Capital punishment is a big problem for the human society . The major problem with capital punishment is that it is final: once it is carried out it cannot be undone. There are very few cases when we can be 100% sure that someone is indeed the killer. Killings rarely have eye witnesses, and even where there are eye witnesses, people do make mistakes and identify the wrong people as the perpetrators of crimes when that is not so. Since capital punishment cannot be undone in the event that it is discovered, after the execution of the accused, that in fact the accused person is the wrong person, it must be stopped worldwide. Many people on death row have been cleared by DNA. The question is how many are dead and did not commit the offense for which they were sentenced to death.

Capital punishment must be stopped worldwide for other reasons as well. it is something that contravenes to the human rights. The Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted on December 10, 1948. It consists of 30 articles and it promotes the respect to each member of the society. Article number 3 states that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

The concept of right to life describes the right not to be killed by another human being. An execution is also a particular way of killing, even if it is a legal one. Besides, it is a very cruel psychological experience for the convicted person. It is even more ruthless than a simple murder, or than death because of a disease.

According to the human rights agency Amnesty International,  there are 58 countries which keep the capital punishment, but only 25 are known to have carried out executions in 2008. Ninety three percent of all known executions took place in five countries: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the USA.

The rates of executions in China are said to be the highest in the world. According to  Amnesty International around 1718 executions took place during 2008, which include tax fraud, crimes against national symbols and treasures, corruption, theft, drug trade.

Research and experiences have proved it isn’t possible to be 100 percent sure whether the person is guilty or not. Reports show that many awaiting executions on the death row have been released following DNA testing. This reveals the possibility of mistakes in the past. In order to avoid these tragic situations, the death penalty must be stopped. It is also cruel and inhumane. It supports a declassed society, and that is why it must be stopped worldwide.

Tamil Information Centre (TIC) is opposed to capital punishment. We oppose capital punishment not just for what it does to those guilty of horrible crimes but for what it does to all of us as a society. Increasing reliance on the death penalty diminishes all of us and is a sign of growing disrespect for human life. We cannot overcome crime by simply executing criminals, nor can we restore the lives of the innocent by ending the lives of those convicted of their murders. The death penalty offers the tragic illusion that we can defend life by taking life.

TIC believes abolition of capital punishment worldwide can only come from organisations within communities, grassroots struggles and from people demanding a change.

We urge all people of good will, to join hands to end the use of capital punishment. Let us commit ourselves to a persistent and principled witness against the death penalty and against a culture of death.

http://www.commondreams.org/video/2012/05/18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNNGCn-MeF8