Pubdate: Fri, 04 Nov 2005
Source: Australian, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2005sThe Australian
Contact: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/files/aus_letters.htm
Website: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/35
Author: Natasha Robinson

SINGAPORE KNOCKS BACK LATEST APPEAL TO SPARE VAN FROM NOOSE

SINGAPORE has rejected more pleas from Australia to spare a Melbourne 
salesman convicted of heroin trafficking and insisted he will die at 
the end of a noose.

The decision means Nguyen Tuong Van - caught in a transit lounge at 
Changi airport with 396g of heroin strapped to his body and in his 
hand luggage - is almost certain to become the first Australian to be 
hanged in Singapore. His family will receive two weeks' notice of his 
execution, which is expected to occur early next month.

In a letter to Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Singapore's Foreign 
Minister George Yeo said the decision by Singapore's president was 
"not taken lightly". Mr Yeo said he understood the anguish of Van's 
family and the anger of many Australians. "I can only say this: in 
advising the President, the cabinet carefully considered all relevant 
factors of Mr Nguyen's case, including his sad personal circumstances 
and his value as a potential source of information," the letter said.

"However, due to the seriousness of the offence and the need to hold 
firm our national position against drug trafficking, we are unable to 
change our decision."

Despite vowing to continue to lobby for mercy for their client, Van's 
barristers, Lex Lasry QC and Julian McMahon, were forced to accept 
that only a diplomatic miracle will save their client. "I am not 
going to pretend that we are optimistic, that this isn't a setback," 
Mr Lasry said yesterday.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman