Singapore (CU)_ Hundreds of Singaporeans gathered at a candlelight vigil on Monday to express their opposition to the impending execution of the two Malaysians convicted of drug charges, amid calls from the United Nations for the city-state to spare their lives. Despite international outrage, Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, a mentally challenged man jailed in 2009 for heroin trafficking, is scheduled to be hung on Wednesday.
According to activists, another Malaysian named Datchinamurthy Kataiah, is due to be killed two days later. Over 400 Singaporeans assembled on Monday at downtown park’s “Speakers’ Corner,” the city- state’s only location where protests are permitted without prior police authorisation.
The protestors carried electric candles, torches, and placards that said “Abolish the death penalty” and “End oppression, not life.” The demonstrators yelled, “No more blood on our hands”, as well as “justice” and “freedom.” It was the second large protest against the death sentence in recent weeks in Singapore, a country where protests are uncommon.
Dharmalingamn was arrested after being discovered with a little bundle of heroin when he was only 21 years and lost a last-minute appeal against death penalty last month. According to his supporters, he has an IQ of 69, which is considered a disabled level, and was compelled into performing the crime. His case has drawn considerable condemnation, particularly from the European Union and wealthy British businessman Richard Branson.
Kataiah was arrested in 2011 on drug trafficking accusations and subsequently convicted. During the protest, his sister Sathirani expressed disbelief that her brother would be hanged for being a small-time courier. She explained, “He feels that the punishment is not fair”.
Singapore implemented its first execution last month since 2019. In addition to this week’s two cases, campaigners worry that subsequent hangings may occur in the following months. The city-state maintains the death penalty for a number of crimes, claiming that it has contributed to Singapore remaining one of Asia’s safest cities.
