Hi readers, we come to
discuss / think a serious and sensitive issue today. Yea~ This issue has two
sides of perspective and different view. Yes/ No, it is depends on how you
think and view the whole situation.
I went to a campaign
organized by Amnestry International Malaysia last few weeks, Abolish The Death
Penalty campaign. In conjunction with the World Day against the Death Penalty
Give Life A Second Chance Exhibition.
Toshi Kazama, who is a
New York-based photographer whose searing portraits of death row have touched
the minds and hearts of people all over the world. Having been a victim of
violence when he was attached on the street in 2003, which left him comatose
for four days, Toshi now dedicates his life to abolishing the death penalty. He
has presented his photographs and their subjects’ stories throughout the U.S.,
and Europe and in several Asian countries. In Japan, Toshi helped to start the
victims’ organization Ocean. Through his presentations and exhibitions against
the death penalty, Toshi shares the immeasurable value of human life; and the
need for mutual respect and understanding for one another.
Some of the peoples
might think that “Murderer killed the victim, he/she should sentence to death
immediately!” . From my view, Yes, murderer killed people, but still need to
depends on what/ how was the case happened. Most of the times many murder cases
are followed by the past cases as an example. What if the case like this.. A
Loy case.
Loy, a welder, was
arrested in 2002 for a the murder of his wife. Loy was watching TV with family
when his wife who suffered from depression tried to kill him. He managed to
stop her and he then continued to watch TV. Shortly after, Loy’s wife attached
him again and in the process of self-defense, he accidentally killed his wife
without him realizing it. Loy on came to know that he had killed his wife when
he was detained in police custody.
What do you
think? Should sentence to death?
After that case, Loy
has spent 12 years in Jail and is seeking clemency from the Pardons Board after
the Federal Court rejected his final appeal. The victim’s family forgave Loy
many years ago and hopes he can be spared the gallows so that his two daughters
would have their father back.
The issue of Death
Penalty In Malaysia. What do you think?
According to Amnesty
International Malaysia,
It is a capital
punishment, or the death penalty, is a legal form of punishment under Malaysian
law which is based upon British Common Law from colonial times. In 1983, the
Malaysian government introduces the mandatory death penalty for drug-related
offences. The death penalty is a mandatory punishment in Malaysia for murder,
drug trafficking, treason and waging war against the monarchy. Malaysia, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Japan and South Sudan try to hide their use of death penalty
as a form of punishment by carrying it out in near total secrecy. Is death
penalty is the ultimate, irreversible denial of human rights? Should government
abolish the death penalty?
A day in the life of a
death row inmate. 7am- The inmate’s day begins with a head count. If the inmate
misses it, the inmate is punished by having to stay in his cell for a week.
7.30am- The warden brings the inmate breakfast. The inmate then showers and
does his laundry in his cell as they are not allowed outdoors. 10am- The inmate
is allowed out of his individual cell into the hallway. He/She is allowed just
half an hour to socialize with five other inmates there. The inmates either
exercise in the hallway/ play checkers and chess during this time. This is a
privilege which is taken away by the wardens should the inmate misbehave/ miss
a head count. 11am- The warden brings
the inmate lunch. 2pm- Another head count is conducted before the inmate is
allowed another half an hour out of his individual cell to mingle with row
mates. 5.30pm- Dinner is served. After dinner, inmate then settles down alone
for the evening awaiting the start of the next day. This routine is repeated
daily until the inmate is executed. In Malaysia, practices secret executions-
The inmate, his family and public are kept in the dark for years as to when he
will be executed.
Is secret execution is
akin to mental torture?
Iwao Hakamada, Japan.
He was a factory worker in his 30’s in Japan’s Honshu Island when he was
sentenced to death in 1968. He had not long retired from a career as a
featherweight boxing champion- ranking as high as sixth in Japan. Because of
his boxing career, Hakamada was painted as a violent criminal by the Japanese
media at the time of his arrest. Initially, Hakamada confessed to the murder of
his boss’ and his family after 20 days of interrogation by police without legal
representation. During his trial, he retracted his confession and testified
that the police had beaten and threatened him to force him to sign a
confession. Iwao Hakamada, now 78, spent 46 years on death row not knowing if
each day would be his last. As a result, Hakamada suffers from poor mental and
physical health. Well, the lack of transparency surrounds the use of death
penalty in several countries. Executions are not announced to the public
before/ after they are carried out. Imagine living in a 8’x6’ cell up to 23
hours a day not knowing if each day would be their last..
Another story from
Malaysia.
Shahrul, the fifth of
nine children, was arrested in 2003 by the poilice for trafficking 622g of
cannabis, Shahrul was just 18 years 6 months then. He was working at his
uncle’s food stall at the time to help alleviate his family’s financial burden
whilst waiting to further his studies in Banting College.
High Court Judge said
although Shahrul was below the age of 21 when arrested, he had to impose the
death sentence as it was mandatory for drug trafficking offences. Shahrul has
spent 11 years in prison, having his final appeal rejected by the Federal Court
in 2012 and is currently seeking clemency from the Pardons Board.
Do you know better of
Death Penalty?
What is your view to
Death Penalty now? Should it be a punishment/ be abolished?
I remember when I
visiting this campaign organized by my friend’s campaign, she asked me a
question. “What do you think death penalty” Should be abolished?” I answered
Yes! directly. The first sense comes from my mind. I don’t know how was the
case happened and I don’t want to know. Because it is not a fairytale story yet
sad ending. I don’t think death penalty is a way to sentence a prisoner and
secret executions is a mental torture. I always believed that every case should
has another effective punishment but not death penalty. Yes. They should be
punished heavily but not ultimate, irreversible denial of human rights. Think twice. #givelifea2ndchance
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