"Amnesty International's allegations are really absurd. For example, I do not know what Amnesty International means when it says that the execution rate in Singapore is 'shrouded in secrecy'," a Home Affairs Ministry spokesman said.

He was reacting to a scathing report by the global human rights watchdog which said more than 400 convicts have been executed here since 1991.

In the report entitled The death penalty: A hidden toll of executions, Amnesty called on Singapore to abolish the law that imposes capital punishment on certain crimes like drug trafficking and murder.

It further criticised Singapore authorities for revealing few details about executions, urging them to publicise the number of hangings carried out annually and give full information on the convicts and their crimes.

Amnesty said that for a nation with a population of only four million, the 408 convicts put to death by hanging between 1991 and October 2003 was "shocking."

Amnesty also stressed that foreigners made up a significant percentage of people executed, many of whom were uneducated, poor and unable to properly defend themselves in court.

But the ministry spokesman said Singapore had one of the fairest and most transparent legal systems in the world and all trials involving capital punishment were covered by the media.

He said appeals were heard in open court and all accused were represented by lawyers.

"If the accused person is unable to afford a lawyer, the state will appoint one, from a panel of private lawyers. Furthermore, no person is executed until all avenues of appeal for clemency has been exhausted," he said.

The spokesman said Amnesty was "trying to drum up a campaign" against the death penalty law.

He said the only proper way to make changes was for a local human rights advocate to campaign on this platform and get elected through parliament.

"But he won't find much support here. Most Singaporeans know that our tough but fair system of criminal justice makes Singapore one of the safest places in the world to live and work in," the spokesman said.

At least two surveys last year showed Singaporeans were largely in favour of the death penalty.

Margaret John, Amesty International coordinator for Singapore and Malaysia, said before the government's statement that her group would "never give up campaigning for human rights no matter how difficult the challenge."

Asked if she was optimistic Singapore would scrap the death penalty law, she told AFP: "It is not a matter of optimism but of persistent campaigning for fundamental human rights."

She said the city-state's trading partners, such as the United States and the European Union, "should use their business links with Singapore to raise human rights concerns."
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