By Jack Lapauve Jr – EM TV, Port Moresby
The Council of Churches in Papua New Guinea have condemned the death penalty ruling.
In a statement received by EM TV, churches believe that all human life is God-given and that no one, including the state, should take upon itself the right to end a life.
They say there is ample evidence proving that despite the best processes of justice, mistakes can sometimes happen. It is therefore unthinkable that we, the people, should condemn a potentially innocent person to death.
As a Christian nation, they say one can never allow our justice system to sink to acts of revenge or payback.
We must not take the attitude of ‘an eye for an eye’ but rather maintain penalties that are appropriate for all crimes but do not include the death penalty.
Furthermore, incidences of serious crime have not decreased in countries that have adopted the death penalty.
The possibility of the death penalty also increases the possibility that the criminal will murder their victim to eliminate them as a witness.
The Council call upon the Papua New Guinea Government to continue to work towards a nation of propriety of equality, so that people can pursue legal, legitimate ways of life.
