BOTSWANA

Hands off Cain appealed to Botswana President Festus Mogae to concede pardon to Marietta Bosch, whose appeal against capital punishment on a conviction for murder was turned down by a panel of judges from Commonwealth countries. The anti-death penalty association petitioned Mogae to introduce a moratorium on capital executions with a view to the complete abolition of the death penalty. The case was brought to the attention of the governments of the judges’ native countries, requesting support especially from the abolitionist countries. Hands off Cain wrote to the British and Commonwealth Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, the President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki, the President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo and the President of Zimbabawe Robert Mugabe, asking them to intervene with President Mogae in favour of Marietta Bosch. Mogae has yet to concede a pardon for a death sentence.