Stupid news articles

[tiktok]

and then there's the issue of kids getting their hands on drugs. From today's ST:

"She took cannabis when she was 12 years old, attended drug parties for three years and got hooked on heroin after her boyfriend introduced it to her."
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ ... ug-abusers

They've been saving that article to "realign public opinion" because now people are questioning whether the latest execution was justified.

[sundaymorningstaple]

The guy who just got executed never even touched the drugs and maintained his innocence to the end.

Of course he did. But he never claimed he was innocent until two months after his arrest and he''s been in and out of prison since he was 14 and a pot smoker at the age of 12. Sure he's innocent. He doesn't need to be touching or handling the drugs at all. Most drug kingpins never touch the drugs either. Does it make them also innocent. I think not. I think he was more than a mule and if you are higher than a mule full punishment has to be given. Frankly mules are no better. Yes I'm a boomer and yes, I've seen a lot of fatalities of good servicemen in the NAM from 66 to 68 because some dude was smoking a joint just to "take the edge off" and happened to be on perimeter guard duty at some remote location.

I like Singapore's drug laws and I don't feel for anybody if they are caught with the stuff or test for the stuff coming into Singapore. No respect for this country and no self-respect either as the rules here are VERY CLEAR before you even get on the plane to come here.

If you don't like the way this country is run and you are not a citizen, then leave. Do us all a favour.

[jalanjalan]

I fully support the zero tolerance stand that Singapore has on drugs. However, if someone stuffs something in a zipped pouch of my luggage… I might become an unsuspecting mule on death row — that is a concern.

Do you really think that's likely, in the land of 100k cameras?

I know it happens, but is there any known case in Singapore where someone maintained his innocence and got executed? I mean the case with some reasonable doubts? I think it takes more than some pouches with drugs to end up on gallows.

I don't recall any activists arguing that (credibly). It seems to be more a general opposition to the death penalty for any reason.

[sundaymorningstaple]

and then there's the issue of kids getting their hands on drugs. From today's ST:

"She took cannabis when she was 12 years old, attended drug parties for three years and got hooked on heroin after her boyfriend introduced it to her."
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ ... ug-abusers

They've been saving that article to "realign public opinion" because now people are questioning whether the latest execution was justified.

Nobody I've talked to this morning are questioning the execution and the vast majority of my acquaintances/friends here ARE local after 40+ years and 15 years in the resident's committee.

[jalanjalan]

and then there's the issue of kids getting their hands on drugs. From today's ST:

"She took cannabis when she was 12 years old, attended drug parties for three years and got hooked on heroin after her boyfriend introduced it to her."
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ ... ug-abusers

They've been saving that article to "realign public opinion" because now people are questioning whether the latest execution was justified.

No, people really aren't. Go look elsewhere on popular Singapore social media sites, or youtube, with international audiences. Most support our tough drug laws. Even those who don't, respect that it's Singapore's decision.

[tiktok]

https://time.com/6274565/singapore-death-penalty-drugs/
Singapore Executed Another Drug Offender: Why the Country Clings to the Death Penalty—and Why Advocates Say It’s Wrong

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/singapore- ... u-suppiah/
Singapore executes alleged cannabis dealer, ignores U.N. request to "urgently reconsider"

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... mid-outcry
Singapore Executes Smuggler of One Kilogram of Cannabis Amid Outcry

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabag ... criticism/
Singapore Executes Man Over Cannabis Trafficking Amid International Criticism

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/ ... -offences/
Singapore: Arbitrary and unlawful execution for drug-related offence shows disregard for human rights

[tiktok]

The guy who just got executed never even touched the drugs and maintained his innocence to the end.

Of course he did. But he never claimed he was innocent until two months after his arrest and he''s been in and out of prison since he was 14 and a pot smoker at the age of 12. Sure he's innocent. He doesn't need to be touching or handling the drugs at all. Most drug kingpins never touch the drugs either. Does it make them also innocent. I think not. I think he was more than a mule and if you are higher than a mule full punishment has to be given. Frankly mules are no better. Yes I'm a boomer and yes, I've seen a lot of fatalities of good servicemen in the NAM from 66 to 68 because some dude was smoking a joint just to "take the edge off" and happened to be on perimeter guard duty at some remote location.

