There must be something wrong with a system that sentences people to death over heroin or other illicit drugs. Especially when the sentence is applied blindly, disregarding any extenuating circumstances. In the case of Nguyen Tuong Van, he agreed to move the drugs from Vietnam to Australia in order to pay the debts of a brother who owed money to the wrong people. In two weeks time, he will be paying with his own life.

Without in anyway diminishing the horrible effects of drug addiction on the addicts and society, it may seem to be some kind of an imbalance to some people that crimes such as murder and extortion do not automatically attract the death penalty in Singapore. Neither does corruption (the higher the rank in governemnt the lower the penalty?).

While Nguyen’s life is seemingly facing an untimely end, the Australian government seems ready to turn a blind eye to the fate of one of its citizens at the hands of a corrupt and totalitarian government which seeks to implement an antiquated and barbaric system of law (not far from the Islamic sharia law?). Maybe the Australian government has been too careful not to upset their Singaporean counterparts to promote the push for a merger between Qantas and Singapore Airlines?

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