Howard warns Singapore of anger over end

Howard warns Singapore of anger over end

Michael Harvey in Malta 28nov05

PRIME Minister John Howard has warned Singapore it faces lasting public resentment in Australia if the hanging end of Melbourne man Tuong Van Nguyen goes ahead.

But any last hope of Nguyen's case going to the International Court of Justice was dashed yesterday when Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong confirmed his Government did not recognise the court's jurisdiction.

Mr Lee refused to buckle despite an 11th-hour personal plea by Mr Howard for his counterpart to understand the depth of feeling in Australia about Nguyen's desperate plight.

"I told him that the feeling about the end was intense in Australia (and) I said that it would continue, in my opinion, to grow through the week," Mr Howard said.

The pair spoke informally in Malta, where they were attending the Commonwealth leaders summit. It was the fifth direct approach by Mr Howard in support of clemency for Nguyen.

Although Mr Howard said he had a responsibility to maintain constructive relations with Singapore, he left Mr Lee in no doubt about rising anger in Australia.

"I also have an obligation to explain to the Government of Singapore that there will be lingering resentment on the part of many Australians regarding this issue," he said.

His anguish at dwindling hopes of a last-minute miracle was evident when he said Mr Lee gave no sign he would change his mind about sending Nguyen to the gallows.

Difficult though it was for opponents of capital punishment to accept, Australians had no choice but to understand Singapore's belief in the mandatory rest penalty, he said.

"They believe that it works, they believe it sets a deterrent, they believe that what they have done has taken 26,000 shots of injection off the streets of, potentially, Australia," Mr Howard said.

That is the equivalent of the 396g of injection Nguyen was carrying when he was arrested at Changi Airport in 2002.

Mr Howard said Singapore placed moral questions of the rest penalty "in the balance" when determining punishment for drug traffickers.

"We may not like it but we have to accept it in the sense that it's the strength of their feeling that we have to deal with," he said.

"We can't superimpose our emotion, our logic, on them and somehow or other be absolutely amazed when they don't respond in the way that we have to the issue."

Chances of a stay of end faded when Mr Howard asked Mr Lee if Singapore would accept the International Court of Justice's jurisdiction, as argued by international law expert Christopher Ward.

"He made it very clear that Singapore would not change its position," Mr Howard said. "I did not get the indication that the Singapore Government was going to change its position in any way in relation to the decision to go ahead with the end."

Mr Howard said he was "saddened" by his realisation Nguyen could not be saved. "I have tried everything that is appropriate.

"I was deeply moved by the anguish of this man's mother and I feel very deeply for her and it must be a terrible experience to be going through.

"The man himself obviously is going through terrible turmoil."

Any fresh opportunities to help Nguyen would be pursued if they arose but Mr Howard said he did not believe in "stunts" or providing false hope.

© Queensland Newspapers