In view of over-exposure to crime and punishment in my JC General Paper lectures, and the significant court case which i will conveniently refer to as "The Huang Na Case", an overwhleming mix of emotions engulfed me went i came across this article of capital punishment accidentally. In the "Huang Na Case", Took, Huang Na's alleged killer was sentenced to the gallows yesterday, witnessed by over 80 pairs of public eyes. This issue of capital punishment has been on-going, and i shall share the article i came across with you people.

Sillypore is ranked 10th in 2004 for the most number of executions per million population. Most of our criminals are hung for drug trafficking and murder offenses. The execution, by hanging, is carried out every Friday morning with little details made known to the public.


Terminating someone's life before his natural death is like playing God. Human life is precious, nobody has the right to take it away. Moreover, two wrongs do not make a right.


Capital punishment achieves nothing. It does not bring the murdered victim back to life. It also serves to punish the love ones and family members of the prisoner. If you are thinking that it reduces or puts a lid on the crime rate, think again. Potential criminals always think they will never get caught or when they have to worry about their next meal, being put to death is the last thing on their mind.


Looking at a would-be criminal psychological profile, he would most probably be abused or subjected to a violent upbringing. He may also be neglected. Under such circumstances, can you blame him for not having the right morals? Shouldnt the society be partly responsible for him going astray? Almost all those on death row have a sad past to tell. Since they are a product of our society, than the society should give them a chance to repent. There must be a more appropriate punishment and rehabilitation than to hang them.


In Sept 2000, the Pope expressed his hope "that there no longer be recourse to capital punishment, given that states today have the means to efficaciously control crime, without definitively taking away an offender's possibility to redeem himself".


Last, but not least, is the accused really guilty as charged? What if there is a mistake? What if.....? Death is irreversible.


"What does the law say? You will not kill! How does it say it? By killing!" (Translated from French) Victor Hugo, a french author. (Les Miserables, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.)

Taken from http://bexafraid.blogspot.com/2005/08/eye-for-eye.html

This article may possess another viewpoint for people in JCs for them to add in their essays, i dunno. But one thing's for sure - Capital Punishment, a double-edged sword and a ever-lasting dilemma to the Singapore government and the world.