Vigils and Prayers for Nguyen Tuong Van - against the death sentence. In Singapore, about 100 people gathered in a solidarity vigil. In Australia, 1000 participated in a catholic mass, praying against the death sentence Nguyen is facing.
There are people in Singapore who care about Nguyen Tuong Van.
There are people in Singapore who are concerned about the death penalty.
There are people in Singapore who will not allow this to continue in their name.
If the court wrongly sentences a person to death, the result is irreversible.
Singapore activists have tried and failed to deliver a bundle of messages of support to Nguyen Tuong Van. Lawyer M Ravi informed that police at Changi Prison, where Nguyen is being held, had blocked the delivery on two occasions by refusing to take the 70 letters
Remember Shanmugan who was hang on 13 May 2005 in Changi. Nguyen and Shanmugan became friends in the death-row. Letchumi the mother of Shanmugan said: "You are also like my son. My son has told me about you before he died. Shanmugan told me to save you if he is to die."
Shanmugan and his death-row friends were remembered as victims of the death penalty - that remains a cruel, inhumane and degrading punishment.In silence all prayed that Nguyen will be saved from the death penalty.
How long will such small-fry desperate beings be hanged in Singapore while fat-cat drug lords go free? If this inhumane practice is really a deterrent, how come we after 40 years of executions STILL have the HIGHEST PER CAPITA EXECUTION RATE IN THE WORLD with the greatest known proportion of these executions small-time drug mules like Shanmugam and Tuong Van?
Think Centre distributed the statement No to Death Penalty: Call for Moratorium
Think Centre invites all to sign a petition calling on the government to declare an immediate moratorium on the death penalty. Save the life of those on the death-row.Sign Petition Calling for Moratorium on the death penalty
Think Centre urges the Singapore government to impose a moratorium on executions, with a view to complete abolition, in line with the April 2005 UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) resolution on the question of the death penalty; and the UNCHR urges states which still maintain the death penalty not to impose it as a mandatory sentence, or for crimes without lethal or extremely grave consequences.
The Singapore event was convened by an independent, non-partisan, non affiliated group of Singaporeans with concerns about Death Penalty practices in Singapore & elsewhere. Solidarity event for Nguyen Tuong Van and others like him on death row, and in remembrance of those hanged like Shanmugam.
A Catholic chaplain is available to Nguyen, who converted to the faith a year ago. Father Peter Norden, who presides at Nguyen's former primary school in Richmond [Australia] and has visited prisoners on death row around the world, said he would probably consult Nguyen about his last rites. He said he expected to formulate plans for the rites with Nguyen.
The Australian Plea to Pope last chance for condemned Van 7 November 2005
Sources and Relevant Links:
The Age Twins - one on death row, other in despair 13 November 2005
ABC Thousands write letters in support of Nguyen
SMH Prison silent on hanging 11 November 2005
The Age Howard 'lacks heart' on Nguyen 11 November 2005
The Age Flicker of hope for Nguyen 10 November 2005
The Australian Primate joins calls to spare Van 10 November 2005
The Age Journey from grade one to the gallows Eighteen years ago, Nguyen Tuong Van, then seven, wore the red T-shirt of St Ignatius Catholic Primary School and played in its yard with his twin brother, Khoa. 9 November 2005
St Ignatius, Richmond, Australia "THE RIGHT TO LIFE" FOR TUONG VAN NGUYEN
The Age Ad tells of fate awaiting Nguyen 6 November 2005
Herald Sun Nguyen Sentence Immoral: Lawyer Prominent lawyer and former magistrate Brian Deegan has drawn parallels between the imminent execution of an Austrlian drug mule in Singapore and Australia's last hanging almost 40 years ago.
The Australian Plea to Pope last chance for condemned Van 7 November 2005
Think Centre Solidarity Vigil: No to Death Penalty 7 November 2005 More then 100 individuals gathered this evening for the vigil against the death penalty.
Think Centre No to Death Penalty: Call for Moratorium
Think Centre Sign Petition: Calling for Moratorium on the death penalty
Think Centre Visit Think Centre Polls - Nguyen Tunong Van {Commute the Death Sentence, NO to Death Penalty, YES to Death Penalty]
Think Centre Think Centre: Reaffirms Call for Moratorium on executions 20 April 2005
Think Centre Think Centre calls for Constitutional Court decision and Moratorium on death penalty 11 May 2005
Think Centre Death Penalty: Nguyen Tuong Van faces death by hanging
Think Centre Death-row detainee Shanmugam: 2 hanged and there are 8 more
Think Centre Two Africans sentenced to death 11 August 2005
