18 July 2008
press release
Following the confirmation by the Liberian Senate of a bill re-proposing the death penalty for certain crimes, Amnesty International called on President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to veto the bill.
“The surest way to address crime is to strengthen the criminal justice system and the capacity of law enforcement agencies – not to carry out state killings, which have never been shown to be a deterrent,” said Amnesty International.
The bill, passed by the House of Representatives on 7 May and the Senate on 16 July, makes armed robbery, terrorism and hijacking capital offenses.
The move came despite the fact that in September 2005, Liberia acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which obliges Liberia to take all necessary measures to abolish the death penalty.
“The Liberian government must fulfil its obligation under international law to abolish the death penalty,” said Amnesty International. “Rather than introducing legislation such as this bill, the Liberian government should introduce a constitutional provision abolishing the death penalty for all crimes.”
“This legislation is in bad faith, and entirely inconsistent with the object and purpose of the protocol to which the Liberian government acceded, which aims to abolish the death penalty.”
Amnesty International urged the Liberian government to carry out a survey of current legislation with a view to abolishing the death penalty for all crimes, including in military penal codes.
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a violation of the right to life and as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
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It is sad for Amnesty International to put the lives of the Liberians people at risk. The people of Liberia are Living in fear day and night because 0f arm robbery; as such, the death penalty is the only means by which Liberians can and will get Justice.Amnesty International is going against the values it one served by trying to protect rights of those who are commiting Crimes against peaceful Liberian.Arm robbery is the same as muder,many people have been killed by Arm robbers,what has Amnesty Intertional done to stop Arm robbery? All Liberian should do all they can to protect their family from Arm robbers because Amnest International is benefiting from the blood of the Liberian people that is being share by Arm robbers. Liberian should Kill any Arm robbers before the police can get there. President Sirleaf should protect the citizens of from all crimes
Amnesty International, needs to understand one thing. Arm robbery was never a crime, Liberians were familiar with during the pre-war days. This was due to the dealth penalty. Now, we Liberians are seing communities all over the country traumatized by this barbaric crime being commited againt peaceful citizens and foreignors as well. This is a war against Human dignity. In the U.S where I live, people are put to dealth in some cases for Arm robbery. In Liberia, we can not use money that should be use to build schools, roads, health facilities and help eleviate poverty on prisons. We can not afold so much prisons for people who waste acid water on their victims. It remains me of the civil war.
It is time the president, Senators and house of Representatives take this bill seriously, and pass it. After all, what works in Europe, may not work in Liberia or America.