On November 3, Ambassador Jemat Ampal, speaking at...

On November 3, Ambassador Jemat Ampal, speaking at the Third Committee of the General Assembly (human rights) under item 116a (death penalty), said his country does not oppose discussions on the issue of death penalty but would have preferred it to be considered in a more balanced manner. "The issue of death penalty has always been taken from the perspective of human rights, but disappointingly more on the right of the convicted prisoner to life," he said. "The rights of the victims and the right of the people in the larger community to be free of threats from serious crimes and to live in peace and harmony, have always been disregarded, in this respect. Brunei Darussalam believes that the issue touches upon the judicial system of a country, and that each and every country has its own sovereign right to decide a system it sees fit." Ambassador Jemat Ampal was pleased to state that the system has managed to contain serious crimes such as premeditated murder and drug trafficking, and has successfully maintained peace and harmony. "You can rest assured that as long as the system benefits the community at large, Brunei Darussalam will continue to uphold the death penalty as a necessary component in its administration of law and order in the country," he declared.