GTF appeals for clemency
Friday, August 26, 2011
The President of India, Her Excellency Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, has rejected recently the clemency petitions of Mr. Perarivalan, Mr. Murugan and Mr. Santhan, the three men who have been sentenced to death for alleged involvement in the assassination of Honourable Mr Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.
The death of the former Indian Prime Minister was a tragedy, not just for the family but for the entire Indian Nation.
Mahatma Gandhi once said that “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”. A magnanimous act of clemency would not only reflect the values of the Father of the Nation but also the inherent decency of India and its people.
There have been concerns raised regarding the investigation into Mr Gandhi’s assassination and the manner in which the trial of the accused was conducted. In light of this and the irrevocable nature of the death penalty, the Global Tamil Forum calls on the Indian President to reconsider her decision to reject the mercy plea of Mr Perarivalan, Mr Murugan and Mr Santhan.
The right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment are recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments. The death penalty violates these fundamental tenets of human rights law.
Therefore, leniency is begged for the accused. Such compassion would be welcomed warmly by many around the world.