THE EDITOR, Sir:I WOULD like to take this opportunity to respond to Davey Watson's letter of November 22, which expressed criticism of Amnesty International's alleged silence around the case of Lee Boyd Malvo.
We are bemused that Mr Watson appears to be critical of Amnesty for not opposing the execution of a Jamaican in the USA, while simultaneously calling for the execution of his fellow citizens in Jamaica.
Amnesty International's policy on John Lee Malvo will be the same as it is on every other individual threatened with execution; we will vigorously oppose the taking of his life by the state. Amnesty International current works against the death penalty in numerous countries. Although the majority of nations have abandoned executions, only 31 states carried out executions in 2001 (111 countries have now turned their back on the death penalty).
The organisation campaigns for the abolition of capital punishment in China, the USA, Japan and many others nations. When it becomes clear which US authority will conduct the trial of John Lee Malvo, Amnesty International will, if appropriate, be issuing an appeal to the authorities that he not face the death penalty.
Amnesty International has for over 25 years been campaigning for an end to executions in the United States. The organisation has detailed its concerns over executions and other human rights abuses in the USA on numerous occasions. For example, last month we released "USA : Indecent and internationally illegal: the execution of child offenders," detailing concerns around the execution of juvenile offenders such as John Lee Malvo, and "USA/Iraq:
not in the name of human rights," stating that the protection of humans rights should not be used as a justification for military action.
When you examine the experiences of numerous countries like the USA, it illustrates how executions do not deter crime any more than other punishments. From figures in the USA, it is clear that the murder rates are higher in executing America states. The average rate of murder in states that execute is 6.6 per 100,000 head of population but 3.5 in states that do not kill. The highest rates of murder are in the Southern states, which also have the highest number of executions, thereby illustrating how executions are not an effective deterrent to violent crime.
Executions are a symptom of a violent society, not a cure. We are saddened that Davey Watson believes killing people somehow restores the human rights of the victims. The victims of crime should be cared for to the fullest extent possible by all in society.
Everyone should work to lessen the prevalence of crime. But the taking of life by the state in cold blood does nothing to further these aims. It does continue the circle of violence, create more grieving in the families of those executed, risk the killing of those innocent of the crime for which they were condemned and further brutalise society.
I am, etc.,
PIERS BANNISTER
Amnesty International
pbannist@amnesty.org
1 Easton Street
London WC1X
United Kingdom
Via Go-Jamaica
