[Applause] in a recent public opinion survey it
in a recent public opinion survey it
in a recent public opinion survey it found that 62% of respondents knew
found that 62% of respondents knew
found that 62% of respondents knew little or nothing about the death
little or nothing about the death
little or nothing about the death penalty in Singapore a death sentence is
penalty in Singapore a death sentence is
penalty in Singapore a death sentence is the harshest and most final punishment
the harshest and most final punishment
the harshest and most final punishment that our country’s criminal justice
that our country’s criminal justice
that our country’s criminal justice system can inflict upon an individual
system can inflict upon an individual
system can inflict upon an individual like all national policies it is a
like all national policies it is a
like all national policies it is a reflection of us and of the society that
reflection of us and of the society that
reflection of us and of the society that we live in it’s also a policy that has
we live in it’s also a policy that has
we live in it’s also a policy that has the support of the overwhelming majority
the support of the overwhelming majority
the support of the overwhelming majority of Singaporeans that same survey found
of Singaporeans that same survey found
of Singaporeans that same survey found 70 percent support but the majority of
70 percent support but the majority of
70 percent support but the majority of Singaporeans have now also said that
Singaporeans have now also said that
Singaporeans have now also said that they don’t know very much about it but
they don’t know very much about it but
they don’t know very much about it but for today’s talk I would like to focus
for today’s talk I would like to focus
for today’s talk I would like to focus our attention on a small group of people
our attention on a small group of people
our attention on a small group of people who do know about the death penalty and
who do know about the death penalty and
who do know about the death penalty and who have seen it at work from up close
who have seen it at work from up close
who have seen it at work from up close whether we oppose or support the death
whether we oppose or support the death
whether we oppose or support the death penalty we need to base our opinions on
penalty we need to base our opinions on
penalty we need to base our opinions on an understanding of how it actually
an understanding of how it actually
an understanding of how it actually works and how it plays out in Singapore
works and how it plays out in Singapore
works and how it plays out in Singapore today so with we believe in second
today so with we believe in second
today so with we believe in second chances which is a abolitionist group in
chances which is a abolitionist group in
chances which is a abolitionist group in Singapore I have been working with the
Singapore I have been working with the
Singapore I have been working with the families of death row inmates for over
families of death row inmates for over
families of death row inmates for over six years now and the experiences of
six years now and the experiences of
six years now and the experiences of these condemned prisoners and their
these condemned prisoners and their
these condemned prisoners and their families don’t often feature in the
families don’t often feature in the
families don’t often feature in the intellectual debates about capital
intellectual debates about capital
intellectual debates about capital punishment in Singapore but it’s still
punishment in Singapore but it’s still
punishment in Singapore but it’s still crucial to our understanding of how
crucial to our understanding of how
crucial to our understanding of how things actually work in Singapore
things actually work in Singapore
things actually work in Singapore executions are carried out by long drop
executions are carried out by long drop
executions are carried out by long drop hanging seven people died in this way
hanging seven people died in this way
hanging seven people died in this way last year we recently heard that one
last year we recently heard that one
last year we recently heard that one person was executed just yesterday
person was executed just yesterday
person was executed just yesterday although the prison authorities have not
although the prison authorities have not
although the prison authorities have not yet responded to our queries to confirm
yet responded to our queries to confirm
yet responded to our queries to confirm this what happens in a long drop hanging
this what happens in a long drop hanging
this what happens in a long drop hanging is that the prisoner is taken to the
is that the prisoner is taken to the
is that the prisoner is taken to the execution chamber a hood is placed over
execution chamber a hood is placed over
execution chamber a hood is placed over their head the rope is positioned and
their head the rope is positioned and
their head the rope is positioned and the trapdoor opens if all measurements
the trapdoor opens if all measurements
the trapdoor opens if all measurements are correct the spinal cord will snap
are correct the spinal cord will snap
are correct the spinal cord will snap killing them instantly but if the drop
killing them instantly but if the drop
killing them instantly but if the drop is too long or too short the prisoner
