By Tan Boon Si
On 11 June 2022, 21 embassies across the world received an open letter calling for the end of death row executions in Singapore. The letter, currently signed by over 160 members of the Singaporean diaspora, addressed the the continued implementation of capital punishment in the Singapore. Signatories condemned the planned and former executions of prisoners on death row, and called for a halt on upcoming executions.
Signatories of the open letter spanned 24 different countries (note: not all countries received the letter, as not every country has a Singaporean embassy or other diplomatic representation physically present), a large majority coming from the US and the UK. Other represented countries included Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan.
The open letter highlights the increase in planned executions within the past two years. “There were 4 executions in 2019. By contrast, there are currently over 50 people on death row and 4 lives lost in 2022. This loss of life is excessive, and a grievous violation of international human rights.”
As overseas Singaporeans, we represent Singapore in the international sphere. We are proud to be Singaporean, and proud to hold that mantle while abroad. But for the aforementioned reasons, after seeing our country go forward with these executions in the name of our safety, we the diaspora call on Singapore to grant clemency to those on death row.
The recent execution of Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam has reignited debate on the death penalty in Singapore, particularly the prominent use of this form of punishment for non-violent and drug-related crimes. Diasporic Singaporeans witnessed the outcry at home against this unjust execution.
The initiative was started by Tara Nair, an Institute of International Law and Justice scholar at NYU Law, who penned the letter and started the petition. The month-long campaign to collect signatures from diasporic Singaporeans also raised awareness on this long-standing and controversial issue, and garnered support from local Singaporeans and international allies.
Nair worked in conjunction with local activist groups to ensure that the letter was at it’s core supportive and useful to the grassroots movement. The letter touched on, inter alia, issues relating to the criminal justice process in Singapore and access to counsel.
However, a small number of pro-death penalty Singaporeans expressed their displeasure on social media and through anonymous responses, including calls to “hang the supporters” of the petition and take legal action against the author of the petition, stating “we are singaporean and we will do anything to stop you!!” After receiving these messages, Nair took measures to disallow anonymous responses, and they largely stopped (bar a few social media comments).
The negative responses are unfortunately rooted in the commonplace argument that drug-use is a moral flaw, that these laws are effective and necessary to curb drug-related crimes in Singapore, and that this form of penalization is inherent to Singaporean national identity.
Local journalist and death penalty activist Kirsten Han addresses this misconception in “There’s no clear evidence that capital punishment deters the drug trade. Nor does it reduce demand for drugs, since it doesn’t address people’s reasons for using in the first place.” Nair subscribes to this view and believes that harm reduction must address poverty, mental health, and social services for effective deterrence. Many other experts, including Harm Reduction International and a team of UN human rights experts have conducted studies which reiterate this key fact.
The open letter concludes by reiterating the diaspora’s call on Singapore to grant clemency to those on death row. The letter is still receiving signatories, and will now formally ask for signatories from Singaporeans in Singapore and allies alike, in order to show that despite a very vocal minority, the movement is gaining momentum.
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