Think Centre deplores the cruel decision by the Singaporean government to execute Roslan bin Bakar and Pausi bin Jefridin on Wednesday, 16 February. We are appalled by the short notice of execution provided to their families residing outside of Singapore. We are further appalled that persons of intellectual disability are being executed.
Keep Reading →Think Centre is gravely concerned over the recent news of a Singaporean man, Cher Wei Hon, reportedly sentenced to death in Vietnam... Drug trafficking remains a serious problem in the ASEAN region. However, it is manifestly clear that the death penalty remains a poor solution to the problem. We urge countries like Singapore and Vietnam to seek a better path through collaboration and developing a better understanding of the social root causes driving drug consumption.
Keep Reading →Despite it being his own decision in discharging his appointed legal counsels, it does not in any way undermine the gravely alarming fact that he went to trial against a charge with a mandatory death sentence without full representation by legal counsel.
Keep Reading →Think Centre is greatly disturbed by the imminent execution of Muhammad Ridzuan Bin Md Ali scheduled for this Friday morning, 19 May 2017. We regret that the Cabinet of Singapore has once again failed to advise the sitting President to grant clemency. The last known clemency was granted 19 years ago in 1998 by the first elected President of Singapore, the late honourable Mr. Ong Teng Cheong. The case of Muhd Ridzuan shows that the death penalty regime is still as irrefutably flawed as it was, before the amendment in 2012. The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) has the sole prerogative over a drug courier’s life or death. The State has failed to put forward any decisive case on whether these executions have successfully disrupted any major syndicate. We call for the State to re-enact a moratorium on the death penalty and consider more humane, compassionate and effective policies against such crimes.
Keep Reading →This October 10th, the Singapore Working Group on the Death Penalty is commemorating the 13th World Day Against the Death Penalty in solidarity with all individuals and groups working on the abolition of capital punishment. Singapore commendably amended its death penalty regime in 2013, but the amendments did not go far enough in abolishing the mandatory aspect of the punishment. It is a fact that the mandatory death penalty still remains and will continue to be applied unless certain conditions are met. Singapore therefore retains its position of having the death penalty for drug smuggling or trafficking.
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