Amnesty International released a report describing...

Amnesty International released a report describing as "draconian" the Criminal Law (Offences) Bill, popularly called the "terrorist bill", which came into effect as of September 2002 in Guyana, warning that it could seriously jeopardize human rights and should be reformed in accordance with the country's international human rights obligations. "The severe penalties for committing a "terrorist act" - which include the mandatory death penalty - are extended to inciting or advising the commission of such an act, [and] are in breach of international law," Amnesty International said. The imposition of the death penalty as mandatory in all cases in which a death results from a "terrorist act" was also a cause for great concern for the international human rights body. "Extending the scope of application of capital punishment contradicts existing international standards and the growing worldwide trend towards abolition of the death penalty," the organization added. "The experience of other countries shows how administrative detention is often accompanied by the creation of a shadow justice system, lacking crucial safeguards and potentially leading to human rights violations including unlawful arrest, torture and ill-treatment, and execution," Amnesty International warned.