Saddam Hussein had committed crimes against humanity. But how could his hanging lead to reconciliation, the truth and peace? His execution under the USA supervised -"victor's justice" only serves to path the way towards more carnage, more bloodshed!
The United Nations and European Union had opposed the execution of Saddam Hussein. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, said Saddam should not be hanged for crimes against humanity because his trial had been flawed and was marred by political interference by the Iraqi government.
Saddam Hussein as prisoner of war was entitled to fair and humane treatment as well as protection from summary execution. A fair trial would have shown evidence implicating those who enabled those crimes. The USA for providing support for the regime and the seed stock for biological weapons. The British for providing growth medium for biological weapons. The Germans for providing chemical weapons. The French for providing missile technology. The convictions after a fair trial would have led to life imprisonment - not the death penalty.
Amnesty International "We are against the death penalty as a matter of principle but particularly in this case because it comes after a flawed trial." Human Rights Watch "Saddam Hussein was responsible for massive human rights violations, but that can't justify giving him the death penalty, which is a cruel and inhuman punishment."
Saddam Hussein was in the custody of the U.S. military in Iraq. He was handed over to Iraq only on the order of or with the approval of President Bush. The executions follows the publication of the Iraq Study Group's report, which had recognized that the U.S. occupation of Iraq had collapsed.
Saddam Hussein had committed crimes against humanity. He must be held accountable and justice must be served. Imposing the cruel death penalty is not the way. How could his hanging lead to reconciliation, the truth and peace? His execution under the USA supervised - "victor's justice" only serves to path the way towards more carnage, more bloodshed!
Saddam is executed for ordering the deaths of 150 Iraqis but who is going to be punished for the 600,000 mostly civilian Iraqi citizens killed by military forces in Iraq. The USA and the other countries which send troops into war based on lies should be the next ones to stand trial for crimes against humanity. The USA lied that Saddam Hussein's Iraq had "weapons of mass destruction"s, "capacity to build a nuclear weapon", and "somehow was responsible for the 911".
We now know all three of these assertions were lies and Saddam Hussein did tell the truth! The USA had launch the pre-emptive illegal war against Iraq without the United Nations support - breaking international law. Perhaps it is no accident that the USA refused to join the International Criminal Court.
Sinapan Samydorai
President
Think Centre
| The death penalty is a cruel, inhuman and degrading, punishment. The abolition of the death penalty is essential for the protection of the right to life. Think Centre's call to right to life in connection with capital punishment is guided by the desirability of abolition of the death penalty which has been expressed on numerous occasions by the UN General Assembly, the Human Rights Committee, the Economic and Social Council and Security Council [resolutions 808 (1993) of 22 February 1993 and 955 (1994) of 8 November 1994] |
Sources and Relevant Links:
AFP/Yahoo News
Iraq executes two Saddam cohorts
15 January 2007
Human Rights Watch, New York
Iraq: Saddam Hussein Put to Death
30 December 2006)
Ynetnews
Saddam execution immoral
31 December 2006
Associated Press
Hundreds flock to see Saddam's gravesite
31 December 2006
AFP
Saddam execution risks triggering more bloodshed: Malaysia
30 December 2006
CNA
77 killed as carnage grips post-Saddam Iraq
31 December 2006
Independent Saddam: The questions that will live on 30 December 2006
The Independent
A dictator created then destroyed by America
30 December 2006
Independent
He takes his secrets to the grave. Our complicity dies with him
31 December 2006
OpenPR.com Why The Bush Family Needs Saddam Hussein Executed - And Soon
The Guardian Full coverage: Saddam Hussein
Znet TALKING POINTS ON THE EXECUTION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN 31 December 2006
Think Centre Think Centre Calls for a moratorium on Death Penalty
Think Centre No to Death Penalty: Call for Moratorium
Think Centre Anti-War Police Arrests in Singapore 15 February 2003
Think Centre
Sound of Silence: Anti-War Protest in Singapore?
16 February 2003
Think Centre US lies led to Iraqi-war: S'pore Support US 18 June 2003
Strategic Pastoral Action
Letter to Bush by Adolfo Esquivel
15 April 2003
Sydney Morning Herald Lack of critical media gave Government free rein on Iraq invasion 20 April 2004