is too long or too short the prisoner
is too long or too short the prisoner could be decapitated or struggle to
could be decapitated or struggle to
could be decapitated or struggle to breathe as they strangle to death
this is ko jabbing just days before he
this is ko jabbing just days before he was executed on 20th May 2016 for murder
was executed on 20th May 2016 for murder
was executed on 20th May 2016 for murder it was his sister’s birthday he is
it was his sister’s birthday he is
it was his sister’s birthday he is dressed in the clothes that his mother
dressed in the clothes that his mother
dressed in the clothes that his mother Linda and his sister Zhu mi bought for
Linda and his sister Zhu mi bought for
Linda and his sister Zhu mi bought for him shortly after they were informed of
him shortly after they were informed of
him shortly after they were informed of his imminent execution now what happens
his imminent execution now what happens
his imminent execution now what happens is in the week at some point in the week
is in the week at some point in the week
is in the week at some point in the week before the scheduled execution the
before the scheduled execution the
before the scheduled execution the inmate is allowed to put on civilian
inmate is allowed to put on civilian
inmate is allowed to put on civilian clothes and poses for photos
clothes and poses for photos
clothes and poses for photos these photos are then given to the
these photos are then given to the
these photos are then given to the families as mementos of the one that
families as mementos of the one that
families as mementos of the one that they’ve lost they’ll imagine having to
they’ve lost they’ll imagine having to
they’ve lost they’ll imagine having to go to a shop and to buy an outfit for
go to a shop and to buy an outfit for
go to a shop and to buy an outfit for your child
your child
your child your brother your your partner knowing
your brother your your partner knowing
your brother your your partner knowing that it’s the last outfit that they will
that it’s the last outfit that they will
that it’s the last outfit that they will ever wear imagine having to stand there
ever wear imagine having to stand there
ever wear imagine having to stand there and try to guess what size you’re
and try to guess what size you’re
and try to guess what size you’re supposed to buy because you haven’t had
supposed to buy because you haven’t had
supposed to buy because you haven’t had physical contact for so long that you no
physical contact for so long that you no
physical contact for so long that you no longer have a sense of size of shape of
longer have a sense of size of shape of
longer have a sense of size of shape of that person this is exactly what Linda
that person this is exactly what Linda
that person this is exactly what Linda and Jim I had to do one night standing
and Jim I had to do one night standing
and Jim I had to do one night standing in the well stocked hours of Mustapha
in the well stocked hours of Mustapha
in the well stocked hours of Mustapha and Little India surrounded by all these
and Little India surrounded by all these
and Little India surrounded by all these shoppers they were trying to figure out
shoppers they were trying to figure out
shoppers they were trying to figure out what size to buy because they said
what size to buy because they said
what size to buy because they said jobbing had put on a lot of weight since
jobbing had put on a lot of weight since
jobbing had put on a lot of weight since he entered prison which actually isn’t
he entered prison which actually isn’t
he entered prison which actually isn’t surprising because death row inmates are
surprising because death row inmates are
surprising because death row inmates are confined to their cells 23 hours a day
confined to their cells 23 hours a day
confined to their cells 23 hours a day we think of it as a very morbid practice
we think of it as a very morbid practice
we think of it as a very morbid practice giving you know photoshoots giving
giving you know photoshoots giving
giving you know photoshoots giving photos to the families but jahmai
photos to the families but jahmai
photos to the families but jahmai actually told me that she likes these
actually told me that she likes these
actually told me that she likes these photos and she said it doesn’t look like
photos and she said it doesn’t look like
photos and she said it doesn’t look like he’s in prison and if I close my eyes I
he’s in prison and if I close my eyes I
he’s in prison and if I close my eyes I can’t imagine that he didn’t die now
can’t imagine that he didn’t die now
can’t imagine that he didn’t die now I’ve worked for over six years on this
I’ve worked for over six years on this
I’ve worked for over six years on this issue because I believe that the system
issue because I believe that the system
issue because I believe that the system we have is deeply problematic and that
we have is deeply problematic and that
we have is deeply problematic and that there isn’t enough support for these
there isn’t enough support for these
there isn’t enough support for these families in my experience the inmates
families in my experience the inmates
families in my experience the inmates tend to come from ethnic minority groups
tend to come from ethnic minority groups
tend to come from ethnic minority groups and they also tend to come from
