US embassy cable - 05SINGAPORE3416

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 003416 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, AS, SN 
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE TO EXECUTE AUSTRALIAN DRUG TRAFFICKER 
 
REF: SINGAPORE 367 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: On Friday, December 2, Singapore will 
execute Australian citizen Nguyen Tuong Van for heroin 
smuggling.  Local media have covered the many different pleas 
for clemency from Australia as well as criticism of 
Singapore's tough punishments.  At the same time, the media 
have relayed the GOS's rationale for mandatory imposition of 
the death penalty in certain drug trafficking cases and the 
need to avoid a "double standard" for foreigners. The GOA's 
low-key approach for clemency has failed, but a more strident 
approach toward the GOS would have both failed and soured 
relations.  End Summary. 
 
Sentence Is Death 
----------------- 
 
2. (U) Singapore arrested Australian Nguyen Tuong Van in 
December 2002 at Changi Airport on his way to Melbourne from 
Cambodia.  He had approximately 396 grams of heroin in his 
possession, reportedly enough for 26,000 street doses.  He 
was convicted on March 20, 2004, and given the death 
sentence, mandatory for trafficking heroin over 15 grams. 
Nguyen has not contested his guilt or the facts of the case. 
 
GOA's Low-Key Approach 
---------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) The GOA has appealed quietly and behind closed doors 
for clemency.  The Australian High Commission Political 
Counselor told us the GOA approach emphasized that, while 
Australia did not take issue with Singapore's use of the 
death penalty, compelling facts called for mitigation in the 
Nguyen case.  The GOA raised the issue when Nguyen was first 
arrested in December 2002 by trying--unsuccessfully--to get 
the charge reduced. Prime Minister Howard also raised the 
Nguyen case when he visited Singapore in January 2005 
(Reftel).  The GOA most recently helped facilitate a contact 
meeting between Nguyen and his mother, who had requested that 
the GOS allow her to hug her son before his execution.  The 
GOS agreed to allow them to hold hands.  The Pol Counselor 
stated that, while both the GOA and the GOS have been careful 
not to let the Nguyen case affect bilateral relations, there 
is a personal dimension to the case that most Australians 
feel, and Australian media coverage reflects this. 
 
GOS Won't Budge 
--------------- 
 
4. (SBU) Prime Minister Lee has praised Prime Minister Howard 
for avoiding "megaphone diplomacy" and for raising the issue 
in "an effective but non-confrontational way." The 
government-linked Straits Times has carried many articles and 
letters from Singaporeans and Australians arguing both sides 
of the issue.  The GOA's pleas for clemency, however, have 
fallen on deaf ears.  President Nathan noted to the Charge 
that a foreign government's request for clemency when 
delivered via the media leaves the GOS no option but to stand 
firm. 
 
5. (U) PM Lee has argued Singapore must take a firm stand 
against drug trafficking--using the death penalty--to protect 
its citizens from drug abuse and ensure that Singapore does 
not become a transit center.  He noted that the law is 
applied equally, both to Singaporeans and to foreigners. 
(Note: On May 13, Singaporean Shanmugam Murugesu was executed 
for importing one kilogram of cannabis.  End Note.) 
 
Singapore Public Opinion 
------------------------ 
 
6. (U) Singapore public opposition to the death penalty 
appears to be limited.  On November 7, a local NGO, the Think 
Centre, organized a forum and vigil for Nguyen, which 
approximately 100 people attended.  Opposition figure Dr. 
Chee Soon Juan spoke at the vigil and argued for abolition of 
the death penalty.  The Think Centre has also campaigned for 
a moratorium on the death penalty in drug cases. 
 
7. (SBU) Comment:  The GOS is proud of its tough 
law-and-order reputation, and no amount of public outcry in 
Australia would have changed its position in this case. While 
execution of a foreigner is rare, the GOS doesn't want to 
create the impression of a double standard. Public debate of 
the appropriateness of the death penalty for drug cases will 
continue in the usual muted fashion.  End Comment. 
HERBOLD