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Biden Fails a Death Penalty Abolitionist’s Most Important Test

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The mystery of Joe Biden’s views about capital punishment has finally been solved. His decision to grant clemency to 37 of the 40 people on federal death row shows the depth of his opposition to the death penalty. And his decision to leave three of America’s most notorious killers to be executed by a future administration shows the limits of his abolitionist commitment. The three men excluded from Biden’s mass clemency—Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers—would no doubt pose a severe test of anyone’s resolve to end the death penalty. Biden failed that test.
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Bali Nine prisoner Myuran Sukumaran’s paintings to be exhibited in London, UK

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Niranjela Karunatilake (left) and Roshine Singam show their support for Myuran Sukumaram at an art gallery in Amsterdam, Holland. Picture: David Dyson Source: News Corp Australia
Niranjela Karunatilake (left) and Roshine Singam show their support
for Myuran Sukumaram at an art gallery in Amsterdam, Holland.
Picture: David Dyson Source: News Corp Australia
A COUSIN of death row prisoner Myuran Sukumaran is hoping an exhibition of the Australian’s art in London will increase pressure on Indonesian’s president to grant the 33-year-old clemency.

Sukumaran is being held on Central Java’s Nusakambangan island along with Andrew Chan ahead of their planned execution by firing squad.

But some 12,000 kilometres away in the English capital his cousin, Niranjela Karunatilake, is preparing to open an exhibition of Sukumaran’s paintings on Monday.

“I hope people will come to see the exhibition next week and think of Myu and let Indonesia know that there are people all over the world calling for mercy,” Ms Karunatilake said in a statement.

“Myu is a talented artist and I have seen his skill develop over the past four years. You can see him finding himself in his paintings. It is clear painting has been a vital comfort for him on death row.”

Ms Karunatilake said supporters weren’t asking for Sukumaran, who was born in London, to be freed. But he’d proven himself to be kind and compassionate and deserved that in return, she said.

“Myu will be 34 on Friday (April 17) and it’s just too sad to think that could be his last birthday. The death penalty is never the answer and I don’t believe it deters crime. But in Myu’s case, when he has done so much to repent and improve prison conditions, it would be a real tragedy if his life was cut short.”

The week-long exhibition will be held at Amnesty International’s London headquarters in Shoreditch. It follows a similar show in Amsterdam in mid-March.


Source: news.com.au, April 10, 2015

Report an error, an omission: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com
Location: Shoreditch, London N1, UK
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