and they also tend to come from
and they also tend to come from relatively low income backgrounds or
relatively low income backgrounds or
relatively low income backgrounds or situations where their choices and
situations where their choices and
situations where their choices and opportunities were more limited than the
opportunities were more limited than the
opportunities were more limited than the ones that many of us in this room have
ones that many of us in this room have
ones that many of us in this room have ever had when someone is arrested and
ever had when someone is arrested and
ever had when someone is arrested and charged is a capital offense it throws
charged is a capital offense it throws
charged is a capital offense it throws their family into the system of very
their family into the system of very
their family into the system of very intimidating court trials and very
intimidating court trials and very
intimidating court trials and very confusing legalese the families
confusing legalese the families
confusing legalese the families themselves have committed no crime but
themselves have committed no crime but
themselves have committed no crime but often face the same stigma that the
often face the same stigma that the
often face the same stigma that the death row inmate is faced with which
death row inmate is faced with which
death row inmate is faced with which makes it even more difficult for them to
makes it even more difficult for them to
makes it even more difficult for them to talk openly about what has happened but
talk openly about what has happened but
talk openly about what has happened but we see wife suddenly become single
we see wife suddenly become single
we see wife suddenly become single parents having to care for children at
parents having to care for children at
parents having to care for children at home and anxious husband’s in prison
home and anxious husband’s in prison
home and anxious husband’s in prison we’ve seen parents religiously
we’ve seen parents religiously
we’ve seen parents religiously presenting themselves at Changi Prison
presenting themselves at Changi Prison
presenting themselves at Changi Prison every week just to see their child
every week just to see their child
every week just to see their child behind a pane of glass for less than an
behind a pane of glass for less than an
behind a pane of glass for less than an hour and I’ve also set with siblings in
hour and I’ve also set with siblings in
hour and I’ve also set with siblings in court and watch them struggle to follow
court and watch them struggle to follow
court and watch them struggle to follow the proceedings proceedings which would
the proceedings proceedings which would
the proceedings proceedings which would be very difficult to understand if you
be very difficult to understand if you
be very difficult to understand if you didn’t have a law degree
didn’t have a law degree
didn’t have a law degree even if English was your first language
even if English was your first language
even if English was your first language which very often for these people it’s
which very often for these people it’s
which very often for these people it’s not but there is a silver lining to
not but there is a silver lining to
not but there is a silver lining to being in court because usually what
being in court because usually what
being in court because usually what happens is after the court hearing the
happens is after the court hearing the
happens is after the court hearing the family is allowed to speak to the inmate
family is allowed to speak to the inmate
family is allowed to speak to the inmate they go up to the dock and like prison
they go up to the dock and like prison
they go up to the dock and like prison there is a pane of glass separating the
there is a pane of glass separating the
there is a pane of glass separating the prisoner from everyone else but unlike
prisoner from everyone else but unlike
prisoner from everyone else but unlike prison there is a slit in this glass
prison there is a slit in this glass
prison there is a slit in this glass that allows the inmate to speak to
that allows the inmate to speak to
that allows the inmate to speak to interpreters or lawyers and time after
interpreters or lawyers and time after
interpreters or lawyers and time after time I’ve seen the family members go up
time I’ve seen the family members go up
time I’ve seen the family members go up to that slit and put their hands through
to that slit and put their hands through
to that slit and put their hands through to the waiting inmates on the other side
to the waiting inmates on the other side
to the waiting inmates on the other side and this slit is not big enough for them
and this slit is not big enough for them
and this slit is not big enough for them to hold hands but just to touch
to hold hands but just to touch
to hold hands but just to touch fingertips sometimes they do this and
fingertips sometimes they do this and
fingertips sometimes they do this and then they pray and sometimes they just
then they pray and sometimes they just
then they pray and sometimes they just talk but always always they hold on
talk but always always they hold on
talk but always always they hold on tight because it’s the only time that
tight because it’s the only time that
tight because it’s the only time that they can touch each other we actually
they can touch each other we actually
