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Op-ed by UK Minister of State Jeremy Browne

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[TOC thanks the UK High Commission for sending us this article for publication. It is written by the British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr Jeremy Browne.]

On this, the seventh World Day Against the Death Penalty, it is grimly disturbing that we are continuing to see such widespread use of the death penalty across the world.  Amnesty report that in 2009, 18 countries carried out executions, with a total of 714 people executed during the year, and this does not even include figures from China, where these remain a state secret. The majority of the world’s executions take place in China, so the actual figure is likely to be in the thousands.

Some of the crimes committed by people who have been sentenced to death are appalling.   Why then does the British Government remain absolutely opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances, no matter what the crime?

The answer to my mind is clear.

First, there is no evidence to suggest that a person who commits a crime which carries a life sentence in prison would have acted any differently if he or she had known that their crime could have resulted in their execution.

Second, any miscarriage of justice leading to the imposition of the death penalty is irreversible and irreparable. It is difficult to forget the case of Derek Bentley, executed in 1953 when he was only 19 years old and eventually cleared 45 years later.

Third, if the state has the authority to execute its own citizens as a criminal penalty, the balance between the rights of the individual and the power of government is fundamentally altered.

Finally, the existence of the death penalty undermines human dignity and has no place in the 21st century. Abolishing the death penalty is a vital step towards the development of full and universal human rights.

There is now clear international momentum towards global abolition.  In the past 10 years alone, 22 countries have abolished the death penalty.  But global abolition is still many years away, and considerable challenges remain before we can live in a fully abolitionist world.  Only 58 countries retain the death penalty. But that is still 58 too many.

On Monday 11th October the British Government will launch its new strategy for global abolition of the death penalty.  We will direct our work at the most prolific users and in those places where we can make a real difference.

This may sometimes require a pragmatic approach with some countries.  For example, encouraging states to formally establish moratoriums on the use of the death penalty.  And we call on those countries that continue to rely on the death penalty, to ensure that international minimum standards are adhered to, including never executing juveniles, pregnant women or persons who have become insane, and ensuring rights to a fair trial and to appeal.

Our international project work is also yielding results.  The Foreign Office funds projects to bring legal challenges to the constitutionality of the imposition and the application of the death penalty.  We have recently supported successful challenges in Kenya, Barbados and Uganda among others.

Removal of the mandatory death penalty can significantly reduce the number of prisoners who are sentenced to death.  Just last month, 167 prisoners on death row in Uganda had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment as a result of an FCO funded project and last year Kenya commuted the death sentences of its entire death row of 4000 prisoners.  These are steps in the right direction.

But we cannot stop there.  The abolition of the death penalty will not happen overnight and there is much hard work ahead.  The UK remains firmly committed to taking action on its own and together with our international partners in order to achieve our ultimate aim of global abolition.

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About the author: Jeremy Browne was appointed Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 14 May 2010. He has been the Member of Parliament for Taunton Deane since May 2005.

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Ng Eng Hen: Dust clouds likely caused armoured vehicle collision during Exercise Wallaby

Dust clouds limiting visibility likely contributed to the collision between two Hunter vehicles during Exercise Wallaby, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen explained in his parliamentary reply. 12 servicemen sustained mild injuries, but safety measures prevented more serious outcomes. A formal investigation is ongoing to ensure further safety improvements.

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SINGAPORE: Low visibility caused by dust clouds was identified as the likely cause of the collision between two Hunter armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) during Exercise Wallaby last month, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in a written parliamentary response on Tuesday (15 October).

The incident, which occurred in Queensland, Australia, on 24 September 2024, resulted in mild injuries to 12 servicemen.

Dr Ng’s statement was in response to a parliamentary question from Mr Dennis Tan, Workers’ Party Member of Parliament for Hougang SMC.

Mr Tan asked for details on the accident, specifically its cause and whether any lessons could be applied to enhance training and operational safety within the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

The collision took place during a night-time movement of Hunter AFVs at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

The vehicles were returning to base when one rear-ended another. Dr Ng explained that the dust clouds generated by the AFVs’ movement significantly impaired visibility, might likely contributing to the accident.

The 12 affected servicemen sustained mild injuries and were promptly taken to the nearest medical facility.

None of the injuries required hospitalisation, and all 12 servicemen were able to rejoin their units for training the next day.

According to the minister, adherence to safety protocols—such as wearing seat belts and protective gear—played a crucial role in limiting the injuries to mild ones.

Following the incident, a safety pause was immediately implemented, with all drivers being reminded to maintain proper safety distances, especially when visibility was compromised.

Troops were also reminded to adhere strictly to safety protocols, including the proper use of safety equipment, Dr Ng added.

The safety lessons from the incident were shared not only with the affected units but also with other participating groups in the exercise, as well as units back in Singapore, through dedicated safety briefings.

