Kathmandu, July 2
Various organisations, including Amnesty International (Nepal) have protested against Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s decree for end a moratorium on death sentence and provide capital punishment to four people convicted in a drug case.
Along with AI Nepal, Advocacy Forum, Accountability Watch Group, Jury Nepal and Common Platform of Conflict Victims protested in front of the Sri Lankan Embassy, Maharajgunj on Tuesday. The Sri Lankan government suspended the death penalty 43 years ago, but it recently announced that the four persons would be executed.
Amnesty International Nepal’s director Nirajan Thapa said adopting a heinous and inhumane punishment like the death penalty even in the 21st century is a matter of shame for the modern society. He asserted that there should no provision for death penalty whatever the nature of the crime and whatever the circumstances.
A delegation comprising Amnesty International Nepal also met with the Sri Lankan ambassador for Nepal Sworna Parera to draw the attention of the Sri Lankan government that this inhuman and objectionable decision of handing down death penalty was against human rights.
The Sri Lankan ambassador on the occasion expressed commitment to inform the Sri Lankan government on this matter.
