LIBERIA PRESIDENT MUST VETO DEATH PENALTY BILL

following the confirmation by the Liberian Senate of a bill re-proposing the death penalty for certain crimes, Amnesty International called on President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to veto the bill. “The surest way to address crime is to strengthen the criminal justice system and the capacity of law enforcement agencies – not to carry out state killings, which have never been shown to be a deterrent,” Amnesty International said. The bill was passed despite the fact that in September 2005, Liberia acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which obliges Liberia to take all necessary measures to abolish the death penalty. “The Liberian government must fulfil its obligation under international law to abolish the death penalty,” said Amnesty International. “Rather than introducing legislation such as this bill, the Liberian government should introduce a constitutional provision abolishing the death penalty for all crimes.” “This legislation is in bad faith, and entirely inconsistent with the object and purpose of the protocol to which the Liberian government acceded, which aims to abolish the death penalty.” Amnesty International urged the Liberian government to carry out a survey of current legislation with a view to abolishing the death penalty for all crimes, including in military penal codes.