They had come to participate in the island republic's first ever forum to address the issue of the death penalty in the country.

Six Singaporean activists spoke at the event, touching on the lack of safeguards in the judicial system, Singapore Government's investment in companies owned by Burmese druglord Lo Hsing Han and the need to provide social and emotional support to families of death-row prisoners.

Also present on the panel but whom the Singapore Government did not allow to speak was a representative from Amnesty International.

Central to the forum was an urgent appeal for clemency by the mother and sons of 34 year old Shanmugum Murugesu, a citizen of Singapore, who has been convicted of trafficking in cannabis and is due to be hanged in the early weeks of May 2005.

His only hope for life rests now on a clemency appeal to the President of Singapore.

This is a video documentation of the day's event and it contains scenes rarely seen and heard in Singapore.

The video has two segments.

The running time for the first segment is about 60 minutes and the second about 15 minutes.

There are both low-resolution and high-resolution files available for each of them.

First, right-click on the link and 'Save Target As...' into your computer.

After that, double-click on the saved item in order to play on RealPlayer.

Death Penalty Forum (approx 60 minutes),
Low Resolution, 33.4MB:

Death Penalty Forum (approx 60 minutes),
High Resolution, 220.6MB:

Clemency Appeal at the Istana Presidential House (approx 15 minutes) Low Resolution, 23.0MB:

Clemency Appeal at the Istana Presidential House (approx 15 minutes) High Resolution, 87.2MB:

You will require a RealPlayer in your computer in order to play these files. If you do not have a RealPlayer, you can download it free at RealPlayer - 10.3MB here:
Or, RealPlayer - 9.56MB here:

If you receive this email before May 2005, please write, fax or email President SR Nathan of Singapore to plead for the clemency of Shanmugum Murugesu at President SR Nathan Istana, Orchard Road 238832 Republic of Singapore Tel : 65-68355325 Fax : 67353135 Email : s_r_nathan@istana.gov.sg


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