they can touch each other we actually know very little about what goes on in
know very little about what goes on in
know very little about what goes on in Changi Prison because the death penalty
Changi Prison because the death penalty
Changi Prison because the death penalty in Singapore is shrouded in secrecy
in Singapore is shrouded in secrecy
in Singapore is shrouded in secrecy everyone who works with death row
everyone who works with death row
everyone who works with death row inmates the prison officers the
inmates the prison officers the
inmates the prison officers the counselors the doctors the executioner
counselors the doctors the executioner
counselors the doctors the executioner himself or herself we don’t know who
himself or herself we don’t know who
himself or herself we don’t know who that is a bound by the Official Secrets
that is a bound by the Official Secrets
that is a bound by the Official Secrets Act to not talk about what goes on but
Act to not talk about what goes on but
Act to not talk about what goes on but sometimes we hear from the inmates
sometimes we hear from the inmates
sometimes we hear from the inmates themselves and through conversations
themselves and through conversations
themselves and through conversations with the families my colleagues and I
with the families my colleagues and I
with the families my colleagues and I glean an insight into a life on death
glean an insight into a life on death
glean an insight into a life on death row and what it must be like to just be
row and what it must be like to just be
row and what it must be like to just be sitting there waiting
sitting there waiting
sitting there waiting we hear about the friendships that form
we hear about the friendships that form
we hear about the friendships that form between the cells we hear about the
between the cells we hear about the
between the cells we hear about the support and the solidarity that grows we
support and the solidarity that grows we
support and the solidarity that grows we are told that when an execution is
are told that when an execution is
are told that when an execution is imminent the inmate is allowed a budget
imminent the inmate is allowed a budget
imminent the inmate is allowed a budget to choose whatever they want for their
to choose whatever they want for their
to choose whatever they want for their last meal but that they sometimes choose
last meal but that they sometimes choose
last meal but that they sometimes choose instead to use that money on their
instead to use that money on their
instead to use that money on their friends so like they will buy a can of
friends so like they will buy a can of
friends so like they will buy a can of coke for everybody on death row they are
coke for everybody on death row they are
coke for everybody on death row they are then allowed to go from cell to cell
then allowed to go from cell to cell
then allowed to go from cell to cell they shake hands and they say farewell
they shake hands and they say farewell
they shake hands and they say farewell and we are told by the other inmates
and we are told by the other inmates
and we are told by the other inmates that they can hear the opening sump of
that they can hear the opening sump of
that they can hear the opening sump of the trapdoor from their cells and that’s
the trapdoor from their cells and that’s
the trapdoor from their cells and that’s how they know it’s over and on death row
how they know it’s over and on death row
how they know it’s over and on death row they call this being sent back or going
they call this being sent back or going
they call this being sent back or going home people like ko JA Bing or like Gigi
home people like ko JA Bing or like Gigi
home people like ko JA Bing or like Gigi okay Steven OBO her who was executed in
okay Steven OBO her who was executed in
okay Steven OBO her who was executed in November last year for trafficking 2
November last year for trafficking 2
November last year for trafficking 2 kilos of cannabis have broken
kilos of cannabis have broken
kilos of cannabis have broken Singapore’s laws is true others on death
Singapore’s laws is true others on death
Singapore’s laws is true others on death row have committed even more heinous
row have committed even more heinous
row have committed even more heinous crimes like multiple murders but the
crimes like multiple murders but the
crimes like multiple murders but the important thing is that the death
important thing is that the death
important thing is that the death penalty system is not of their doing it
penalty system is not of their doing it
penalty system is not of their doing it is of ours it is a system that we choose
is of ours it is a system that we choose
is of ours it is a system that we choose to implement and we are one of a
to implement and we are one of a
to implement and we are one of a decreasing number of countries around
decreasing number of countries around
decreasing number of countries around the world to do so and because it’s
the world to do so and because it’s
the world to do so and because it’s something that we choose to do then we
something that we choose to do then we
something that we choose to do then we need to do what we condemn criminals for
need to do what we condemn criminals for
need to do what we condemn criminals for not doing we need to actually pay
not doing we need to actually pay
