Remember Nguyen Tuong Van? : Melbourne Indymedia

Days to execution: Unknown

As far as I know, 24-year-old Melbourne man Nguyen Tuong Van is still in a cell at Singapore’s Changi Prison facing execution. He will be given less than 24 hours notice of his hanging; and we won’t be told until it is done. The Australian Government and our media are failing him miserably. After ten months on death row, Nguyen Tuong Van should be a household name.

I remember back when I was eleven years old. I was at a friend’s place and like most Australian homes the television was blaring constantly in the background. I vividly remember stopping to watch a report that Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers had been executed and I remember a horrible feeling as I tried to make sense of what had just happened.

Barlow and Chambers were hanged in Malaysia on July 07, 1986 for the alleged trafficking of 141.9 grams of heroin. Back then, I didn’t really know what heroin was, but I knew who Barlow and Chambers were.

The Australian media lapped up the Barlow and Chambers case, using it to sell more and more newspapers and to increase the ratings on their news and current affairs programs. Australia’s press gallery went into a frenzy in an attempt to save the men.

For political reasons, this media pressure backfired. Rajendran Kuppusamy, the Malaysian hangman who performed the executions, told the Sydney Daily Telegraph newspaper in 1996 that the case was rushed through the Malaysian legal system.

"The Attorney-General wanted us to make it fast, he didn't want to delay the case," said Kuppusamy. "It was really fast because they were getting pressure from all over."

Facing an election, Malaysian President Dr Mahathir Mohamad was under immense pressure to show that he was the man prepared to stand-up against the West - against White people.

Once the executions had happened the Australian news barons dropped the story as quickly as the two young Australians had dropped through the trapdoor in Pudu Prison.

The journalists returned to their usual mundane reporting and the issue was dead. They might have failed to prevent the executions, and possibly even contributed to the executions being rushed, but Australia’s press gallery had succeeded in imprinting the names Barlow and Chambers firmly in the Australian psyche.

Almost twenty years after the deaths of Barlow and Chambers, Nguyen Tuong Van, on his first trip overseas from Australia, was arrested at Singapore airport. Police alleged that Nguyen was in possession of 400g of heroin. A Singapore court sentenced him to death for this crime in March 2004.

In stark contrast to events in 1986, Nguyen Tuong Van has been virtually ignored by the Australian Government and the media. Michael Fay, the white American kid who damaged a car or two and was flogged by the Singapore Government with the rattan cane, received more attention from the Australian media than this young Aussie from Melbourne. Nguyen Tuong Van is definitely not a household name!

Why are the media ignoring Nguyen? Is it because they can’t pronounce his name or is the real reason a little more insidious than that? I mean, Schapelle Corby doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue and she has been turned into a media celebrity, not to mention the millionaire Aussie yachtsman Chris Packer, recently released from an Indonesian jail after serving three months for failing to declare firearms.

I don’t want to take away from the seriousness of Schapelle’s situation. This young woman may also face the death penalty if she is found guilty of her alleged crime. Her trial has even been invaded by an Indonesian anti-drugs group demanding her execution.

With regards to media reporting though, there is obviously some sort of double standard happening.

Brian Chambers, Kevin Barlow, Schapelle Corby and Chris Packer all have one thing in common. They are all white Australians. Nguyen Tuong Van’s crime is that he is an Australian of Vietnamese origin. Australia’s predominantly white journalists (and our white Prime Minister) have written him off as just another Viet boy dealing smack, just like they write off the residents of the Block in Redfern and Cabramatta in Sydney.

Like Singapore’s judiciary, they ignore Nguyen’s claims that he was only carrying the drugs in a desperate bid to pay off legal fees owed by his twin brother to a Sydney-based drugs syndicate.

During a recent visit to Singapore, Australian Prime Minister John Howard held a meeting with his counterpart Lee Hsien Loong where he put forward a half-hearted request for clemency. Mr Howard told the Melbourne Age; "I believe there's a very good case for clemency but people must understand that the laws of Singapore are well known and I think we'll leave it at that."

Responding to the Age reporters question on whether the execution of Nguyen would have an impact on bilateral relations between the two countries, Howard said: "Look, I think we have to keep a balance here."

What he is saying is that Australia’s military relationship with Singapore is worth more to us economically than Nguyen Tuong Van. The Republic of Singapore Air Force has aircraft and personnel permanently stationed at the Pearce air force base north of Perth and Singaporean fighter jets and naval vessels are regularly in and out of the Northern Australian city of Darwin. Australian military personnel provide ongoing training to Singapore’s soldiers, sailors and airmen and Australian naval vessels are often in Singapore undergoing repairs that would cost ten times as much back home.

