Gothic.net Community - View Single Post - Death Penalty No Longer Logically Defensible (Nguyen Tuong Van)

rockandrose · 12-07-2005, 12:31 AM

7th of December 2005

Hundreds of mourners have gathered at Melbourne's St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral for the funeral of drug smuggler Van Tuong Nguyen, who was hanged by Singapore last week.

A friend of Nguyen, Bronwyn Lew has tied yellow ribbons around several elm trees surrounding the stately cathedral ahead of the requiem mass, which was expected to attract 1000 mourners.

Ms Lew, like many of the mourners, is dressed in white as requested by Nguyen's family.

"The yellow ribbon is the symbol for the rehabilitation program in the Changi Prison," she said. "This symbol is about rehabilitation ? that's the way it should be.

"He should have had a chance."

Father Peter Hansen, who conducted the mass in English and Vietnamese and referred to Nguyen as Caleb, his baptismal name, said Nguyen had made terrible mistakes.

"There was a period of Van's life when he was not a virtuous man," he said.

"I don't try to conceal that, his family and friends don't try to conceal that, Van himself didn't try and conceal that."

But Father Hansen called on those who said Nguyen deserved to die to show compassion and understanding.

"Those people don't understand that people can change," he said.

"(One) can move from a life that does harm to one that does good."

One of the last letters Nguyen wrote on death row, reflecting on his desire for people to be compassionate, was read to mourners.

One of the last letters Nguyen wrote on death row, reflecting on his desire for people to be compassionate, was read to mourners.

"Could you please ask everyone to put their hands on their hearts to feel my love, appreciation and God's awesome love," he wrote.

Mourners also answered Nguyen's request that they embrace those beside them.

Nguyen's lawyer, Lex Lasry QC, said his client had rehabilitated and shown remorse.

"In the last two years of Van's life, selfishness gave way to selflessness, lies gave way to truth, and indulgence gave way to spirituality," Mr Lasry said.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...55E601,00.html
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...5E1702,00.html

12-07-2005, 12:31 AM	#43
rockandrose Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 1,761	Nguyen funeral 'a celebration' 7th of December 2005 Hundreds of mourners have gathered at Melbourne's St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral for the funeral of drug smuggler Van Tuong Nguyen, who was hanged by Singapore last week. A friend of Nguyen, Bronwyn Lew has tied yellow ribbons around several elm trees surrounding the stately cathedral ahead of the requiem mass, which was expected to attract 1000 mourners. Ms Lew, like many of the mourners, is dressed in white as requested by Nguyen's family. "The yellow ribbon is the symbol for the rehabilitation program in the Changi Prison," she said. "This symbol is about rehabilitation ? that's the way it should be. "He should have had a chance." Father Peter Hansen, who conducted the mass in English and Vietnamese and referred to Nguyen as Caleb, his baptismal name, said Nguyen had made terrible mistakes. "There was a period of Van's life when he was not a virtuous man," he said. "I don't try to conceal that, his family and friends don't try to conceal that, Van himself didn't try and conceal that." But Father Hansen called on those who said Nguyen deserved to die to show compassion and understanding. "Those people don't understand that people can change," he said. "(One) can move from a life that does harm to one that does good." One of the last letters Nguyen wrote on death row, reflecting on his desire for people to be compassionate, was read to mourners. One of the last letters Nguyen wrote on death row, reflecting on his desire for people to be compassionate, was read to mourners. "Could you please ask everyone to put their hands on their hearts to feel my love, appreciation and God's awesome love," he wrote. Mourners also answered Nguyen's request that they embrace those beside them. Nguyen's lawyer, Lex Lasry QC, said his client had rehabilitated and shown remorse. "In the last two years of Van's life, selfishness gave way to selflessness, lies gave way to truth, and indulgence gave way to spirituality," Mr Lasry said. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...55E601,00.html http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...5E1702,00.html __________________ "Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months." Oscar Wilde