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Germans and French Object to Death Penalty for Saddam
EFL
Germany and France, two of the most vocal anti-war opponents, strongly stated their opposition without exception to the death penalty and called on Iraqi authorities to ensure Saddam a fair trial.
After WWII werenât some Naziâs executed after trials at a place called Nuremberg? As for vigilantes, didnât the French summarily execute collaborators beacuse ther traitors associated themselves and benefited from the reign of an regime dedicated to racial extermination?- In Berlin, the governmentâs top human rights official, Claudia Roth, criticized Baghdadâs move to reinstate capital punishment, which was suspended during the U.S. occupation. "To start out this way does not send a good signal," Roth told The Associated Press. "I think it would have been a signal of democratic strength had they not reinstated the death penalty in Iraq."
Wouldnât it be the highest form of democracy if the Iraqi people voted on how to execute Sadaam?
- France called on Iraqi justice officials to hold a trial that conforms to principles of international law, and the government reiterated its opposition to the execution of convicts.
We envision a world where only the innocent will be subject to execution.
The 25-member European Union intends to let Iraq know of its opposition to the death penalty, said Emma Udwin, external relations spokeswoman for the European Commission. But though capital punishment is outlawed across the continent, attitudes hardened farther east among the EUâs newer members, where support for the war was strong. - Latvian Foreign Ministry spokesman Rets Plesums said that whatever happened to Saddam after his trial was a matter of concern for Iraq, not the Baltic state. "We are hoping that the new Iraqi courts will conduct the trial as fairly as possible, but I donât think our government will offer an opinion about what happens to Saddam Hussein," he said. "Itâs not our business."
- Latvia, a recent newcomer also to NATO, ardently backed the U.S.-led invasion and contributed more than 100 soldiers to the coalition after fighting ended last year.
- Poland, another supporter of the war, offered a similar view. Poland just decided to extend its troop deployment of 2,400 soldiers in Iraq until Dec. 31. "Our reaction is obvious. This is a sovereign decision of an independent court and of the Iraqis themselves," said Boguslaw Majewski, spokesman for Polandâs Foreign Ministry. Roman Kuzniar, a political scientist at the Warsaw University, said the list of crimes committed by Saddam Hussein "would justify the death penalty." Poland had capital punishment before ousting the Communist government in 1989, then eliminated it to join the EU.
- Turkey, a Muslim nation with aspirations to join the EU one day, formally ended executions as part of its bid for membership. But many Turks still feel capital punishment is justified in some cases. "The conscience of the people will not be satisfied if he doesnât face the death penalty," said Burhan Kuzu, a top lawmaker from Turkeyâs governing Justice and Development Party. "If they give the death penalty to him, this decision will not disturb me."
Hasnât Romania joined the EU? I guess the EU recipe for future members that are currently subjugated is:
1. Burst your bonds
2. Brutally hack your ex-dictator.
3. Renounce capital punishment so that you can part polite society.
BTW - I am against the death penalty, but I donât plan to argue for Sadaam to be spared until I visit Hillah and listen to the family of the victims. They might present some valid points.
| I'm not against the death penalty. The EU countries are making the (probably mistaken) assumption that they'll never have another figure like Sammy arise. Somehow the fact that their victims weren't given the opportunity to argue over the death penalty doesn't count: in Iraq, Rwanda, Sudan, Bosnia and a dozen other places the merciless can now be deemed deserving of mercy. I just don't buy it. |
Posted by: Super Hose 2004-07-02 |
