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West Africa Liberian government defends death penalty law
West Africa Liberian government defends death penalty law
Jul
28
2008
| Liberian government defends death penalty law |
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 Liberia on Monday defended a controversial new law introducing the death penalty for those convicted of violent armed robbery, saying its people had become "dehumanised" after a brutal civil war. Deputy Minister of Information Gabriel Williams said that the law, which took effect last week, was a response to public outcry over the growing crime rate."This is what Liberian people want. You can do your own survey you will realize that this is the will of the majority," Williams said. "To Amnesty International and other human rights groups I will say that at the appropriate time the government will review this to make it more co-missive with the circumstances of the time," he added. The controversial law provides the death penalty for people convicted of armed robbery, terrorism or hijacking if their crimes resulted in fatalities.Amnesty and several local and international rights groups had slammed the move, saying it went against an international agreement aimed at abolishing capital punishment, which was signed by Liberia in 2005. Liberia is still recovering from 14 years of back-to-back civil war that ended in 2003 and left the country in ruins. Recently the capital of Monrovia has suffered a wave of violent armed robberies. "Armed robbery has been a major problem in our country. People are being terrorised," Williams said. "Can you imagine bandits breaking into your home terrorising your family, raping your girl children, your wife, or killing somebody? Don't you think it is right to deal with such situation in this manner especially in a country like ours where people are coming out of war during which they were dehumanised?" Amnesty International on Friday called on Liberia to repeal the legislation saying that there is no scientific evidence to support that the death penalty deters crime more effectively than other punishments. Seven of Africa's 53 countries are known to have carried out executions last year. Set as favorite Bookmark
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