Trenton, New Jersey:
In less than 72 hours since the New Jersey legislature passed the anti-death penalty law, Governor Jon Curzine has assented to it and helped soar the hopes of those on the death row worldwide.
India-based human rights activists of all shades are particularly pleased at the development as many Sikh, Kashmiri and other political detenues are on the death row, waiting for the executive’s final decision. Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar, Afzal Guru are political detenues and there are a score of others whose files are pending either before the President of India or with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In recent times, there have been few instances when hope is read in a news item. Despite skepticism from some victims of families, New Jersey has become the first state in more than three decades to abolish death penalty.
Even those eight people who are presently on the death row have been granted clemency and their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
It was a “momentous day” not only for Governor Curzine, but for all those in the US engaged in relentless campaigning against capital punishment, including the countrywide NCADP and the Death Penalty Information Centre.
"It's a day of progress for the state of New Jersey and for the millions of people across our nation and around the globe who reject the death penalty as a moral or practical response to the grievous, even heinous, crime of murder," Corzine said.
Society is not forgiving criminals, the Democratic governor insisted, but the law is necessary because "government cannot provide a fool-proof death penalty that precludes the possibility of executing the innocent."
“I believe society first must determine if its endorsement of violence begets violence, and if violence undermines our commitment to the sanctity of life. To these questions, I answer yes.” said the Governor in an impassioned speech while signing the historic law.
“This bill does not forgive or in any way condone the unfathomable acts carried out by the eight men now on New Jersey's death row,” noted Corzine. “They will spend the rest of their lives in jail.”
Sister Helen Prejean, whose work against the death penalty was dramatized in the film "Dead Man Walking," praised the ban after witnessing the historic moment.
"The word will travel around the globe that there is a state in the United States of America that was the first to show that life is stronger than death, that love is greater than hatred," Prejean told the crowd.
The announcement of the state’s ban was celebrated as a historic victory in the international anti-death penalty movement. Rome plans to light the Colosseum – once the arena for deadly gladiator combat and executions – for 24 hours on Tuesday to show support.
The lighting will take place on the same day the United Nations General Assembly is expected to endorse a decision to place a moratorium on executions worldwide.
Compassion was palpably visible when Eileen and Charles Bennett, whose son-in-law murdered their daughter and two grandchildren before committing suicide, supported the ban. Charles Bennett said that executing him would not have brought him any closure.
It is noteworthy that states of New Mexico, Montana and Nebraska have not been fortunate to secure enough support within their legislatures. The last states to eliminate the death penalty were Iowa and West Virginia in 1965, according to the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.
Panjab Human Rights Organisation led by Justice (Retd.) Ajit Singh Bains, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann - whose party is running a signature campaign against the death penalty, the presidium led by Daljit Singh, human rights activists Navkiran Singh and Harvinder Singh Phoolka and Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh have welcomed the move and resolved to step up the campaign against capital punishment in India
India-based human rights activists of all shades are particularly pleased at the development as many Sikh, Kashmiri and other political detenues are on the death row, waiting for the executive’s final decision. Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar, Afzal Guru are political detenues and there are a score of others whose files are pending either before the President of India or with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In recent times, there have been few instances when hope is read in a news item. Despite skepticism from some victims of families, New Jersey has become the first state in more than three decades to abolish death penalty.
Even those eight people who are presently on the death row have been granted clemency and their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
It was a “momentous day” not only for Governor Curzine, but for all those in the US engaged in relentless campaigning against capital punishment, including the countrywide NCADP and the Death Penalty Information Centre.
"It's a day of progress for the state of New Jersey and for the millions of people across our nation and around the globe who reject the death penalty as a moral or practical response to the grievous, even heinous, crime of murder," Corzine said.
Society is not forgiving criminals, the Democratic governor insisted, but the law is necessary because "government cannot provide a fool-proof death penalty that precludes the possibility of executing the innocent."
“I believe society first must determine if its endorsement of violence begets violence, and if violence undermines our commitment to the sanctity of life. To these questions, I answer yes.” said the Governor in an impassioned speech while signing the historic law.
“This bill does not forgive or in any way condone the unfathomable acts carried out by the eight men now on New Jersey's death row,” noted Corzine. “They will spend the rest of their lives in jail.”
Sister Helen Prejean, whose work against the death penalty was dramatized in the film "Dead Man Walking," praised the ban after witnessing the historic moment.
"The word will travel around the globe that there is a state in the United States of America that was the first to show that life is stronger than death, that love is greater than hatred," Prejean told the crowd.
The announcement of the state’s ban was celebrated as a historic victory in the international anti-death penalty movement. Rome plans to light the Colosseum – once the arena for deadly gladiator combat and executions – for 24 hours on Tuesday to show support.
The lighting will take place on the same day the United Nations General Assembly is expected to endorse a decision to place a moratorium on executions worldwide.
Compassion was palpably visible when Eileen and Charles Bennett, whose son-in-law murdered their daughter and two grandchildren before committing suicide, supported the ban. Charles Bennett said that executing him would not have brought him any closure.
It is noteworthy that states of New Mexico, Montana and Nebraska have not been fortunate to secure enough support within their legislatures. The last states to eliminate the death penalty were Iowa and West Virginia in 1965, according to the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.
Panjab Human Rights Organisation led by Justice (Retd.) Ajit Singh Bains, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann - whose party is running a signature campaign against the death penalty, the presidium led by Daljit Singh, human rights activists Navkiran Singh and Harvinder Singh Phoolka and Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh have welcomed the move and resolved to step up the campaign against capital punishment in India
Courtsy: WorldSikhNews
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