Death row 13 face execution

 By NATASHA EMECK

THE executions of the 13 people on death row are to begin this year, an official says.

Constitutional Law Reform Commission secretary Dr Eric Kwa said the Government had decided the death penalty would be implemented this year.

The two things left now are: 

• What method of execution to be used, and, 
• An appropriate facility to be built where the executions are to take place.

Kwa said eight of the 13 people on death row were sentenced for piracy-related crimes and five for wilful murder.

He said Cabinet had received recommendations last October from a team, including him, that visited some countries where the death penalty was carried out to see how they went about it.

“Parliament agreed that Cabinet will decide from the five recommended: Electrocution, lethal injection with the deprivation of oxygen, lethal injection with anaesthetic, firing squad and hanging,” he said.

“The Government sent a team of technical officers from agencies, which included myself, to see the five methods of killing in the US, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. We came back with a recommendation,” he said.

“Once Cabinet agrees on the method to be used, then we can build a facility where the 13 people will be executed.”

Before May last year, the three crimes that attracted the death penalty were wilful murder, piracy and attempted piracy.

In its annual report published last week, the Human Rights Watch condemned Papua New Guinea’s expansion of the scope of crimes eligible for the death penalty to include sorcery-related killings, aggravated rape and armed robbery. 

The report described the amendment as “a step backwards”. 

Kwa defended the government, saying the explanation behind their decision was reasonable. 

“The government’s argument seems reasonable, which is that they have complied with all the proper processes, so no human right is being violated,” he said.

“If you look at the stories of the 13 people who are now on death row, they have all committed horrendous crimes.

“One person actually slaughtered a family of seven people and it was a premeditated attack. It was not a spur of the moment thing. 

“The rules of appeal and getting clemency have all been exhausted for these criminals.