SanLu death sentences not the solution says Amnesty NZ

Amnesty International unreservedly condemns the decision to execute the two men responsible for the SanLu tainted milk tragedy, and continues to raise concerns about New Zealand's implication in the scandal.

"While we express sympathy for the victims of this tragedy, the death penalty will not put right the immense suffering caused by these men," says Patrick Holmes, CEO of Amnesty New Zealand.

Amnesty is urging the New Zealand Government to speak out strongly against the executions, following this country's history of opposing the death penalty.

"New Zealand took a lead in bringing about a global suspension of the death penalty, and now with our position as a preferential trading partner with China, we must send the message that the death penalty is not the answer," adds Holmes.

Amnesty has repeatedly raised concerns about the NZ-China FTA, and the consequences of such a relationship on human rights.

"How can we be sure that the SanLu officials were given fair trials and will not be ill-treated in prison? And how will Chinese and New Zealand authorities address both labour and consumer rights before further incidents happen?"

"We cannot let the economic advantages gained from a trading partnership with China come in the way of our global reputation for standing up for human rights."

"The death penalty is the ultimate, cruel and inhumane punishment and New Zealand must take a stand to prevent further abuses of human rights within this and any other trading relationship," says Holmes.

Background:
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases, anywhere in the world. The death penalty violates both the right to life, and right to not be tortured or subject to any cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.

In 2007, New Zealand played a leading role in the UN adoption of a global moratorium on executions, voted in by 104 nations. 137 countries have now abolished the death penalty.

China executes more people each year than any other country in the world. Amnesty International estimated that at least 470 people were executed in 2007 and 1,860 sentenced to death. However these figures are believed to be far higher, as death penalty statistics are regarded as a state secret, so impossible to verify.

Visit http://www.amnesty.org.nz/deathpenalty for more information about Amnesty's position on the death penalty.

Amnesty International NZ is not opposed to the NZ-China FTA or any other preferential trade agreements, but does express concern at the weak level of human rights obligations included in these agreements. To see Amnesty’s submissions to the NZ Government on the NZ-China FTA, visit http://www.amnesty.org.nz/campaigns/AI_Submissions

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