimes they did not commit, even in the fairest of legal systems.

Malaysia makes the death penalty mandatory for drug trafficking, giving judges no grounds for discretion. We ask, how can that ever be fair?

For these and other reasons Cambodia recently abolished the death penalty, the Philippines have declared a moratorium, and in Thailand the death penalty for drugs has not been used since 2004.

We represent concerned citizens of nations from all over the world, but in Malaysia itself polls have shown up to 64% of your own citizens have said they were against the death penalty, and the respected Malaysian Bar Council of Lawyers with 12,500 members has repeatedly called for an immediate end to all executions.

Yet currently over 300 people are on death row in Malaysia, mainly young men under the age of 25, many of them for relatively minor cannabis dealing charges.

As recently as December 2009 in Malaysia four young men were sentenced to death for trafficking relatively small amounts of herbal cannabis, a crime which in many nations would not even warrant a prison sentence. We ask you to stop their executions and consider the fact that in almost every case the traffickers you catch and execute are in fact victims, many of them very young,  deserving of help from your government, not execution.

Amnesty International has said the death penalty is “the ultimate denial of human rights”. We respectfully ask you to consider that the use of the death penalty violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, making your government technically guilty of Crimes Against Humanity (maximum penalty life imprisonment).

We therefore ask you to spare the lives of the young people currently on death row in your country for drug crimes with an immediate moritorium on executions.

We respectfully ask you to consider the strong evidence from all over the world that the well intended prohibitionist drug policies you currently follow are in fact more dangerous to your citizens than the very drugs you hope to protect them from.

We believe you would agree that it is the duty of every government to protect it’s citizens from harm. However until you change provably dangerous policies and laws concerning drugs, which in fact encourage drug use and harm the very fabric of society, you will be failing in your duty.

We plead to you in the name of humanity to please act now to save the lives of those already condemned, and let Malaysia join the global majority whose societies have only benefited by ending the counter productive use of the death penalty.

Thank you.
kill4potf
Campaigners Target Malaysia to Stop Mandatory Death Penalty For Drugs
Would You Kill For Pot?

Source: News of the Weed, 2/3/2010, Open Letter to Prime Minister of Malaysia

Campaigners Target Malaysia To Stop Mandatory Death Penalty for Drugs

Campaigners Target Malaysia To Stop Mandatory Death Penalty for Drugs

March 2, 2010
By admin
 
MALAYSIA is to be the target of international protests at the Malaysian government’s mandatory death penalty policy for drug trafficking on Thursday March 4th.

Peaceful protests are planned at Malaysian Embassies in cities worldwide, including Britain (London), Denmark (Copenhagen) France (Paris), USA (New York & LA) and Nepal (Kathmandu). There will also be protests at the UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs in Vienna on 8th – 12th March.

The protesters are calling on Malaysia to join the vast majority of UN member nations and reconsider it’s current use of the death penalty, in particular for drug trafficking.

They are asking the Malaysian government to order an immediate moratorium on executions and consider the overwhelming evidence that the use of the death penalty does not prevent serious crime, and carries a major risk of  innocent people being executed for crimes they did not commit, even in the fairest of legal systems.

Currently over 300 people are on death row in Malaysia, mainly young men under the age of 25, many of them for relatively minor cannabis dealing charges which in many countries would only warrant a fine or perhaps a short prison sentence.


The protests represent growing international concern at Malaysia’s murderous anti drug policies at a time when many nations are learning that harm prevention not prohibition is the best way to protect citizens from the dangers of drug use. 

London Picket @ The Malaysian Embassy, 45 Belgrave Sq, London, SW1X 8QT. Thursday 4th March 2010, 1PM.

kill4potf
Picket Info links:
London
Paris
Vienna