I like Singapore's drug laws and I don't feel for anybody if they are caught with the stuff or test for the stuff coming into Singapore. No respect for this country and no self-respect either as the rules here are VERY CLEAR before you even get on the plane to come here.

If you don't like the way this country is run and you are not a citizen, then leave. Do us all a favour.

That started off well but soon descended into the usual childish point scoring and insult hurling. 2 points.

[jalanjalan]

https://time.com/6274565/singapore-death-penalty-drugs/
Singapore Executed Another Drug Offender: Why the Country Clings to the Death Penalty—and Why Advocates Say It’s Wrong

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/singapore- ... u-suppiah/
Singapore executes alleged cannabis dealer, ignores U.N. request to "urgently reconsider"

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... mid-outcry
Singapore Executes Smuggler of One Kilogram of Cannabis Amid Outcry

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabag ... criticism/
Singapore Executes Man Over Cannabis Trafficking Amid International Criticism

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/ ... -offences/
Singapore: Arbitrary and unlawful execution for drug-related offence shows disregard for human rights

Singapore rebuts UN Human Rights Office comments on drug trafficker’s hanging
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ ... -s-hanging

[tiktok]

It would be very surprising if they agreed with it. See how the ST story doesn't link to the UN's comments so nobody can actually check what is being rebutted. Same with their dismal of Richard Branson. But they do link to the MHA survey. But not the NUS survey. See how they manipulate readers?

[jalanjalan]

If you're curious, you can google it. And why should we consider the opinions of Branson? He isn't Singaporean. And the UN makes these comments regularly, and have been answered multiple times. Go look on youtube, there's video of it.

[sundaymorningstaple]

That started off well but soon descended into the usual childish point scoring and insult hurling. 2 points.

Actually there was no childish point scoring or hurling of insults. It was just a statement of fact. One that I stand behind with anybody in any conversation if they are pro-drugs in Singapore where I have kids and grandkids.

[tiktok]

Many Singaporeans will be reading articles like the ones I posted (probably not so many kopitiam uncles though) and seeing how much criticism Singapore is getting for their drug laws. More than a few will be starting to question them. Expect to see more anti drug pseudo-journalsm in ST/CNA in the coming weeks.

[malcontent]

It’s always the bleeding heart types who say “how can you be so cruel” but they never stop and think about the victims, only the criminals… that is what is so messed up in the world, and I for one am glad Singapore hasn’t succumbed to it. I’m happy to describe to my teenaged son how the people who carry out the caning here practice everyday to be sure they do it with consistent severity, so much that after the first lashing the pain is so intense you can’t help but soil yourself. With such a vivid image of this punishment in his mind, I can rest easy knowing he won’t dare do anything stupid, even if his friends did.

I’ve always liked the saying: if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.

[tiktok]

But is the death penalty an effective deterrent? The crime rate in US states with death penalty is no lower than others. Hong Kong and Singapore have a similar murder rate but Hong Kong has no death penalty. Iran has even more severe drug laws but higher rates of drug abuse. There are endless anecdotes but little evidence.

As heartwarming as is to hear LKY and Shanmugan talking tough, it doesn't mean they are right.

[Myasis Dragon]

But is the death penalty an effective deterrent? The crime rate in US states with death penalty is no lower than others. Hong Kong and Singapore have a similar murder rate but Hong Kong has no death penalty. Iran has even more severe drug laws but higher rates of drug abuse. There are endless anecdotes but little evidence.

As heartwarming as is to hear LKY and Shanmugan talking tough, it doesn't mean they are right.

I'm with you. Your statistics are correct. Worse, in the USA, the death penalty is applied in a way that puts more minorities on death row. It's very racist.

Beyond that, the death penalty is state-sanctioned murder. It's not a deterrent, it's state-sanctioned revenge It's bad enough that the death penalty is applied to capital crimes, it is abhorrent when applied to drug crimes. The death penalty is irrationally applied, imposed on some but not on others, with no valid justification for the difference.

Civilized countries have done away with the death penalty. If you want to put yourself in with China, Iran, Egypt, Syria, and Saudi Arabia, who are the top five executioners in the world, then keep the death penalty.

24 states and DC in the USA have abolished the death penalty, with 3 states having imposed a moratorium. Not surprisingly, the 24 states that all think the death penalty does some good are deep red republican states. Texas leads the killing.