Our military alliance and the subsequent boost to the Australian economy is not the only reason Howard is dragging his feet on this case. Singapore isn’t in the midst of an election and there doesn’t seem to be too much pressure from Singaporeans for Nguyen to be put to death. Sadly it looks like race is a factor in Howard’s laissez faire approach to Nguyen’s pending execution. Surely little Johnny wouldn’t let a white boy hang so easily? If Nguyen was called Barry and he was from Vaucluse or Sydney’s North Shore, Howard would be doing everything in his power to stop the hanging.

The Australian Prime Minister is acutely aware that the island nation has executed more than four hundred people since 1991, mostly for drug trafficking, giving Singapore the dubious distinction of having the highest execution rate in the world relative to population. If Nguyen hangs, Howard will have the dubious distinction of being the Prime Minister who sat by while a young Australian went to the gallows, just like he sat by while 353 asylum seekers drowned in the SievX disaster.

Nguyen awaits the results of John Howard’s request for clemency. We can only hope and pray that 81-year-old Singaporean President, Sellapan Ramanathan Nathan, will find it in his heart to call off the execution.

In the meantime, you might want to contact your local media and ask them one question; do they remember Nguyen Tuong Van?

As for Schapelle, we train Indonesia’s troops too. This could be a sticky one for the Australian Prime Minister. Let’s just hope that she gets a fair trial and that some sanity prevails in Bali.

[End article]

Gary Meyerhoff is a freelance journalist and an active member of the Darwin-based drug law-reform group the Network Against Prohibition (http://www.napnt.org).

This article was published in the NAPNT email digest on the 25th of February 2005. If you would like to receive the full NAP newsletter you can subscribe to the NAPNT yahoogroup at the following link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/napnt.

More resources on Nguyen Tuong Van:

A plea to Singapore President
http://www.angelfire.com/stars/dorina/media.html

Article on Barlow and Chambers
http://www.angelfire.com/stars/dorina/barlowchambers.html

Singapore upholds death penalty for Australian
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1489/a03.html?11507

Australian Coalition Against Death Penalty
http://acadp.com/

Wikipedia article on Singapore’s President Sellapan Ramanathan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._R._Nathan

Wikipedia article on Singapore
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore

For more info on SievX see
http://sievx.com/

This article on the NAP website (with some more media articles)
http://www.napnt.org/pages/nguyen_tuong_van.html

although i believe in abolition i feel its in just that a ex cop who allegedly sexualy molestered a 14 yo girl may be doin time in australia under the prisoner exchange law in australia becouse the jail in africa he may get killed by the inmates , why doesnt the australian government help this young man who got court with a couple of grams of herion

And that little shit, John O' War who cowtowed to the Amerikkkans and joined in all of their insane crusades - the war on drugs and the war on terra. Bad craziness but no excuse, why one day you may hang, yes you who are directly responsible for all the massive police corruption, the murders and the tortures and the rapes.

You wont hang or be shot in a Singapore style police state that you seem to want us free aussies to suffer under but you will be shot or hung one way or another.

If there's any global justice.

Kerry shitheel Stokes promised us a scoop on Singapore spying on all the massive data that gets funneled through their dirty bird satellites - of course he reneged being the lying deadshit turd that he has always been - don't worry he still makes a packet selling Amerikkkan Caterpiller tractors though - the same armoured tractors used to run over peace activists like Rachael Corrie and Palestinian farmers homes.
So why not swap this white trash of asia, this maggot Kerry Stokes who is a leech and a real criminal for a hostage that the criminal secret police state of Singapore is holding?

Just create a boycott singapore campaign and invite the singapore tourism bureau. the place is fake and hyped up anyway. btw it's also a dictatorship, so like Saddam we should invade and bomb the fuck out of this joint with radioactive bullets.

cheers

...or DON'T TRAFFIC DRUGS OUT OF SINGAPORE.

A strategy guaranteed to save your neck from the gallows.

I am afraid that no-one DOES care. The only ones who seemed interested in Barlow and Chambers were abolitionists or those who thought (somehow) that they were innocent or those who feel (like maybe I see here with some comments) that the justice system of these countries can never be like 'ours'. When they were executed and the family commented about them being guilty, a lot of them might have dropped off then and there.

Those who believe in execution and who are that anti drug were never there in the first place. They couldnt care less now either. And 400 grams isnt 'a few' that might change their minds.

The uproar about the white American to be caned went down like a lead ballon in the USA when the overwhelming feeling was in favour of it, the 'should be like that here' response.

Maybe the abolitionists are not there because of race.

At least someone is trying.