not doing we need to actually pay attention we need to think about the
attention we need to think about the
attention we need to think about the consequences and the impact of our
consequences and the impact of our
consequences and the impact of our actions on other human beings and we
actions on other human beings and we
actions on other human beings and we need to ask ourselves whether what we’re
need to ask ourselves whether what we’re
need to ask ourselves whether what we’re doing is right
doing is right
doing is right decades of research in the u.s. have not
decades of research in the u.s. have not
decades of research in the u.s. have not been able to conclude that the death
been able to conclude that the death
been able to conclude that the death penalty deters crimes like murder and
penalty deters crimes like murder and
penalty deters crimes like murder and there is a lack of similar research in
there is a lack of similar research in
there is a lack of similar research in Singapore and so there’s actually no way
Singapore and so there’s actually no way
Singapore and so there’s actually no way that we can save any certainty that the
that we can save any certainty that the
that we can save any certainty that the death penalty and all these executions
death penalty and all these executions
death penalty and all these executions are any more effective than any other
are any more effective than any other
are any more effective than any other punishment that we already have in our
punishment that we already have in our
punishment that we already have in our criminal justice system
criminal justice system
criminal justice system I will never actually have enough time
I will never actually have enough time
I will never actually have enough time to fully convey to you the human
to fully convey to you the human
to fully convey to you the human experience of the death penalty in Singh
experience of the death penalty in Singh
experience of the death penalty in Singh and there’s just so much that we still
and there’s just so much that we still
and there’s just so much that we still don’t know information is very hard to
don’t know information is very hard to
don’t know information is very hard to come about there is no official
come about there is no official
come about there is no official information on the number of people
information on the number of people
information on the number of people currently sitting on Singapore’s death
currently sitting on Singapore’s death
currently sitting on Singapore’s death row although our estimate puts it at
row although our estimate puts it at
row although our estimate puts it at about 20 men we don’t know about the
about 20 men we don’t know about the
about 20 men we don’t know about the women because we don’t hear from female
women because we don’t hear from female
women because we don’t hear from female inmates these are the names of some of
inmates these are the names of some of
inmates these are the names of some of the men that we know to be on death row
the men that we know to be on death row
the men that we know to be on death row some of them could be executed by the
some of them could be executed by the
some of them could be executed by the time the year is out which means more
time the year is out which means more
time the year is out which means more post photos for more families and what
post photos for more families and what
post photos for more families and what we do know is that in the months and
we do know is that in the months and
we do know is that in the months and years to come
years to come
years to come there will be more men and women who are
there will be more men and women who are
there will be more men and women who are be sitting in the dock and they will be
be sitting in the dock and they will be
be sitting in the dock and they will be sentenced to death and they will join
sentenced to death and they will join
sentenced to death and they will join these names who waits for that date with
these names who waits for that date with
these names who waits for that date with the gallows and we know that we’ll see
the gallows and we know that we’ll see
the gallows and we know that we’ll see these families in court and that these
these families in court and that these
these families in court and that these families will go out to the glass and
families will go out to the glass and
families will go out to the glass and they will put their hands through and
they will put their hands through and
they will put their hands through and they will hold on tight but what I want
they will hold on tight but what I want
they will hold on tight but what I want to leave you with today at the end of
to leave you with today at the end of
to leave you with today at the end of this long day of inspiring talks about
this long day of inspiring talks about
this long day of inspiring talks about the diversity and you know wonders of
the diversity and you know wonders of
the diversity and you know wonders of life and human experiences is the
life and human experiences is the
life and human experiences is the question of while these families are
question of while these families are
question of while these families are holding on tight what will we be doing
holding on tight what will we be doing
holding on tight what will we be doing thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
Be First to Comment