Speakers: Wang Kai Yuen, a Member of the Singapore Parliament and chairman of the public feedback unit; Sinapan Samydorai, Director [President], Think Centre

DWYER: Singapore's use of the death penalty last made headlines in September, when Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong told a BBC interviewer that 70 or 80 executions had been held last year. He added that he wasn't sure of the figure because he had more important issues to worry about. Subsequently Singapore's government said the figure was actually 10.

The Amnesty report claims more than 400 executions have taken place in Singapore in the last 13 years. Per capita, that's the highest rate in the world, three times higher than next on the list Saudi Arabia.

Most executions are for drug offences. Singapore human rights group ThinkCentre says that in many cases the mandatory use of the death penalty is both ineffective and unfair. Director [President] Sinapan Samydorai.

SINAPAN: In the case of Vignes, he's an illiterate from Malaysia. He is just a young man of 23. And his relative told him to take some incense to the temple. And he believed him, but it happened to be drugs. So that is very sad. Often it is the poor, weak, uneducated men or women who are caught trafficking drugs. So the real kingpins who are really pushing these drugs are not actually caught often.

DWYER: Vignes Mourthi was hanged in September last year. His case is one of several listed in Amnesty report highlighting concerns over trial procedures and collection of evidence.

The Amnesty report also claims the governments own figures show the death penalty is ineffective as the number of drug abusers rose 16% from 2001 to 2002.

But the tradition of Friday morning hangings is unlikely to change. Wang Kai Yuen is a Member of Parliament and chairman of the public feedback unit.

WANG: I think any change in Singapore government policy will depend on the response of its citizens, in this case the use of the death penalty as a deterrent, we haven't got strong feedback from the residents or citizens of Singapore that would cause us to call for a review of this policy.

DWYER: Critics say the public acceptance due to the government's systematic stifling of debate on the death penalty. Coincidentally, the Amnesty criticisms were not reported by the Singapore broadsheet The Straits Times in its edition the next day.

But Wang says the government doesn't hide its policy and it is effective.

WANG: So far it has been an effective policy as far as the carrying of drugs into Singapore. You might be right that in certain cases the people who are hanged tend to be the couriers, but in any event we are unable to get the kingpins if they are residents of foreign countries.

DWYER: Why not try to rehabilitate these people, give them a second chance to do the right thing by imprisoning them and rehabilitating rather than executing them.

WANG: I think we have to look at the use of the death penalty and [what] penalty in general for crimes committed is all about. In Chinese we have a proverb "Kill the chicken to teach the monkeys."

DWYER: So you don't believe these people deserve a second chance?

WANG: Oh it has nothing to do with the individual involved. If we establish the deterrents and make it publically known, I think individuals will take their own risks.

Sources and Relevant Links:

Amnesty International: Singapore: High execution rate shrouded in secrecy 14 January 2004

ABC Radio Australia: SINGAPORE: Government defends mandatory death penalty 16/01/2004

Ministry of Home Affairs Press Statement: Comments by MHA Spokesman on Amnesty International's Criticism of Singapore's Use of Death Penalty 16 January 2004

CNA: The hanging question: A matter of life, death, drugs and Amnesty 16 January 2004

Think Centre: Think Centre Calls for a moratorium on Death Penalty 19 October 2003

ASIA PACIFIC FORUM OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS Reference on the Death Penalty

*Note: Sinapan Samydorai is the President of Think Centre.