Amnesty International raises fresh concerns over moves to carry out death sentence

• Statement criticises lack of transparency and availability of information on Govt. plans 
• Ministry of Justice silent on issue 
• Prisons Commissioner not informed about any move 

Amnesty International yesterday raised fresh concerns over moves to carry out the death sentence on at least 13 prisoners, ending a 42-year moratorium. 

Calling on the President to “immediately halt his plans to resume executions for at least 13 prisoners convicted of drug-related crimes,” AI said that it has learnt through media reports “that preparations are underway to execute death row prisoners as part of the so-called National Drug Eradication Week, from 21 June–1 July 2019. The executions would be the first time Sri Lanka has implemented the death penalty since 1976.”

However, the Commissioner of Prisons T.M.J.W. Thennakoon is yet to be informed of any decision on the matter. 

“We have not been informed yet of any decision,” he told Daily FT. Further, although applications have been called to recruit two men for the post of hangman earlier this year, Tennakoon said no appointment has been made to date. 

Neither Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorale nor Justice Ministry Secretary R.M.D.B. Meegasmulla were available for comment on the matter. 

The statement issued by AI also stated that although “no official announcement has been made by the President’s Office, several sources have confirmed to Amnesty International that the newly-recruited executioners have been trained, and that President Sirisena has every intention to resume hangings.”

Further, AI noted that details of the scheduled executions such as how many prisoners are at risk of execution remain unknown, and it is not clear what the circumstances of their convictions and sentencing are. AI stressed that by keeping these plans secret, the Government of Sri Lanka is preventing the public and human rights activists from accessing vital information, to ensure that critical safeguards put in place by the international community to protect the rights of those facing the death penalty are fully observed.

“The taking of a human life by the State is one of the gravest acts a Government can commit. The severity of the punishment, as a minimum, requires complete transparency as a key safeguard of due process,” said Biraj Patnaik in the statement.

States have a duty to ensure all proceedings have complied with international standards for a fair trial, including respecting the right to appeal and apply for clemency, and ensuring that the prisoners, their families, and legal representatives are given adequate notice of any plans to carry out the execution. It is not clear that this process has been followed in these cases, the statement said.