Gary Meyerhoff is saying that if Nguyen Troung Van had an
anglo saxon name the Australian Government and media would be doing their best to save him from execution.
Mr Meyerhoff in comparing Ms Schapelle Corby and Mr Packer Remember that Corby was entering Bali the drug was marijuana not heroin and she is pleading innocent. Packer was not charged with any drug related offences . Nguyen on the other hand was by his own admission guilty and it is unlikely he did not know about Singapores laws and penaltys. The man was trying to import "white death" into Australia . Nguyen deserves no sympathy
lets just hope his pending death will serve as a reminder to others who want to deal in drugs. If only Australia would adopt some of Singapores laws .

Robert McNab must be living in Disneyland.
Open your eyes Mr McNab ... it's always the small fish that get executed. The corrupt big fish in political and law enforcement establishments never ever get caught, and never ever get executed.
Wake up and smell the roses!

Miss
by Priscilla C. Sunday October 30, 2005 at 06:59 AM
priscillac22@hotmail.com +61733763543 52 Arrabri Ave Jindalee 4076 Brisbane

As a freelence journalist and catholic I dont agree in the killing of a other human. Through execution or terroism. For gods sake this person is only a boy how was put in a bad situation.

He will die for carrying herion on his body through Singqpore Airport. CAN YOU NOT IMAGINE WHAT HE IS GOING THROUGH?

Two wrongs dont make a right he deserves a life sentance and not put to death, like some animal. Only god can rely decide death I think its wrong if a cabinate decides who lives and who dies. It is called murder. Any crime that is not a crime against humanity which inculdes murder or terriorsim, should have life sentance. I dont see drug trafficking as a first degree crime. He derserves a chance.

Anyway if he wanted to do a stupid thing like that, he should have gone to Hong Kong maybe that would have saved his life

kill the fucker........ come to melbourne or sydney and you will see that a decent portion of his community are dealing in drugs and or are on drugs...........

I being a Singaporean support that death penalty deter drug traffricking. What if your sons and daughters are hooked on drug. What would you said to those people who bring about destruction throught the abuse of drugs. I definitely want a safe place to live in.

Anyone that has succumed to the misfortunes of being either robbed, assaulted or harrassed by a smack crazed low life would pro'ly agree with the Singaporean laws. I have been in that situation. Once, woken up at 5am with some junkie standing over my bed ready to do whatever.... and again, stabbed whilst walking into a shop during an armed hold up and then again, almost being mugged on tram of all places by a pair of these drugged up arseholes, now I still can't sleep at nights and my life's a mess. The worst part is, if they do the crime and get caught, they don't get much more than a slap on the wrist and they're out and about doing it again 'cause they don't give a crap. Yet victims suffer forever. People talk about his rights, well what about my rights? There is no deterent in our society and let's not kid ourselves, it's only going to escalate. They don't care when they're murdering us, or robbing us, or bashing us, or humiliating us, or scaring us to death, so why should we care what happens to them? He's dead, I'm so glad he's dead, now let's get the rest of them, and eventually all us victims might finally get some peace.

All I can say is that the countries who give death penalties for drug trafficking & drinking and driving, or that physically punish people for spray-painting cars (and yes I mean South East Asia!!!) are living in Midevil times. This is plain murder and much bigger crime in itself. If such laws were applied in the US, 70% of population would be wiped out. Do you think that if Nguyen was given 10 solid years in prison, he would come out wanting to repeat his mistake? Why doesn't anyone over there understands this? These laws are too harsh, and thus, very disturbing. Many people and countries are looking down today on Singapore for the murder it has committed. In response to the man in Singapore who said that he wouldn't want to see his siblings hooked on drugs....if you have good values and the right upbringing then I don't think you need to worry about getting hooked on drugs. And if you choose to become a junkie and screw up your life then you have no one to blame but yourself.

I guess he won't be eating any more pho after this. I wonder if he gets to eat that before he swings?

If you don't know what "pho" is, well, just click on the link.

http://www.ellipticmovies.com/ballsdeep.php

Aren't we are Australian's hypocrites?

We Australian’s condemn the death penalty only when other nations execute one of our own. Why? Because we are ass-holes.

Don’t you believe me? Then read the following:

On 16 February 2003 the Australian PM said in a Sunday morning television interview that the Bali bombers “should be dealt with in accordance with Indonesian law. …and if [the death penalty] is what the law of Indonesia provides, well, that is how things should proceed. There won’t be any protest from Australia”.

In early March 2003 the PM told US television that he would welcome the death penalty for Osama Bin Laden. “I think everybody would”, Mr Howard said.

In response to these comments:

“Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia would not intervene if bin Laden was to be executed. ‘I personally have never supported the death penalty but in the case of Osama bin Laden, I don’t think that too many tears would be shed if he was executed, bearing in mind all the people he’s responsible for killing.”

