Singapore execution a warning to young, says Howard

John Howard

CANBERRA - The execution of an Australian drug smuggler in Singapore should serve as a warning to other young Australians, Prime Minister John Howard said today as church bells tolled and tears were shed for Tuong Van Nguyen.

Nugyen was hanged shortly before dawn (11.00am NZDT) in Singapore for smuggling 400 grams of heroin from Cambodia through the city-state's Changi airport in 2002 in a case that has polarised and divided Australians.

"I hope the strongest message that comes out of this ... is a message to the young of Australia -- don't have anything to do with drugs, don't use them, don't touch them, don't carry them, don't traffic in them," Howard told Australian radio.

"Don't imagine for a moment that you can risk carrying drugs anywhere is Asia without suffering the most severe consequences."

Howard said he felt sympathy for Nguyen's mother and had been disappointed by Singapore's "clinical response" to Australia's request that she be allowed to hug her son before his death. Singapore only allowed Nguyen's mother to hold his hand.

At the time of Nguyen's death, Howard said he was reflecting on the moment in his office at Parliament House in Canberra.

About 70 people, including Australian politicians, gathered outside the Singapore High Commission in Canberra with a banner reading "Oh Singapore, how could you?" while protesters clutching flowers rallied in Sydney and Melbourne.

Australian television networks crossed live to Changi Prison in Singapore throughout the morning and to an emotional church service in Melbourne where a bell tolled once for each of Nguyen's 25 years.

Several polls have shown that Australians have been divided over the execution of Nguyen, who said he smuggled the drugs to try and pay off a loan-shark debt for his brother in Australia.

"This is really the worst side of humanity -- that cruel, negative side that lurks there and that we keep down in the name of civilisation," minority Greens leader Bob Brown said outside the Singapore High Commission shortly before Nguyen's death.

"But it's come out today in the form of the Singaporean government and their prime minister." Australian Attorney-General Philip Ruddock on Thursday criticised the imposition of the death penalty and described Nguyen's execution as an "unfortunate, barbaric act".

Singapore is one of Australia's strongest allies in Asia and Howard has rejected calls for trade and military boycotts over the execution. Australia made repeated calls for clemency for Nguyen.

Nobody has been hanged in Australia since 1967 and the death penalty was abolished by states during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

- REUTERS