DEATH PENALTY DEBATE

The murder of Irish honeymoon bride Michaela Harte- McAreavey has prompted renewed debate
about the death penalty.

Just last week, reacting to the killing of the tourist, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam briefly touched
on the death penalty for crimes such as murder. “ I respect the opinions of everybody ( referring to
those against capital punishment) but I have no choice.” There are many in Mauritius who back the
PM’s stance on the issue. There are also those who are vehemently opposed to the death penalty.

NEWSNOW’s Sheena Ramdonee talked to the president of the Mauritian branch of Amnesty
International, Mr Lindley Couronne, who believes that capital punishment means “trying to solve a
social ill by a criminal law”.

Mr Couronne, following the murder of the Irish tourist, the PM has once again talked of capital
punishment. What is Amnesty's view?

I can see that our politicians are very desperate.

They do not have any solution to the problem of rising violence, so they talk about such simplistic
measures to please the masses after every shocking crime. Capital punishment is not something to be
taken so lightly. The prime minister is himself not convinced if he wants to reintroduce the death
penalty in Mauritius. In 2008, he signed a moratorium against capital punishment at the UN but last
year when it had to be signed again, the Mauritian representative was nowhere to be seen there! This
shows the incoherence of the government.

What if death penalty becomes a reality in Mauritius?

This means that the Mauritian government will be going against the current as most countries which
had the death penalty are abolishing it. Introducing capital punishment will also mean that the
government has not got any solution to the law and order problem. We do not solve a social ill by
introducing a criminal law! Introducing capital punishment means not respecting basic human rights.

Amnesty is always talking about human rights. But what about the one who died? Did she not
have the same rights as the one who killed her?

We are not paid big amounts of the taxpayers’ money to find solutions to the rising problems of
society. It is the politicians who are paid to find the solutions. So they should do their job properly and
not just find populist solutions to reassure the population temporarily.

‘ What is needed is more social justice’.

It has never been proved that capital punishment helped decrease the criminality rate in any country.
Can the prime minister come and show us at least one country where the rate of

Amnesty says No
 Violence and crime has decreased because of capital
punishment? Take the example of the United States and its
neighbour, Canada. There is capital punishment in the US
but not in Canada; still the crime rate is higher in the US
than in Canada.

When the public see such horrendous crimes around

them, such as the rape and murder of little Samuella
Martin or the murder of the Michaela Harte, they
immediately think of the death penalty. Don't you think
that somehow such a situation is justified?

It is understandable that after every such brutal crime the

population is shocked and scared and wants such extreme
measures introduced. The anger of the population is
understandable but not that of our politicians.

They are the ones who should find solutions to the problems.

Our system is such that it creates much frustration among the population. To start with, the system of the
Certificate of Primary Education ( CPE) itself is such a violent system. At 11 years only a child is already
classified as a success or a failure. This means that annually some 10,000 children are already classed as
failures. I am surprised that for so many ‘ failures’ the crime rate is so low! The authorities and regulating
bodies should reflect upon the whole system if they really want to find a solution.

After every crime that is what we hear: reflection, think on how to solve the problem, set up committees.

But finally setting up reflection committees has not really solved the problem. The crime rate has
increased.

We live in a capitalistic society where one person gets Rs300,000 monthly while the other gets only
Rs3,000 so people are bound to get frustrated seeing so much injustice.

If changes have to be brought, then the whole structure should be changed. People should cry out, show
their indignation, and revolt against what’s unjust instead of being mere spectators. Being silent is what
leads to further violence.

The latest crime, Michaela Harte’s murder, has been the focus of much media attention but this does not
mean that Mauritius is a country with a high crime rate. If we compare it to South Africa, then the crime rate
is very low here.

Don't you think that's where the problem lies: we tend to give a number to everything instead of
trying to look at each case individually? Finally, victims are nothing more than mere stats...

I agree on this. But then, crime has always existed – since primitive times. It is not something new.

Somewhere, this primitive nature still exists in human beings. We believe in a just society. Yes you are
right to say that each case is one too much. But that does not mean the death penalty is the right solution.
Each case should be looked into. The authorities should do their share of work of trying to find solutions
and setting up the proper regulations and frameworks to work on the problems of society.

According to you, the death penalty is not the solution.So what is?
What about imprisonment... A person going to commit a crime does not think of the consequences of his
act. He just acts impulsively. It is only later, when it is too late, that he realises the seriousness of his acts.
And he realises his deeds even better when he is imprisoned, when he is deprived of his liberty. Depriving
someone of his freedom, according to me, is the best solution to make him realise the seriousness of his
acts. I cannot imagine myself deprived of my liberty to move around for a single day, so imagine those who
are imprisoned for years.

From Amnesty's point of view, how do you perceive the current situation?

We live in a contradictory society. But despite all the problems plaguing us, we are making considerable
efforts. We should remember that we have been independent for only 40 years and we are still building our
economy, our society. A lot still needs to be done. We still have efforts to make when it comes to human
rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, etc.

We tend to get hyper by reading or hearing about the cases of violence. But we should remember that
these few cases do not reflect the reality. The reality is far worse than what is seen to the naked eye.
Violence against women has always existed; it was even more common in earlier times, only it was not
brought to the public’s eye. Women were more victims of violence earlier.

One much- mediatised murder should not prompt talks of capital punishment. The death penalty has never
been the solution to violence and never will be.

www.newsnow.mu

20 January 2011