Posted on 07/17/2004 11:16:30 AM PDT by Pikamax
President defends capital punishment, says amnesty only for “outlaws” still at large
Baghdad, Iraq Press, July 17, 2004 – Iraq is seriously considering reviving “capital punishment” as part of a package of stringent measures to fight off rising crime and a surge in violence, according to President Ghazi Yawer.
“Any kind of terrorism must be uprooted. Anyone who commits a crime (such as) detonating car bombs that kill innocents, rapes and kidnaps children to trade them off ..These are the ones who must be executed,” Yawer declared.
Yawer’s remarks, in an interview on Saturday, are a signal that the interim government will go ahead and reintroduce capital punishment despite foreign criticism particularly from European Union where the penalty is banned.
The interview carried by Azzaman newspaper was Yawer’s first to a local publication since assuming the country’s interim presidency on June 30.
Last week, the interim government, headed by Ayad Allawi, gave an amnesty to insurgents, saying those handing themselves over to the authorities will not be prosecuted or punished.
Yawer reiterated the pledge but said the pardon will not cover thousands of detainees in US custody or those captured by Iraqi security forces.
“The amnesty is not for those who abused the law and resorted to violence and are currently in custody. It covers those who are at large. If these want to repent we are going to give them a last chance,” he said.
Under the basic law or constitution the presidency is rather ceremonial in Iraq with real powers vested in the prime minister.
But Yawer is apparently keen to keep a high profile and the ideas he expressed in the interview show that presidency for him is not merely ceremony.
“We do not move within one axis, the whole world is our orbit,” he replied when asked whether Iraq would try to expand bilateral ties with countries like France, Germany and Russia which opposed the US-led war that toppled Saddam Hussein.
“As we want distinguished relations with America, in the same way we want to establish distinguished relations with France, Russia and China. Iraq cannot be a lackey of any country in the world,” he said.
He said he would be visiting France and Germany and discuss with their leaders ways to boost bilateral cooperation.
He urged Iraqi neighbors “to help us” preserve security on international borders, warning that “any instability or chaos in Iraqi security means instability and chaos for their own security.”
The interim authorities have repeatedly accused neighboring countries of attempts to destabilize Iraq by allowing foreign fighters to cross into the country.
Regarding relations with Israel, Yawer said resuming ties with the Jewish state “is a matter for the Iraqi people and its forthcoming elected government to decide.”
However, he made it clear that Iraq recognizes Israel’s right to exist in peace alongside the Palestinians.
The recognition is the first by an Iraqi president since the creation of Israel in 1948.
But Yawer insisted that Iraq would like “a just, permanent and comprehensive peace that restores the rights of the Palestinian people.”
We have turned an enemy into a friend and ally.
Yes, we have.
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