Mr Tan also asked about the broader implications of the incident. In his response, Dr Ng said that a formal investigation had been launched in accordance with SAF’s safety incident protocol.

The investigation aims to assess the circumstances more thoroughly and identify any further measures that could be taken to enhance safety.

Dr Ng shared that recommendations arising from the investigation will be implemented where necessary.

Exercise Wallaby is SAF’s largest unilateral overseas exercise, and the 2024 edition began on 8 September, running until 3 November.

The exercise involves approximately 6,200 personnel, including 500 operationally ready national servicemen.

The exercise has been conducted at Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland since 1990, and it is a key part of SAF’s overseas training program.

The Hunter AFV, one of the vehicles involved in the collision, is a state-of-the-art platform jointly developed by the Defence Science and Technology Agency, the Singapore Army, and ST Engineering.

It replaced the SAF’s aging fleet of Ultra M113 AFVs in 2019, which had been in service since the 1970s. The Hunter is equipped with advanced features, including a 30mm cannon, a 76mm smoke grenade launcher, and an automatic target detection and

tracking system designed to enhance operational effectiveness. It is also capable of traveling at increased speeds and covering longer distances, making it a versatile asset for the SAF.

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Government to “carefully consider” Lee Hsien Yang’s demolition application for 38 Oxley Road

The Singapore Government will “carefully consider” Mr Lee Hsien Yang (LHY)’s application to demolish the house at 38 Oxley Road. LHY announced his intent on Tuesday morning following the recent death of his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, reaffirming his commitment to honour his parents’ wish for the house’s demolition.

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The Singapore Government has indicated that it will “carefully consider” Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s (LHY) application to demolish the family home at 38 Oxley Road.

LHY, the youngest son of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, the late Lee Kuan Yew (LKY), announced his intention to apply for the demolition in a Facebook post on 15 October 2024, following the death of his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, on 9 October.

The announcement marks a significant development in the ongoing saga over the fate of the historically significant property, which has been at the heart of a family dispute since LKY’s passing in 2015.

In his will, executed in December 2013, LKY expressed his desire for the house to be demolished “immediately after” Dr Lee moved out of the property. Dr Lee, a prominent neurologist, had been the last remaining resident of the house.

LHY reaffirmed his commitment to carrying out his father’s wishes, stating, “After my sister’s passing, I am the only living executor of my father’s estate. It is my duty to carry out his wishes to the fullest extent of the law.”

He added that he would seek to build a small private dwelling on the site, which would be “held within the family in perpetuity”.

LHY also referenced his brother, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s (LHL) remarks in Parliament in 2015, when he was Prime Minister, stating that upon Dr Lee’s passing, the decision to demolish the house would rest with the “Government of the day.”

In response to media queries regarding LHY’s announcement, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Development (MND) acknowledged the intended application and emphasised that the Government would “carefully consider issues related to the property in due course”.

The spokesperson also highlighted that any decision would need to balance LKY’s wishes, public interest, and the historical value of the house.

The house at 38 Oxley Road, where key decisions about Singapore’s path to independence were made, has been a focal point of public and political discussion.

The future of the house became contentious in 2017 when LHY and Dr Lee publicly accused their elder brother, LHL, of trying to preserve the house against their father’s wishes for political reasons.

LHL denied the accusations, issuing a Ministerial Statement in Parliament, where he also raised concerns over the preparation of their father’s final will. He clarified that he had recused himself from all decisions regarding the property and affirmed that any government action would be impartial.

In 2018, a “secret” ministerial committee, which was formed in 2016 to study the future of 38 Oxley Road, proposed three options: preserving the property and designating it as a national monument, partially demolishing the house while retaining the historically significant basement dining room, or allowing complete demolition for redevelopment. LHL accepted the committee’s conclusions but stated that no immediate decision was necessary, as Dr Lee was still living in the house.

In a statement conveyed by LHY on behalf of Dr Lee after her passing, she reiterated her strong support for her father’s wish to demolish the house. “My father, Lee Kuan Yew, and my mother, Kwa Geok Choo, had an unwavering and deeply felt wish for their house at 38 Oxley Road to be demolished upon the last parent’s death,” the statement read.

She added, “He had also appealed directly to the people of Singapore. Please honour my father by honouring his wish for his home to be demolished.”

Despite selling the house to LHY at market value in 2015, LHL’s stance regarding the house’s preservation became a public issue, especially after the family disclosed that the Government had raised concerns about reinstating the demolition clause in the 2013 will. The ministerial committee had reviewed the matter, but a final decision was deferred until now.

The fate of 38 Oxley Road remains to be seen, but the Government’s decision will likely have lasting implications for the legacy of the Lee family and the conservation of Singapore’s historical landmarks.

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