Vietnam changes law to allow domestically produced poison in lethal injection, skirting EU ban

Vietnam has issued a new law allowing domestically produced chemicals to be used in lethal injections, a change that should enable it to resume the currently stalled executions of more than 530 people on death row.

The holdup was a result of an EU ban on its factories exporting chemicals used in lethal injections. The ban was issued because the EU regards capital punishment as a human rights violation. It has left Vietnam unable to execute a prisoner since November 2011, when the country decided to switch from firing squads to lethal injections on humanitarian grounds.

Vietnam's old law governing executions stipulated the names of the 3 chemicals produced in the EU that had to be used in lethal injection. The new law issued this week doesn't mention the chemicals by name, meaning local versions can be produced and used. The law will take effect on June 27.

In an interview earlier this year, European Union ambassador to Vietnam Franz Jessen said Vietnam might not have realized the practical implications of changing to lethal injections when it announced its plan to switch from the firing squad. He said the EU had hoped difficulties in sourcing the chemicals might have triggered a moratorium on the death penalty in the country.

Vietnam, a 1-party state that routinely sentences government critics to long prison terms, is under considerable international pressure to improve its human rights record, which most observers say has gotten worse over the last 2 years.

Jessen suggested that stopping executions would have earned Vietnam praise among the international community.

"A moratorium would have been a positive sign at a time when we need positive signs," he said.

EU factories are the main supplier of drugs that can be used in executions. Several American states have also said objections from European factories were making it hard to find the chemicals.

Source: Associated Press, May 15, 2013

Poison for lethal injection revealed

The poison that will be used for lethal injection in Vietnam from June 27, 2013 includes the sensory paralyzing drug, the drug that paralyzes the musculoskeletal system and the drug to stop the heart's activity.

The Government has issued Decree 47 on the implementation of the death penalty by lethal injection. Accordingly, 1 dose of poison includes 3 types of drugs as mentioned above. The poison will be provided by the Ministry of Health.

Decree 47 was signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and it will replace Decree 82 which was issued in 2011.

Previously, Decree 82 stipulated that the poison used for lethal injection includes Sodium thiopental (anesthesia,) Pancuronium bromide (the drug to paralyze the nervous and muscle system) and Potassium chloride (the drug used to stop the heart's activity).

However, Vietnam could not import the drug since other countries refused to sell it for the purpose of enforcing death penalty. The government had to ask the Ministry of Health to research and produce poison in Vietnam.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, preparation for the application of lethal injection has completed, with the construction and installation of equipment in 5 detention centers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Son La, Nghe An and Dak Lak. The training on the implementation of lethal injection has also completed. Lethal injection will be applied immediately when the poison is available.

Currently, over 500 prisoners are waiting for the death penalty execution by lethal injection.

Source: VietnamNet, May 15, 2013

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