See I told you!

Now why don’t we want the lives Bali bombers spared? Because they are not Australian. See we are ass-holes.

Now read this:

JOHN Howard has denied it is hypocritical to seek clemency for Australians facing the death penalty abroad, but not to oppose it for deposed Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein.

The Prime Minister, disturbed by the death of Nguyen Tuong Van, has promised Canberra will campaign for clemency should any of the Bali Nine be condemned to death in Indonesia.
Mr Howard said yesterday his opposition to capital punishment did not extend to Saddam, the former Iraq dictator on trial in Baghdad for genocide.
"It's not hypocritical, it's just human," he told Melbourne radio after Van's execution yesterday morning.
"You bring your own subjective judgment about the quality of the behaviour involved in the action that has led to the imposition of the death penalty."
While reluctant to speak on the fate of the nine Australians facing heroin charges in Bali, Mr Howard guaranteed support for other Australians sentenced to death in foreign countries.
"Clearly, if people in the future are sentenced to death, Australian citizens, we will advocate clemency," he said.

How about this one:

Three more Australians are reported to be on death row in Asia following the execution of Nguyen Tuong Van in Singapore on Friday.

The Sunday Telegraph newspaper says Mai Cong Thanh, 46, from Melbourne, and Nguyen Van Chinh, 45, from NSW, are facing death in Vietnam after being convicted of conspiring to smuggle heroin into Australia. The other Australian, Henry Chhin, is in jail in China after being arrested in May last year and convicted last March of trying to send 270 grams of methamphetamine to Australia.

It says they lost their appeals against the death sentence earlier this year, and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is supporting calls for clemency.

The paper says that in the past Vietnam has commuted the death sentences of several Australians after pleas by the Australian government.

As I said, we are self serving Australian ass-holes.
Yes we are Australians4Australians

What I find even more amazing is the way in which Australians ignore the plight of victims of crime, even those who are murdered; unless of course the murderer is from another country, then he/she (the murderer) is barbaric, evil, or a terrorist. Otherwise the victims and their families are left to fight their own battles.

The public don't have a 5 min silence for these victims, the churches don't ring bells in memory of the victims, and the media soldom mention them; but even worse the public don't care until the criminal gets out and attacks them, then we are back to square one again and the new victim is just another statistic.

What's wrong with having a little bit of heroin? It's not like these druff offenders go out and kill bunch of people!

There is an enormous difference between killing masses of people and possessing drugs. Therefore, many people, including the PM of Australia, feel differently about about the type of punisment that should be given in both scenarios.

P.S. And on another note, how lame is it to ticket people for chewing gum or for bad posture? Unbelievable!

Do you guys actually think that distributing drugs automatically turns you into a raper, murderer, or store robber? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! I don't know, I hear of horrible crimes committed everyday by SOBER people.

Why don't you guys go to Western Europe or Americas and see that there are many people who use drugs and are not evil. I don't understand why someone who is high is a danger to you. I don't do drugs but have many friends that do and they are far from the criminals that you guys imagine. The truth is, you don't know anything. You just assume that being high is bad because you have never been around it.

Let me ask you this. What is a higer crime? 1.) to kill someone or 2.) to do or sale drugs?.........that's why it was extremely wrong to kill Nguyen. Trust me, this has been pissing me off and and many other people on the other side of the world.

Not a white guy.
If he were a white guy would we care more?

Sorry to butt in, but there are no high crimes just as there are no soft drugs or raping just a little bit.

its all not worth the effort, and if you needdrugs forb anything more than a friday night, there is something seriously wrong with your life.

Admit it or fix it, but don't look for encouragement, I don't sell the stuff.

Whathisname took a chance with his life.
His life had a value.
He appraised it himself
His life was worth the equiverlent of 400grams of heroin.

Sold to the man with the long rope.

but I’m not sure on the open market he could have got as much, I think it was not worth the gamble, but its not my place to say, not my choice to make, but perhaps by dieing he has saved some one else from being so foolish.

The world loses an idiot.

plenty more.

It is far easier to join the americans in afghanistane and help the economic recovery by shipping coffins loaded with hammer, like the Americans do.

Remember we are a country made of convicts. So we must remember our history and England. If they killed all of us, there would be no Australia

This is Miss Chois lawyer, you are a convicted Felon and living off women. Only pimps like you who have nothing to do but slender people who have nothing to do but try and help people. Sticks and stones my break her bones but names will never hurt her. Im sure News Corporation lawyers would like to take up this slender suit on our client.

you can contact me.
ccomino@ihlaw.com.au
Im the Ladys lawyer

Remember we are a country made of convicts. So we must remember our history and England. If they killed all of us, there would be no Australia